by Maggie Fitzgibbon
Doreen Castano, Director of the Spencerport Depot and Canal Museum, and Ogden resident Jay Christian view an antique wooden wagon which Jay donated to the Depot earlier this year. “The wagon was given to me by former Ogden Supervisor the late “Bert” Stromquist. The wagon is made of wood, has rubber rimmed tires and was in two pieces. Bert told me that he didn’t have time to monkey with it and said that if I wanted it I could have it. I put a bolt in it and attached the handle to the tongue. I think the wagon was probably built in the late 1800s or early 1900s.”Located on the southeast bank of the Erie Canal in the Village of Spencerport is the Spencerport Depot and Canal Museum. This center welcomes summertime travelers along the canal and is a historic stop for visitors wishing to learn more about the history of the Spencerport/Ogden area.
Normally the Depot closes during the winter season, but new this year is a special slate of holiday activities during late November and into December that will keep the Depot open to the public. Doreen Castano is the director of the Depot. She, along with a team of 80 volunteers, staff the center. Castano and the volunteers wanted to open the Depot to offer holiday-themed activities for the community as a way to say thank you for the public’s support.
“This is our gift back to the community, a way for us to thank you for all the community has done to support the Depot,” Castano said.
Over the Thanksgiving weekend, November 24 and 25, the Depot will be open from 2 to 8 p.m. During the month of December, the Depot will be open on Wednesday and Friday evenings from 4 to 8 p.m. and on Saturdays and Sundays from 2 to 8 p.m. The Depot will be festooned with a variety of holiday decor including nutcracker figures, Christmas dolls, mangers, menorahs, Department 56 lighted villages and Kwanza-themed decorations. A lighted path of trees sponsored by area businesses will greet visitors. The Unique Shop, Spencerport Insurance, Brodner Equipment, Nothnagle Realtors, CDL Printing and Café Macchiato have sponsored trees.
Throughout the month, a tree inside the depot will be displayed. Visitors are asked to decorate the tree with new scarves, hats and mittens for both children and adults. “These donations will be given to the needy,” Castano explained.
The century old children’s wagon has a festive look with Christmas decorations, providing a focal point for the Spencerport Depot and Canal Museum’s upcoming program. It will be on display, along with other decorations, beginning the Saturday after Thanksgiving.The Depot will be open during Christmas on the Canal on Sunday, December 2 from 2 to 5 p.m. On this Sunday, visitors may craft a holiday card for a soldier. The cards will be sent to Armed Forces personnel who can’t be home for the holidays.
On Saturday, December 8 from 10 a.m. to noon, children ages 4 to 12 can create a Christmas ornament. The following Saturday, December 15, Santa and Mrs. Claus will visit the Depot from 1 to 3 p.m. Just for this afternoon, the reindeer will take a rest from escorting this famous couple. Santa and Mrs. Claus will arrive in style as a fire truck will safely deliver the couple to the Depot.
Members of area community groups will entertain Depot visitors with Christmas carols on Friday, December 14 beginning at 7 p.m.
A special guest, Joyce Lobene, the mayor of Spencerport, will read “The Night Before Christmas,” at children’s story hour on Saturday, December 22 beginning at 11 a.m. at the Depot.
Depot volunteers, along with other volunteers from the community, will staff the Depot during this holiday season. Some special guests may even be spotted.
“Who knows, visitors might even see some elves dancing around the Depot,” Castano said with a laugh.
All of these activities are free and open to the public, no registration is necessary. Tree sponsorships are also still available. For information about tree sponsorships or any holiday events, call the Depot at 352-0942. Check out their website at www.spencerportdepot.com, for updated information. The Spencerport Depot and Canal Museum is located at 16 East Avenue, in the Village of Spencerport.
