Photojournal by Janie Ferguson
Pictured are Ryan & Kevin McCorty relaxing in their canoe, just before the race began this foggy morning in Cameron Mills, NY, along the Canisteo River.
It was a humid, overcast day this past Saturday, August 8, 2026, as the 10th Annual Rathbone Old Home Day event began. Registration for the races started at 6:30 am, at the Town Hall in Rathbone NY. Mary Jacobson the Rathbone Town Clerk was there helping with registration early in the morning. You can see her smiling face below and a family registering as they get their packets, shirts, and numbers to begin the race. Sara Lawson was all ready to get started as she gave a thumbs up before heading down to the starting line.
Mary Jacobson, Rathbone Town clerk helping with registration.
Registering for the race.
Father and son finishing together.
The first races to begin were the Wilson Built Kayak/Canoe race, at the Cameron Mills boat launch on CR 110 at 8:00 am. It is a six mile boat ride downstream to the boat launch, by the bridge in Rathbone, where it ends. (Just to clarify here, Cameron Mills is a hamlet in the Town of Rathbone, and our next town upstream is the Town of Cameron. Many people get the two mixed up due to similar names.) You can see the six colorful boats ready to launch here. There was one canoe with two people in it, and the rest were all individual kayakers. Before the race began, on this foggy peaceful morning, you can see Ryan and Kevin McCorty just relaxing on the river waiting for the race to begin. This is such a tranquil view here in the beautiful Canisteo River Valley. The river was serene and calm as they had fun taking a selfie,too.
The small crafts lineup for the beginning of the race at the Cameron Mills boat launch.
Ryan & Kevin McCorty having fun getting a selfie before the race began.
As someone alway comments about not seeing life vests on the boaters this information is also given here. “The new kayak law states that you DO NOT need to wear a life vest after May 1 during the summer in New York State. In fact , if your vessel is less than 21 feet long you do not have to if you are over the age of 12. When November 21 hits then you have to wear a life vest. That is because the water temperatures drop so much lower and there is a greater risk of Hypothermia.” From Country106.5 WYRK ~ Of course we all want everyone to be safe on the river, for sure, and life vests are on board!
Dylan Stewart was the 1st kayaker to come in with a time of 119.2. Ryan & Kevin McGorty brought their canoe in next with a time of 121.9. Aidan Kahabka & Douglas Cornfield came in 2nd and 3rd places in their kayaks with times of 123.10 & 123.12.
Dylan Stewart 1st Place kayak.
Canoe racers chatting after the race was over. Ryan & Kevin McGorty brought their canoe in next with a time of 121.9.
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Douglas Cornfield & Aidan Kahabka came in 2nd and 3rd places in their kayaks with times of 123.10 & 123.12.
The Bryan Morseman 5/K & 10/K races, and the Health walk began at 9:00 am. There was also a Kids Fun Run for ages three through eight. There were four young ones running happily together. They all received a medal, too.
The Bryan Morseman races began because he was a standout runner in Addison, and he is now a Champion runner. He has recently won the 3000M National Championship, at the 2026 Outdoor USATF Master Tracks Championship in Geneva, Ohio. He enjoyed running, and training in the beautiful countryside here in Rathbone, and back in 2016 he was asked to be a part of Team USA for the marathon in Qatar, and he secured the gold medal for the team. So, we thought it would be appropriate to name the 5K/10K races after our hometown “boy.”
Three generations of Morsemans, Bryan, Russell IV, Russel III, and Russell Jr.
On your mark, get set, GO! Bryan Morseman 5K/10K & Health walk begins.
I also chatted with the kind Valentine family Jerry & Betty, and their son Brad, after the race began as we headed down to the boat launch to the finish line. They are from Geneseo. They were all there to support Anna, Brad’s wife, who was racing. You can see the couple walking together, too, when the race was all over with. Pizza, water, and bananas were provided for all in the competition.
The Town of Rathbone Event Planner is Pam Morseman. She is the wife of Russell Morseman Jr., who grew up in Rathbone, and the mother of three sons Russell III, Bryan and Branden and they have nine grandchildren together, too. She organizes, along with her family, the day’s events, and the Mobile Food Bank that comes to town. She also is the manager at Cameron Mills Market for the past few years, where she has worked for twelve years now, and she helps care for her mother, as well.
