Notes from the past … Ogden/Spencerport
A monthly look at the area's history

by Carol Coburn, Ogden Town Historian

Ogden/Spencerport residents past and present reminisce about a favorite winter pastime - ice skating.

We arrived at the pond with skates slung over our shoulders and feeling quite grown up and proud of our skating abilities. Remember Noble's Pond? The practical business use of the pond, to cut and store ice for the coming warm weather, is far overshadowed by the romantic recollections of the young people who gathered at the frozen pond to skate. What an entrepreneurial spirit possessed the Nobles as they worked to make use of their investment.

Noble's Pond was at the end of Noble Drive off South Prospect Street, an easy walk or skate for most kids in the village. If you were lucky and lived along the creek, you could skate all the way to the pond. While sitting on handmade benches, the skaters laced up their skates and adjusted their hats and gloves.

All the aspiring Sonia Henneys and future hockey players spent their time after school and weekends skating on the pond. It was just 15 cents to skate all evening or all day on the weekend. The little ones would "crack the whip," while the more mature, Sonia Henny-types practiced their routines with grace and aplomb. Many a young man dreamed of playing for a famous hockey team. The pond was lighted at night and music played just like it did for the pros. Great fun was had by all. Everyone collected their skating tickets to proudly wear on their parkas or skates as proof of payment and skating prowess.

When you were thoroughly frozen through and your toes felt as if they would fall off, the smell of homemade cookies and cocoa called to you. Mrs. Noble's homemade cookies and cocoa were available in the shed around the pot belly stove. These refreshments and warm fire would hold you over until you had to hurry on home to your warm kitchen for dinner.

I wish to thank the members of the Tuesday Group at the Senior Center, Jeannette Zarnstorff, Fred Holbrook and Gay Lenhard for sharing their stories about Noble's pond with me.

Anyone who has a local history story and/or pictures to share, can submit it to the Ogden Town Historian, 269 Ogden Center Road, Spencerport, NY 14559.

Next month: The Trolley - call Coburn with recollections: 352-3444.