Spencerport Depot & Canal Museum

01/10/2020

Spencer decided to stay out of the wind in January!

Where is he visiting in this photo?

01/02/2020

Spencer decided to stay indoors lately!

Where did he visit this time?

12/22/2019

Spencer visited the Fairfield Cemetery and the Spencerport United Methodist Church in December.

The present day Spencerport United Methodist Church building was constructed in 1870-1871. The church was originally named the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Spencerport, and was established by combining several nearby 'units' and by building a small church here in 1838.

The Fairfield Cemetery is named as such because Fairfield was the name for this area prior to the Town of Ogden's incorporation in 1817.

12/11/2019

Here is the 2nd ‘Where’s Spencer’ photo for December!

Where did he visit this time?

12/08/2019

We are set up ready for #Christmas on the Canal! The Christmas music is playing and the heat is on.

Come in and make a Thank you card for the troops and do some Christmas craft!

#spencerportny #christmasspirit

12/02/2019

Where's Spencer this time?

Post your comment before the 22nd of December!

We will be announcing a winner soon!

11/25/2019

Happy Monday, for all you #ErieCanal fans, here is your Canal update!

#spencerportny Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor NYS Canal Corporation

11/22/2019

This month Spencer visited Texas BBQ Joint and was near the Boetcher Lodge at Pineway Ponds Park!

The Texas BBQ Joint building is a great example of 19th century architecture and has been home to several food establishments including Diehl’s Bar and Grill and Bruckner’s Bar and Grill.

The Boetcher Lodge in Pineway Ponds Park was named after former Town of Ogden Director of Recreation, Glen Boetcher. He was instrumental in transforming mostly vacant land into the Pineway Ponds Park.

#wheresspencer
#ogdenhistory #spencerportny Ogden Parks and Recreation
Texas Bar-B-Q Joint

11/18/2019

Spencer is a very happy bear! His prediction about the canal draining were true. He also likes to see his duck friends!

#eriecanal #spencerportny #ducks

11/18/2019

11/16/2019

Spencer would like to report that the Canal has definitely been drained. He thinks there maybe be a little more to be drained.

He is keeping an eye on the situation!

11/14/2019

Spencer would like to report that not much water has left the Canal in the last 24 hrs.

He’ll keep you updated!

11/13/2019

11/12/2019

Spencer and I went on an adventure today to photograph for next month’s Where’s Spencer.

He struggled to walk through the snow, made a snow angel and nearly got trapped in one of my footprints.

He dug himself out though and is warming up at the Museum!

11/12/2019

Where’s Spencer this time?

The more specific your answer the better your chances of winning a prize in December!

#WheresSpencer #spencerportny #spencerthemuseumbear

11/06/2019

Spencer isn’t a drinker but is very good at looking after my beer as shown in the latest edition of Where’s Spencer!

Please submit your answer before November 22nd. The more accurate your answer the more chances you have to win in our December prize drawing.

#WheresSpencer #spencerportny

11/06/2019

Spencer is sad... Now that the Museum is closed for the season, the year end tasks got in the way of telling people where Spencer is this month.

I will post the first picture later today!

10/31/2019

Spencerport Depot & Canal Museum's cover photo

10/30/2019

Thank you to all of my new friends for being a part of our Pumpkin People Community. 52 people built them and 184 people voted!

The votes are in and the most voted award goes to Spencerport Cub Scout Pack 92!

Second place went to the Ogden Historical Society - Ogden, New York

We will be announcing the other award winners soon!
Love, @spencerthemuseumbear!

10/30/2019

Simon finally let me be in one of his silly @facebook videos to make up for not taking me to see the big fancy locks in Lockport!

#bearymad #spencerportny #ErieCanal #nyscanalcorp Spencer Bear

10/30/2019

10/26/2019

Historian shares details about unearthed time capsule in Highland Park

Spencer is trying to work out how to use the switchboard to tell his friends about the time capsule that was found in Highland Park?

https://13wham.com/news/local/historian-shares-details-about-unearthed-time-capsule-in-highland-park

10/26/2019

Fun Fact: Today marks the day 193 years ago when the Erie Canal officially opened!

On October 26, 1825, the Original Erie Canal was completed. Over the past 194 years, it has been enlarged and re-routed, but the Erie Canal remains the longest continuously operating canal in the United States. We are proud to work together with you as stewards of this iconic waterway, preserving its extraordinary heritage, scenic beauty, and recreational assets for the next two centuries and beyond!

10/24/2019

It’s been a busy year for animals visiting the Museum!

I caught a blue heron resting on the roof and by the creek.

#canallife #spencerportny #canalbirds @ Spencerport Depot & Canal Museum

10/23/2019

We are finishing our Pumpkin People Community early, due the effects of the rain we have had lately!

Thanks to all those who have voted so far!

You have until 3pm this Saturday 26th to get your votes in.

10/23/2019

Where’s Spencer?

This month, Spencer visited the Homesteads for Hope Farm Store and the Gazebo at the American Legion Ferris Goodridge Post 330.

Were they your guesses?

Did you know that while the Legion Post began 100 years ago, it wasn’t until 1945 when they occupied the space they are presently in on Trimmer Rd? Prior to that the building was the district school building.

And did you know that the Homesteads for Hope farm was owned by the Cromwell family until the 1970s when the Brongo family purchased it? “Uncle Bob” Brongo, as everyone knew him, operated a successful U-Pick farm. His niece, Jenny, wants to continue the family legacy with a community farm for people of all abilities.

We'll have a big announcement next month, so check our posts from time to time!

10/23/2019

A fun fact thanks to our friends at ECHNC!

