History

1,000 BC – 1600 AD (Woodland Period): Native American culture begins to flourish in Central New York with the development of pottery/ceramics, cultivation of plants, development of permanent villages, and complex burial practices.  No known sites of this period were discovered at Timber Banks, however, a site was discovered nearby on Hicks Road during construction of Palmer Elementary School.

1795: Current lands of Timber Banks were given to Colonel Marinus Edward Willett for military campaigns such as the capture of Fort Frontenac during the French and Indian War, and the attach upon the British at Peekskill, and the siege of Fort Stanwix during the Revolutionary War.  Col. Willett also served on peacekeeping missions with the Creek Indians during George Washington’s Presidency.  Although Col. Willett owned the property, there is no evidence that he ever visited the site. (Pierce and Peltier 2006: 5)

1803: William Marinus Willett is born.

1807: Col. Marinus Willett elected as Mayor of New York City.

1825: Erie Canal opens

Ca. 1826: Reverend William Marinus Willett (son of Col. Marinus Willett) begins building the “Willett Farmstead,” a classic example of late Georgian architecture characterized by four chimneys, and classic interior decorations such as crown moldings, and ornate fireplaces.  It is generally regarded that Rev. Willett occupied the residence from 1826 to 1833.

Ca. 1833: Property is deeded to John Stevens.  Stevens is noted to have dressed in silk stockings, knee breeches and rode his horse at a dead gallop giving orders to all his laborers, fancying himself, perhaps, more as a plantation owner than a country farmer.

1862: John Stevens died and the property transferred to his married daughter Thankful Anderson, and eventually to Luke Collins in 1863.  Collins is an English immigrant who used the farmstead to provide meat supplies for his butcher shop in Syracuse.  Collins later becomes an Alderman in Syracuse.  During the Luke Collins occupation of the site, additional farm buildings are constructed.  The property remains in the Collins-Evans family until 1949.

1949 – 1961: Property is purchased by Mr. & Mrs. Huebenthal who proceed to restore the Willett Farmstead residence.

1961 - 1971: Absentee ownership of the property allows for decline of the Willett Farmstead.

1971: Despite valiant efforts from local residents, the Willett Farmstead is condemned and destroyed in a controlled burn exercise by the Belgium Cold Springs Fire District.

1971 – 2005: Timber Banks lands farmed and used for hunting by local residents.

2005 - 2006: Gary L. Pooler purchases the lands and begins planning and approval process for development of the 834 acre Timber Banks residential Golf Community.  Pooler works with local, County and State officials to rezone the property to a Planned Unit Development and develops a General Project Plan for the site.

2007: Final approvals and permits are granted by various local and state governmental entities such as the Town of Lysander, Onondaga County Water Authority, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, US Army Corps of Engineers, New York State Historic Preservation Office, NYS Canal Corporation, Onondaga County Dept. of Transportation, Onondaga County Department of Health, the Onondaga Nation, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service for necessary permits and approvals. Construction of the first phase of development at Timber Banks begins in Fall 2007.