Interpretive panel “Historic Churches in Downtown Brockport” dedicated in Sagawa Park “Museum Without Walls” brings local history into the community
Sagawa Park on Main Street, Brockport, now displays an attractive and informative panel with photos, graphics and facts entitled “Historic Churches in Downtown Brockport.” The interpretive panel was dedicated on Saturday, October 19, as a gift from the Brockport Community Museum to the Village of Brockport. Allan Berry, chair of the Museum, made the presentation to Mayor Margay Blackman.
The interpretive panel was produced by the Brockport Community Museum which is a “Museum Without Walls.” It names the sponsors who paid for the panel as the Presbyterian, United Methodist, Baptist, Episcopal, Catholic, Free Methodist and Lutheran churches in Brockport. The panel is one of six existing interpretive panels describing the history of Brockport village, the surrounding township and Erie Canal.
How did the “Museum Without Walls” get started? The Brockport Community Museum was chartered by the New York State Education Department in 2002. The organization originally pursued a traditional museum building, desiring to restore the historic stone and frame structure at 60 Clinton Street, last used as a car repair shop. Feasibility studies by an architectural firm and a past president of the Landmark Society gave estimates as high as $4 million, plus yearly maintenance.
Faced with the daunting expense for a stone-and-mortar museum, the Museum Board displayed its ingenuity by conceiving of a “museum without walls.” Its genius is to bring the museum to the people, making it accessible and affordable to the public. “By placing historic materials in prominent sites throughout the village, the museum makes its presence very evident and brings Brockport’s history forcefully into the lives of its residents,” the website states.
Another feature of the interpretive panels is the sponsorship by local organizations whose proud history is displayed. The organization pays (or multiple organizations share) up to $1,500 for the installed panel produced by the Brockport Community Museum. It’s an investment in community education as well as promoting organization history. Other themes and sponsors on interpretive panels are: “Public Education” in front of the Middle School, sponsored by the Brockport Central School District; “Higher Education” on the front lawn of Hartwell Hall, sponsored by the College at Brockport; “Fire Fighting in Brockport” on the West Avenue fire hall of the Protectives Inc. No. 1, sponsored by the Protectives; and, “Fire Fighting” at the Market Street headquarters of the Brockport Fire Department, sponsored by BFD.
In some cases a third party provides the funds, such as the panel “Canal Commerce in Brockport” on the south east side of the Main Street canal bridge paid for by Brad and Lance Alexander at the Express Mart and Northside Service Center.
In the near future, an interpretive panel on “Main Street in the early 1900s” will be dedicated in front of the Bittersweet store at the corner of Main and Market Streets. It has been paid for by the Hill School 4th graders in Ms. Wanzer’s and Ms. Jungbluth’s classes selling calendars depicting historic Brockport.
By bringing the museum to the community one sponsored panel at a time, the Museum Committee also enjoys financial simplicity and efficiency. “The amazing thing is we don’t have a budget and we don’t do any fundraising,” Allan Berry says about the panels that are prepaid before installation. The museum organization is uncomplicated, too, with a multitude of “friends” enlisted and guided by Museum Committee. Besides Berry, committee members are: George N. Dahl, Norman J. Frisch, Kory Hunsinger, and Karlene VanDeusen. “We are a small group, but we are moving as quickly as possible,” Berry says about the different projects under way.
Interpretive panels are just one of four components of the “Museum Without Walls” bringing local history into the community. There are nine interior display cases throughout the area containing museum artifacts, photos, and information about local history. There are also ongoing interviews of citizens taking place as a means of preserving local history. Eventually the interviews will be recorded on the website. The website for the Museum contains extensive information atwww.brockportcommunitymuseum.org.
(Editor’s Note: Read about other components of the “Museum Without Walls” in future editions of Suburban News and Hamlin-Clarkson Herald from freelance writer Doug Hickerson).
Photos by Dianne Hickerson
10/27/13
