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WAYNE  COUNTY: 1900-1999


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P A L M Y R A
________________________
________________________

WAYNE COUNTY, NEW YORK



Still o'er these scenes my memory wakes
And fondly broods with miser care,
Time but the impression deeper makes
As streams their channels deeper wear.

                        -- ROBERT BURNS.




COMPILED  BY
THE  WOMAN'S  SOCIETY  OF  THE
WESTERN  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH
MCMVII







[ 2 ]







Copyrighted by
The Western Presbyterian Church
1907.







The Herald Press, Rochester, N. Y.






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P A L M Y R A

In the winter of 1788-9 John Swift and Colonel John Jenkins purchased Tract 12, Range 2, now Palmyra, and commenced the survey of it into farm lots in March. Thus wrote Orsamus Turner in his "History of the Pioneer Settlement of the Phelps and Gorham Purchase."

Swift and Jenkins, sent out from the Wyoming Valley Settlement after the Pennamite War, were ad vance agents for those dissatisfied pioneers. Trouble between the Indians and Jenkins and his associates made an end to this Pennsylvania movement.

John Swift bought out Jenkins and went to New England to encourage migration to his tract. During the summer of 1789 Swift returned to this then west and built a log house with a store house at the junction of the present Main and Canal Streets.

Before the close of the same year Webb Harwood, the second permanent settler, brought in his family from Adams, Massachusetts. Many families separate or in company closely followed. William Jackway, John Hurlburt, Jonathan Millett, Nathan Parshall, Barney Horton and Mrs. Tiffany came from Wyoming.




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[ Image: General John Swift ]








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[ Image: Primeval Oak, on the Theodore Whitlock Farm, Spared by John Swift. ]


Captain James Galloway came from Monroe, Orange County, to the farm where his son still lives -- 1907.

Cummington, Massachusetts, sent Lemuel Spear -- the third settler -- and a few months later, Noah Porter, David Warner and David White.

Gideon and Edward Durfee of Tiverton, Rhode Island, came on foot from Albany. Fast on them fol lowed mostly in bateaux -- twelve others of the Durfee family. The advent of Gideon Durfee was most opportune. He payed in coin for his 1,600 acres, thus

[ Image: Site of First House. ]





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enabling Swift to meet his indebtedness to the Phelps and Gorham company, and to secure a warranty deed of the town.

Beside the Durfees, Rhode Island sent to Tolland -- as Palmyra was called -- Isaac Springer, William, James and Thomas Rogers, Festus and Isaac Goldsmith, Humphrey Sherman, Zebulon Williams, Weaver Osborne, David Wilcox, and Nathan Harris, father of Martin Harris.

In 1792 Elias Reeves, Abraham Foster, William Hopkins, Luther Sanford and Joel Foster, representing the Long Island company, took a deed from Swift for 5,500 acres along the Ganargua creek. On Monday, April 4, 1792, the colonists set sail on Heady creek, near Southampton, Long Island, for their new home five hundred miles to the north and westward. It was a tedious trip with long, hard carries but was accom plished in twenty-eight days.

Many a thrilling tale of conflict with the Indians or abounding wild animals is told. The former were so feared that a block house was begun on the brow of Wintergreen hill. It was not finished for the victories of Mad Anthony Wayne set the pioneers at rest.

Many a pretty romance was lived here in the woods. Clarissa Wilcox, daughter of David and Ruth Durfee Wilcox, went to the door to give a thirsty hunter a drink. Ambrose Hall returned to his home in Lanesboro, Massachusetts, but soon came back to




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[ Image: Elm on Wilcox Farm. ]


marry his Rebekah and to settle. Two of their daugh ters married Leonard and Lawrence Jerome, Palmyra boys, who became Wall Street financiers.

For a short time the settlements in Tract 12, Range 2, were called after John Swift; then Tolland until January 4, 1796, when a meeting was held to choose a permanent name. Daniel Sawyer, brother-in-law to Swift, was engaged to Miss Dosha Boughton, the first school mistress. He had been reading ancient history and had concluded if Zenobia had a Palmyra his queen should dwell there, too. Therefore he pro posed the name, which was adopted.




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[ Image: Palmyra East from Prospect Hill. ]


Until 1823, when the present Wayne County was formed, Palmyra was included in Ontario County.

Palmyra held her first town meeting and elected her first officers at the house of Gideon Durfee, in April, 1796.

In 1812 Macedon was set off. Palmyra village was incorporated March 29, 1827, while the first village election was held at the house of Lovell Hurd, Febru ary 4, 1828, when the following officers were elected: Trustees, Joseph Colt, president, Joel Thayer, Thomas

[ Image: Palmyra West from Prospect Hill. ]






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Rogers, Nathaniel H. Beckwith and James White; clerk, Thomas P. Baldwin; treasurer, William Parke; assessors, George N. Williams, Alvah Hendee and George Beckwith; fire wardens, Stephen Ackley, Pliny Sexton and Benjamin Throop.

On February 19 it was voted to buy an engine and ladders, and to provide water to be used in case of fire. That May twenty men organized a fire company, which has grown into the well equipped Volunteer Firemen of Palmyra with some eighty members, and with three organizations -- the Steamer and Hose Company, the Sexton Hydrant Hose Company, and the Protective Hook and Ladder Company.

Palmyra postoffice was established in 1806 with Dr. Azel Ensworth the first postmaster. The Doctor kept the first public house in the corporation. It stood on the site of the present Methodist church and was opened in 1792. In 1796 Louis Philippe of France stopped on his return from Niagara at the log tavern opened by Gideon Durfee where the George Townsend house now stands. The present Powers Hotel, built where a succession of hostelries have stood, was erect ed about 1835 by a company of public spirited men, who sold it to the genial host the late William P. Nottingham. As the Palmyra House he kept it nearly thirty years.

Robert Town, the earliest settled physician, was in Palmyra but a short time. As early as 1800, possi bly before, he was succeeded by Dr. Gain Robinson




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from Cummington, Massachusetts. Once when Dr. Robinson desired counsel he sent to his old home for Dr. Bryant, father of the poet, who hurried here on horseback. Dr. Robinson lived at the head of Main street where now resides Mr. Pliny S. Aldrich. In his office studied Alexander Mclntyre an allopath, and Durfee Chase, a homeopath -- afterwards local prac titioners. To-day doctors of both schools minister to the sick.

Palmyra's first lawyer was John Comstock. Other early barristers were Judge Tiffany, Judge Hiram K. Jerome and Justice Theron R. Strong. Well equipped men have been and are to-day their successors.

Zebulon Williams was the first storekeeper in a log house near the present Central station. The first emporium in the corporation was kept by Major Joseph Colt on the west corner of Main and Market streets.

Patrick O'Rouke, Samuel Jennings, Alvah Hen dee, James and Orren White, who erected the first two story brick building, -- all these were forerunners of Joel Foster, George, Nathaniel and Baruch Beck with, J. C. Lovett, David Sanford, the Thayers, Lasher and Candee, William Jarvis, James Jenner, Birdsall and Sanford, Edwin Anderson, Sr., Bowman and Walker, W. H. Farnham, M. Story, and many another successful business man.

William Wilson, Henry Jessup, George Palmer, and Wells Anderson -- in the order named -- were early tanners.




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[ Image: Powers Hotel. ]








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[ Image: Eagle Hotel. ]








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[ Image: Flag Pole. Corner of Main and Fayette Streets. ]


Salmon Hathaway kept a saddlery on the site of the present Village Hall, while Calvin Perrine opened the first carding mill and clothiery. Edward Durfee and Jonah Hall operated the pioneer grist mill and saw mill.




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[ Image: Elms Overlooking Site of the First Grist Mill,
on the Charles R. Harrison Farm. ]


In 1823 Pliny Sexton, later associated with Martin Butterfield, brought to his the first hardware store the first cooking stove. He was the pioneer silver smith, and introduced sewing machines in the community.

To-day Palmyra boasts many good shops dry goods, hardware, jewelry, drug, grocery, and shoe stores.

Different factories have been located here. At present the Globe Manufacturing Co. -- 1864 -- now the Peerless, and J. M. Jones & Co. -- 1871 -- now Chandler




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[ Images: Village Hall. Erected 1868.
The Palmyra Union Agricultural Society. ]







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[ Image: The Garlock Packing Company. ]







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and Price, make printing presses or their parts. In the early eighties the Garlock Packing Company was formed by Olin J. Garlock, inventor of a packing for steam engines. The Crandall Packing Co.; the Dealers Packing Co.; the Triumph Packing Co.; Williamson Bros., cigar manufacturers; the Drake Box Factory; the Cator Dump Wagon Co.; the Sessions Cement Plant, -- the list makes a goodly showing.

[ Image: The Triumph Packing Company. ]

In January, 1868, the Village Hall was completed. Since 1857 gas has been supplied to the village, while electricity was first furnished in 1894. The water system was installed in 1890.

June 26, 1856, seventeen men organized themselves as the Palmyra Union Agricultural Society, and held a three days fair that October. From then until the present, successful annual fairs have been held on the extensive, well kept Fair Grounds on Jackson Street.




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[ Image: Jarvis Block. Erected 1876. ]






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[ Image: Culver Block. Erected 1870. ]






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The local banking business began with the Wayne County Bank of Palmyra, organized in 1830, with its president Angus Strong succeeded by Thomas Rogers, George Beckwith and Abram Spear and its cashier, Joseph S. Fenton. This bank built and occupied until its failure in 1840 the offices and residence where now is the First National Bank.

The Palmyra Savings Bank, incorporated in April, 1842, enjoyed a brief existence.

Lyman Lyon and S. B. Gavitt carried on a private banking business from December, 1865, until June, 1867, when Lyon bought Gavitt's interest to continue alone until his death, in August, 1887.

In 1866 H. P. Knowles & Co. opened a private banking business which still continues.

The Palmyra Bank, established by Pliny Sexton in 1844, did business in the east section of the present Story store. Later, George W. Cuyler opened the Cuyler Bank in the old offices of the Wayne County Bank. In April, 1853, these houses were associated and. in Mr. Cuyler's offices, continued as Cuyler's Bank of Palmyra with George W. Cuyler, president; Pliny Sexton, vice president, and Stephen P. Seymour, cashier. In 1864 this bank became the First National Bank with the following directors: George W. Cuyler, pres ident; Pliny Sexton, vice president; Pliny T. Sexton, cashier; William H. Cuyler, Charles McLouth and David S. Aldrich.




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[ Image: The First National Block. ]






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[ Image: Ganargua Mill. ]


"Easy conveyance for men and goods from place to place" is essential to the prosperity of any com munity. The early paths through the forests have be come highways -- the first, Canandaigua road in 1793. John Swift, with others, cleared Ganargua creek to its junction with the Canandaigua outlet, and in 1799 it was declared navigable water. This stream was the principal route until the opening of the Erie canal in 1825. The tumbled down collector's office on Canal street gives little idea of the business done by "Clinton's big ditch." From the day the Governor's boat greeted at every settlement -- officially opened the canal




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until the railroad usurped most of its traffic, the Erie canal was the great instrument in opening this new country. It carried freight and it carried people. When the packet approached a station a trumpet blared to set the town agog, the horses were put in a fast trot and with gusto drew the boat to the landing. The New York Central railroad came through in 1853, and the West Shore in 1884. Morris Huxley -- known to all as Dad Huxley -- drove the omnibus to the first train to stop here. For thirty-four years Dad's hearty greeting and 'bus welcomed all arrivals. The omnibus service to the stations has been discontinued since the advent in 1906 of the Rochester, Syracuse and Eastern electric road, for this trolley does nearly all the local passenger business.

[ Image: Mill Dam. ]






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[ Images: Erie Canal.
Sexton Warehouse on Erie Canal, Built by Franklin Lakey. ]







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[ Image: Here Henry Wells Was Married. ]


Henry Wells, afterwards founder of Wells College, starting from Palmyra, carried parcels short dis tances in a hand bag. His business grew until it needed a horse and wagon. In 1845 was formed the firm of Wells &c Co., one of the earliest express companies in the country. This, merged with others, became the American Express Co. Henry Wells married his first wife -- Sally Daggett -- in the little weather beaten house that stands opposite Stafford street on the north side of Main street.

On November 26, 1817, Timothy C. Strong sent out the Palmyra Register -- Democratic -- the first newspaper




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in what is now Wayne County. In 1823, after various changes of title, it was bought and continued as the Wayne County Sentinel by Pomeroy Tucker and Egbert P. Grandin. Up to its end in 1860 this sheet often changed editors, names and politics. It was on the press of the Wayne County Sentinel -- in 1830 -- that the first edition of the Mormon Bible was printed. John H. Gilbert did the type setting and press work. He kept a copy of the book in the original sheets, which is now owned by P. T. Sexton. The press used was recently sold to the Mormons by F. W. demons. Other newspapers enjoyed each its brief existence. Frederick Morley issued the Palmyra Courier in 1838 and continued its publication until 1851. In 1854 it was known as the Palmyra Democrat; but in August of that year the present editor, E. S. Averill, bought it and restored the original name. He brought it to the support of the Republican party, and added a novel feature -- a page devoted to local items.

In 1871 Anson B. Clemons and Frederick W. Clemons, his son, established the Wayne County Jour nal the first newspaper or printing house in the county to use steam power. The Journal is now edited by Frederick Foster for the Palmyra Printing Company.

