Whether you take 390, 490, or the Parkway, Hilton is about a thirty-minute drive from downtown Rochester, situated in the Town of Parma. The village, incorporated in 1885, boasts a population of 5,891 people and is known for its annual Fireman’s Carnival (circa 1930) and Apple Festival (circa 1981). But what readers may not know about is another longstanding local tradition: the Hilton Book Guild.
Founded in 1938, the guild began as a very formal affair. “It was hosted at the members’ houses,” says Kay Melvin, the guild’s president. “They brought out their lace tablecloths and tea sets.”
“Hilton Book Guild will hold a picnic today, at the cottage of Mr. and Mrs. Howard Crumb of Hilton Beach,” says a July 17, 1940, listing in the Democrat & Chronicle’s society pages. An August 21, 1940, note reports, “The Hilton Book Guild will meet this afternoon for luncheon at the Hotel Manitou.”
Even though the group is much more casual now, usually meeting at Foster’s Restaurant (fostershiltonny.com), the guild’s mission is the same as reported on July 21, 1963: “[T]o stimulate interest in literature and current events and aid community and charity organizations.”
Meeting minutes from July 1942 state that members donated “the $1.00 that each would spend on the luncheon to buy War savings stamps,” and in January 1946, they voted to contribute $2.50 from their treasury to the Monroe County Infantile Paralysis Fund. Today, guild members pay $12 to join for the year and give what they can to the Hilton-Parma Food Shelf.
Melvin, a retired teacher who spent more than forty years in the classroom (thirteen of those in the Hilton Central School District) explains that the guild “meets twelve months out of the year and has twenty-five members maximum.” There are currently twenty-one members, who all happen to be women, and in addition to a president, the club has a treasurer and secretary. If someone wants to join, they are recruited by current members or hear about it through word of mouth. Melvin herself was invited by the former president, Mary Eichas-Gavigan, when she retired twenty-five years ago.
Many of the members became involved after their retirements.
“After I retired, my aunt invited me to come to a meeting,” says Laurie Cordaro, the guild’s secretary. “It has been a great fit for me since I worked at the Parma Public Library; it keeps me in the book world.”
Rosalind Lipomi, who led book discussions for the guild as the town’s Adult Services Librarian, also joined after retiring—and continues to lead their book discussions. “What could be better than to hang out with twenty book lovers and all their book friends? We share, we learn, we enjoy, we love our books and one another.”
Guild member Lynne Oswald agrees. “I love coming to our book club and being with people. I have met a lot of wonderful people and learned a lot.”
To find out what topics and activities the group is interested in, Melvin puts out a flyer asking for input at the beginning of the year. In January, each member also brings a book they recommend. Melvin, who is in her second stint as guild president, is “always thinking of ideas.”
Some months, a guest speaker may come to talk about writing and publishing, local history, or health and aging. Other times they play games like bingo. But always there is lunch—even if they meet at the Parma Public Library before or after to hear about new and popular releases.
“I enjoy the different speakers,” says guild treasurer Kathy Barido. “The group has a good time and interacts with each other in a good way.”
Two-year member Alice Maxwell says, “I like being surrounded by fellow readers who give me good recommendations and even loan me books. The group expands my friendship circle.”
“It is a very nice group of book lovers,” agrees Eileen Osika, also a two-year member.
“I just joined, and what I like is being in a group of ladies that look after each other and have a love of books,” says Sylvia Kulwicki.
Caring for each other is definitely a theme among the members, Melvin especially noted this last year. “When I was losing my husband, they all seemed to care.” She also makes it a point to sit by different people each month to get to know everyone.
When asked for tips if any communities are seeking to start their own similar book clubs, Melvin says the most important thing is to develop a mission statement. “What do you propose to do and why?” she asks. “I wanted to belong to a group that would talk about the books, not just gossip.”
One might think that a small town leads to more gossip, but Melvin loves living in the village. “You feel like you have a voice in Hilton. You can go right to the mayor!” She also finds that the schools are better because their resources are less stretched, and that it is easier to become part of a group.
The Hilton Book Guild has certainly proven that.
Guild members’ book recs:
Archmage by R. A. Salvatore
Arkangel by James Rollins
Chief Inspector Gamache Series by Louise Penny
The First Ladies by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray
Hillbilly Elegy by J. D. Vance
How to Age Disgracefully by Clare Pooley
Joe Pickett Series by C. J. Box
Molly Murphy Mystery Series by Rhys Bowen
The Pull of the Stars by Emma Donoghue
Top Dog: The Story of Marine Hero Lucca by Maria Goodavage
The Women by Kristin Hannah
Anything by Debbie Macomber
This article originally appeared in the May/June 2025 issue of (585).
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