IBM Glen History
Foreward
It's difficult to separate the IBM Glen history from the history of the surrounding area, especially during the period in which IBM owned different parts of the land and expanded different areas. The peak IBM footprint goes far beyong the Glen itself.
Chronology
You can find much of this at the Kiosk at the IBM Glen, I've added to it as I've learned new information, well new to me.
1828-1918: The land was part of a 350-acre farm purchased by Arthur Gray. On his land, a hillside rising 1,300 feet above sea level harbored already famous for its sylvan thickets and tranquil beauty. During Gray ownership, visitors continued to be welcome at "Grays Glen".
By World War I: Ownership of the property had passed to Hiram Mintz. He not only permitted picknicking on the hill, but allowed the public to cultivate the farmland for war gardens.
1919: Eliot Spalding*, the treasurer of Endicott-Johnson Corporation, purchased the entire parcel. Editorials in the newspapers raised "grave concerns" about the preservation of Grays Glen and the timber tracts that included some of the finest pine, hemlock, hickory, and butternut trees to be found anywhere around. The uproar subsided when Spalding constructed a lavish mansion on the crest of the hillside and kept the surrounding lands intact. The mansion was home to Mr. Spalding, his wife, Beatrice, and daughter, Elizabeth Rosalie.
*Note: Some sources have Eliot Spalding as Elliott, or Elliot, and last name spelled Spaulding.1925: The Masonic Fraternity purchased the estate for $100,000 and operated it as the Kalurah Country Club. They built the original 9-hole golf course and turned the mansion into the Masonic Clubhouse.
1935: The declining economy of the Great Depression compelled foreclosure proceedings by the early 1930s, and was acquired by IBM. The 18-hole golf course was designed and constructed by golf architect, John Van Kleek in 1937. IBM built the IBM Country Club around the former Crocker House. The mansion became "The Homestead".
Since the 1930s, the glen has been known locally as "The IBM Glen". It is a small ravine surrounded by forest north of the Homestead. The IBM Glen is the finest glen in Broome County.
1940s: In the glen, a carefully-built trail with natural stone steps and bridges, including two stone arch bridges, was built in the 1930s or 1940s as was a blacktop road. Stone fireplaces and picnic tables were placed along the road at frequent intervals. The road follows the rim of the glen all of the way around and back through a mature forest of maples and huge, dark green hemlocks interspersed with tall oaks, and occassional white pines three feet in diameter that tower over all. The forest close to the stream is classified as an old growth forest. It is important for people in this area to see these old trees. There are many oaks, maples, beech, and other trees in the surrounding forest. The IBM Hundred Precent Club meetings were held at the IBM Homestead with attendees staying in "Tent City", which doubled in size for the 1941 event to be made of 500 two-man tents along with a dozen service tents. Running water and electricity were provided. In 1942, Thomas and Jeanette Watson direct the construction of the stone bridges and hiking trails in the IBM Glen.
1950s: At the Country Club a new addition added a field house, dedicated May 5, 1951 and on June 30, 1954 a new pool is added. Meanwhile at the Homestead, construction of an expansion is started in 1957. IBM also built a log cabin in, I believe 1950, to serve as a pre-school for children of IBM employees. This functioned as a school until closed in 1996. It can still be seen, but sits outside the IBM Glen (off Waterman property). Rumor has it Santa has some elves working in the cabin now. At least that's what I tell children when hiking.
1960s: On June 17, 1960, a flash flood destroyed most of the bridges and trails along the stream.
1980s: IBM closed the gates to the IBM Glen to prohibit vehicular traffic. This increased the attractiveness of the area for hiking and cross-country skiing.
1990s: IBM changed the name of the country club to the Heritage Country Club and began allowing non-IBMers to join. The IBM Homestead closed as a training facility in 1995.
2000: In July 2000, IBM announced their intention to log the glen. Due to public outcry, the plan was cancelled in December 2000.
2004: In 2004, the country club was purchased from IBM by the Homestead Development Group, a local group, and renamed "Traditions at the Glen". The sale specified that 205 acres including the glen be donated to a group to be designated by IBM.
August 2004: IBM Glen was donated to the Fred L. Waterman Conservation Education Center in Apalachin. The donation did not include the forest to the east of the glen. There is concern that this land could be developed and we hope it will be preserved.
2005: Watson Industries purchased the IBM Country Club building including the red-brick Crocker house.
2006: June 28 flood damages the lower part of Hemlock Lane. In Grays Creek, a wall and path were washed out.