A widefelt movement emanating from Palmyra is the Church of Latter Day Saints. In 1816 Joseph Smith, Sr., moved here from Vermont with his wife and nine children. For two years he kept a cake and




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beer shop on lower Main street. Then he moved his family to a wild tract south of the village which, within this present year, the Mormons have bought as the well kept farm of William Avery Chapman. The Smiths were interested in things occult. With a "magic stone" they claimed to locate stolen articles and buried treasure, and to forecast the future. In the summer of 1827 Joseph Smith, Jr., claimed that he beheld a vision. The second was announced that fall while others fol lowed hard apace until Smith said he was directed to

[ Image: Mormon Hill. ]


find the golden plates. He went out at night and alone to return bearing a mysterious package which he said contained the treasure with the stones by which he could translate. These were found on Mormon Hill a Mecca for his disciples to this present day. Sidney Rigdon, Oliver Cowdery the amanuensis, and Martin Harris, who furnished the money for printing, were conspicuous in the incipient stages of the powerful




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[ Image: Farm of William Avery Chapmwn. Purchased by the Mormons of Utah. ]

hierarchy of Utah. In 1830 the Mormon Bible appeared. That June saw the organization of the Church of Latter Day Saints with, beside the Smith family, some thirty members drawn from this and neighboring communities. Sidney Rigdon, the first regular Mormon preacher, held a meeting in the rooms of the Palmyra Young Men's Association on the east corner of Main and Market streets. He was confronted by a small, unsympathetic audience. Late in the summer of 1830 Joseph Smith, Jr., and his followers left Palmyra for Kirtland, Ohio.




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The New England settlers of Palmyra could not be long without their school house. In 1793 two were built of logs -- the one on a site in the village given by John Swift; the other, the Hopkins school in East Pal myra. Much later the partisan spirit was rife and crept into educational matters to such an extent that two frame school houses were built -- the Federalist, taught by Blackman, and the Democratic, under Ira Selby. Before the site of the present Roman Catholic Church was graded down, on the crest of the hill stood the Palmyra Academy, a two story brick building that boasted the first bell in town.

[ Image: One of the Three District Schools. ]







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In 1835 the village was divided into three districts each with its stone school house. One stood on the west corner of Main and Carroll streets; another on the north side of Jackson, between Cuyler and Fayette streets; and the third on the east side of Throop street. The last teachers were: No. 1, John R. Vosburgh; No. 2, Henry J. Foster; No. 3, Charles H. Graham.

These three districts were united in 1846 as Union School No. 1 of Palmyra. March 19, 1847, an act au thorized the village to levy taxes for a lot and building. April 11 the school was incorporated. The present site was bought of the Samuel Beckwith estate for $2,500, and the "old school house," a square, three story brick edifice, was built. The first board of trustees was A. P. Crandall, Theron R. Strong and Pliny Sexton; R. G. Pardee was clerk. The first faculty was: Justus W. French, principal; William M. Crosby, A. M., and Sarah D. Hance, seniors; Charles D. Foster, juniors; Clarissa Northrup, juveniles; Edward M. French, Me linda C. Jones and A. Maria West, assistants; E. Lusk, instrumental music; C. D. Foster and J. C. French, vocal music; DeWitt Mclntyre, lecturer on physiol ogy. The Palmyra Union School in 1857 became the Palmyra Classical Union School with a board of nine trustees officered by Stephen Hyde, president; Joseph W. Corning, secretary, and Joseph C. Lovett, treasurer. The first building was used until 1889 when the present structure was built on the old lot. In 1905 a large study hall and other rooms were added.




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[ Image: Union School. ]


PRINCIPALS:

_____ Baldwin - 1857
C. M. Hutchinsm - 1857-62
John Dunlap - 1862-66
W. H. Fitts - 1866-68
C. M. Hutchins - 1868-75
Henry F. Curt - 1875-82
E. B. Fancher - 1882-86
A. S. Downing - 1886-87
H. G. Clark - 1887-90
George W. Pye - 1890-94
S. Dwight Arms - 1894-98
W. J. Deans - 1898-06
W. W. Bullock - 1906 -




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[ Image: Palmyra Classical Union School. ]







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[ The Public Library, Home of the Late Carlton H. Rogers. ]


The complement of the free school is the free libra ry. On the first day of November, 1899, the King's Daughters opened a public reading room. In September, 1901, a Library Association was formed with a five year charter from the state. The first gift of books was sixty volumes from the Patrons of Husbandry. In July, 1906, the Association received a perpetual charter, and now, 1907, the library numbers twenty-five hundred volumes.




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Palmyra pioneers had their school house in 1793, their first church building in the eastern part of the town -- in 1807.

The first meeting house in the village erected in 1811 on land given by General Swift for a Union

[ Grave of John Swift. ]


church -- was built almost entirely by the Presbyteri ans, who occupied it until 1832. This same building was used as a town hall. It was of wood, painted white with green blinds, and was burned in 1838. Around it, in true New England way, was the church yard -- now the "old cemetery." Here lie John Swift




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and Zebulon Williams with many another early comer. This was not the first burying ground in the town, for that was on the farm of Gideon Durfee, east of the village, recently purchased by Mr. Mitchell of Mrs. Hiram Clark. Here rests Gideon Durfee. In 1844 the

[ Image: First Burying Ground. ]


present cemetery was opened, while two years later a receiving vault was built. In 1886 the Rogers Memo rial Chapel was erected with a fund left by Carlton H. Rogers.

The Roman Catholic cemetery was consecrated during 1868.




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[ Image: Rogers Memorial Chapel. ]







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[ Image: Palmyra Cemetery, from the West Gate. ]


To-day Palmyra's churches number six: the Re formed Dutch on Cuyler street; the Roman Catholic on Church street; the Presbyterian, the Methodist, the Baptist, and the Episcopal on the four corners where Main street and Canandaigua with its continua tion Church street, intersect.

[ Image: The Four Churches. ]







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As has been stated, the purchase of Swift and Jen-kins included under the name of Palmyra the present Macedon, Palmyra, and East Palmyra. So the parish of the Presbyterian Church of Palmyra was this entire section. The Rev. Ira Condit organized a Congrega tional church in David H. Foster's house December 5, 1793. Later this church adopted the Presbyterian form of government and was connected with the Presbytery of Geneva until the formation of the Lyons Presbytery in 1857. The Presbyterian Church of Palmyra was incorporated the twenty-eighth day of September, 1797, the date given in the certificate of incorporation filed in the office of the Clerk of Ontario county. In this same document it is stated that the trustees were Jacob Gannett, David Warner, Jedediah Foster, Jonah How ell, Thomas Goldsmith and Stephen Reeves. From the formation of the church until 1817 the pastors preached alternate Sabbaths in the east and in the west ends of the township. Among the early ministers were Mr. Johnson in 1795; in 1800 Eleazor Fairbanks, followed by Mr. Lane; 1811-16, Hippocrates Rowe, who in 1812 occupied the only house on Canandaigua street; 1815, Stephen M. Wheelock, who went with the west ern part at the division.

In 1807 the first church building -- situated in the eastern part of the town -- was used, but it was not completed or dedicated until 1810. As has been said, the west end Presbyterians built a meeting house in 1811.




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In accordance with a request of the church, made February 13, 1817, the Presbytery divided the Church of Palmyra into the Presbyterian Church of East Pal myra, and the Western Presbyterian Church of Pal myra. The certificate of incorporation of this latter branch, recorded in Canandaigua the thirteenth of May, 1817, reads:

We hereby certify that on the eighteenth day of March, 1817, a number of male inhabitants residing within the limits of the Western Presbyterian Church in the town of Palmyra met pursuant to publick no tice, in the Meeting House in the Village of Palmyra, and agreed to be incorporated into a society to be known by the name of the Western Presbyterian Church and Society in the town of Palmyra, and proceeded to elect David White, Joel Foster, Henry Jes sup, Charles Bradish, James White, and Isaac Howell to serve as trustees of said society. In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands and seals this 13th day of May, 1817.
                            Gain Robinson (seal)
                            Joel Foster (seal) Moderators of said Meeting.

The Rev. Francis Pomeroy assisted in the organization of this western branch. The present edifice was built in 1832 and dedicated in 1834.

On the wall of the church, near the pulpit, is a




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marble tablet sacred to the memory of Horace Eaton, D. D., pastor from 1849 to 1879:
"Fairer seems the ancient city, and the
Sunshine seems more fair,
That he once has trod its pavements,
That he once has breathed its air!"
Dr. Eaton lived in Palmyra until his death on the twenty-first of October, 1883.

At a memorial service the Honorable Henry R. Durfee said in part:

"When the elders of Epheseus went down to Mile tus for what proved to be their farewell interview with Paul, 'they all wept sore... sorrowing most of all for the words that he spake, that they should see his face no more.'

"It was their sense of personal loss that filled their eyes with tears as they realized that the loving pres ence of their friend and teacher would shortly disappear from their sight forever.

"And so it is with us as we gather here to make some expression of our grief at the loss of our friend and teacher. It is our loss that we lament to-day. For him to die is gain. In this assemblage it is not so much the man of mark, of wide influence, of high at tainments, fitted worthily to bear the title of 'doctor of divinity,' as our friend endeared to us by long acquaintance and companionship, that we mourn. And I think that the personal qualities and traits which at tracted us and gained him our affection are at this time




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uppermost in our minds. In recalling the personal characteristics of our dear friend and pastor, it has seemed to me that one of the most marked was his constant and abounding cheerfulness. This arose, not from cynical indifference, or stoical fortitude for none was more sympathetic, compassionate and tender hearted than he -- but from the depth and serenity of his faith.

"Another characteristic was his keen perception and love of the sublime and beautiful. His was the true poetic soul, to which 'a thing of beauty is a joy forever.' Whether he listened to the giant harp of the wind swept woods, the 'breezy call of incense-breathing morn,' the songs of the birds, the pealing thunder, or the deep diapason of the sea, his ear was attuned to all their harmonies. He recognized with reverent delight the voice of the Great Creator in every harmony of the wind or wave, and His creative hand in every perfect form or tint of earth or sky. And as in Nature, so also in literature and art, whatever was grand or beautiful found in him an enthusiastic and appreciative admirer.

Nor was this refined, aesthetic taste and perception at all allied to weakness. On the contrary, he had in his character not a little of the granite of his native hills. No war of elements or opinions, and no obstacles natural or conventional, could deter him from vigorously and valiantly following the path in which he believed his duty called him.




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To the preaching of the Word, also, he brought a like courage and vigor, and robustness of understand ing. He was not afraid to grapple with the great problems of the life that now is, and that which is to come, and with the profound truths of the Scripture; and he brought to their consideration a grasp of mind, and an intentness and clearness of thought which was most truly edifying to thoughtful minds. And yet I think he loved especially to dwell upon the divine ten derness and compassion, and to entreat us by the mercies of God to be reconciled to Him.

"Well may we sorrow that we shall see his face no more. Yet his teachings and his life shall not fail from our memory. These shall rest upon and remain with us like a benediction, and an inspiration also, leading each of us with sweet persuasion to a nobler, purer, and higher life."

Nineteen sons of the Western Presbyterian Church have studied for the ministry. Among them were John Eaton, son of Dr. Eaton, who died before completing his course; Warner Bradley Riggs, who in October, 1876, went as a home missionary to Texas, where he organized the Brenham Church, and was pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church of Dallas from 1885 until his death in March, 1905, and Charles Foster Kent, Ph. D., Woolsey Professor of Biblical Literature in Yale University. There have gone out as foreign missionaries, Martha Lovell, Maria West and Sarah West, to Constantinople; and Cora Stone to Japan.




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[ Images: Homer Satrac and Anna R. Eaton. ]

"The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more
and more unto the perfect day."
PROV. 4:18.
"Friends my soul with joy remembers!
How like quivering flames they start,
When I fan the living embers
On the hearthstone of my heart!"

                        -- LONGFELLOW.




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[ Image: Western Presbyterian Church. ]







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PASTORS OF THE WESTERN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Stephen M. Wheelock, April, 1817.
Jesse Townsend, August, 1817.
Daniel C. Hopkins, stated supply, January, 1822.
Benjamin B. Stockton, February, 1824.
Stephen Porter, stated supply, October, 1827.
Alfred D. Campbell, November, 1828.
Samuel W. Whepley, September, 1831.
George R. H. Shumway, December, 1834.
Nathaniel W. Fisher, 1840.
_________ Goetner, D. D., stated supply, 1848.
Horace Eaton, D. D., February, 1849.
Warren H. Landon, D. D., December, 1879.
Herbert D. Cone, October, 1887.
Stephen G. Hopkins, April, 1890.
Angus Hugh Cameron, February, 1897.
Peter McKenzie, May, 1904.




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The First Baptist Church of Palmyra was organized at the home of Lemuel Spear, May 29, 1800, with nineteen members. In 1808 a frame meeting house was built on the west side of the Walworth road just north of where it is crossed by the Macedon road. November 9, 1832, a Baptist church was instituted in the village -- at the home of Rev. John D. Heart -- but after a year was received into the older church. In, accord with an agreement made when these societies joined, the pastor preached alternate Sundays in his church and in the Palmyra Academy. A final separation came in February, 1835, when the older society as the First Baptist Church of Macedon retained the property, while the younger moved to the village as the First Baptist Church of Palmyra. The seventy- eight members of this latter branch elected for deacons R. C. Jackson, William Parke and E. R. Spear; for trustees, R. C. Jackson, William Rogers and Stephen Spear. Services were held in the meeting house on burial hill until it was burned in 1838; then in Will iamson Hall until the old stone church was dedicated January 28, 1841. This was torn down in 1870 to give place for the present brick structure which was dedi cated March 29, 1871. This church sent Mrs. Jane Mason Haswell to Burmah where she labored as a missionary from 1835 to 1884. It has given four ministers, Thomas Rogers, C. B. Crane, Charles Shear and Albert Clark.




