LeRoy Pennysaver & News

LE ROY PENNYSAVER & NEWS - MAY 12, 2019 National Historic Preservation Month May is National Historic Preservation Month, a time when people across America celebrate their history, culture, and special places. Sponsored annually since 1973 by the National Trust for Historic Preservations, it is designed to raise awareness about the power historic preservation has to protect and enhance our historic communities. Route Five at the Stafford Four Corners around 1915: Pictured are the Odd Fellows Hall and Hotel. The Hotel burned in 1923 but the Odd Fellows Hall still stands. Created in 1976, the Stafford Four Corners is one of the earliest designated Historic Districts. To celebrate National Preservation Month, Cynthia Howk of the Landmark Society of Western New York, will give a walking tour of Historic Stafford on Sunday, May 19th at 2:30. The tour will begin at the St. Paul’s parish hall located on the south-east corner of Routes 5 and 237. In the case of rain, the presentation will take place in the St. Paul’s parish hall. The Stafford Four Corners Historic District is prominently located on Route 5, with thousands of motor vehicles passing by each week. Sunday will be an opportunity to slow down and examine some of the architectural treasures to be found in our midst. The Four Corners is a collection of five buildings from the 19th century. Each building is architecturally notable, representing several styles. The buildings have supported a variety of purposes over the years, including civic, religious, commercial, and residential uses. Stafford was the first permanent early European settlement on the Holland Land Purchase and has been continuously occupied since 1798. The Odd Fellows Hall, the remaining building seen pictured, was included on the list of 2015 Five to Revive important sites by the Landmark Society of Western New York. It was listed alongside two other Fraternal Meeting Halls in Western New York. The Landmark Society of Western New York annually publishes Five to Revive, a list that calls attention to five properties in our region that are in need of investment. Whether buildings, landscapes, or structures, they are significant historic aspects of our shared built environment whose redevelopment can become catalytic projects for the neighborhoods and communities that surround them. Among the most iconic buildings in American communities during the 19th and early 20th centuries were meeting halls for fraternal and social organizations. Groups such as the Odd Fellows (I.O.O.F.) drew thousands of members to their ranks. Meeting halls served as major venues for community activities. With changing times, many fraternal organizations have disbanded or have dwindling membership and financial resources, leaving their historic meeting halls in jeopardy. An important cultural and historic resource, these buildings have great potential for adaptive reuse. Historic preservation isn’t just about the past: preservation is revitalization – preservation creates local jobs, stimulates investment, increases tax revenues, and builds sustainable communities. Buildings with architectural significance are not only found within the Stafford Four Corners Historical District. Buildings all along Route 5 in Stafford illustrate the growth and development of Genesee County. A mixture of farms, residential homes, and small businesses show the story of settlement and economic development in our area as we live, work, and gather together to form a community. What is historic, and worth saving, varies with the beholder. Simply put, “historic” means “old and worth the trouble.” It applies to a building that’s part of a community’s tangible past. And though it may surprise cynics, old buildings can offer opportunities for a community’s future. The preservation of historic buildings is a one-way street. There is no chance to renovate or to save a historic site once it’s gone. And we can never be certain what will be valued in the future. This reality brings to light the importance of locating and saving buildings of historic significance – because once a piece of history is destroyed, it is lost forever. Throughout our state, economic development is a major goal for public officials and business leaders. But New York’s most visionary leaders are taking another path that offers a significant competitive advantage. They are using historic preservation as a central component to long-term economic development. There are examples of these endeavors throughout our region. Besides being a source for local business development, a specific historic place is one of the main reasons for travel to an area. It might be a historical building or a museum, a cultural event or festival. The Jello Museum in LeRoy is one such location. Heritage tourists travel to unique destinations. Their adventures take them to destinations that are often off the beaten path. Travelers who participate in historical and cultural activities are a lucrative and fast-growing market. Moreover, historical and cultural travelers spend much more than other travelers do, contributing to the local economy. Come see some of our shared historic heritage along Route 5 in Stafford on Sunday, May 19th at 2:30.