Carol Hannan was born and raised in Brockport. She had remembered attractive family homes lining the village streets. After being away for 10 years, she returned to find these homes turned into rental houses in neglected condition. “I was horrified by what I saw in the village,” she said.
That was about 12 years ago when she moved into her grandfather’s home on Main Street to care for him. She soon discovered that a house next door and one across the street were rentals with rowdy students frequently disturbing the neighborhood, she said.
Eventually she was able to buy those two homes plus the one on the other side of her grandfather’s house, which she now owns. She renovated those three inside and out and sold them as family homes. With all the houses she has since purchased and re-sold, she has broken even financially with no desire to make a profit.
It was for her renovation of a total of nine dilapidated village houses, and restoring them to family homes, that Carol was chosen for the Monika Andrews Creative Volunteer Leadership Award. With a unanimous recommendation of the selection committee, the award was announced in the February 1 meeting of the Brockport Village Board.
Pam Ketchum wrote one of several nominating letters to the selection committee. In part she said, “We have seen how she (Carol) has rolled up her sleeves and tackled difficult housing situations, turning houses and neighborhoods around from being derelict to desirable. The new home owners have maintained stable, inviting homes and carried on Carol’s tradition of pride for our village and concern for historic preservation.”
In addition to her physical labor, selection committee chairman Robert Westbrook said in the committee’s report, “… she has also worked tirelessly to preserve the stories of more than eighty homes by documenting their history – a demanding task of research and writing. Her genealogies of Brockport families have helped to win historic preservation status for Village properties…”
In the 52 State Street home she and her partner Harry Snyder are refurbishing, Carol took time out from her work for an interview prior to receiving the award. Asked about the skills she has acquired, she named many including dry wall taping and mudding. “I always get stuck with the ceilings,” she lamented, but, “I like finishing floors.” Other skills she has mastered are finish carpentry, tiling and painting. She also makes all the curtains and drapes.
Asked about the award she was about to receive, “It’s an honor. I never expected any honor,” Carol said. “My reward is to see families love to live in these houses. That’s my reward. I don’t need to make money; I’d rather make a difference.”
The Monika W. Andrews Creative Volunteer Leadership Award was established in 2012 as a memorial by three municipalities “to encourage, recognize and reward outstanding creative leadership by residents of the Towns of Sweden (including Brockport) and Clarkson who have served as volunteer leaders in improving the lives of their fellow citizens and the greater Brockport community.”
The Selection Committee consists of a representative of each municipality participating: Robert Westbrook for the Town of Sweden (chair), Linda Ketchum for the Village of Brockport and Kermit Mercer for the Town of Clarkson.