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[ Image: Baptist Church. ]







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PASTORS OF THE BAPTIST CHURCH.

H. V. Jones, April, 1835.
W. I. Crane, April, 1837.
A. H. Stowell, December, 1839.
S. Wilson, supply, December, 1840.
A. H. Burlingham, April, 1841.
W. B. Douglass, supply, November, 1842.
D. Harrington, June, 1843.
O. W. Gates, April, 1852.
William R. Webb, July, 1853.
Warham Mudge, February, 1857.
S. Adsit, October, 1862.
C. N. Pattengill, July, 1867.
Hardin Wheat, January, 1874.
Addison Parker, October, 1876.
J. Cyrus Thorns, September, 1881.
J. R. Henderson, November, 1885.
F. H. Adams, June, 1897.
O. H. Hubbard, D. D., November, 1903.




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It is impossible to learn when Methodism was first preached in Palmyra; but the first class, formed in 1811 and connected with the Ontario circuit, Geneva conference, may be considered the beginning of the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Palmyra. These early followers of Wesley met in school house, barn, or grove until 1822, when they legally organized them selves into a society and built a church near the corner of Vienna and Johnson streets, just north of the cem etery. Here they worshipped until 1847 when the house was removed to Cuyler street, remodelled and used until the dedication of the present brick building, October 31, 1867.

Albert A. Allen and Charles D. Purdy represent this church in the ministry.




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PASTORS OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH

_______ Wooster,
Gideon Osborne,
_______ Tomkinson,
Wilson Osborne,
Preston Parker,
Ralph Bennett,
Z. J. Buck,
_______ Hall,
Alpha Wright,
John Mandeville,
_______ Crozier,
William Mandeville,
J. Pearsall,
L. D. Paddock,
B. McLouth, 1847.
Ransley Harrington.
Thomas Tousey, 1863.
H. P. Jervis.
________ Hickok,
Peter McKinstry.
________ Baker.
Thomas Tousey.
C. S. Fox.
Robert Hogoboom.
J. Kellogg, 1869.
J. Alabaster, 1870.
J. P. Farmer, 1872.
B. H. Brown, 1873.
C. W. Winchester, 1876.
R. D. Munger, 1879.
J. V. Benham, 1881.
G. P. Avery, 1884.
T. M. House, 1885.
A. W. Broadway, 1886.
E. B. Gearheart, 1888.
H. C. Moyer, 1891.
J. H. Rogers, 1893.
S. F. Sanford, 1894.
W. S. H. Hermans, 1897.
W. H. Giles, 1898.
Ezra Tinker, 1901.
Edward J. Brooker, 1903.




53


[ Image: Methodist Episcopal Church. ]







54


Doubtless the first local services of the Episcopal Church were held by the missionary Davenport Phelps. On June 23, 1823, Zion Episcopal Church came into being under the ministry of the Rev. Rufus Murray. Joseph Colt and Benjamin Billings were the first wardens of the parish. Service was held in the Academy until February 1, 1829, when the Right Rev erend Bishop Hobart consecrated the first building. This was of wood and stood on the present site. In July, 1873, the Right Reverend Bishop Coxe conse crated the present beautiful sandstone structure. The entire spire was given by George W. Cuyler, a memo rial for his children. Miss Amy Chapman went out from this church as a missionary to the Freedmen. Rev. James H. Herendeen, rector of St. John's Church, Medina, entered the ministry from Zion Church. Right Reverend William Paret, D. D., LL. D., in 1885 con secrated Bishop of Maryland, lived in Palmyra and studied with the Right Reverend George D. Gillespie, Bishop of Western Michigan, when he was rector of Zion Church.




55


[ Image: The First Zion Episcopal Church. ]


RECTORS OF ZION EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

Rufus Murray.
John A. Clark.
Ezekiel G. Geer.
John W. Guion.
Burton H. Hickox.
Jesse Pond.
William Stanton.
John D. Gilbert.
Clement M. Butler.
T. L. Brittain.
John W. Clark.
Amos B. Beach.
George D. Gillespie.
Christopher T. Leffingwell.
John Leach.
John G. Webster.
Charles T. Coerr.
Leonard Woods Richardson.
Charles T. Walkley.
Emory S. Towson




56


[Image: The Present Zion Episcopal Church. ]


PASTORS OF ST. ANN'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.

John Twohay, July, 1850.
Michael Gubride, Nov., 1852.
James Donelly, 1854.
Thomas Walsh, July, 1854.
William Casey, Aug., 1855.
James E. Hartley, May, 1893.
The first mass was said in Palmyra by Father O'Reilly of Rochester. St. Ann's Roman Catholic Church was organized in 1849 by Rev. Edmund O'Con nor of Canandaigua, who had for some time said an occasional mass in Williamson hall. In 1848 or '49 William F. Aldrich sold the old Academy to the Ro manists, who used it as a church until 1861 when Bishop Timon blessed the present structure, and the congregation occupied it though unfinished. It was completed, and consecrated by the Right Reverend Bernard McQuaid on October 23, 1870. During 1903 the congregation added a belfry and vestibule, while in October of that year a bell was hung the gift of Mrs Mary Darmody. The parish has given two can didates to the ministry -- Thomas M. Moore and Fran cis Goggin, D. D., professor in St. Bernard's Sem inary, Rochester.




58


[ Image: St. Ann's Roman Catholic Church. ]







59


[ The Reformed Dutch Church, Formerly the Methodist Church. ]


The Reformed Dutch Church of Palmyra, the out growth of a mission, was organized August 15, 1887, with thirty-four members. Service was held in the Presbyterian Church until March, 1890, when the old Methodist Church on Cuyler Street was purchased of P. T. Sexton.

PASTORS OF THE REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH.

W. G. Bass, March, 1888.
Wietze Lubach, 1890.
G. Flikkema.
J. Meulendyke.




60


Palmyra glories in her war record. Her founders were many of them Revolutionary veterans, while there are recorded the names of forty-three who fought in 1812. In this second war with England, General John Swift, a tried Revolutionary soldier, was on the Niagara frontier. At Queenston Heights he led a charge against Fort George and captured a picket post with some sixty men whom he did not disarm. One of the prisoners asked: "Who is General Swift?" "I am General Swift," he answered. The miscreant fired and mortally wounded the gallant commander. Gen eral Swift was buried where he died, July 12, 1814, but was removed by his fellow citizens to Palmyra. The legislature presented his son with a sword as an acknowledgment of the father's patriotic services; and hung a portrait of the General in New York City Hall.

The Civil War found Palmyra ready. Colonel Joseph W. Corning came home from the legislature to raise a company -- Company B, 33rd Regiment of Infantry. On May 16, 1861, this company marched to the front with Joseph W. Corning, captain; G. T. White, lieutenant; H. J. Draime, ensign.

In 1862 Captain Seneca B. Smith, Lieutenant S. B. Mclntyre and Lieutenant A. P. Seeley took out company A, 111th Infantry -- raised almost entirely in Palmyra.

When Company B was mustered out in 1863 Henry J. Draime wished to re-enlist. He set about




61


raising a Veteran Cavalry company which he filled largely in Palmyra and led to the fighting line in No vember.

All told, four hundred and forty-two men of Pal myra fought for the union. Unfortunately, better fortunately, the list is too long to name each and every gallant soldier. In the Village Hall are two marble tablets inscribed with the names of those soldiers who died during the war.

The soldiers and sailors met January 15, 1881. and organized as the John H. Starin Post, G. A. R., which became the James A. Garfield Post in September of that year. The first officers were: John G. Webster, C.; Colonel A. P. Seeley, S. V. C.; Murganzy Hopkins, J. V. C.; William I. Reid, O. of D.; William W. Williamson, Q. M.; I. C. G. Crandall, Chap.; John Pitkin, Surg.; William S. Gilbert, O. of G.; Colonel George McGown, Adj.; John Allis, S. M.; James B. Beckwith, Q. M. S. To-day the officers are: Major H. P. Knowles, C.; Colonel F. W. demons, S. V. C.; James West, J. V. C.; M. V. B. Randolph, Adj.; Colo nel A. P. Seeley, Surg.; Joseph Benedict, Q. M.; L. H. Essex, Chap.; Howard Campbell, O. of G.; Jacob Zeigler, O. of D.

In connection with the Civil War it may be said that the house of the late Pliny Sexton on Main Street was a regular station of the Underground Railway; and that Dr. Eaton helped many fugitive slaves. The




62


Doctor's study was in the belfry of the Presbyterian Church, just under the clock. One morning a number of fugitives were consulting with the Doctor about reaching the lake shore and crossing to Canada. Of a sudden the most terrific clanging brought them terror

[ Image: Home of the Late Pliny Sexton, A Station of the Underground Railway. ]


stricken to their knees. They besought their supposed benefactor not to give them up to their master; they prayed the Lord to be merciful. After twelve re sounding strokes all was still. The clock had struck the noon.




63


The Spanish-American War drew its quota from Palmyra. William Thomas Sampson was born here February 9, 1840. In 1857 he entered the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis from which he was graduated at the head of the class of 1861.

Sampson served afloat and ashore during the Civil War, and through the long peace from '65 to '98. He was given command of the North Atlantic Squad ron in the spring of 1898. He arrived off Santiago the first day of June and assumed command of the Flying Squadron with his own. Then began the blockade of Santiago harbor which continued until the third of July when Rear Admiral Sampson annihilated the Spanish fleet under Cevera.

October 26, 1899, William T. Sampson, tired and worn, came home to receive the warmest welcome the town could give, for Palmyra delighted to do him honor.

Admiral Sampson died in Washington, D. C., May 6, 1902, and lies buried in the National Cemetery at Arlington. On Sunday, May 11, his friends in Palmyra gathered in the Presbyterian Church for a memo rial service.

The national government gave Palmyra a gun taken from the Spanish Almirante Oquendo, destroyed at Santiago. The cannon was placed in a conspicuous place on Main street, and on Memorial Day, 1903, was dedicated to the memory of Rear Admiral Sampson.




64


[ Image: William T.Sampson. ]


"Death makes no conquest of this conqueror,
For now he lives in fame, tho' not in life"

                  -- SHAKESPEARE.




65

At the dedicatory, services Hon. Pliny T. Sexton delivered the following address:

"To the philanthropist war is unspeakably horri ble and hateful, and its instruments of destruction are hideous. Yet, the grass grows greener and the flowers take on brighter hues in the fields whereon warring human beings have shed each others blood. And the philosopher, taught by the lessons of history, and gifted with prophetic vision, easily perceives that war has been, and yet must be, a necessary agency in secur ing and preserving for mankind the inestimable bless ings of liberty and peace.

"Redeemed by such usefulness, and idealized by such associations, the instruments of warfare lose their repulsiveness, and even come to be admired as justified means to justified ends. And to-day, as we are halted here for our brief dedicatory services by the side of this great cannon, we are thinking little of its terrible destroying power; but are regarding it rather as a comforting reminder of our beloved de parted son and brother, the illustrious Admiral Samp son, whose faithfulness, valor, and genius organized the marvelous naval victory which, at Santiago, wrest ed this gun from the control of the supporters of a de testable despotism and crushing tyranny which had long dominated some of the fairest lands of earth and ruthlessly oppressed millions of people.

"It was eminently fitting that the nation should give this notable gun to the village of Palmyra the




66


birthplace of Admiral Sampson. The nation had kept from us his sacred dust, which we fain would have brought home to water with our tears and guard dur ing the years. It surely could not well do less than to place here, as it has done, on this greensward, along this village street once so familiar to our brother's feet -- this speaking signal of the last great and crowning achievement of his life.

"Concerning that glorious event, it is not permitted me now to enlarge; nor may I detail his fruitful career since the going forth from our peaceful village, nearly half a century ago, of the even then "wonderful Samp son boy" to consecrate himself to the service of his country. For this occasion it must suffice to say that with never abating zeal, from youth until death, all the great powers with which his Maker had endowed him, and all which the most sedulous cultivation de veloped in him, were unsparingly devoted to safe guarding and advancing the welfare and glory of his native land. He knew no greater or sweeter duty than serving his country; and permitted himself neither rest nor indulgence when that duty called. Faithfulness was the keystone of his character; excelsior his motto; and manifold and splendid were his achieve ments.

"That it may not be thought that I have summarized with extravagance, or have been unduly biased by my love for the friend of all my life, let me add the




67


testimony of witnesses who can be in no wise impeached.

"Speaking of Admiral Sampson as a student at the Naval Academy, Admiral Philip, who was his classmate, has said:

"'No matter what the subject of study was mathematics, French, moral science, or seamanship Sampson, with invariable regularity, had the perfect marking in his class.... He was graduated number one.

"Of him later, as Superintendent of the Naval Academy, whose conditions and methods he greatly improved, Mr. Park Benjamin in his history of the Naval Academy, says:

"'When Commander Sampson's tour of duty at the Naval Academy ended, there remained little for any one else to do, save to keep the standard of efficiency unimpaired.'

