The relocated Trolley Depot looks very much at home on its canalside site in Spencerport village, not far from its original location of years ago. It is nestled between the parking lot and the canal bank just about seventy-five feet from its original location where the electrical substation now stands. The building given by the late Maxine Davison “for the good of the community” dates back to 1908 when the Rochester Lockport and Buffalo (RLB) trolley line was opened. It operated from 1908 to 1931. The trolley served local communities stopping many places where trains did not stop. Local people rode the trolley to work, school, college and for fun. The idea to save the depot belongs to Bernie Cubitt, a trolley and railroad enthusiast, of Spencerport. He solicited the help of Ogden Telephone Company owner and co-founder Davison and then Bud Nichols, a preservationist from Adams Basin, to make his dream come true. “I feel most honored in having the opportunity to provide leadership in restoring and beautifying the Spencerport RL&B Depot,” Cubitt said. “Every resident of Spencerport can be very proud of the depot as it is being restored and made into a building of use and beauty. It will be a “must-see” stop for all canal bikers, hikers and boaters traveling through Spencerport.” Once a committee of like-minded community members began to meet and restoration began, the project became a grassroots effort to preserve an important piece of the history of the community. Many volunteers worked under the leadership of Bud Nichols. “At last, we are in the final stages of completion on the trolley depot,” Nichols said. “With the exterior of the building and the decking complete, plus the lower level bathrooms framed in and the electric lines installed, we are now ready for interior walls and trim to be added. The depot will be accessible and open for tours on Spencerport Canal Days. We hope to be completed by late fall and open for public use,” Nichols said. The Village of Spencerport has been instrumental in coordinating the many tasks necessary to officially make the depot a part of the canalside neighborhood and to ensure that it will assimilate into the village plan for waterfront development and the long range planning process, Ted Rauber, Deputy Mayor of Spencerport, said. “This project continues to be the focal point of activity in our village. When completed, it will be a legacy for everyone to enjoy. We are encouraging everyone to help in some way.” After deliberation, the use for the newly restored building has been determined to be threefold: •First, as a visitor center for canal (and other) travelers, it will house restrooms and shower facilities for canal travelers spending the night at the waterfront “tie-ups” and it will feature display shelves provided by the Ogden Spencerport Area Chamber of Commerce, that feature brochures highlighting things to do and businesses in the Ogden/Spencerport area. •Second, as a satellite branch of the Ogden Farmers’ Library, the building will provide for a “walk-in” library for area residents and travelers alike. The library will feature a periodical collection that will encourage use of the building by those patrons who wish to “sit a spell and read,” a small collection of books (hopefully, some of which will be loaned to travelers who may then return them by mail or by returning them to a library at another spot along the canal), as well as computer internet service for those wishing to stay “connected” while traveling through town. The library will be furnished and operate in the manner of its 1908 predecessor. There will be a card catalog of holdings, and the furnishings will reflect the Arts & Crafts era that is represented in photographs of the former library which was upstairs in a main street building over the fire department headquarters in 1908. •Third, as a museum, the depot will house small collections of local history with the depot restoration and library decor being the largest displays. Other initial displays will highlight subjects such as Ogden’s one-room school houses, canal topics, the Ogden Telephone Company, the old Whipple bow bridge, school buses through the years, and of course, the story of the restoration of the depot. “As the village and town historian, I am excited about the impact this museum will have on the development of heritage tourism in our town. We are fortunate to be a canal community and to work with the State of New York on the development of heritage tourism along the length of the great Erie Canal. I encourage everyone in the community to make a contribution to this exciting project,” Historian Carol Coburn, stated in a press release. Coburn said the project would not be possible without the help of the over 25 community volunteers who have given thousands of hours and thousands of dollars of in-kind goods to the cause. The encouragement of Assemblyman Bill Reilich’s office also helped the project along and the recently awarded Governor’s New York State Division of Coastal Waterways grant will help considerably, she said. More help is needed Support may also be given to the project by those wishing to purchase a video record of the restoration. The Depot Committee has a DVD consisting of eleven videos about the project available at the Ogden Farmers’ Library, the Village Hall and the Town Hall for $15. Questions regarding the library at the depot may be addressed to Patricia Uttaro, Director of the Ogden Farmers’ Library at 352-2141. Donations or loan of items for display in the museum can be arranged by contacting Carol Coburn, Ogden/Spencerport Historian at 352-3444. Submitted by Carol Coburn Ogden/Spencerport Historian April 30, 2006 |
