We know the barn at the Colby Pulver House is very old and has been leaking for many years. More than leaking, really, there was a man-sized hole in the roof. All of that has changed. On June 23, a contractor hired by Monroe County, the barn’s owner, patched and sealed the barn roof with an aluminum-based product. We can’t wait to see the new roof’s reflection “by the light of the silvery moon.” Thank you, Monroe County. Now, on to fixing the foundation!
History is the telling of what was once well known. Last summer, at the Colby Pulver House, the OHS volunteers re-discovered and uncovered the stacked stone foundation of the original Colby / Arnold barn. This summer, an archeological dig will get underway to see what can be unearthed. If interested in helping, contact us through Facebook, Ogden Historical Society – Ogden, New York.
One hundred and eleven years ago, the original lift bridge was built to carry Union Street over the canal. A tower was also built for the bridge tenders to watch over the canal and raise the bridge as needed. In the late 1960s, that tower was set to be destroyed in order to build a new, one-story, brick building for the bridge tenders to operate the bridge from. The tower was saved and relocated to the Colby Pulver House. The canal remained behind. Last summer, the Village of Spencerport, the tower’s owner, replaced the roof, scraped the outside, and gave it a new coat of paint. The Village of Spencerport Historian will be available at the Colby Pulver House during an open garden event on July 22 and 24 to answer any questions about the Bridge Tender’s Tower. Thank you, Village of Spencerport.
Before cars, people got around in wagons or sleighs in the winter. In the collection at OHS headquarters is a 19th-century work sleigh. Last year, the good folks at Liberty Hollow assisted us in its restoration. They cleaned and painted it and discovered clues to its origin. Today it’s a work of art that would make a great Christmas photo setting for your family. Thank you to Bob and Ed from Liberty Hollow.
There is plenty to see inside the Colby Pulver House, too. This year the parlor is set to give you a glimpse into Victorian mourning customs.
The Colby Pulver House, located at 568 Colby Street, Spencerport, is open on most Sunday afternoons from 2 to 4 p.m. Please stop by and see for yourself.
The Ogden Historical Society
Photos by Karen Fien