"In the final mortuary record made of him in Ap pleton's Encyclopedia, referring to his comprehensive connection with the North Atlantic Squadron, whose almost unparalleled victory in the naval battle of Santiago won for the United States Navy imperishable renown, it is said: 'It was Sampson who designed and built the guns; designed and built the projectiles; designed and built the armor; placed the batteries upon the ships and superintended their construction; aided in the preparation of the drill book; drilled the




68


crews and officers; and finally took command of the fleet and fought it through a successful war.'

"If national gratitude were something unknown, as it is not; yet for very selfishness alone, nations must still preserve the memories of such public serv ants. All motives move thereto. And gladly may we realize and agree that properly this memorial gun has been given to us of Palmyra not simply to minister to our gratitude, but also, and more, that its presence here shall through generation after generation, awaken our local pride and affection the more often to recount the inspiring story of the immeasurably valuable life of Admiral Sampson. And so, with such impelling, and with all impelling, and with a depth of personal affectionate feeling which those not of Palmyra and not of Sampson's generation may not fully under stand, we do now by these simple services gratefully accept and lovingly dedicate this enduring trophy gun to the perpetuation of the memory of Admiral William Thomas Sampson. And, with the nation and for the nation, we do also dedicate all of the inspirations of his blessed memory, even as he dedicated his whole life to the continuing service of his beloved country."




69ff


[ Images of various Palmyra Homes. ]















Palmyra  and  Vicinity

WRITTEN  BY

THOMAS  L.  COOK















1930
Press of the Palmyra Courier-Journal
Palmyra, N. Y.



Note: The text of this book is in the public domain.
No US copyright is stated nor implied.


[ 11 ]



PALMYRA  AND  VICINITY

At the close of the Revolutionary War there was agriculture and commerce, but no manufacturing by which to give employment; consequently farming was the only occupation open to the young men of ambition and enterprise.

After returning from the war they began to look around for an occupation suitable to them for their life work, but as there was nothing much to choose from but farming, they began to look around for a choice in location. Those who had been up in the northern part of New Hampshire were very much pleased with the Connecticut Valley. A good many young men married and settled in that part of the country. When their children grew up they heard of the good opportunities in northern New York, around Potsdam and Parishville in St. Lawrence County. The latter township was nearly all settled by people from Grafton County, New Hampshire. Other soldiers, after returning from the war, who had been in the western part of the country, thought very favorably of the Genesee country which at that time included nearly all western New York, and among the very earliest settlers of this country was General John Swift and his brother Philetus. After the close of the Revolutionary War they removed to a disputed territory in Pennsylvania. General Swift had a commission and was at the battle of Wyoming and was also engaged in the Pennemite War where he set fire to a Pennemite block house and received a shot in his neck. After the massacre of Wyoming a remnant of the settlers resolved to seek another home.

John Swift and John Jenkins were appointed agents to select and purchase land for their occupation. John Jenkins had been employed by Phelps and Gorham as a surveyor and was acquainted with the Genesee country. In 1789 they purchased the township of land known as Wayne County in which are the towns of Macedon and Palmyra.

Swift made the first settlement, built and occupied the first trading house where now stands the village of Palmyra, then called Swift's Landing, at the mouth of Mill Brook, now just north of the Barge Canal on Railroad Avenue. Jenkins built a tavern under the brow of the hill on the bank of the creek about two miles below Palmyra village.

His party consisted of four men, Harris, Earl, Baker and Rawson. Near the cabin was the hunting camp of Tuscarora Indians to whom provisions upon several occasions, had been given. Early one morning the Indians crept up to the cabin, put their guns through between the unchinked logs, chose their mark and fired. Baker was killed, Earl was wounded and the others were unharmed.

Jenkins and Rawson each seized an ax as they sprang from their blankets and met the Indians as they rushed from the hut and eventually




12


drove them into the woods where they were lost to sight. In the melee Jenkins and Rawson managed to wrest two rifles and a tomahawk from their assailants.

At daylight Jenkins and Rawson, after burying the body of Baker, set out with Earl, the wounded man, to seek assistance and spread the alarm of a possible Indian uprising. After traveling the better part of a day through the woods, the party reached a small collection of log huts on the site of the present Geneva, where a possee was organized to search for the troublesome Indians.

Since the close of the Revolutionary War the American government had sought to make agreeable settlements with the Western New York Indians, who, claiming they were so bound by treaties, had mostly sided with the British in the struggle. Colonel John Butler's Tory Rangers, an organization of British sympathizers from the Mohawk and Susquehanna settlements, that with their Indian allies had strewn death and destruction through the backwoods settlements of New York and Pennsylvania during the war, still made their headquarters at Fort Niagara, which was not given up by the British until 1796, following an agreement over the New York and Upper Canada boundary line.

The Rangers were not hesitating, either, to keep the Indians stirred up over the steady westward advance of settlers from the eastern states and the Hudson River valley settlements into the fertile wilderness of the Genesee country that returning soldiers were so enthusiastic over.

Nevertheless it seemed it was partly hunger that led the four half­starved Tuscaroras to attack Major Jenkins and his party of survivors that March night, for when the men returned from Geneva with the possee bent upon searching out the Indians responsible for Baker's death, they discovered that the Indians had been there before them and rifled the camp of the small store of flour and pork and other provisions.

Taking up the trail of the Indians, who had recently left the hut, laden with plunder, the Geneva party followed it southward for several days and at last came upon two Tuscaroras in the woods near the Indian trading post called Newtown, on the Chemung river, six miles south of the present Elmira. The surveyors who had accompanied the Geneva possee, declared that these Indians were with the party that had attacked them in the darkness at their cabin.

With Johnstown, the nearest jail, many days march to the east, and with consequent small chance of getting the prisoners there, and with the trails still watched by patrols of Butler's Rangers, it was decided to give the Indians a trial by jury then and there and dispose of them likewise.

The verdict of the court was "Guilty." The prisoners were sentenced to death. Horatio Jones and Jasper Parrish, two Geneva residents employed by the United States as interpreters in dealing with Indians, were present at the trial. The prisoners were blindfolded, led into the woods and each dispatched with a blow on the head from the tomahawk captured by Jenkins and Rawson when the camp was attacked.

The barbarity of this act, the aceounts of the execution state, were




13


excused by the exigencies of the times. Electrocution as a means of capital punishment was then unknown. There was no rope handy that day on the wooded banks of the Chemung River. The executioners fell back upon the old English custom of putting a man out of misery with an ax. Having no broad ax with them the men of the law substituted the primitive Indian weapon, the "tomahawk."

All this end of the state was then called Montgomery County, which included all New York State west of a line drawn through Schoharie, north and south.

The news of this attack resulted in the abandonrnent of the Susque­hanna movement and Swift went to Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island where he labored to induce immigration. When Swift and Jenkins bought this township, range 2, they at once began to survey off farm lots along Mud Creek.

The second settler in Palmyra was Webb Harwood and with him came David White. His death and funeral was the first in Palmyra. Harwood died in 1824. Lemuel Spear is given as the third settler. The land he purchased at that time he paid 20 cents an acre for. Mr. Spear lived in his wagon until he could build a log house. He was from Massachusetts and had served in the Revolutionary War. Mr. Spear had purchased from Isaac Hathaway, land, paying for the same 20 cents an acre and on this tract settled a mile west of Palmyra village. He moved his family during the month of February, 1790. He came on with two yoke of cattle, some cows and a number of sheep. He found his way by blazed trees from Vienna to his purchase and his sled ran roughly upon little less than a track. The weather was mild and the stock fared well upon the growth of the fiats, a portion of which had been known as Indian Village. The family, eleven in number, passed several months in a covered sleigh and rough hut until, having cleared and planted a few acres, they had time to build a log house. They brought with them provisions sufficient for a year and either killep. as they needed for meat or traded with the Indians for a supply of venison, and when the few acres had been harvested they got along passibly well. Shortly after the Spears had settled, Ebenezer, a son, made a journey on foot to Schenectady to purchase some wine for Mrs. Harwood, who was ill. He was fourteen days on the way, carried his food in a knapsack and slept under shelter but four of the thirteen nights. The incident illustrates the true neighborly feeling then proverbially present. He died in 1809. His last surviving children were Ebenezer, Abram and Stephen. The latter kept the homestead.

Ebenezer speaks as follows concerning current events: Our first boards came from Granger's saw mill on Flint Creek. Several years after we came in, Captain Porter built the first farm barn, and my father, the next one. I burned the first lime kiln west of Seneca Lake for General Nathaniel Taylor of Canandaigua.

In 1794-5 Abraham and Jacob Smith built a mill in Farmington on the Ganargua Creek, previous to which we used to go to the Friends' Mill in Jerusalem (now Penn Yan).




14


The first corn carried to mill from Palmyra was by Noah Porter. He went to Jerusalem with an ox team in 1790, taking ten days in going and coming. His return was hailed with great joy, for pounding corn was hard work. Our coffee was made of burnt corn; our tea of hemlock and other bark and for chocolate, dried evans root was frequently used. Burnt corn cobs were used for saleratus in cooking.

It was well for the pioneers that they had been brought up in the school of experience and knew how to avail themselves of the most scanty resources. Sometimes the supply of flour would be nearly exhausted. The corn was ground in a hand mill. In the woods was plenty of game. The streams were full of fish. The pioneers could not bring any household goods with them, therefore they brought only things most needed, many times living in the wagon until a log house could be built with no nails, with bark roof and stick chimney plastered on the inside with blue clay, wooden hinges with wooden latches for the door, using a splint broom instead of one made of broomcorn. They also brought appleseeds to plant and start an orchard. Some of the old trees can be seen today in the country; and have grown to be very large. The fruit was nearly all natural fruit. They also brought gourd seeds to plant so as to grow their own dippers. An eavestrough was made out of elm bark that conveyed the rain water to a trough made from a basswood log. This was their cistern for rain water.

Their farming tools were very crude, perhaps the plow would have wooden mould boards, or they might have a wrought iron plow called the "bull plow." When the point became dull it was taken to the blacksmith's to be sharpened. A drag was made from a tree crotch, the teeth were large and most always dull.

Too much praise cannot be given to the women who had bade farewell to kin and kindred to venture a residence in an unbroken wilderness to make their home far from neighbors, waiting for other settlers to come in and share with them. But with undaunted courage and visions of a brighter day they pressed on to reach the goal.

The amber smoke that curled from the stick chimney and floated skyward told the story that the foundation had been laid for civilization and prosperity.

Mud Creek almost from the start became a navigable stream as far west as Macedon, and was for a time the Mississippi of this country. It has been claimed by some that Swift's Landing was at the forks of Red Creek near the Central depot, while others say at the mouth of Mill Brook, which would be near the Barge Canal. This is where Milford Galloway told me it was. He said his father, Thomas Galloway, who was one of the old pioneers, told him so.

This little settlement was known for miles around as Swift's Landing. Sawmills and blacksmith shops were built, and the settlers who came later could build their log houses with brick chimneys instead of sticks and blue clay, and with shingle roof instead of bark. Nails made by the blacksmith had to be sparingly used. A log store was put up on the site




15


of the New York Central depot by Zebulon Williams who kept supplies suitable for the times, and they could sell their wheat to Mr. Williams for 35 cents per bushel.

But the time at last came when the town was to be called Tolland instead of Swift's, Landing. But this name was not pleasing to the citizens. In 1797 between March and June a meeting was held to fix upon one of the names that should be suggested. Daniel Sawyer, the brother of Mrs. Swift, was then for two reasons in a literary mood. First, he was engaged to Miss Dosha Boughton, the first school mistress. Second, he had been reading ancient history. Doubtless thinking that as ancient Palmyra had a Zenobia, so his modern heroine should have a Palmyra. It is not strange that he should urge this name with felicity and success. It was adopted with acclamation and the name of Swift's Landing, and Tolland, henceforth are to slumber on the pages of history.

The trials and privations of the early pioneers were many. Sickness and death were not of rare occurrence. The forms of disease and accident were numerous. Scarcely had the log hut in the clearing betoken occupa­tion, ere a lonely grave bore silent witness of human destiny. There was often lack of care on account of small quarters. The neighbors were kind and tender to the bereaved and hastened to give all assistance in their power.

But as the country became cleared and the health of the pioneers began to improve, everything began to look brighter.

But with all these hardships there was a charm in those old log cabins that lingered in the hearts of those old pioneers, and the story of the old log cabin days and pioneer life in after years they loved to relate.

With the women, the hum of the wheel and the beat of the loom, was music to their ear. To them it was pastime to convey the yarn from the spindle to the reel. And the bright prospects of the future was their happy dream.

The husbands' horny hands betokened hard labor. He smiles as he watches the rank wheat nodding in the wind, or the tall corn spreading out to shade the rich alluvial soil.

The year of 1811 finds Palmyra village with stores, shops and other enterprises to accommodate the people.

But a war cloud is rising in the East that is threatening the pioneers' home. The demands of England, our government cannot accept, and war is declared and the old flint lock musket is once more called upon for protection.

The new settlers had hardly gotten upon their feet when they were called upon in defense of their country. Some went to Niagara, Pultneyville and Sackets Harbor. The farms and all business had to be left to the women and a few men who stayed at home and looked after things as best they could.

With the assistance of neighbors the families raised a good many crops, which they harvested.




16


Economy was again their watchword. Care and anxiety pressed heavily upon the wives and mothers at home.

On February 16, 1814, glad tidings came to the heavy hearted. A treaty had been ratified by the Senate. Peace was declared and the War of 1812 was at an end. The news was received with great rejoicing.

