Landmark Building in the
Palladian/Georgian Revival Style

We are privileged to have the use of the former Fairport Public Library as home to the Perinton Historical Society and location of our collections and archives. This building is owned by the Village of Fairport and in 2008 was designated a landmark by the Village of Fairport Preservation Commission.

History of the Building

Robert Douglas, of Fairport’s Douglas Pectin Company, inventor of Certo and the Perinton Patriotic League donated funds for the building of a new library. The land was donated by the School District. The Works Progress Administration (WPA) labor was used to construct the building designed by Henry A. Martin. Built in 1937, it opened for use as a library in 1938 and was in use until 1978 when the library moved to its current site in the Village Landing complex on South Main Street. At that time, the property was given to the Village for a museum and the Society has been in this location since then.

Palladian/Georgian Revival

The style of architecture is Palladian/Georgian Revival, and is fairly representative of its era on the countrywide scene. In the context of the Village however, it is unique. Take a look as you visit and you will see a tetra style Tuscan portico, dentilated cornice, one-bay hipped wings, and a fabulous doorway with semi-circular leaded glass fanlight. The beautiful style and detail of the inner door with fanlight and natural wood continues through the whole interior space.

Mural by Carl Peters

The highlight of the interior of the Museum is the mural painted in 1938 by local artist Carl Peters (1897 to 1980). This 20’ mural depicts the history of Perinton from farming to the era of the canal industry. This work was also financed by the WPA, as were many works of art in public buildings of the ‘30s.

The painting can be roughly divided into two sections: farming and rural life on the left and industry and commercial life on the right. The figures represent the rural past and the hardworking people of Fairport. The Erie Canal runs the entire length of the work. It is also suspected that Peters painted a likeness of himself in the mural as one of the workers hauling a bag onto the barge just to the right of center.

Carl, who had a farm and studio on Jefferson Ave. in the town of Perinton, became a nationally known painter and part of a group of painters known as 'regionalists'.

For more on the artist see: Carl W. Peters: American Scene Painter from Rochester to Rockport, written by Richard H. Love and published by University of Rochester Press, 1999.

The Gardens

The grounds around the Museum contain a perennial garden of traditional plants and an herb garden. All of the plants are labeled. The GreenBriar Garden Club maintains the gardens. Park benches encourage visitors to linger awhile.