Owego Street Extension
Spencer, NY 14883

The Gem of Spencer, NY

History

Spencer Village before Nichols Park Pond

John Avery Nichols, came to Spencer with his mother as a boy in July 1855 and purchased around 67.5 acres in and around the current Nichols Park location.

About 1860 he laid out a park and planted spruce trees while letting the virgin pine trees grow. There was a little pond with a boat and a summer house on the shore. Nichols died in 1885.

Sabin Park

A. Rev. E.N. Sabin purchased the property soon after 1900 and proceeded to improve and clean up the park. He planned a driveway around the pond, wide enough to allow two teams side-by-side, making it necessary to fill in the old road across the swamp. That would raise the water some three or four feet higher so it would cover about 4 acres of ground. He raked off and sowed grass seed along the path that led through the park and along the walk on Tioga Street. The park was then referred to as Sabin Park, but Rev. Sabin requested that it be known as Lindenhurst Park.

The Village buys the park

Myron C. Seely purchased the property in 1906 from Rev. Sabin for $2000. In 1919 Mr. Seely announced that he was going to cut timber in the park. It was at this time that the people of the village voted to buy the park. This was the first year that the Big Picnic was called Spencer Picnic and the income from the picnic was used to maintain the park.

Tree planting

Many trees and shrubs were planted in 1922 for beautification of the park under the supervision of Professor Mutineer from Cornell University. Birch trees and other varieties were planted at this time. The grandstand was built also around this time and could potentially qualify as a structure on the Historical Register.

Over the years, the village obtained the title of the land that contains Nichols Park.

Creating the pond

Around 1963, a community improvement program was conceived by the Spencer Grange to drain the pond and make it deeper compliments of a $10,000 prize awarded by the Sears Roebuck Foundation.

The venture continued over a two year period, resulting in an attractive 8-acre lake in midst of the rural community. In 1998 a beautification committee was assembled and inthe summer of 1999, the brush around the lake was cleared away thanks to an effort under the direction of Dale Weston.