In this war General John Swift was made brevert General. Once more the hearts of the pioneers ware saddened, when in 1814 while at Queenstown Heights, led by a party to Fort George, were he captured a picket post, and some sixty men. An oversight permitted the prisoners to retain their guns, and when one asked of them: "Who is General Swift?" he answered, "I am General Swift," and in an instant a shot was fired, and General John Swift received a fatal wound. The late Dr. Alexander McIntyre was standing by his side and he fell into his arms. He was taken to the nearest house and there died.

He was buried July 12, 1814. When the war was over the citizens of Palmyra exhumed his remains and they were buried in the old cemetery on Church Street in this village. His age was fifty-two years and twenty-five days.

The New York Legislature, out of respect to his patriotism and bravery, presented a sword to his oldest son and dedicated a full length portrait of General Swift to be hung up in the city hall, New York.

And here, too, another one of the first sacrifices to the War of 1812, was from this place. Major William Howe Cuyler was the first lawyer that opened an office in Palmyra, a man still remembered for his public enterprise. He was the aide of General Hall. On the night of the 8th of October, 1812, he was killed at Black Rock by a four-pound ball from the British battery at Fort Erie. The ball that passed through his body came into the possession of his son, William Howe Cuyler of this village.

In 1791 Swift built an ashery on the bank of the brook on the south side of East Main Street, where in 1800 a man by the name of Wilson built a tannery on the same site of the ashery. That same year Henry Jessup came from Southampton, Long Island, to Palmyra, and located permanently in 1806. Shortly after, he entered into partnership with Mr. Wilson in the tanning and curing business. After a short time he purchased Mr. Wilson's interest and for a time operated the business alone.

Several years later another ashery was built on the north side of the canal of which more will be said as we advance in our journey.

Benjamin Palmer, father of George Palmer, immigrated to Palmyra in 1796, where he died shortly after, leaving his family with small means, to struggle with the hardships incident to life at that period in such a wilderness as was western New York. The toils and privations of boyhood served to nurture the qualities of self-reliance, endurance and daring. The means of acquiring scholastic education, as now understood, were not accessible to him, and the limited attainments of his life in this direction were the fruits of unaided efforts in hours snatched from the repose which labor served to demand. He learned his trade as a tanner of Mr. Munson




17


of East Bloomfield, Ontario County, and after working for Mr. Henry Jessup at Palmyra for two years, formed a partnership with him in 1814, which continued successfully and mutually satisfactory until 1828. In 1817, March 24, Mr. Palmer married Miss Harriett Foster of Palmyra, and commenced housekeeping in a gambrel-roof house on Vienna Street, just east of Johnson Street.

After being in company with Mr. Jessup for fourteen years, which had proved to be a financial success, the field at Palmyra had become too limited for the expansive views of Mr. Palmer, and after an examination of the advantages presented by Rochester and other promising points, he selected Buffalo as his future home. Selling out his interest to Mr. Jessup and taking the money he had made in the tanning business in Palmyra, he moved to Buffalo in 1828.

He erected a large tannery and carried on a large business. He also became interested in various other enterprises that proved very profitable and with his keen judgment he became wealthy. Years afterwards his name was good for thousands, when he was conducting large operations, and controlling vast public trusts, and his name was highly respected at home and abroad. Mr. Palmer was very much devoted to the church to which he belonged. In 1857, he built a beautiful structure on Delaware Street, known as Calvary church, at a cost of eighty thousand dollars, and the whole was conveyed July 7, 1862, to the society now occupying it. Mr. Palmer died September 19, 1864.

The firm of Jessup and Palmer carried on a large business in tanning, curing, buying hides, selling leather and shoemaking. The tannery was located on the same site of the Galloway malt house. At that time they had 127 vats that were all out doors and called by the men, "The outdoor tan yard." The double house at the west end of the malt house was the hide house. The firm employed 16 apprentices and as many journeymen, besides farm hands and teams. As many as 35 or 40 of these men lodged in the garret of the old vinegar factory at the west (then the shoe factory). This was called by the men "the sky parlor." All boarded with Mr. Palmer.

Vienna Street on which Mr. Palmer lived was laid out in 1805, and at the time he lived here there were only 4 or 5 houses between his house and the grist mill on the ea.st end of Vienna Street, which was then called Hen Peck. The west end was called Aarondale iIi honor of Aaron Bristee, the only colored man in town with a family. In 1818 Mr. Palmer built the first barn on the street. General Rogers being at the raising of the barn, took charge of the ceremonies, naming the building by breaking a bottle and calling out, "The chief depository of Aarondale." At the shoe factory the firm employed a good many men making boots and shoes. This old building was afterwards used for a steam grist mill and was run by George Jessup.

In the 70's Mr. Taylor bought the property and enlarged the building and had a vinegar factory for a good many years, then later a malt house. Now it is owned by C. A. Sessions and has been for several years.

In 1832 the vat system at the old tannery was done away with when




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a brick structure was built and the work was all done under cover. This improvement vias made four years after Mr. Palmer had withdrawn from the firm. After carrying on the business alone for a time, Mr. Tuttle became a partner. The firm name became Jessup and Tuttle, which continued until 1865, when the building was burned and the tannery business came to an end.

Later the late James Galloway acquired the property, enlarged the building and converted it into a malt house. He also put up a steam saw mill in the rear. Logs were bought in different parts of the country, floated down the canal and sawed into lumber. In the 90's Mr. Galloway sold the entire plant to Mr. Merrick of Lyons. After a short time he started to improve the property and after paying out a good deal of money and the malting business began to wane, he abandoned the project and the plans were never carried out. The double house we see at the west end was remodeled and has been occupied since as a double dwelling house. Around 1900 the late Fred W. Clemons bought the property. (The double house was once the hide house for the tannery.) When Mr. Merrick stopped work on the building, that was the last attempt to keep the building up and it fast went to decay. In 1928, Mrs. Melissa Knapp purchased the old wreck and tore it down. The future will reveal its fate. Mrs. Knapp passed away in August, 1930.

Across the way from the shoe factory are the old General Swift buildings where in 1816, a sign "Drake's Wagon and Sleigh Shop" could be seen. The cellar at the old Swift house is in the north end but not much like a modern cellar.

At the foot of Main Street stands the old George Jessup house. He was the son of Deacon Henry Jessup who died in 1854. In the 30's this old white brick house was one of the finest in the village. Here Mr. Jessup lived and brought up his family. He died in the 90's. His children had already married and gone away, and with no one to look after the property, this once fine old brick house fast went to decay. The trolley company purchased the property. Now as we enter the old house and gaze on its deserted and forsaken rooms that are open to all who care to enter, we catch a glimpse of the old winding stairs with its hand carved railing that would do credit to anyone today to duplicate the same. In those days William Kellogg was considered a fine workman and one of the best builders a.round. Many a fine house in town. built about that time, had a hand carved mantel made by him, and this might have been some of his work. The old iron latches are still on the doors. The old window sills made of solid oak being exposed to the weather all these long years, show that time has made its mark and they are fast going to decay.

The time is not far distant when this old house will be torn down and the old Jessup house at the foot of Main Street with its solid and uncracked walls that has stood the test for so many years, will be forgotten. When Henry Jessup, sr., came to Palmyra he bought a good deal of the east end of Main Street, extending north, including the old electric light plant which was at one time a dwelling house, then a shoe shop. Later Jessup and




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Foster in the 50's had a machine shop where they made grain drills and plaster sowers. Later W. H. H. Osborn had a dry house, then came the electric light plant. After serving in this capacity for several years it was at last torn down. Mr. Jessup's land extended east so as to take in the Dealer's factory. The east line wa.s the east line of George Jessup's lot extending south as far as Vienna Street, west to Mill Street, thence west to the east line of Charles Johnson's lot extending south from Main Street to the brook.

Before the Erie Canal went through, the street past the gas house on Railroad Avenue, was not opened up. The Montezuma turnpike extended past the Dealer's factory to Jessup's corner, but when the canal went through, the state had to take care of the little brook that runs under the canal. A culvert had to be made to carry the water under the canal, so they made it long enough, so they could layout the street by the gas house. Later in the 50's they widened the canal and when the old wooden bridges had become unsafe they had to have new bridges. They were made of iron and were longer. The State would not build two bridges and the town could not afford it, so the one on Throop Street was not put up. Mr. Jessup went to the village board and wanted to have the land come back to him, but this the trustees of the village refused to do. Therefore it still remained a street. Now the old canal is filled in so that traffic is again opened up which adds very much to the safety since the coming of the automobile.

At the coming of the Erie Canal a large warehouse called Jessup's warehouse, was built at the east end of the basin on Throop Street. Here Messrs. Davenport, Barnes & Co., carrjed on a very heavy produce and commission business besides a store. This building in the 50's was occupied by Philip Palmer and Henry Tallou, who were in the produce business for a time, when Mr. Tallou withdrew from the firm and Mr. Palmer carried on the business alone for a time. He closed the business in 1857 and went West where he died a few years later. The old warehouse, after standing some time unoccupied, was finally burned. At that time it was owned by the late William Everson. In the 80's James Galloway purchased this lot of Mr. Everson with the intentions of erecting a warehouse in which to store his malt, but he soon sold the malt house and with him the malting business was at an end. After a few years the vacant lot was sold to W. B. Clinton who put up a little shop on the lot. Now it is owned by the Palmyra Creamery Co. This basin was made to accommodate the warehouse where they could come up with their boats to load them. This was called Jessup's Basin. Here was the first collector's office, conducted by Philip Granden, which was later moved to its present location at Roger's basin at the foot of Market Street. South of the Jessup house was the home of John Drummond, who came here in the 30's. One of his daughters married Richard Rapalee and one married Calvin Brown of Shortsville. Later Owen Burns, the cooper, bought the place and used the old house for a storehouse. About 1915 Charles O'Conner bought the property, made a good many repairs, when once




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more the old house became a comfortable dwelling house. It is now owned and occupied by Harvey Bump.

We will now pass the old school house and leave its history for a later date. Adjoining this on the south was the home of the late Henry Addicott, a native of England, who came here in the 30's. Later he bought the corner lot of Mr. Jessup, built the present house and lived here until his death which occurred in 1889. When he first came to Palmyra he worked at odd jobs such as sawing wood and other work. Later he teamed it. At that time General Rogers owned the land where the cemetery now is, which then was all woods. Mr. Rogers had cut the most of the timber but there was still a good deal of timber left, and he told Mr. Addicott he might have the rest of the timber if he would clear it off. This offer Mr. Addicott accepted which paid him well. In 1843 the village bought this land for a cemetery and Mr. Addicott was its first sexton. Later he went into the coopering business, in which he continued until the 60's, when the Burns brothers came from Pennsylvania and bought him out. He then bought a piece of land on the east side of Howell street and opened up a sand pit where he sold and delivered thousands of loads of sand. After Mr. Addicott's death his son, George, came into possession of the property. George died several years ago. His widow is still living on the place, thus keeping the old homestead in the family over 80 years. Another son, Benjamin, now lives in the village and all those who know him could say he was an honest man. When I was a boy 6 years old, Mr. Addicott made a lasting impression upon my mind. One day when he was sawing wood for Mr. Nettiville, who lived in the house where Andrew Luppold now lives, and I lived in a house 10 or 12 feet east, that since has been moved on Fayette Street and has been occupied for several years by Robert Hart, (We had just come from New Hampshire) I brought out my little ax to split a few of the easy sticks when Mr. Addicott made a proposition to me that if I would split wood he would bring me a big apple, when he came back from dinner. lIe could not have made an offer that would have pleased me better for in New Hampshire fruit was scarce at that time and the thought of having a big apple was a pleasure beyond anything I can explain, but when he came back from dinner no apple came. I asked him for the apple. All the answer I got was a grunt, but imagine my disappointment, but the old man never heard the last of it for as long as he lived I dunned him for the apple and all I received from him was a smile.

