Now open!

Scherer Carriage House Reopening
We are excited to announce the reopening of our permanent Public Universal Friend exhibit, following its temporary closure for the expansion of museum space. On February 11 the exhibit became available to explore once again, offering visitors a deeper insight into this unique and historically significant figure.

Month of May

History Scavenger Hunt 2026: Public Universal Friend Edition
Gather your friends, challenge your other friends, hop in the car, explore local history, and join Yates County History Center's annual History Scavenger Hunt. The fun starts when teams receive their brochures with clues on Friday, May 1 and continues until Sunday, May 31 when teams must submit their answers. Teams will receive points for correctly answering the questions. Participation costs $25 for a team of four people and $10 for each additional team member, and teams must register in order to receive their brochure. Registration starts April 1. Registration is permitted any time before May 29. Please call (315) 536.7318 to register by paying in advance; payment is accepted over the phone or in person.

The scavenger hunt provides a fun way to learn about our local history while competing against other teams to see who knows the most. Because this year marks the 250th anniversary of the foundation of the Society of Universal Friends, this year’s clues will lead you to sites connected to the Public Universal Friend in some way. Join us for the fun!

Saturday, May 30
11:00 a.m.

A Meeting Was Held: Histories of Early Yates County Churches
Join us for a lecture by Linda Jackson, author of "Aspiring Christians: Histories of Yates County Churches," as she discusses the backgrounds of a selection of local churches, including Himrod Baptist and Yatesville Methodist. The lecture will be held at 107 Chapel Street, Penn Yan. Free parking. $10 members, $15 non-members.

Sunday, June 7
8:00 - 10:00 a.m.

All-You-Can-Eat Pancake Breakfast
All you can eat pancakes, eggs, bacon and more! Penn Yan Moose Lodge, 301 East Elm Street. Tickets are $10. Call 315-536-7318 or stop by the museum.

YCHC events held virtually may be enjoyed on our Vimeo Channel.

The following list of lectures, interviews and portrayals are available:

Interviews

Phyllis Smith
Milly Bloomquist
Maxine Fullagar
Marge Cornell
Marcia Dugan
Ellen Salisbury
Doris Scherer
Corrie Stork
Carlotta Kirk Coriser
Ann Potter Boyd

Portrayals

Julie Sheppard
Susannah Clara Hatmaker
Myron Hamlin
Frankie Merson
John Thomas

Lectures