And what a job it was. Thanks to the efforts of a few volunteers and board members the task was finally completed. The old schoolhouse that was donated to us was dismembered, prepared for the six-mile trip, moved and re-erected this past Fall on GSC grounds. It will eventually be furnished with period school desks and furniture and used as an interpretive and learning center. The period structure - over 130 years old was originally built in a typical mortise and tenon fashion which made the dismantling a bit more convenient but nontheless quite a task. The third picture above shows a close-up view of a typical beam and the handcrafted peg holding the jont together. 




Another effort put forth this past year was the completion of the front of the museum entrance area being paved with historic bricks once used on the main streets of the village of Canastota. The over 100-year-old bricks were excavated and donated by the town to the GSC. Above is a photo of our President Mike Patane shown cleaning and preparing the bricks for installation. Headed for a land fill, the locally hand-made bricks were destined to never be seen again and we're extremely pleased and honored to have them recycled and showcased in such a manner at our Center. Though much of the work was done by Mike, he had the tireless help of volunteers and it took many man-hours to complete.

Stop by and step on a piece of local history.

The front of the building has had much work done this past Fall and Winter, including new doors and windows, log siding, stonework and is starting to look much like the artist's concept shown below.



The Great Swamp Conservancy, Inc. • 8375 North Main Street • Canastota, NY 13032 • Phone 315 697-2950

www.greatswampconservancy.org • e-mail: gscincny@centralny.twcbc.com