Now let us take a stroll down Vienna Street. Beginning at the south­east corner of Vienna and Johnson Streets we find standing on the corner a little brick house built in the 50's by the late William Henderson, who at one time ran a livery stable in company with his brother-in-law; Orvil Hibbard, at the foot of Market Street, back of the Ziegler shop, later occupied by Seneca Robinson. The property was owned by Carlton Rogers and was burned in the 80's. Mr. Henderson was in the business in the 50's and 60's. At his death the little house came into the possession of his son Richard, and at the son's death the property was sold to Michael Carey, whose family now occupies the same. On the east, about 1907,




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Thomas Cunningham built this modern house. Mr. Cunningham, who was a section foreman on the New York Central, was retired on a pension in 1929, dying shortly after. The place is now occupied by his son, T. J. Cunningham. Adjoining on the east was the home of John Hibbard for nearly 50 years. He died about 1904. The place is now owned and occupied by Everett Robbins. We now come to the old circus ground of the 40's. Later the late Albert Lampson purchased the lot and erected the present house where he lived until his death which occurred in the 70's. For a good many years he was employed in the Bulmer lumber yard. Mr. Lampson married the daughter of the late John Brown. At Mr. Lampson's death his son Arthur took the place, lived here several years and then moved to New York. Then the place was taken by his brother-in-law, Edwin Tappenden, who is still living there. Today there are but few living that remember the old circus ground. In the early 60's the late Albert Cray bought a lot on the east. A number of years later he sold out and moved away. Now it is owned and occupied by John Callahan, who has had several village offices and now holds a prominent position in the Dealers' Steam Packing Co., while his neighbor on the west, Mr. Tappenden, held for over thirty years avery responsible position at the Garlock factory. In 1924, he was put on the retired list under pay for his faithful services and today he is the good samaritan, looking after the sick. He goes to any home, whether rich or poor, lending a helping hand to the needy, letting the people set their own price, something which is very uncommon in these days. Recently he cared for Mr. Robert Hart, a Civil War veteran, who fell and broke his hip some months ago. No one would be more missed than "Tap," if anything 'should incapacitate him. He has all the paraphernalia of a physician. The citizens of Palmyra will forever owe him a debt of gratitude. Adjoining the Cray property on the east stands a low old cottage built in the 40's by the late William Walton, a native of England. At his death his son, William, jr., came into possession of the property, later his son, Alfred and still later his son owned this place, thus passing on to the fourth generation. 'rhe property is now owned and occupied by Charles Robbins. On the east in the 70's two little cottages were built, the one on the west built by Andrew Cavanaugh, while the one on the east by Daniel Hickey. Now, 1931, one is owned and occupied by Jay Shear and the other by John Adams. We now come to a brick house built by a Mr. Brown, who afterward sold out and moved to Shortsville. Later this place was owned by J. K. Willamson and now it is owned and occupied by Walter Gorman. Passing on, we come to the Braman place which he purchased of a man by the name of Harre. Mr. Braman was a tanner and currier by trade. At his death, which occurred in the 90's, the property was left to his heirs. The daughter, Mrs. Flora Braman Moison is now living on the place. Adjoining on the east is the Carlton Lakey home, son of Thomas Lakey, one of Palmyra's earliest settlers. Carlton died in the 80's. His widow, after living here several years, sold the place to Harry Yerkes and moved away in 1924. The two little houses on the east are old land marks. In 1849, William Pierce owned




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the west one, now owned by James Trotter. The one on the east is owned by Olin Van Cise. The next little brick house on the east was built in the early 50's by Pliny Hibberd. Mr. Hibberd was a carpenter by trade. At his death which occurred in the 80's the little house and four acres of land came to his son Thomas, who was a veteran of the Civil War. After his death the village purchased the property, using the house for a home for the village policeman, Mr. Johnson being the first village policeman to occupy it in 1923. After a few years the village sold the house and frontage to Paul Goodnow. Crossing the cen1etery driveway our first house is where a Mr. Strong lived in the 60's, later sold to Colporteur Durfee of Marion. After his death the late Augustus Jeffrey bought the place. He died in the 90's. His son Charles and daughter Edna now live on the place. The John Parshall place comes next where his sisters lived. Now it is owned by Peter Molner, a native of Holland. The late Patrick McGreal lived in the next house. He died about 1920 and the place went into the hands of John R. Clifford. Now it is owned and occupied by Emil DeBuyser.

The two houses on the east were built by Guile & Jones and Lebrecht on lots bought off the Perry place. They were built about 1912. The first is owned and occupied by LaMont Storr and the seeond by Clayton Sperry. In the 50's Anson Boyingtonl bought the little seven-acre farm on the east. After living here a short time he died and the place was sold to Mr. Talcott, who came here in the early 50's and was engaged in raising tobacco for several years on Maple Avenue. After being in the business several years he sold the place on Vienna Street to a Mr. Walker and went back to Massachusetts. In the 60's the late William Rushmore, who sold his large farm in Farmington, came to Palmyra, and purchased this place. At his death, which occurred about 1904, the property was again sold and William Perry became the owner, a stock dealer. Now he is living on the place.

In the late 50's Stephen Jerdon, the auctioneer, purchased the home and lot on the east. Since his death, which occurred in the 70's, there has been several different owners. Now it is owned and occupied by Jacob Dayton. Next to the Dayton house on the east has been built a new house owned and occupied by James Webster.

We now come to Howell Street, named after a Mr. Howell, one of the earliest settlers, who owned a farm west of here in an early day, and laid out this street. I have been unable to get the exact bounds of this farm, only his west line was the east line of General John Swift's 272 acres, whose west line was the west line of the Eagle Hotel. Mr. Howell, in laying out Howell Street, kept a narrow strip on the east side of the street that could be sold off in village lots, of which William Beck bought six acres, and built a house and barn on the corner of Vienna and Howell Streets. On the opposite corner on the west stands a house built by the late William Foskett. Later Edwin Huxley became the owner, followed by Joseph Gillett, then Frank Keller. Now it is owned by William Durkin.

Passing along on Howell Street our first house after leaving the corner on the west is a house built by William S. Avery. Our next on the south is a house built by the late George Wheeler in the 50's. Mr. Wheeler was




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one of the earliest sextons at the Palmyra cemetery. He succeeded Henry Addicott. This office he held with honor until old age compelled him to retire. He died in the 70's. Our next house was built by the late Charles Wright, who was for many years a wagon maker with his shop on east Canal Street. Mr. Wheeler and Mr. Wright were brothers-in-law, each married a daughter of the late John Brown. The Wheeler place, now is owned by William B. Clinton, while the Wright place is owned by Lewis Carroll. Adjoining on the south is the home of Harriet Clinton, widow of the late Joseph Clinton. The Clinton place is now occupied by Harlow Veeder, a son-in-law of Mrs. Clinton. Passing the Catholic cemetery we come to a small farm owned and occupied by Daniel Vanderwege, bounded on the south by his son-in-Iaw's place, John Elias. Across the way on the east side, is the Hornsby homestead, now occupied by Fred Hornsby and sister Millie Hornsby. Next on the south, down a lane, is the well-kept home of James Noonan.

Just south of the Beck place on the southeast corner of Vienna and Howell Streets is a new home, built and owned by Ernest Rush, and occupied, at present, by John DeCann, who is manager of the local A & P store.

Just east of the Beck place in early days stood an old land mark and for several years was occupied by the Porter family. Later it was moved to the south end of Gates Street on the west side. It was owned at one time by Elmer Jones, followed by William Parker, a native of Walworth, and a veteran of the Civil War, and it is now owned and occupied by William Plummer. Next on the east is a new house owned and occupied by Harry Beach, followed by a new house owned and occupied by Rev. Frank Cook, a retired minister.

The large brick house that stands back from the road was built in the 30's by Mr. Rossman, who sold the house and farm to Samuel Horton in the 40's. Since then it has changed owners several times. Among some of the owners were Absolum Weeks, Isaac Gifford, Merritt Sherman, and Joseph Mumby. Now it is owned and occupied by Henry Mason, whose son, Henry, has the distinction of building the first airplane made in this town. Its first successful flight was made on August 19, 1930. All this airplane he made himself, except the motor which is a rebuilt motorcycle engine. At one time this was a large farm. Now, 20 acres are in the corporation.

Jesse Westfall built the house on the little 10-acre farm on the east, which he sold to Mrs. Draine, wife of Captain William Draine, who was serving at that time in the Union Army. At his death it became by purchase, the property of the late Thomas Cornwell, later by Mr. Klink, and now by James Fries. From the east line of this farm to the mill pond was a tract of land extending south, containing about 30 acres, owned in the 50's by the late Ira Hadsell. We now come to the mill pond.

Let us now return to Throop Street, passing the Addicott house. As we go east our first house is the M. J. Gavin house. Adjoining this on the east is owned by the heirs of the late Owen Burns, who came to Palmyra




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with his brother from Pennsylvania and bought the Addicott cooper shop on Throop Street. Mr. Burns was a cooper by trade. In this shop he carried on an extensive business and employed a good many men making apple barrels and delivering them through the country. This once thriving business has somewhat changed, the business began to wane. Mr. Burns became old, the barrel factory was closed, the old shop was torn down and a dwelling house stands on the site and the name of Burns Cooper Shop has passed into history. Our next house on the east, away back in the early 50's, was the old "Black Bett" house, later the home of Frank Barks, followed by Clark and Bert Storms.

In the 60's the late Alfred Sansbury bought the lot on the east, moved the present little house on this lot which he sold in 1865 to Miss Amanda Bradley.

This little story she used to tell about Judge S. Nelson Sawyer, who lived neighbor to her when a boy. Back of their house in the bed of the old Erie Canal was a pond of water, where in the winter the boys used to slide and skate. His father had given him strict orders to keep away from the pond on the promise of giving a good whipping if found out, but one day the temptation was too great and in an unguarded moment he went down to the pond and stepped on the ice which broke through, getting both feet soaking wet. He went into Miss Bradley's where was always his refuge when in trouble. Here he stayed until both stockings were dry, not forgetting to tell Miss Bradley not to reveal this act of disobedience to his father. This old lady died in 1929, being over 94 years old and the place is now owned and occupied by Abraham Johnson, who lives there alone.

The three houses on the east, for a good many years, were owned by the late William Foskett, who followed boating all his life. The west house was occupied for a good many years by his brother, Augustus. The Foskett family have all passed away. William died in the 80's. Augustus was a tailor and died about 1912. After the death of William, John Hennessey purchased the middle house. The daughter of William Foskett now lives in the east house and James Fox owns the west one. In the 50's the late Isaac Tabor purchased the lot, built the little brick house on the east. Mr. Tabor was a carpenter by trade and a son of Silas Tabor. Isaac was employed a good many years at the Bulmer lumber yard. He died in the 70's. His widow continued to occupy the place for several years. At her death the place passed into the hands of Alice Gifford. It is now owned and occupied by William Ray.

Clinton Tyler now owns the house on the east.

In the vacant lot on the east in early days a house was built and occupied by the late Benjamin Hibberd. After many years the old landmark was torn down. On this same site Mr. Hibberd also built a two­story house on the east, occupying the larger one: He also built the Tyler house which is followed by a new house which is owned and occupied by Mrs. Ida Webb; also followed by a new cottage occupied by Mrs. Daisy




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Philley. When Tyler's house was first built, his son Ezra, who was a tinsmith by. trade, occupied this house for several years. When he moved to Phelps where he died in the 70's, his brother Charles occupied the house west of the large one. He died in the 90's.

Elizabeth Loudell, mother-in-law of Benjamin Hibberd, owned a large tract of land extending from the line of the large house west, taking several lots; also all the land included in the old part of the old cemetery. Mrs. Gertrude Johnson, whose husband was a war veteran, lives on the east, while the house to the west of the large Hibberd house is occupied by Glenn Cunningham.

We now come to the old Graham place. Mr. Graham was a native of England, coming to this country in the 40's. He was a carpenter by trade. He had two sons, Thomas and William, both serving in the Civil 'Yare There was one daughter. After the death of Mr. Graham, which occurred many years ago, the property remained in the hands of the heirs until about 1918, when it was sold after being made over into a double house. It is now owned by Abram Johnson.

Our next house is the old William Sampson house. Mr. Sampson was uncle to the late Admiral William T. Sampson. It is now owned by Mrs. Alice Walker Middleton Button.

About 1921 James Middleton built a house on this lot and on the east side. He died in 1929. His widow, who subsequently married Stanley Button, still owns the place. Then comes Michael Gorman's house, now owned by Richard Dunn. Adjoining on the east is the new house built on the Walker lot by William. His father, Lemuel Walker, lived on the east.

Then comes the Garrison, Leland Cramer (Edwin Lawler), and the Rifenburg houses.

On the east is the house that Hiram O. Young built about 1905. Among the different owners have been Edwin Robinson, Trautman, Durkin and Pembroke. It is nowˇ owned and occupied by George Pfifer.

The house on the east was built by the late William Jones, who was our street commissioner for several years. He was killed instantly by accident. The place is now owned by Daniel McGuire.

We now come to Kent Street, which was opened in the 70's, but was never accepted by the village. The house on the northwest corner was built in the 80's by a Mr. McLane and is now owned and occupied by Peter Gilman.

Passing along we come to a typical old New England house, owned in the 60's by a Mr. Earl, a blacksmith by trade. Among some of the later owners were Taylor, Williams, Campbell and Ida May Clement.

The next house was built by the late William Brown, a native of England, now owned by Bert Rush. Our next house on the east was once the home of James VanNess, a professional weaver, who came from Columbia County to Palmyra about 1838 or 1840. Mr. VanNess bought a small lot on which he built the small house (now owned by Charles Hornsby residing in Lyons.) He built a little shop, close to the walk, in which he commenced weaving carpets, blankets and coverlets, the latter of which




26


he made a specialty in. Their artistic design and skill in workmanship was the admiration of those who saw them. These attractive worĽs of art couldˇ be found in many homes in the surrounding towns. Many mothers had one woven to give to each daughter. Now they can be found in many states of the Union where they have been carried by the children or grandchildren and are fondly cherished by them as one of the dearest memories of the old homestead. In 1854 he sold out and bought a small farm in the eastern part of the town. In 1862 he sold his little farm and moved to Hudson, Mich. About 1880, while fighting a forest fire, he became tired and sat down at the foot of a tree to rest. A burned limb fell, striking him on the head, killing him. He is survived by one son, Charles VanNess, a veteran of the Civil War, who is still living in Hudson, Mich., at the age of 87 years. The next house on the east was built in the late 50's by William Smith, a native of England. Now it is owned by William Van Conant.

Adjoining on the east is a little house, which in the 30's was owned by Silas Drake, called "Uncle Drake." He also owned a large two-story house adjoining this, in which he lived. Mr. Drake had a little shop where he did repair work, such as putting in cradle fingers and mending furniture. He also, at one time, had a little mill in the rear where he had a turning lathe. Mr. Drake had no children. One morning in the 20's when he arose, and went to the front door, he saw a market basket on the door step, and on inspecting it, he found a little baby boy, wrapped in a blanket. He took it inside and showed the prize to his wife, and, in waiting in vain for some owner to call, he and Kazia made up their minds they would take it as their own, and tenderly care for it and named it Leonard Drake. After the child had grown to be large enough, he became handy with tools and learned to turn out different things at the lathe in the mill. About 1850 he was employed for a time, working at the lathe in Henry Jenner's cabinet shop. About 1849 he was married to Calista Conant. In 1852 he moved to Michigan where he died several years later.

