Lisa Burns, Livingston County Chamber of Commerce Tourism Director along with Amie Alden, Livingston County Historian greeted town historians last week for a holiday luncheon at the Chamber of Commerce. At the event, Burns conveyed her strong commitment to working closely with the historians. "Tourists like knowing "little known" trivia about the place they are visiting. Becoming more aware of our history makes their visit special and causes them to remember us more." noted Burns.

Burns announced to the historians that the county's tourism website will feature a new page with a new name: "Historianism." The obvious merger of the words historian and tourism is meant to convey the commitment of the two groups in their joint effort to educate and entertain both the visitor and the local community alike.

County Historian Alden provided information to the historians, including the announcement that a new Western New York Historian's group has form with a specific mission of showcasing historical programming in the western part of the state.

The well known facts of Clara Barton starting the American Red Cross in Dansville and that Francis Bellamy from Mount Morris wrote the Pledge of Allegiance will be noted on the website. Additionally, Burns requested that the historians provide additional information based on the question: What is one thing you'd like a tourist to know about your town?

Surprising facts such as the highest point of elevation in Livingston County is in eastern Springwater and that during WWII the location was the site of an aircraft "lookout" station with 24/7 observers was noted by Havilah Toland, Springwater Historian and that the little hamlet of Cuylerville was the site of the most significant and largest village of the Seneca Indian Nation was noted by Tom Roffe, Leicester Historian. Another noteworthy fact highlighted by Quentin Masolotte, North Dansville Historian is that one of the first nursery businesses in western New York was started in Dansville.

The group of historians shared information about their individual town efforts including that three new books about Livingston County have been authored. "Lima in America and other stories" by Lima Historian Joyce Rapp, "Terrible Tales-Geneseo Ghosts and Livingston Legends" by Geneseo Historian David Parish and "Voices of the Past" by the Avon Preservation and Historical Association and Historian Maureen Kingston.

The Livingston County Historian's office is located on the Livingston County Campus, Murray Hill in Mt. Morris and the "Historianism" page on the county's tourism website will be ready for viewing in early January.