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Photo provided by Steuben Trust
Jim Knapp, SVP-Retail Sales Manager, Marcella Bledsoe, VP and Manager
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WELLSVILLE: Starting 2018 with proof of generosity and community spirit, Steuben Trust Bank gave a $1,000 boost to Allegany County’s Fassett Green Space Project in Wellsville. Marcella Bledsoe, VP and Manager in Wellsville, said, “Steuben Trust is delighted to support the redevelopment of South Main Street in Wellsville.”
That spot on South Main was a different place in 1870 when Isaac Fassett built his grand hotel there on
a plot of land that had already seen 4 decades of commerce and was the site of some
of Wellsville’s early town meetings. The Fassett house was meant to last,
architecturally demanding to endure, proclaiming those demands with brick
exterior walls encasing thick interior firewalls. Isaac Fassett didn’t intend
to allow a repeat of the 1867 fire that devastated Wellsville’s Main Street. Having
survived for over 130 years, the building was brought down in 2005 by leaky
water pipes and, despite the 1870 efforts, a fire 
In the first centuries of the
Village of Wellsville, community spaces were located inside of structures. In
our time with this project, the community will be invited to an open space with
crops, a living maze, and people sitting, talking and feeling at home.
Cassandra Bull is president of
AFRA and with Andrew Harris and Andy Glanzman makes up the energizing core of
AFRA. Harris had the original idea for the community food garden, a shared
growing space for crops and acted as water carrier for flowers, rhubarb, garlic
and more catching the attention of AFRA. AFRA has changed the focus and now all
board members are focused on creating a “greenspace” with a garden and with
installations such as a meditation labyrinth, a mini theater area, and annual
gardens to create a space that would be open to and welcoming of social gatherings
and educational programming.
At this point, support for the
project has been voiced by WIC, the Wellsville Creative Arts Center, Cornell
Cooperative Extension, Wellsville Central School, Wellsville YMCA, Total Senior
Care, ASC, the Wellsville Chamber, Immaculate Conception School and the Village
of Wellsville. In addition to today’s donation from Steuben Trust Bank, other sizable
donations have been made or pledged by Alco Federal Credit Union. K. S. LaForge
Disposal, Allegany County Area Foundation, the Wellsville Rotary, Patricia Ann
Kuzma, The Searle Family Estate and the Garman Family Foundation through the
Community Foundation of Greater Buffalo.
More donations are needed for
construction (slated to begin in April), operation and the unpredictable,
surprise expenses that are part of any large project. Donations of any size can
be made online at www.youcaring.com/thefassettgreenspace
where more information is posted. Another source of information is on Facebook
at The Fassett Greenspace. If you prefer paper over the internet, checks may be
made out out to Art for Rural America ( or just AFRA Greenspace) and mailed to
130 North Main Street, Wellsville, NY 14895.
AFRA
Board members are available to attend your group's meeting to answer questions
and provide information. The Allegany Arts Association will host a
presentation about the Fassett Greenspace Project at their January meeting. If
your organization is willing to host a representative and learn more about the
project, contact them through ArtForRualAmerica@gmail.com
or at 585-808-0385. If you are willing to add some time and muscle to make this happen, get your work gloves ready and give us a call.