Mr. Drake was one of the earliest settlers on the street, coming here in the 20's. When they became old, Josiah said he generally cut the bread, for he could carry a little steadier hand than Kezia. Mr. Drake passed away in 1881, aged 90 years, and his wife died in 1874, aged 80 years.

We now come to the Ira Hadsell place, who, in the 20's, came to Palmyra and was also an expert weaver. In 1824 or 1825 he worked on the Erie Canal. After the canal was finished, he bought a little 30-acre farm at the south end of the mill pond. Across the road he bought a lot on which he built a little house and barn, and carried on his little farm until the arrival of Mr. Van Ness, when he hired out to work for the latter until he sold out in 1854. Then Mr. Hadsell bought his looms and patterns and built a shop on his own lot, and continued in the business, until the patronage began to wane, and rugs and carpets were bought more at the stores. Then he closed his shop and turned his attention to his farm, and sold milk in the village for a number of years. He died in 1896 at the age of 83 years.




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Thus have passed away these two accomplished weavers and the names of James VanNess and Ira Hadsell have passed into history, but their handiwork may be seen in all the surrounding towns, bearing silent testimony to their able workmanship. After the death of Mr. Hadsell, his second wife and son moved to California. At the time the Drake house was burned the Hadsell house and shop was also destroyed. Now there stands on each of these lots new and modern houses. On the Drake lot lives Willis Beach and on the Hadsell lot lives Frank McGuire. The Beach house was built by A. Vanderwege.

We now come to the old mill property. On September 17, 1793, three brothers, Isaac, Jonah and Gilbert Howell came to Palmyra, and arrived by the northern inland route, and bought a tract of land at the east end of the village, of which some say the western boundary line was just north of the Throop house on Main Street, while others say it was the east line of the George Jessup property. It extended as far north as Mud Creek, and as far east as the east line of Edward Bowe's land on Vienna Street. These brothers brought with them irons and stones for a saw and grist mill. But as the stream was small and furnished water only Spring and Fall, for the grinding of grain, the grist mill was abandoned, but the saw mill was used for nearly a hundred and twenty years. Of the Howells, Jonah was the one who carried on the mills. After living in a log house for a time, he built a house east of the mill and on the north side of the road, in which he lived. Vienna Street was not yet laid out until 1805. In the 70's Valentine Natt bought the property on the east side of the brook and built the ice house on the south side of the road and sold ice in the village. In the 60's Ezra Chapman came from Massachusetts to Palmyra, bought the mill and the house on the west side of the brook and ran the saw mill several years, and when the logs became scarce and it no longer paid to run the saw mill, it was converted into a cider mill where they also ground sorghum. Mr. Chapman died in the 80's. Robert and Ezra Sutton came to P'almyra in the 80's and bought out Valentine Natt and Mr. Chapman. They carried on the ice business and ran the cider mill for a number of years, until they sold out to Henry R. Wissick in 1902. In 1914 Edward Bowe acquired the property and still owns it.

Long years have passed sinc.e the little grist mill ground the first bushel of grain to help feed the early pioneers. The arm that guided the mallet and chisel to dress the stone that ground the grain is forever stilled. For more than 120 years the old mill stones lay slumbering unconscious of the past, in the back yard on the west side of the mill, when a few years ago the yard was filled in, covering the old mill stones and now no one knows of their habitation.

Let us once more return to Throop Street. Across from the Jessup basin still stands the old Throop tavern. Its first occupant for a short time was a man by the name of McDonald. Then came Benjamin Throop from Maine, a native of England and a sailor, who came to Palmyra just before the Erie Canal went through, bought out McDonald and moved into this tavern with its brick cellar kitchen in front, now looking very much




28


as it did 100 years ago. He did a thriving business while the canal was being dug. Many a time someone had to sleep on the floor for want of beds. In front, directly opposite the door was a watering trough with a wooden pen stock. The water came through wooden logs. This faithful old fountain slaked the thirst of many a man and beast. Many a boy and girl on their way to and from the old stone school house, as a token of respect, would take a social draught from this old fountain. When the New York Central went through, this watering place was moved further west to a place called the Diamond, thus giving better accommodations to the public. These old watering places will soon be forgotten and known only in history.

The old red barn and shed that stood in the corner east of the tavern to accommodate the public has long since been torn down and dwelling houses are occupying the site. In one corner of the old shed could be seen for many years the old cannon, "Young Hickory," mounted on wheels, waiting the return of another Fourth of July. Then the boys would draw her up on Prospect Hill long before daylight, load her up and touch her off, thus notifying everyone in the village that the glorious old Eagle was again on the wing and "Young Hickory" was again to proclaim it, while in the valley below, Erastus Kellogg played upon the fife, and his brother William beat upon the bass drum and Edwin Tyler put the extra touches on the snare drum.

At one time when "Young Hickory" was called upon to make a speech in front of the Exchange Hotel, one man who was full of glory, wishing to introduce "Young Hickory" to the audience, touched her with a lighted cigar, but "Young Hickory" said, "Hands off. I do my own talking." And for the next two weeks this man could be seen carrying his hand wrapped in a sling.

This old-time custom has long since passed away and no one today can tell whatever became of "Young Hickory." As to those old musicians who were at that time in the prime of life, when the Civil War broke out, they answered their country's call and went forth in the defense of the Stars and Stripes. Edwin Tyler died with small pox. The Kellogg family consisted of five boys and three girls. Four of the boys went to war, but one, Milo, the youngest of the family, returned. He died in 1908. Erastus, William and James never returned. One of the girls married Eugene Smith, the other married William Gilbert. Both of these were in the army and returned at the close of the war, but with broken health. Of all these, not one of the Kelloggs are living today and only known as history records them. Gilbert 'died in the 70's and Smith died in the 80's, and of these old musicians, who never returned, friend or stranger, when in the Village Hall can read their names chiseled in the marble tablet with the names of other comrades who laid down their lives for the Stars and Stripes.

On the east corner of Mill and Main Streets stands the old Jessup block. This building once ran to the south. A portion of it was turned around so as to face Main Street. While the tannery was running, it was used for a boarding house and was called the Long House. In the




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80's the late George Williams purchased this property, made a good many repairs. About 1900 William Darling bought the property and now is still the owner. Many and many are the tenants that have moved in and out of this old building, some for a short time while others stayed longer. The old building looks very much as it did over 80 years ago.

As we pass down Mill Street, which was laid out in 1833, resurveyed in 1852, our first house on the east came into the possession of George Williams, whose name has been mentioned before. He was a contractor and builder. In the 70's he remodeled this brick house and lived here until his death which occurred about 1902. In the 40's, where this brick house stands and the one south owned by John DeVuyst, was a part of the mill yard for the old Jessup saw mill that stood on the east side of Mill Street, while the pond was on the west side. The mill yard extended across the brook and around on the north side of Vienna Street as far as the Garlock house, corner of Throop and Vienna Streets.

At that time there were no houses here and where all those houses now stand was a mill yard where farmers piled their logs that were drawn in the Winter to be sawed into lumber, each taking his turn on the list. This street was only a lane, for it was filled with logs and there was barely room to drive through with a wagon.

In the 40's Draper Allen ran the mill which was kept going during the Winter and Spring months whenever there was sufficient water. General Swift erected this mill at a very early date, and from this old mill went lumber to build many a house and barn for the earlier inhabitants of the village and town. The old mill has long since been torn down and no track or trace of it can be found where once it stood. The name of Draper Allen has been forgotten. When Route 20 went through, the old mill pond was used for a dumping ground. Little cottages now dot the old mill yard where the logs were piled up to wait their turn to be sawed.

Speaking of the old mill yard: As late as in the 40's there were no houses from the Long House on the east side of Mill Street and the north side of Vienna until we come to the corner of Throop and Vienna Streets. On this corner in the early 40's stood an old wood-colored house of a fair size, and was evidently the first house made of frame built on this tract, for at the time Mr. Jessup came into possession of this property it had barely been cleared of forest trees. I have been unable to locate Mr. Jessup's early residence. He would naturally build on his own land and at that time this would be considered a good location. Vienna Street was laid out the year previous to his coming to Palmyra and Throop Street was a main thoroughfare. Taking all this into consideration it would go to show that this was at one time his residence.

In the early 40's a man by the name of Bristol lived here. He was a cooper and had his shop just north of the house. Please do not get this shop mixed with the Burns shop that was further north. In 1845 the late Augustus Soper lived in this house. His son Adelbert was born in this house and spent all his life here in the village. Later the late Morrison Ford bought the property, and lived here until his death which occurred




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in the 90's. Mr. Ford was street commissioner for several years in the village. After his death Olin J. Garlock purchased the property, enlarged the house and converted it into a fine, large double house and is still the owner. Among the houses that now occupy the old mill yard on Vienna Street: The first house west of the Garlock house is the Thomas Maley house. The house adjoining on the west was built by the late Samuel Sawyer. Among the different owners were Spencer Stephens, a Civil War veteran, at one time in the clothing business on Market Street; later a man by the name of Herendeen. Now, and for several years previous, it has been owned and occupied by Judson Garlock. In the 40's the late Isaac Besley built the little one-story cottage on the west. After his death the little place passed into the hands of John K. Williamson. Later Charles Lebrecht became its owner. He built a small house on the east side of the lot and sold it to Charles Brownell who is living there. The original Besley house is owned by Mrs. Mary Zonneville. The house on the west was once owned by Pliny Sexton. Among the different owners were Albert Tremper and it is now owned by Edward Farrell. In passing I would say Mr. Besley was once a business man in our town in the 40's. He had a grocery store on the dock; later a store in the Sanford block. The little house on the corner west was built in the 70's by the late Richard Pritchard. Among the different owners were Mrs. Eugene Conant, Garry West, a Civil War veteran and John Adams. Now a gas station adjoins the house which is owned by William Orlopp.

The Jessup tract extended west of Mill Street to the east line of James Galloway's east line. Later it was owned by the late Charles Johnson. It is now owned by the heirs of the late Lillian Garlock. It also extended from the south side of Main Street on the north to the south side of the mill pond on the south. Mr. Jessup gave it to a daughter shortly after her marriage to Joel Foster, who later became one of the firm of Jessup & Foster in the shoe business on Main Street. On the west lot Mr. Foster erected a fine, large, two-story house, where he lived until his death, which occurred in the 70's.

Mr. Foster came to Palmyra in early life. After his death the property passed into the hands of James Smith. In the 80's Delos Cummings purchased the property, enlarged the house, put on a third story and opened it up as a hotel and it was called the Cummings House. This did not prove to be a paying investment. After a few years it was sold to Olin J. Garlock and Mr. Cummings moved away. Mr. Garlock converted the building into an apartment house and heated it with steam coming from the factory that was just south of the office. After keping this property several years he sold it. Since then it has had several owners.

Our next house on the east was the Tuttle house. Mr. Tuttle was a tanner by trade and was for several years in the tanning business in company with Henry Jessup. In the 60's the old tannery was burned and the business was closed out, and Mr. Tuttle moved away. Later John C. Coates acquired the property and after living here several years sold the little old house to George B. Parker, who had a shoe store in the Jarvis




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block. He named his store "The 400." The little house was moved on the west side of Cuyler Street. Now it is owned by George McKnutt. It is located on the north side of the brook. Mr. Coates built a fine house on the site of the old one. About 1910, he sold this place to F. E. Jackman, who had a laundry on Williams Street. About 1923, George Heath, a native of Palmyra, who, when a young man, went to New York and after a while, wishing to retire somewhat from business, came back to his home town, bought out Mrs. Louisa Smith, who at that time owned the property, and lived in a house adjoining on the east, and east of this is an old land mark, but it has been greatly changed from 85 years ago, wh.en at that time old Mrs. West lived here. She was a great friend to the children and a dear woman. Her husband was a saddler by trade and died in the 40's.

Two of her daughters were missionaries in a foreign land for a great many years. After the death of Mrs. West the place changed hands several times. In the 90's the late George Barnhart bought the place from George French and remodeled the house. Mr. Barnhart was killed several years ago in an automobile accident. His widow, in 1925, married William Spier and is still living on the same place.

Our next on the east in the 70's was owned and occupied by James Hersey, who was a mechanic of more than common ability. In the 90's Mr. Hersey sold to George French and moved East where he died. Mr. French, for a great many years, was manager of the gas works. Now the place is owned and occupied by Frederick Smith. This house was moved here from Catherine Street. His neighbor on the east was Mr. Millard, a millwright by trade. In the 50's he bought the lot and built the house. After his death the late John Brick bought the property and lived here several years. After his death, which occurred in 1911, the place was sold to George Throop. Adjoining on the east was the home of Aschel Hildreth, who moved from Canal Street in the 50's and built this brick house. Mr. Hildreth, as well as his neighbor on the west, was a mill wright. He had one daughter, who married a man by the name of Howe. After his death Hattie Hildreth Howe became a teacher in the Union School. This position she held a good many years, and no doubt she is remembered by a good many of her scholars today.

