A new sign now graces the front entrance to the Brockport Museum & Library of Local History at 51 State Street, which until recently, displayed the name, The Emily L. Knapp Museum & Library of Local History. The new name better reflects the museum’s mission as a showcase and repository for items from Brockport’s rich past.
The building itself has a story, which is worthy of being told, from its earliest days to the present for residents new and old who enjoy reading and learning of Brockport’s history.
Built in 1824 for Pelatiah Rogers, the home became the property of William H. Seymour, an industrialist and one of Brockport’s early inventors. When Pelatiah decided to move west, he traded the house with William in exchange for money Pelatiah owed him. The stately house was later featured in a novel called Roger’s Folly. For unknown reasons, Mr. Seymour and his wife rented out the house for ten years before making it their home.
Upon William’s death in 1903, his home passed to his children, and was eventually inherited by his youngest son, James Horatio Seymour. James lived in California much of the year but visited Brockport frequently and stayed in the house, which was maintained by loyal servants. James left his family home to the village of Brockport, along with $25,000 in trust to establish and maintain Brockport’s first public library. The new library opened its doors to the public in 1934.
While he still owned the home, his cousin, Helen M. Hastings, convinced him to allow her to create a local museum in five rooms on the second floor. She asked local residents and friends to donate furniture, documents, artifacts, and items of historic significance to fill the rooms.
The museum opened to the public in 1945. Over the years, it has expanded to encompass many rooms on two floors filled with unique and important artifacts and file cabinets containing documents from Brockport’s history.
Many local residents still speak fondly of spending time at the original warm and friendly Seymour Library and recall stepping up to the counter to check out their books with the help of the first librarian, Florence Collier, who was paid $65 per month.
After Helen Hastings’ death in 1953, the museum sat idle until Emily L. Knapp brought together a committee of local residents who kept it open to visitors. Emily was knowledgeable about Brockport’s past and wrote books and stories about it. She could often be seen on any given day pulling along her cart filled with a slide projector and screen on her way to a presentation. Upon her death in July of 1997, the museum again deteriorated, in spite of the efforts by dedicated volunteers who kept it open.
By 2012, new interest in Brockport’s history and its museum brought together a large team of volunteers who spent 11 years cleaning, painting, organizing, filing, and fashioning new displays. Every room has been revamped to create a museum Brockport’s residents can be proud to show off.
Volunteers continue to keep the museum open to the public. With greater outreach, interesting events, and newspaper articles, word of Brockport’s beautiful, organized and welcoming museum has spread.
It’s now visited by people from across the United States and beyond. Almost monthly, museum staff receives online requests for information from descendants of people who once lived in and walked the streets of early Brockport.
The museum has open hours on Sunday from noon to 2 p.m. and Tuesday from 6 to 8 p.m. Those who would like a private tour should reach out to the Village of Brockport, 637-5300, to be connected with a volunteer tour guide.
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