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What has the Wickwire family done for the Cortland Community?
Even though Chester Wickwire was a busy gentleman who was involved in his business, he participated avidly in community organizations. He also felt that it was his responsibility to promote a better standard of living for the townspeople. Here are some of the ways that the Wickwires “gave back” to the Cortland community:
- Chester served on various committees to improve the community’s facilities.
- In the late 1880’s, Cortland’s streets were paved and the sidewalks were built. The slag used for paving the streets was a gift from the Wickwire Brothers Inc. The company even had the slag crushed and made ready to use.
- Chester also helped set up The Franklin Hatch Library Association Inc.
- Chester participated in local political affairs including signing petitions.
- Chester was a leading figure in the improvements of the public work systems.
- Chester was also active in the construction of a new hospital and helped plan the design. Unfortunately, Chester Wickwire died before it was ever completed.
- Chester’s son, Charles, saw to it that the Wickwire family continued their participation in the new hospital’s construction. When the hospital was completed in 1891, the Wickwire family donated $100,000 to the facility.
- In 1897, due to the growing bicycling fad, a cylinder path was completed with the help of Wickwire Brothers who donated and delivered the cylinders needed for the path.
- Ardell Wickwire, Chester’s wife, was a member of the Cortland Library Association and belonged to the Women’s Auxiliary of the Y.M.C.A. A year later, she was elected to the associations finance committee. In 1886 she headed the fund raising program of musical and dramatic entertainment. Like her husband, she believed it was important to participate in civic activities in the community.
- Later on, Chester’s son, Charles C. Wickwire, donated sufficient funds to Cortland for the construction of the pool on the Suggett property. The pool opened in July of 1946.
Sources:
Deligato, Yvonne. The Wickwire Family and The 1890 House. May 1982. Biography. Cortland County Historical Society, Cortland.
Wickwire Brothers. N.d. Document. Cortland County Historical Society, Cortland.
Wickwire Pool (#wwpool) 