The Ogden Historical Society has undergone a “transformation” of late which is “breathing new life” into both the Society and Ogden’s Colby-Pulver House Museum, Ogden Historical Society President David Haines says.
The Society has a new Board of Directors who took over the reins last fall following the passing and resignation of former members.
In addition to Haines serving as president, Linda Tague is serving as vice-president, Glynne Schultz is secretary and Don Lenhard is Historical Society treasurer.
Also on board is Judy Stewart as collections chairperson.
Haines says Stewart has spent “40 hours a week cleaning, re-arranging and cataloging,” at the museum, which opened for the summer in early June.
The museum is currently open Sundays 1 to 3 p.m. (with the exception of July 4th and Labor Day weekends), and admission is free.
“What’s unique about the whole thing is that it is a cooperative venture,” Haines explains. “The house (c.1811/12) and a barn sit in Northampton Park (568 Colby Street near the Route 36, Washington St. intersection) which the county owns and maintains.”
The Town of Ogden provides support to the museum in the way of financial help, Haines says and the “Ogden Historical Society maintains the collection and adds to it.”
“The biggest thing we need to do,” Haines says, “is to let people know we’re here and to get more members and volunteers.”
He says much work has been done to make the house an enjoyable and educational place for visitors. Town Historian Carol Coburn has been working to train docents to give tours of the house and the main floor is now completely open and decorated with antique furniture and accessories so that it looks like a period home.
“We’re tickled we could get the downstairs open,” Haines says. “Judy put everything back. There’s a real parlor and a real dining room.”
The parlor has a music area, for example, and the dining room features a quilting bee and a corner with antique toys.
Other improvements to the museum include a new roof, furnace and dehumidifier. Electric lines have been run to the barn and the Historical Society hopes to use the structure for displays.
Students from Spencerport High School recently spent five hours cleaning and organizing two rooms in the barn. Haines says the Historical Society has the Pulver sleigh in its collection as well as the Spencerport Star newspaper’s printing press. He hopes students at RIT might be able to assist in bringing it back to working order.
Tools will eventually be displayed in the barn, Haines notes. He explains they were formerly housed in the museum, but that room has been transformed into a display of the old Austin’s Drug Store (apothecary). The display includes an extensive collection of medicinal bottles as well as information on what the contents might have been and pharmaceutical drugs of the day.
In addition to all the work on the museum, the historical society is currently working with the Gates Historical Society to organize a Rochester historical tour which would include the Hinchey Homestead in Gates, lunch at the Adams Basin Inn and a stop at the Colby-Pulver House. Haines and his wife operate the Inn, itself an area historically significant building situated on the side of the Erie Canal.
The tour would cost $20 and be limited to a maximum of 22 people, Haines says. Call 352-1586 for information regarding the tour as it becomes available.
The Historical Society is working to obtain non-profit status which would help in qualifying for grants.
“We would love to have an accountant to help us with the process,” Haines says.
The Historical Society is also in need of many other volunteers, he adds, to help with staffing of the museum. He would like to see the hours it is open expanded to include Friday and Saturday in addition to Sunday.
“I think of us as the little museum that could,” Haines says. “The board has lots of ideas.”
Period landscaping has been installed around the exterior of the house thanks to an Eagle Scout project and Haines says Elaine Berner is president of the newly formed Colby-Pulver House Federated Garden Club which will “do gardening of all the grounds,” Haines says. Group members will work to restore a rock garden along the east side of the house and are also “planting a kitchen herb garden which would have been done in the days when the home was part of a working farm,” he explains.
Ogden’s Bicentennial will be celebrated in 2017 and Historical Society members are in the beginning stages of planning for the event.
Haines says one special event will be planned each month through 2017, including a ball. Anyone interested in taking part in the planning process can call Haines at 490-4751 or Carol Coburn at 617-6127.
Don Lenhard was chariman of the town’s 1967, 150th anniversary and Haines says he will be a great help in planning for the 200th.
It has already been decided that the Historical Society will have a table at Canal Days, Haines says, “…selling historical items.” A special society membership deal with also be available at that time.
Donations to the museum are welcome, Haines says. Annual membership in the Historical Society is $10 for an individual and $15 for a family. The membership dues “help us out financially,” Haines says.
Photo by K. Gabalski
