Western New York Button Picnic – July 23, 2025
Hosted by the Rochester Button Club
Location: Wildwood Country Club, Rush, NY
Theme: “NYS Button Boom”
Hosted by the Rochester Button Club, this year’s annual picnic brought together 28 passionate collectors and guests from four regional clubs—Genesee County, Elmira, Rochester, and for the first time, Finger Lakes—at the scenic Wildwood Country Club in Rush, NY.
Theme: “NYS Button Boom”
The event celebrated New York State’s rich legacy in button manufacturing, inviting attendees to share personal stories and memories tied to the industry. A captivating presentation by Linda Hickey highlighted NYS’s pivotal role in U.S. button production, supported by a historical display featuring vintage factory photos, maps, and company histories.
Highlights
- Special Guest: Vicki Condi McTavish, President of the National Button Society, joined us for the day.
- Activities: Attendees enjoyed socializing, buying and selling buttons, sharing a meal, entering the Creative Card Competition, guessing at some button history trivia and participating in raffle drawings.
- Presentation: Linda Hickey shared fascinating insights into New York State’s role in U.S. button manufacturing, supported by a colorful display of historical materials.
- Favors: Each guest received a handcrafted card featuring vegetable ivory buttons—an elegant nod to NYS’s button-making heritage.
Photo Gallery
Explore moments from the picnic, including club camaraderie, creative displays, and button treasures: View the full photo album.
