by Virginia Parker
Village of Spencerport Historian
Who are your Historians?
New York has employed a State Historian since 1895. Today our 16th State Historian is Devin Lander. You can listen to him on “A New York Minute” podcast. You also have local government historians. Carolyn Vacca, Professor of History at Saint John Fisher Collage, is the Monroe County Historian. The City of Rochester Historian is Christine Ridarsky of the Local History and Genealogy Division at the Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County. The Town of Ogden Historian is Jesse Diehl. He is a lifelong resident of Ogden and worked with the Town Historian Emeritus, Carol Coburn, for several years before her retirement. Supervisor Zale appointed him as Town Historian in January 2022.
And for the Village of Spencerport, let me introduce myself. My name is Virginia Parker. My parents moved us here in 1960. We lived in an EJ Parker built home up on what had been known as the Million Dollar Highway (Route 31). I have a strong background in Genealogy and have been a Jill of all trades with the Ogden Historical Society for the past nine years. Mayor Penders and the Board of Trustees appointed me to fill the vacant Village of Spencerport Historian Office in September 2021.
What does a Historian do?
NYS Historians are required to submit an annual report to the Education Department addressing their activities or involvement in exhibits or events, projects or preservation, and tourism. Many write for publication, are involved in educational programs, or make public presentations. Behind everything a historian does is research.
As an officer of the Village, my responsibility is to be open and fair to everyone. I am here to protect the heritage of our community. To date, I’ve been organizing, categorizing, and arranging the historical contents of the Village Archives, making it easier to share our history.
You might ask, “How do historians know which of today’s activities are going to be historically significant? What do we save? What do we document?” I guess the simple answer is everything, because the whole is the sum of its parts. That’s not a practical approach, but how else can we tell the story without prejudice or bias?
I think that a historian, to the best of their ability and resources, should acquire historical knowledge, protect those artifacts and documents left behind, share their knowledge, and continue learning from history. History should be documented, not just the celebrated or notorious, but everyone.
If NY has engaged a State Historian since 1895, why add Local Government Historians?
In the aftermath of WWI, our world was shattered; nothing was the same and there was Pandemic Influenza. Each community had its own unique people and their stories to remember. One person alone couldn’t record or care for it all. Today, nearly half of the 50 states in America employ local government historians. New York led the way. On April 19, 1919, NY Governor Alfred E. Smith signed Arts & Cultural Affairs § 57.07 creating the “Historians Law.” It was the first law of its kind, charging every County, Town, City, and Village in New York with the responsibility of gathering and preserving its own irreplaceable historical records.
Where can I find my Historian?
Jesse Diehl, Town of Ogden Historian, can be found at the Little Red Schoolhouse in Adams Basin. You can email him at https://Historian@ogdenny.com or call 585-617-6124 with questions.
I spend Monday mornings at the Village Office at 27 West Avenue. My email is https://Historian@vil.spencerport.ny.us.
Why do we need a historian?
I study history to know the past, engage in the present, and impact the future. History is important. Rice University, in Texas, defines the study of history as “to describe human interaction in context, NOT necessarily to justify, but to understand human actions.” Howard University, in our nation’s capital, describes history as a tool for critical thinking and learning. The University of Rochester echoes that sentiment. They teach history to cultivate essential skills in writing, research, and analytical thinking that will serve graduates in wide ranging careers.
I believe history is the retelling of what was once well known. It’s the study of the human past as it is described in the written documents and in the common artifacts left behind; using logical thinking to seek answers to all the “W” questions. It takes extensive research, good listening skills, and an inquisitive mind to bring the story to light. Then, not only ask “How?” but “What else was going on in the world?” and drop Spencerport into history. To quote one of my favorite podcasts, “Historians should speak for everyone who played a part. In the end you have a well-rounded, accurate, and unbiased, account of your community and its people.”
Knowledge of the past creates a sense of belonging and, most times, pride. History is a never-ending process; the present will one day become the past. We have the opportunity, if we choose, to build a future based on accomplishments.
How does the historian do their job?
First and foremost, historical knowledge and artifacts are to be organized, preserved, and protected for the future – our grandchildren’s grandchildren.
Solid, fact-based research is the foundation of any history-based story telling. Using today’s databases of old newspapers allowed me to correct the date on the photo of the dedication of Spencerport’s GAR Memorial in Fairfield Cemetery. The family immortalized in the Victorian Mourning Wreaths at the Ogden Historical Society have been identified as Mayflower descendants and have a family connection to the Phelps & Gorham Purchase. How many other Spencerport founding families are Mayflower descendants? A small cast iron toy ice truck tells the story of Harry Noble and his pond. He sold ice in Spencerport before household refrigeration was common and later provided a popular outdoor skating venue for the community.
You never know what you will find. I’ve recently discovered that during the American Revolution, part of my father’s family were Loyalists. What a double-edged sword. I guess out of the 64 paternal fifth great grandparents each of us have, it was bound to happen. You don’t always get nuts when you shake the family tree.
In Summary
The past WILL fade. Today, volunteers are few or aging out. Remember the Spencerport Ambulance, Lions Club or Christmas on the Canal? People visit museums virtually. All communities are experiencing similar circumstances. I do this to leave a legacy for our grandchildren and their grandchildren.
Coming up in 2026, the nation will commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The Town Historian, Jesse Diehl, and I are thinking about ways for Ogden / Spencerport to commemorate the 2026 Semi Quincentennial.
April 2023 is the 125th anniversary of the little remembered Spanish American War. I plan to remind the community of Spencerport’s part in this chapter of our national history.
Currently, I’m working on the history of the buildings in the Village. I’d love to hear your stories of Spencerport’s history over a cup of coffee. Email me at Historian@vil.spencerport.ny.us.