While interviewing her at the store Brian Arnold, the previous owner, came in and we stopped to chat a while. You can see the photo of them here together. It’s Bella, she is Pam & Russell Jr.’s granddaughter, Brian and then Pam. There is a long line of history with this store. They are by the Crawford’s Bros. 1868 sign. Frank Haftl is the current owner, and the store is on the market for sale, and the sale is currently pending online, but this is a story all its own for another day.
Bella Morseman, Brian Arnold & Pam Morseman at Cameron Mills Market. (Crawford’s Store)
Pam says that her son Russell Morseman III, who is the Rathbone Town Supervisor, remembers his father telling him, when he was younger, that the town used to have an Old Home Day Event. So, they thought it would be a good idea to begin having one again. In hopes that it would bring the community together, have others come in to see what our small town has to offer, and enjoy the beautiful countryside all around us here, and so it began again ten years ago in 2016.
Planning and organizing begins with a radio ad, information in the Addison Post, posts by Russell Morsmen III, and the Cameron Mills, New York, Town of Rathbone, Steuben County, Facebook pages, handing out entry forms at the store, and word of mouth, too. WENY News, and the Hornell, Keuka & Wellsville Sun have also gotten the word out for us, as well. Thank you all!
Pam remembers a time when the races were ready to begin and the stopwatch battery died, right at that moment. Another person with a stopwatch started theirs, and all ended up ok within about 30 seconds. She says, “Seeing the smiles on peoples faces, and working together as a team is rewarding.” The way she describes the event is Family, Hometown Pride, and Enjoyment. The most memorable OHD was after the flood two years ago, and the Kayak/Canoe race had to be cancelled. Attendance was naturally down that year due to the flooding, but the two years since then have brought in very good crowds. One year Chad Wilson and his daughter were in a canoe together, and the bottom of their boat hit some rocks in the river, and it made a hole in the boat. They had to keep scooping the water out until they finally finished safely.
The results of the races will be in the Addison Post this week.
The Cameron & Addison Fire Department had their Chicken BBQ dinners for sale for a fundraiser beginning at 10:30. Many people came out to support their local firefighters. Thank you, for all you do for our community’s way out here in the country. We appreciate it very much!
The Addison Volunteer Fire Department. Both Addison & Cameron Fire Departments sold BBQ chicken dinners for a fundraiser.
A few of the vendors were Enchanted Creations, Woodworking by Joe Yoder, and S.C.O.P.E. S.C.O.P.E stands for Shooters Committee on Political Education. A sign at this vendor reads, “Gun Owners Vote! It Matters! Protect your 2nd Amendment Rights.” Also one that reads, ” Mission: “To restore and protect the Second Amendment rights of New Yorkers.”
I’m including a photo of a July 4, 1932 Old Home Day in Cameron Mills. This was in my late mother-in-law Dora Ferguson’s collection. You can see their home in the background here, too, where my late husband Spencer grew up. This shot was taken from Cameron Mills Market (Crawford’s Store) area. Notice the double tracks, the mail hanger, their clothes styles, a car coming across the single lane bridge, and the old cars, too. Also Included is a newspaper article from 1937, Old Home Day in Cameron Mills.
There were approximately 600 in attendance back then. The last old photo is of Clyde Sutton, a family member, riding in the Rathbone Old Home Day parade on his horse Pal back in 1936.
Cameron Mills Old Home Day July 4, 1932
Clyde Sutton on his horse Pal in Old Home Day Parade 1946 & a 1937 newspaper article for Old Home Day Event
After the races were all over we gathered together by the river for a group shot. You can see we had a good crowd come out for it. There was just a bit of rain throughout the day, but it did not dampen the spirits of all of those who turned out to enjoy the events of the day. Thank you to all of the vendors, all of you that participated, and those that came out to visit, too.
I love capturing, and sharing our local happenings, and sharing them with you, all. I hope you enjoy this article and the photos, as well.
Group shot after the races at Rathbone Old Home Day Event. Thank you all!