Chenago Land Trust 2006 Land Stewardship Award given to the Friends of the IBM Glen.
November 15 flash flood changes Grays Creek.
Parking lot constructed with help of Bill Walsh and many volunteers.
2009: Two culverts replaced by Dan Carlin.
2023: October work begins to clear land to expand the parking area. Volunteers clear trees and prepped for work based on design from Delta Engineers, Architects, and Surveyors. The original parking lot will be paved and open year-round. When complete, the expansion will be open outside of the winter months.
Maps
Below are some maps that may be of historical interest.
IBM Country Club Brochure (~1950s?)
This one is out of a short brochure for the IBM Country Club. Since the brochure mentions swimming and the map includes the field house, I believe this would be after 1951 and the expansions. Curiously, this map lists Pine Street as the road running east-west connecting Barton Avenue. There are many streets in the Fairmont Park area named for trees, but I couldn't find a "Pine". Today, I believe that would be Beech Street. Also, note that the map shows both a Country Club Road (as today) but also a Country Club Drive which we know today as Maple Lane trail.
The brochure that included this map also listed the activities of the Country Club at the time between two seasons.
Fall & Winter activities: Archery, Art, Ballet classes, Ballroom Dancing classes, Basketball, Baton Twirling classes, Billiards, Bowling, Bridge, Ceramics, Chess, Children's Club, Dances, Glee Club, Model Car Slot Racing, Moview, Photography, Pistol, Rifle, Shuffleboard, Table Tennis, Tap Dancing classes, Touch Football, and Volleyball.
Spring and Summer activities: Archery, Baseball, Chess, Field Trials, Golf, Handicrafts, Hiking, Horseshoes, Playground, Skeet, Quoits, Softball, Swimming, Tennis, and Trap.
The map above gives a rough idea of where the current IBM Glen is relative to the historic map. No cartographer was consulted so property lines are not 100% accurate.
IBM Homestead & Park Brochure (~ Before 1950)
I found someone selling this brochure online. It doesn't have a date on it, but it does have an IBM "form number" (20-5621-0 - seen on back cover)! But since the expansion to the Country Club isn't shown, nor the Log Cabin, I'm assuming it's prior to 1950. You'll also note that here, the IBM Glen is called the "IBM Park" which is the first time I've seen it referenced that way. The brochure when unfolded to reveal a map on one side and some pictures on the other is 11" x 19.5".
Front Cover - "Approach to the IBM Homestead and Park". I believe this is taken from Watson Blvd looking up at the Homestead.
Back Cover: " A waterfall in one of the picnic glens north of the Homestead. I am going to try to validate if this is the main falls upstream from the stone arch foot bridge (aka kissing bridge).
Above you see the IBM Homestead building. The 1957 expansion isn't shown, so another hint as to the date. Caption is "Overlooking the upper Susquehanna Valley about two miles east of Plat 1, the Homestead is a guest house for members of IBM customer classes meeting in Endicott, New York"
Three pictures from the "Views from Rim Trail". Parts of this trail are outside the current IBM Glen.
To the Left, Top, "Eastward up the Susquehanna Valley toward Johnson City and Binghamton", the trees were shorter back then. And the plaza with Home Depot, Ollies, YMCA, etc isn't there. You do see the IBM Country Club in lower right of this panaramic view.
Left, Bottom Left, "Southward to the Endicott IBM Country Club"
Left, Bottom Right, "Westward toward Homestead and Endicott". Do you see Tent City?
The other side is this beautiful map. Again, remember a good portion of the Rim Trail is not part of the current IBM Glen property (the part that juts out to the east like Cape Cod).
You'll see Gun Club Road which might seem like an odd name apart from IBM used to have a Gun Club on the west side of Robinson Hill road (off iBM Glen property today). The Club building has since been torn.
I mentioned Tent City previously that's where 500 two-person platform tents sat. Used for sales conventions.
This map also shows a little icon for lots of picnic areas. If you look close when hiking you can still see a couple stone fireplaces and occassionally a stub of a pipe where grills were.
The description also talks about the paved roads. The main trails/roads were open to cars at one time. There were some spots where the traffic was one-way.
There are two curious things from this map. The first is the illustration that appears some areas are forested and other areas are not. Some of this area was farmed and a lot of trees had been harvested in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Many of the trees in the steepest areas were protected from the axe because that would not have been easy to extract. The other curious thing is in the southwest corner of the map, you see "BARN". Thomas Watson Sr. liked horses and had a number of farms. At one time, the IBM Security in Endicott road horses. Some IBM farmland would become another park, Highland Park.
