Victor, New York - Valentown - Old Ghost Attraction

Interesting old building; looks like the museum may be operating again -- just not on the day we visited. Sign by road indicates it is a museum and gift shop. Looked in windows -- rooms seem to be as they would have been when built. Sign on front of building gives a history. Valentown Historical Society offers summer events. [Pam, 07/05/2009]

Valentown was originally built in 1879 as a shopping plaza and community center in preparation for a railroad that was never built. In spite of the lack of railroad, this was a flourishing community center with a grocery, cobbler shop, leatherworker, butcher, hat shop, ballroom and 54-piece band. Valentown was eventually foreclosed on in 1892.

It wasn't until 1952 a local, Sheldon Fischer, purchased the spot and turned it into a roadside museum which he called "Valentown Ghost Town" at the time. I remember it from my youth when my folks used to take me there. The building itself was so forboding that I was certain there were ghosts in it.

While I haven't been here in almost a year, I was fortunate on my last visit to have run into the curator, who gave us a private tour. The shops inside are amazing and still contain immaculately preserved articles, even 100 year old coffee beans (I recommend not drinking the coffee).

I'm not even sure if they're open any more, but the structure itself is worth a look and stands out from the Pier 1, Pizzerio Uno, Starbucks, etc that surround it. They did have a Spooktacular around Halloween last year. [Susan, 06/26/2005]