Timeline

Nichols Park Pond Beautification Committee reorganized, inherited $100. from Spencer Chamber of Commerce.
Committee cleared brush and removes fence by S-VE Middle School.
Spencer Picnic fundraising kickoff / Donation received from Tioga State Bank $5,000
Grant received from Tioga County Senior Citizens Foundation $3,000.
Conceptual landscape plan developed in collaboration with Cornell University Dept. of Landscape Architecture students was approved.
Village acquired 38 West Tioga Street property for the project creating additional pond edge access and potential south entrance location.
First tee shirt sale fundraiser launched.
Walking easement at 44 West Tioga Street donated by Waino Salmi creating additional pond edge access.
Mildred Faulkner Truman Foundation grant of $8,300. received to acquire a professional survey and site plan for Nichols Park Pond and its perimeter.
SVE Community Service Corporation agreed to serve as a 501(c)(3) umbrella for the Nichols Park Pond Committee facilitating.
Survey field work completed by T.G. Miller and $900 was donated as in-kind.
Second tee shirt sale fundraiser launched. Committee won 1st place for “Go For the Gold” float in Spencer Picnic Parade.
Trowbridge & Wolf complete site plan and preliminary budget, $2901.50 was donated as in-kind.
Walking easement at 40 West Tioga Street, 42 West Tioga Street, 22 North Main Street donated by Dale & Joan Weston creating full pond perimeter public access.
Fountain purchased and installed, Totalily Water Gardens donated $1480 as in-kind.
New York Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation $328,750. grant awarded.
Phase 1 and 2 Archaeology Surveys complete, required for NYS grant and DEC permit.
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation permit issued.
Senator Thomas Libous signed grant for $25,000.
Grant received from Park Foundation $5,000. Grant awarded from Mildred Faulkner Truman Foundation $25,000.
Party at the Pond held to promote project awareness and environmental appreciation as well as to raise funds. Pond Monitoring initiated to promote environmental awareness and promote student involvement. Items submitted for Spencer Time Capsule to be revealed in 100 years.
Cornell students volunteered to help clear brush from south side of pond.
Removed barn board donated by Ray Kalwara for covered bridge. Second Party at the Pond held encouraging community support.
Grant received from the Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning Area $15,000.
Village agreed to cover the cost of the TG Miller Engineering Plan not covered by the NYSOPRHP grant $14,532.
Lee & Sharon Haefele donated stock valued at $104,431. Temporary Construction Easement voluntarily signed by landowners affected by the project: AA Dairy, LLC, Daniel Cunningham, Spencer Emergency Squad, George & Henry Blaasch, S-VE Snowmobile Club.
Engineered plans for covered bridge received from Jason Bellis
Project awarded to Dakksco Pipeline Corporation for dredging at $449,544. & RMS Gravel Inc at $179,200. for the retaining wall. PROJECT BEGINS!! Excavation commenced on the south side of the pond. Village rented an excavator and bulldozer, Tioga County DPW provided operators as in-kind. Dakksco unloaded barge into pond, began the dredging work.
1ST Annual Four Seasons Fundraiser held at Turkey Trot Acres. “Spring’s Arrival at Nichols Pond” by Ron Kleiber unveiled, purchased by Tioga State Bank.
RMS began work on retaining wall.
Upon attempting to remove barge from the pond, crane tipped over with its boom falling into the pond. Considerable excitement and activity ensued! Two additional cranes were deployed to lift the crane out of the pond. Dredging completed.
Retaining wall completed.
Landscape planting plan & draft plan for memorial bench placement was developed. Lee & Sharon Haefele donated an additional $49,710.81, Tioga State Bank donated $5,000. toward a gazebo.
The spoils site on the AA Dairy property was covered.
2nd Annual Four Seasons Fundraiser held. “The Gathering” a painting by Ron Kleiber commemorating the 1st Spencer Picnic in 2010, was unveiled, purchased by Tioga State Bank. Machine brush clearing began on the south side of the pond in preparation for the full perimeter trail. Volunteers constructed trail, community members immediately appeared and began using it!
Lee & Sharon Haefele donated an additional $37,868.
Trail was topped with additional stone dust by Tim Loso to improve accessibility.
Trees and shrubs purchased by the Village were planted on the North side of the pond by Tom Kozlowski and the S-VE soccer team. Concrete footers for the covered bridge were poured by volunteers. Damaged drainage pipes on the south side of the trail were replaced.
!nspire became our 501(c)(3) sponsor after the merger of the SVE Community Service Corporation and The Youth & Community Foundation.
Party at the Pond & Spencer Splash ! fundraiser.
Landscape plantings were made by memorial benches
Covered bridge construction began with all volunteer crew led by Donald Brock.
Arbor Day tree planting at Brown memorial bench, trees donated by Southern Tier Nursery & Landscape Association.
Concrete installed for gazebo and benches.
Gazebo construction with all volunteer crew led by Donald Brock. Ceremony held for dedication of covered bridge and trail to honor Lee & Sharon Haefele. Members of Covered Bridge Society attended. Pond stocked with 60 grass carp.
CPA audit of NYSOPRHP grant and site inspection performed resulting in final NYS approval.
CPA audit of NYSOPRHP grant and site inspection performed resulting in final NYS approval.
Spencer Splash ! fundraiser held at Spencer Picnic.
Recognition of Wayne Myers and Donna Brown for devotion to the Project including rebuilding the historic stone wall, establishment of a perennial garden with “SPENCER” built from stone, installing “Evenrude” and a butterfly, planting perennials by the covered bridge, and performing ongoing site maintenance.
Dedication of Eino Alve’s memorial bench was held recognizing his commitment to the project beginning in 1960’s.
“Weston’s Dock” installed by “underground” Committee activity, Dale & Joan totally taken by surprise!
Four Seasons Fundraising Event held at Lions Camp Badger, “Fall” and “Winter” paintings unveiled, purchased by Tioga State Bank.
Lights purchased for the fountain with donation from Dave & Barbara Lanning.
Tribute to Louis Johnson held at the Pond.
Addition of stone dust to the trail in front of the retaining wall was performed by Naturescapes.
Fountain repaired, cables replaced due to beaver/muskrat damage.
New fountain installed, supported by donations from Tioga State Bank, Lee & Sharon Haefele, Pete White, Anonymous donor, and Spencer Senior Citizens.
Electric cable to gazebo and dock buried, receptacles installed and inspected.
Trail rehabilitation fundraising effort began with the assistance of Abbey Ortu, Tioga County Community Development Specialist. Estimates were obtained to address deterioration, drainage issues, re-establishment of ADA accessibility.
Trail renovation by JDL Excavation is completed around Nichols Pond Park.
NicholsParkPond.com released, donated and built by Flock Finger Lakes.

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