“Save the Wall”
A mission of historic restoration within the community
Photo courtesy of Co-News Editor Brooke Klugewicz
A short distance away from the SUNY Geneseo campus, an unmistakable stone wall begins. It sits in front of the historic Wadsworth Homestead, acting as a “gateway into the historical Geneseo National Historic Landmark District,” according to the Association for the Preservation of Geneseo. 14 years ago, a group of historians including Kurt F. Cylke, John White, and William Wadsworth decided to begin their mission in restoring the wall; it is now expected to be finished by next year. Anna Kowalchuk, Project Coordinator and Director of the Livingston County Historical Society Museum, described the restoration of the wall as a “gateway to our community” during an interview with The Lamron.
The Wadsworth Homestead was founded over 200 years ago by Jeremiah Wadsworth. The Wadsworths were originally from Connecticut, which explains why the wall has distinct New English construction origins. He entrusted the homestead to his cousins, James and William Wadsworth, where they made a lasting impact on the town. They were elected to local governing positions and continued expanding their property. The wall was constructed in the 19th century and is “1 million stones and a mile long,” as Anna Kowalchuk stated. Throughout the generations of the Wadsworths, the homestead has been expanded upon and continues to represent a piece of history.
Visit Geneseo says, “In 1991 the entire Historic District was designated a National Historic Landmark by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior, one of only twenty communities in the country. Even today there are only 24 Historic Districts that have been so honored.” Since it is such a unique honor to be named a Historic District, it has become increasingly important to conserve Geneseo’s history.
The late Kurt F. Cylke was the Project Coordinator of “Save the Wall,” and worked in SUNY Geneseo’s Sociology Department for 32 years. During his time at the school, he served as Chair for both the College Senate and Sociology Department. His passion for the Geneseo area founded his interest in starting the community-based project of rebuilding the wall. His wife, Anna Kowalchuk, has stepped into the role of Project Coordinator since his passing in 2023.
The wall’s rebuilding has been conducted in three different phases. The project was started in 2012 and consisted of 475 volunteers through 2015. A section of the wall was completed during this time and the volunteers worked towards preparing the wall for restoration. From 2016 to 2019, volunteers completed the south portion of the wall and started working up until the gates on Elm Street. Phase three—the restoration of the final sections of the wall—started in 2020 and will be completed next year.
“Save the Wall” owes its success to its project leaders and the many supporters it has garnered. Kowalcuk has estimated that the project has accumulated around $150,000 in donations, and has had around 100,000 volunteers work on it. Donations have come from a wide range of sources, including The Association for the Preservation of Geneseo, annual mail fundraising, alumni, residents, and other supporters.
The Association for the Preservation of Geneseo (APOG) works towards the restoration of Geneseo and strives to educate others about the historical significance of these places. The Emmeline Wadsworth Memorial Fountain and Big Tree Inn are other notable projects under APOG. “Save the Wall” is separate from APOG in terms of fundraising money, but Kowalchuk mentioned how grateful they are for APOG’s help and their generous donation of proceeds from a wine and beer event they hosted.
Anna Kowalchuk also described how crucial it is to maintain the original state of the homes from the time period of when the wall was constructed. Student housing has proved to be a challenge when it comes to conservation because of poor management, lack of care, and desire for modernity. Despite this, many others still care for the historic importance of the houses and do their best to maintain it. Kowalchuk spoke of her own house and said, “My house looks the same as it did 100 years ago. My house was built in 1888…I’m going to try and keep that character…and I feel like a lot of people do in the community.”
When Kowalchuk was asked why the restoration of the wall is important, she answered, “When you see a crumbling wall, what does that say? When you see a beautiful wall, it says something different, you know, we care about our community.” The town of Geneseo receives so many visitors, whether it be for historical or educational reasons, and the wall is an important symbol of what the community stands for.