Plans for Brockport's visitor center
and Erie Canal museum move forward

The dream of many to see Brockport be home to a visitor's center and museum is moving ever forward.

Ray and Ute Duncan, co chairs of the Brockport Canal Revitalization and Walkable Communities Committee, wrote in a letter to the editor that the timing for the moving ahead with Brockport's new visitor's center couldn't be better. "The new visitor's center is right on target and perfectly timed part of the village's six-phase master plan to develop the downtown canal area," they wrote.

Mayor Josephine Matela and a 21 member committee have been working towards the purchase and renovation of a 100 year old building on Clinton Street that would serve as a canal museum. The building, at 60 Clinton, was built in 1895 and housed the Hiel & Barnett farm implement factory. During its history, it has also been home to a timber storage facility and had been used by Birdseye before being sold to Fay LaDue in 1948. LaDue operated a gas station and car repair shop in the building. The business is still in operation as an auto repair business and is being run by LaDue's son, Charles.

"We are working hard to save the property," Matela said. "It is our goal to save as much of the original building as possible. We want to preserve and protect it for posterity."

The village's historical artifacts are now stored in the second and third floors of the village office building. "It's packed with very important artifacts and they are being degraded each year by the lack of heat in the winter and air conditioning in the summer," Matela said, explaining that the temperature differentials cause the degradation of the historical pieces. The present location is also not open year round and is not handicapped accessible. "It would be nice to have a year round museum that schoolchildren could come and visit."

Money for the project is coming in the form of grants from various donors. There is a New York State Parks grant in the works that would likely bring in more than $350,000. There is also a grant application submitted to Congressman Tom Reynolds' office for $140,000 and the village is awaiting a $1.2 million grant for the total rehabilitation of Clinton Street. "We're looking to upgrade the street, sidewalk and the lighting," she said. "We're looking to raise any remaining funds from corporate and private donations - not through taxpayer money."

The Duncans wrote, "What makes the visitor's center so feasible is that its funding is in place. No additional taxes are required. We look forward to our visitor's center as a way to attract tourists and shoppers especially as Brockport celebrates its 175th anniversary.

While the museum committee has made great strides, there has been some dissension among its members. Inga Songbird, who has been on the committee since April 2003, recently resigned. Songbird is also a four year member of the village's Preservation Committee and took exception with an architectural rendering of the completed project which would have destroyed the original wooden structure of the building. "I take my position on the Preservation Committee to heart and I feel that these buildings are real jewels," she said. "I have a huge reverence for stone structures that reflect our direct history to the Erie Canal and I am passionate about preserving it."

In a letter, Songbird said she would love to see fundraising take place in the fashion of an old fashioned barn raising. "I envision people coming together who share their imagination, who are quantum leap thinkers ... anyone who has a special talent or gift to bring to the table should be invited to help bring this dream to fruition."

In her resignation letter to the museum committee board, Songbird wrote: "I fully realize that no wealth or position can long endure, unless built upon truth and justice; therefore I will engage in no transaction, which does not benefit, support and honor all whom it affects ... My resignation from the museum board is with deep regret."

Both Matela and Scott Winner, the village planning board chairman, said they are trying to determine the viability of the property for development, adding that they feel the location will make a great place for a museum, a bed and breakfast, micro-hotel or office space.

In a letter to the editor, resident Helen Smagorinsky, a renowned painter, and Brockport resident, said that a visitor center could be used to "showcase made-in-Brockport items, display the work of community groups and provide a meeting place." Smagorinsky said, "This is our chance to promote Brockport and make it a 'must stop.' "

The building is listed on the state register of historic places and is expected to be listed on the federal register in April.