Ralph Byron Spicer

Born: May 4, 1898

Died: February 12, 1972

CCHS Pres. & Vice Pres.

Ralph Spicer was instrumental in the property purchase and renovation of Ward School No. 2 school house on Rexford St. for the new location of the Chenango County Historical Society and Museum. In 1968, as president of the society, Spicer announced the start of a fundraising campaign for a new roof and general repairs to the museum. Collection boxes were placed throughout the county and were used for a membership campaign and to receive donations for the new roof. His goal was to keep the museum structure in first class condition and maintain it for optimal operation. A year earlier, in 1967, Ralph and other society members did the preliminary work needed to install a furnace in the building so that CCHS could hold tours in the winter. He was proud of the extensive representation of various time periods in the county’s history within in the museum and often held open houses to encourage the community to learn about the society and it’s future goals. In 1969, Spicer donated the cabinet work for Indigenous History display at CCHS. At the time of his death, Spicer was a trustee for CCHS and Chairman of the Building Committee.