Pettus Hill Preserve

Prior to his death on November 15, 2013, Charles “Chuck” Pettus bequeathed his beloved property in Windsor to the Waterman Conservation Education Center as a nature preserve. In 2016, the 105.9 acres were officially designated a conservancy and named the Pettus Hill Preserve. A grand opening was held on May 19, 2019. The Pettus Hill Preserve stands as a testament to Charles Pettus’ love of and commitment to nature and his community. As Pettus stated in a 1984 Binghamton Evening Press interview, “Living is my hobby. I enjoy life. I enjoy sharing things and helping other people. I think the future is bright.” 

 

Charles was born in 1933 in Homesteads, PA, a small town near Pittsburgh, PA.Even as a child, he developed a strong sense of responsibility, empathy for others, and a love of music. When Chuck was 12, his father passed away, leaving him - the eldest of three children - the role of “head of the household.” He took the responsibility seriously, looking out for his two younger siblings John and Mary Naomi, in addition to taking on various odd jobs, including a paper route for the Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph. Chuck also secured jobs for his siblings.

 

After graduating from high school in 1951, Chuck saved up enough money, working as a janitor in a steel mill to pay for his education at the University of Pittsburgh, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Arts. He later received a Master’s Degree in Physics and Civil Engineering from Binghamton University. After completing his studies, Chuck worked briefly for the Rome Air Development Corporation (RADC), specifically at the Griffiths Strategic Air Force Base. The Center focused on radar development at the beginning of the Cold War. In 1955, after working for six months at RADC, Pettus applied for a job at IBM, when he heard that the company was seeking qualified candidates in physics and engineering. He became one of the first African American employees at IBM, where he worked for the next 37 years, until his retirement in 1992.

 

Chuck had a strong work ethic; he constantly improved his skills and got results. During his career he received the IBM First Level Invention Award. He was also awarded a number of patents, the first one in 1964 for a Magnetoresistive Storage Device. Another patent was in the field of color photography. In 1980, Chuck was elected Chapter President of the Broome County Professional Engineers Society. He was the first African American to hold this position in New York and worldwide.

 

Chuck was often lauded for being ahead of his time. In a 1981 Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin article about the impact of  automation on society, Jerry Handte stated that “Chuck was an individualist and a visionary” who had a “huge imagination about the future.”  As Chuck’s younger brother John reflected in 2024, “I lived in my brother’s shadow. He broke down barriers and led the way!”

 

In addition to his strong professional career, Chuck had many hobbies, including music and fitness. His mother instilled a love of music in all her children at a young age, and Chuck carried this particular interest with him throughout his life. He played clarinet with the Homestead Band from 1946-1951. He also entered competitions in clarinet and saxophone, as a member of the Forensic and Music League, a historical competitive organization that hosted state-level contests for high school students in disciplines including: speech, debate(forensics), and music. Charles continued his pursuit of music by playing in local bands, namely: the IBM Band, Windsor Town Band, Southern Tier Concert Band, and Maine Community Band. Chuck also sang in choral groups and participated in the Broome County Council of Churches Festival of Praise. 

 

Pettus had a unique approach to fitness and healthy eating. He believed that proper diet and exercise slowed the aging process and paid off in a more productive life. He practiced what he preached by participating in a number of athletic activities and events. He would go for a run during his lunch break with fellow IBMers, and hiking in Broome County and the Adirondacks as a member of the Triple Cities Hiking Club and Adirondack Mountain Club. Although Chuck was an avid runner, he never liked running, but persevered to prove his theory and take care of his body. He participated annually in the Vestal XX Race, a 20km race that started in 1971. Chuck completed the race 16 times, with a best time of 2:10:10. His dedication seemingly knew no limits, in 1977, he even attempted the race on crutches; making it 10km before bowing out. 

 

Chuck’s life-long experiment in healthy living also contributed to choosing a vegetarian, and eventually vegan, diet. He ate no synthesized foods, or foods with chemical additives, and took no supplements. Chuck also never drank alcohol or smoked cigarettes. At one point, Pettus constructed three greenhouses on his property, filling them with rare and unusual plants acquired from all over the world.His selections were based on which plants offered the best  nutrition. He also developed his own trenching system that provided water for the greenhouses. Additionally, Chuck foraged greens, herbs, nuts, and berries from the land. Altogether, these practices provided much of the food he consumed.

 

One of Chuck’s many and varied projects was creating a spot on his property that would reach the highest elevation in Broome County, NY. His land in Windsor, NY was already at a considerably high altitude, even when compared to other ridges and hillsides in the region.  Aside from the personal satisfaction and modest renown he felt might be associated with attaining the designation of the highest point in the county, another goal of Chuck’s was to create a spot with little tree cover or obstruction on his remote land that was far from Binghamton’s expanding light pollution. He generously envisioned a special place where his astronomer friends could stargaze. This group was later known as the Kopernik Society of Broome County. In 1974, they created their own observation point, now called the Kopernik Observatory.

 

While ultimately falling short of the highest point in Broome County, at 1,986 feet above sea level, Pettus’ pyramid-shaped “stairway to the stars” still offers incredible views of the surrounding countryside and considerably dark skies. It isn’t surprising that Chuck ultimately picked this spot as his final resting place. He would undoubtedly be pleased to know that his burial site was determined to be the highest modern burial in Broome County. A Broome County Official measured the site to be at 1,960.5 feet above sea level. 

 

In 1985, Pettus acquired the New Image Roller Dome in Endwell, NY, which became a very popular hangout. The building included an arcade and a snack bar. Chuck hoped to create a positive presence that would serve youth. According to his brother, John Pettus, “My brother was about goodness, and everyone who came in contact with him, he helped them find the goodness within themselves.” Despite his persistent efforts to keep the community recreation center open, heavy winter snows and flooding eventually contributed to the facility needing to close in 2008. Nevertheless, the Roller Dome remains a bright spot in the memories of all who visited. Frequent visitors reflected on how much the place meant to them. Their comments include: “The Roller Dome was not really a business, it was more like a charitable gathering place--for the Boy Scouts, the Girl Scouts, BOCES, and other organizations”; and “It’s where I discovered who I was and what I wanted to be—a teacher.” 

 

Throughout his life, Chuck Pettus encouraged friends, neighbors, and people of all ages to visit his hilltop home, so they might explore, learn about, and enjoy the wonders of the natural world. He kept this in mind when he bequeathed his land to the Waterman Conservation Education Center. A perfect match--conservation and education, a legacy of love and land.

 

The Pettus Hill Preserve exists today as a testament to a man who was many things—a physicist, engineer, musician, naturalist, hiker, runner, stargazer, and vegan—but, above all, “one of the nicest people you could ever meet!” , and remains open to everyone, year-round, from dawn to dusk.