A New Exhibit Honors Perinton Civil War Soldiers

“Honoring Perinton’s Civil War Soldiers” is a new exhibit at the Fairport Historical Museum that will run through May 21.

Nearly 250 Civil War soldiers are associated with the Town of Perinton. This new exhibit focuses on just a few of them, with a special display featuring Private George B. Wiltsie of the 4th New York Heavy Artillery, who was taken prisoner by the Confederate Army in 1864 at the Battle of Ream’s Station.  George’s story is told using excerpts from his wartime diary, which is in the collection of the Perinton Historical Society.  The exhibit also features family photographs and a cane which belonged to Major Harvey E. Light of the 10th Michigan Cavalry.  Major Light spent the first 18 years of his life in Fairport before moving to Michigan.  He later returned to New York and spent the remainder of his long life here.  The Light photographs and cane are on loan from Douglas C. Light, Jr., great-great-grandson of Major Harvey E. Light. Other items on view are from the collection of Vicki Masters Profitt.

Illuminated History genealogist and Fairport Historical Museum Director Vicki Masters Profitt has researched the Civil War soldiers of Monroe County since 2008.  Her blog, Illuminated History: Shining a Light on the Shadows of the Past, details her research into the lives of these and other local heroes. Visit www.PerintonHistoricalSociety.org for Museum hours and more information.