On this day 200 years ago, the canal boat, Chief Engineer of Rome, made the first public trip on the Erie Canal. It journeyed from Rome to Utica, with festivities and celebrations taking place along the way. (October 23, 1819)

A Utica Resident submitted the following letter to the Albany Daily Argus, describing events:
The last two days have presented, in this village, a scene of the liveliest interest; and I consider it among the privileges of my life to have been present to witness it. On Friday afternoon I walked to the head of the grand canal, the eastern extremity of which reaches within a very short distance of the village, and from one of the slight and airy bridges which crossed it, I had a sight that could not but exhilarate and elevate the mind. The waters were rushing in from the westward and coming down their untried channel towards the sea.... The interest manifested by the whole country, as this new internal river rolled its first waves through the state, cannot be described. You might see the people running across the fields, climbing on trees and fences, and crowding the bank of the canal to gaze upon the welcome sight. A boat had been prepared at Rome, and as the waters came down the canal, you might mark their progress by that of this new Argo, which floated triumphantly along the Hellespont of the west, accompanied by the shouts of the peasantry, and having on her deck a military band. At nine the next morning, the bells began a merry peal, and the commissioners, in carriages, proceeded from Bagg’s hotel to the place of embarkation.

[Elkanah Watson, History of the Rise, Progress, and Existing Condition of the Western Canals in the State of New-York (Albany: D. Steele, 1820) p.80]

Learn more about the Erie Canal's incredible history: www.eriecanalway.org/learn/history-culture

Photo: Baggs Square, Utica, 1823.

10/19/2019

Will the Canal be emptied this Winter to...

10/18/2019

Spencer Bear and I would like to welcome the 99 new page likers who have begun following us in the past month!

There are only a few days left to check out our 2019 exhibits including a Kodak Camera displays and many historic telephones from days gone by.

We hope to see you at the Museum some time soon!

10/17/2019

We hope to see you this weekend for the Ogden Historical Society‘s biggest fundraiser of the year!

If you haven’t got your tickets yet, you can purchase them here: https://bisesqui2017.yapsody.com/event/index/460711?ref=directory_search

10/16/2019

Did you enter our 2019 photo contest? If you’d like to have your displayed photos, drop in to the Museum to collect them!

10/16/2019

The Canal closes today but we are still open until the end of October (someone has to wake Spencer up for his shift to keep the pumpkin people safe!)

Have a great fall!

10/11/2019

Thanks to everyone for their offers to donate a new flag to the Museum!

Our new flag is now proudly hanging on the building.

#communityspirit #spencerportny #someplacespecial

10/10/2019

Support our friends at the Ogden Historical Society by attending this fun event! Tours start and end at the Museum. Call Joel on 585-503-2021 for more information or head to: https://bisesqui2017.yapsody.com/event/index/460711/spirits-of-spencerport-2019 to purchase tickets.

10/10/2019

Our American flag suffered a windy year and needs to be replaced!

Does anyone have a flag they’d like to donate to the Museum to be proudly flown on the building?

10/10/2019

Where's Spencer?

Leave your comment below. The more description, the more likely you are to win!

Check back on October 22nd for the correct answers for this month!

10/08/2019

The community is all lit up! Come and vote for your favorite.

10/07/2019

Here are some photos from our Pumpkin People Community Construction Day last Saturday! Thanks to the following organizations and people for participating: Spencerport Cub Scout Pack 92 , Spencerport Kiwanis (Meg Smith and Kristen Smith), Ogden Historical Society - Ogden, New York (Renee Berbeneciuc and Dawn Cosgrove) Rachael Holley and Andy Holley and Spencerport Girl Scouts (Laura Zigarowicz and Jamie Grafe Newell).

10/05/2019

And just like that the community has grown! Another person will join tomorrow but there’s still room for more of you want to help it grow...

10/05/2019

10/04/2019

No this isn’t a cross, this is a stand for our pumpkin people!

We still have 6 or so pumpkins left for you to build a pumpkin person for our community. Construction starts tomorrow.

Please call (585) 352-0942 or email: [email protected] for more info!

https://www.facebook.com/events/741773209569544/?ti=icl

10/01/2019

Here is the latest photo from Spencer's Adventures around Ogden!

Where is Spencer this time? Because you are so good at this game, let's make it harder. Can you describe the specific location Spencer visited?

Please check back on October 10th for the next photo!

09/30/2019

Congratulations to all of our 2019 Ogden Photo Contest winners:

Adult
First Place: Fields of Gold – July by Anne Peck
Second Place: Splash in the Park by Kathy Pricola
Honorable Mentions: Union Street Bridge Detail by Carlos Gonzales and Calming, In More Ways Than One by Ray Kuntz, Jr

High School
First Place: A Cozy Corner by Ali Snarr
Second Place: Symmetry by Riley Fiege
Honorable Mentions: Coffee Conversation, Looking Around and Walk in the Park by Shannon Ruppert

Middle School
Just a Yorkie in a Tree by Gabriel Ouimet
Second Place: Beautiful View by Erick Ouimet
Honorable Mention: Last of Summer by Erick Ouimet

Elementary School
First Place: Touch the Clouds by Maria Holley,
Second Place: Sisters on the Erie Canal by Maria and Nora Jane Holley
Honorable Mention: The Purple Flower by Nora Jane Holley

Prizes can be collected by contacting Simon on (585) 352-0942 or emailing: [email protected].

09/25/2019

It’s always a delight to see when the east dock here in Someplace Special is full for the night!

Only the second time this year by my count.

09/25/2019

Just uploaded more of the photo contest entries on Facebook under the 2019 Photo Contest Album? I lost track of which ones I uploaded, so apologies if there are any duplicates.