Notes from Brockport and Sweden/January 2002

The Historic Preservation Board met on Tuesday, January 7 at the Morgan-Manning House in Brockport. Much discussion focused on the work of the Erie Canal Revitalization Committee which met later that afternoon. The following report brings updates.

The Canal Revitalization Committee, with cooperation from Mayor Josephine Matela, has submitted a grant to the Local Government Program (CLG). Bill Andrews, a member of the committee as well as of the Historic Preservation Board, was the key writer of this grant. The grant is designed to fund a study on how best to revitalize the south side canal area between Smith and Main Streets in ways that will attract boaters and spur economic growth. These objectives are part of the Master Plan adopted in 1995.

In the meantime, Brockport Mayor Josephine Matela is in contact with Canal Corporation representatives on how best to expedite canal wall repairs on the south side between Main and Park Streets. The village received a $15,500 CLG grant to complete part of Phase Two of the Master Plan that focuses on the south side area between Main and Park, but the canal wall must be repaired before this project can proceed.

Due to New York state's financial difficulties, Canal Corporation funding has been slowed. In an effort to assure that Brockport's canal wall repairs are funded as quickly as possible, Mayor Matela has been working closely with the offices of Senator George Maziarz and Assemblyman Charles H. Nesbitt, in addition to Canal Corporation officials in Buffalo and Albany.

"Clinton's Ditch" was the genesis of Brockport's early growth and prosperity. It is hard to imagine the fervor with which early community leaders lobbied to secure the waterway route. In fact, leaders hoped that Brockport would be the terminus, thereby further stimulating the growth of commerce and trade in the village.

(This column, a special feature of Suburban News and The Herald, runs monthly to report on a variety of activities which impact the historic heritage of the Village of Brockport and the Town of Sweden.)