restoration project gets underway From 1908 to 1931, the Buffalo, Lockport and Rochester Trolley transported people to and from school and work and also on pleasure excursions. Students in Gates rode the BL&R to Spencerport because Gates did not have a high school. Students attending Brockport Normal School (SUNY Brockport) and boarding in Spencerport also used the trolley for transportation. Now, in the 21st century, work on restoring the historic structure is about to begin. Carol Coburn, Town of Ogden Historian, says that there is an effort underway to restore the Spencerport Trolley Station and move it to its (approximate) original location. It will need to be moved up by the southeast side of the canal, but on village property. The structure now belongs to the village. Bernie Cubitt, chairman of the project, and Bud Nichols, construction supervisor, are holding an informational meeting on Saturday, September 20 at 1 p.m. to acquaint people with the project in general. The meeting will be held on site at the Amity Street extension in the pine grove. Coburn says that the Ogden Historical Society is hoping that some community organizations will participate in some of the fundraising for the project. There are members willing to talk to groups who might wish to help with the project. The hope is for the structure to be a visitors center for the canal travelers, possibly having bathrooms and showers. There might also be an historical display, tourist information and a small community meeting room. The entire structure is 17 feet by 40 feet. The cost of this project would be about $75,000 with $50,000 of that needed to move the structure. "A group of ambitious citizens have come together to rehabilitate what was once the Spencerport Trolley Station," Deputy Mayor Ted Rauber said. The original site of the Trolley Station is where our electric substation (on the plaza exit road) is located today. This group did approach the village to see if there was any interest in retaining a piece of its history. By coincidence, earlier this year our village planning board, under the leadership of Robert Garlick, chairperson, had already been engaged in the Canal Master Plan which calls for multiuse facilities which could house bathrooms, showers, a kiosk and provide an historical background for learning purposes," Rauber stated. The village's planning board has since toured the potential areas on which a building like this could be located," Rauber said. "The project is somewhat a leap of faith, but with the team working on it today, I have no doubt this project will be finished and in place somewhere for the public to enjoy." Anyone interested in helping or lending moral support should call the village hall and leave a message with their name and the desire to be part of this restoration project. |
The existing building retains many of the architectural elements of the original station. Submitted photo.