HUMPHREY — Humphrey’s old general store, affectionately known as Tickletown, is undergoing a major overhaul.
In 2015, former owner Lois Hilton held an essay contest to win the store-turned-community center. When the contest ended in October 2016, a winner from Buffalo was announced, however, life happens and plans change.
The original winner backed out of the enterprise, and Tickletown was gifted to the second runner up, Dr. Joe Stahlman and his wife, Dr. Fileve Palmer. When the couple agreed to take over the center, they were teaching anthropology in Indiana, so they had to wait a year until their contracts were complete.
In August 2018, Stahlman and Palmer finally moved to the property located at 4484 Humphrey Road and, between consulting work, teaching yoga and volunteering, have slowly been renovating Tickletown.
Unfortunately, the wintry weather and snow prevented any significant renewal. Palmer said now that spring has arrived, big things are happening on the premises.
“We were going to do it ourselves and recruit volunteers,” she said, “but we are so busy that it made better sense to hire someone to do it right and quick.”
That’s when one of Palmer’s YMCA yoga students, Sue Schultz, owner of Cabinet World in Olean, referred the couple to Rick McFall.
Palmer said McFall, who “does it all,” is taking care of the demolitions that involve removing siding and taking down parts of the structure that are no longer sound. Palmer said she and Stahlman are excited for the work to be finished, so they can get Tickletown up and running.
Once the work is done, Stahlman and Palmer have big plans.
Along with honoring Hilton’s vision of community building and promoting local economies, the couple who have multiple degrees in anthropology and education are excited to put on educational events and workshops that bring people from all over to engage in creative discussions, promote health and wellness, as well as enjoy life.
“When the facility is ready, one of the traditions that will return is the Full Moon Pot Lucks where community members commune around food, music and festivities,” she said.
The couple also plans to offer yoga and meditations classes, as well as host history and culture talks and monthly juried art shows. Drawing on community expertise, two longtime “Tickletowners” have offered to run “fix-it clinics” to teach people how to fix broken appliances and furniture.
“The more people we meet, the more gifts they are willing to share to help the vision come alive,” she said.
To create more space, the old greenhouse that fell into disrepair was taken down — as was the side porch. The small pond on the east side of the facility was filled in by the town road crew to create parking, which was often a contentious issue for the neighbors.
“As walls come down, new spaces are created and old ones are reimagined,” she said. “While it currently looks a mess, sometimes you must destroy to reveal beauty, and that’s just what we are doing.”
In the spirit of the original owner, fundraising concerts using local musical talent are in the works, but Palmer said they want to open the venue for performances and workshops to alternative performing artists such as hula hoopers, dancers and comedians.
She said long-range plans include a farmer’s market.
For more information, updates and how to get involved, check out their new website, tickletowntrade.com or find Tickletown on Facebook.
(Contact press reporter Deb Everts at salpressdeb@gmail.com)