Our next house on the east was built by John Van Dyne, who was a carpenter and lived on Mill Street. At one time the late Joseph Rogers owned the place and lived there. In 1922 William J. Eibler bought the place of Mrs. Martha Elliott and covered the outside with stucco. It is now owned and occupied by Isaac Van Overbake.

We will pass on to the corner of Mill and Main Streets. Up to 1923 there stood here an old landmark. There are but few living in town today that know that next to the first school house in town stood on this corner. This was called the Democratic school house. After the three school districts came into being, which was in 1835, Mr. Henry Jessup bought the old school house, and made it into a tenant house. In the early 40's the late Anson B. Clemons lived here, father of F. W. Clemons. In 1850 Mr. Banks sold his house on Main Street, (first house west of the Baptist




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church), and bought the old school house. He put an addition on the south and lived here a good many years.

In the 70's he built on the same lot the present house, standing on the west. He moved into the new house and rented the old one. Mr. Banks died several years ago, leaving the property to his three daughters. In 1922 they sold the old place to Reeves Parker, who tore down the old house to erect an oil station. Thus has passed forever away one of the oldest land marks in the village.

Mill Street, although not regularly laid out until 1833, does not mean it was not open to the public until then, for the saw mill was built long before that, and before the saw mill was built this was a runway. In 1852 it was again surveyed. As we pass along the west side of Mill Street the first house is that of Benjamin Dart, who built this little red house in the 30's. He died in the early 40's, leaving a widow and two daughters. One daughter died in the early 50's. The other daughter, Eliza and her mother died a good many years ago. The place came into the possession of a Mr. Wood, a wagon maker, a native of Canada. At his death which occurred in the late 80's the place was left to his daughter, Alice Wood Hickock. She is still living there. The brick house on the south was built in the 40's and has passed into many hands. The little white house near the brook was built in the early 40's by John VanDyne, who was a carpenter, with his shop in the rear. Now it is a dwelling house, owned and occupied by Jacob Shuler.

Since Mr. VanDyne's death there has been several owners. Fred Kelley at one time owned the property and lived there several years. Now it is owned and occupied by Orla Lowe.

Let us pass down Catherine Street, which was regularly laid out in 1854. Previous to this it had been called Chapel Street as far east as Throop Street. In pioneer days, a street that passed a church many times was called Chapel Street. In 1811, when the Methodist Church was built on Johnson Street, it being so near what is now Vienna Street, it was called Chapel Street. At that time there were no houses west of Throop Street. The survey of Catherine Street began at the northwest corner of James Sampson's lot and the northeast corner of William Pritchard's lot, and extended west to its present location. Then from the east end of Catherine Street east, it was called Vienna Street, and the name of Chapel Street was discontinued. The first house on Catherine Street, going west, was built by the late George WilliamR in the 50's, when he first came to Palmyra. After living here a while, he sold out and lived on Mill Street, as before mentioned. Now the place is owned by Virgil Bitterman. The second little cottage is where lived the late Franklin Bogart, (colored) a war veteran, a substitute for P. T. Sexton and was always provided for as long as he lived. The other little hous.es had many owners.

This now completes our journey over the Henry Jessup tract. Many have been the changes since 1806, when he first came to Palmyra. The stumps of the primeval forest trees on Main Street had not yet rotted away. The streets were rough land only fit for the clumsy ox cart. The




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streets were lighted only by the glimmering light of the moon. The canal and railroad was only a chance dream in the midnight slumber of the pioneer.

It is impossible for the young people of today to realize the situation of 120 years ago and can know it only through imagination by story and in song.

On the west corner of Johnson and Vienna Streets is the house where the late Admiral William T. Sampson was born. In 1829 Abner Lakey purchased of Peleg Holmes a corner lot on which he built the house in which Admiral Sampson was born. It was later sold to a man by the name of Crowe, who came from Marion. After Mr. Sampson's occupancy, in the early 50's, the place came into the possession of the late Walter Stephens, who had a second-hand store a good many years on Market Street. After his death, which occurred in the 80's, the place has had different owners. Now it is owned and occupied by Mary S. Parker, daughter of the late James Galloway, one of the old pioneers of the town. Mrs. Parker has occupied the place several years and still retains a good deal of the pioneer energy. One time while her house was being remodeled she thought she would take a hand in the game by putting up the scaffold and laying 5,000 shingles.

Leaving the old Sampson home and passing on west, adjoining the Sampson lot was William Pritchard. In the 70's a Mrs. Butler owned the place. Now it is owned by Mrs. Louise Whipple, who has been its owner for several years.

Adjoining on the west was a little red house, owned by a Mr. Dillon, who lived here in the early 40's. He had a round, freckled-face boy by the name of Pat. Although he wore but one gallows and wore no buttons on the wristbands. to his shirt, Pat wanted to see fair play, and if he saw a larger boy picking on a smaller one, Pat was soon in the fight. Long years have passed since the Dillon family lived here. Others have owned the place. Around 1900, William S. Avery built the present house on the same site. He was followed by John Garlock, who made some improve­ments and lived here until his death, which occurred in 1925. "Uncle John", as he was called, was the father of Olin J. Garlock.

Adjoining on the west, in the 70's, was the home of the late Richard Pritchard. After his death, which occurred in the 80's, the place was sold to William Wackman. He died about 1908. His widow died about 1922. The place now is owned and occupied by William Hassler.

On the west, in the 70's, lived the French family, but for a good many years it has been owned and occupied by Charles Wardwell.

Now let us go to Canal Street, which was opened up soon after the coming of the Erie Canal, but not regularly laid out until December 27, 1830. It was to be called Hall Street and was to be 40 feet wide. It extended as far east as Holmes Street, being named after Peleg Holmes, who gave the land which was laid out on February 22, 1828.

Mr. Holmes lived where O. J. Garlock now lives, on the corner of Main and Clinton Streets. His land extended as far north as Mud Creek




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and from Division Street east to Railroad Avenue and on April 24, 1829, Canal Street was extended east to intersect what is now called Railroad Avenue. That part of Canal Street east of Holmes Street was to be 31 feet wide. The south line of the Exchange Hotel was the north line of said street, thus leaving the veranda in the street.

The Exchange Hotel was built in the 30's by the late Butler Newton. At the west of the hotel he built a warehouse, called Newton's Warehouse.

While Mr. Newton was putting up these buildings he lived in the little white house just across the canal. This house is still standing. At that time it was a nice little white house, with a nice door yard fence in front and at that time a reasonable distance from the canal, and considered a good location on account of its nearness to the canal. But when the canal was widened in 1849, it encroached upon its frontage and brought the canal nearer to the house. After the completion of the hotel, Mr. Newton moved in and was the landlord for a few years. About 1837 or '38 he sold out to Gilbert Howell. In the very early 40's a Mr. Miller became its owner and landlord and a short time after, Jonas Huxley, who had for many years followed boating, lived in and owned the little white house which he had bought of Mr. Newton. lIe sold the same to Isaac Besley, who moved into it. After making this sale he bought the Exchange Hotel of Mr. Miller and became its landlord and after being in the hotel business several years, in the 50's, he traded the hotel for a large fruit farm in Williamson. Although a very lnoderate man he knew how to drive a good bargain. He died a good many years ago on the farm.

In the 60's Thomas Cram became owner and proprietor of the hotel. Previous to Mr. Cram's occupancy it was a two-story building. While in Mr. Cram's possession it was nearly destroyed by fire. When rebuilt, another story was added, making it a three-story building. For several years Mr. Cram had been conductor on a work train on the New York Central. After running the hotel several years It was again sold and has had several owners since.

On the same site of the old gas house, the Thayer brothers had an ashery as early as 1826, where they carried on the business for several years. About 1845 the old dilapidated building was torn down.

Just east of the Exchange Hotel, in that little three-cornered plot between the hotel and Railroad Avenue, Billy Doran, who came to Palmyra before the canal was built, had a small grocery store, where he sold wet and dry groceries. This was a good location and Billy did a good business. Later in the early 50's, he built a new store very much larger on the corner of Holmes Street and Canal Street, where now stands the hardware store of Harry Young, and the little store by the bridge became a shoe shop. Later, the little shop was moved to the basin, which was a little southeast of the hotel, where it was again used for a shoe shop and carried on by John Mills; but its stay was not long. Soon Mr. Mills bought the old stone school house on Throop Street and moved the little shop there where Mr. Mills occupied it as a shop the rest of his life. The little shop is still standing. Mr. Mills lived in the school house.




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Speaking of the Newton warehouse, which was used in the Fall, where they took in apples and potatoes: The late Solomon Butts lived in one end and had a grocery store for several years, but the building became old and dilapidated. Mr. Butts moved away and the old building was torn down and soon forgotten, and all those that did business here have passed away.

Passing on west we come to the Jarvis Soper blacksmith shop, which was enlivened by a little bantam rooster that delighted in flying down from his perch and alighting upon the back of some horse, then strut back and forth and crow with all vengeance that he possessed.

Later, Charles Wright had a wagon shop just east, where now stands two small dwelling houses built by Fred Clemons.

The Soper family consisted of five boys and one girl, who kept the house, their parents having died when some of the children were quite young. Jarvis, being the older, kept the family together. The house in which they lived was just east of the old furnace, and when the old furnace was burned, which was about 1849, the house burned with it.

Speaking of the old furnace, which was an old wooden building erected in the early 30's: The business was carried on by Eldridge Williams, who lived in the large house east of Throop's' Hotel on Main Street. Later, David Porter Sanford, father of Mrs. J. K. Williamson, became a partner for a time. In this old foundry they made stoves and plows. The iron fence in front of the village park on Main Street was made here by William Parsons, Elisha Kellog and Hiram Kelley, who worked in the foundry.

They also at one time cast all parts of a steam engine, which was loaded on a canal boat to go to Buffalo for installation on a Lake Erie steamboat, but the canal boat sank and the engine was an entire loss to Williams and Sanford. Shortly after the old foundry was burned, plans were laid for a new two-story building to be made of stone. The front was of lake stone, drawn by Mr. Sanford from Lake Ontario.

Mr. Sanford was a brother of the late Amos Sanford, a prosperous merchant on Main Street a great many years. His wife was a daughter of Butler Newton.

After carrying on the business a number of years the business was elosed out and Mr. Williams went to Michigan and Mr. Sanford went into the grocery business on Main Street.

In 1861 the foundry was sold to John Bulmer, who came from Pennsylvania, and went into the lumber business where he kept one of the best equipped lumber yards outside the cities in the state.

This business was also burned in the 70's and rebuilt with but one story, as we can plainly see now. In the present building only a few lake stones scattered here and there in the old wall is the only token that marks the spot where once stood the old foundry.

Mr. Bulmer also purchased land adjoining on the west to enlarge his lumber yard. This business he carried on for over 40 years. He died in 1906, being nearly 90 years old. When Mr. Bulmer came to Palmyra he bought the Daniel Gates house on West Main Street, where he built




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the present large, fine house, now owned and occupied by Fred E. Rowley, who came from Pennsylvania a short time after the death of Mr. Bulmer, and also bought out the lumber yard.

The two houses standing in the lumber yard are now owned and occupied by the Adams, and were built a great many years ago by the late General Thomas Rogers, who then lived where O. J. Garlock now lives, on the corner of Clinton and Main Streets.

West of the Adams house in the 40's, Philo Robinson, who was a carpenter, had a shop on which the sign read "Hand Made Sash". Mr. Robinson built and lived in what was the Amos Sanford house in later years. In the early 50's the shop burned and Mr. Robinson went to Michigan where he died several years later.

When Mr. Bulmer came to Palmyra he acquired the lot to enlarge his lumber yard. At the time the shop burned a yellow house that stood hard by on the west was also burned. On this lot Mr. Rowley built a house.

Adjoining on the west was a small two-story house painted yellow, the same color as its neighbor on the east, and was occupied in the 40's by William Maloy. Many and many a family has found shelter and lodging beneath the roof of this little yellow house since Mr. Maloy's time. It is now owned and occupied by Mr. Byers, who has changed its old-time appearance of eighty-five years ago to a more modern neat, white house.

Just back of this little old one-time yellow house, stood the old yellow warehouse built when the canal was first put through, by James Thayer and his twin brother, Levi Thayer. They also built about the same time the two yellow houses mentioned before.

About this same time, they had an ashery on the site of the gas house. This was made of rough hemlock boards. It was torn down in 1844. These men ran a canal boat called the "Twin Brothers". On this boat they carried the potash from the ashery, and grain from their warehouse to an eastern market.

In the 30's, H. K. Jerome came into possession of the warehouse and did a good deal of business in buying grain and pork, and for nearly seventy years the name H. K. Jerome could be seen in large black letters on the front of the building, until torn down about 1902. Among some of those that occupied the warehouse after Mr. Jerome, were C. E. Wilder, W. H. Southwick and William Moore. About 1902 Joseph and Edwin Rogers bought the old building, tore it down and worked the lumber into the large double house that we can now see standing in front. It was later owned by Mrs. Margaret Williamson, and is now owned and occupied by John Byers.

Long years have passed since the yellow warehouse opened its doors to receive its first load of grain, to help fill the newly made bins, or to load some empty boat that floated on the little "Clinton Ditch." But time is fast weaving its veil over the past and these pioneer business men will




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soon be blotted from memory, and the old yellow warehouse will be known only in history.

We now have arrived at Franklin Street, which was laid out on February 22, 1828, recorded January 30, 1829, width, two rods and six links. This street was named after Benjamin Franklin.

Speaking of the two General Rogers houses: These two houses have been occupied by tenants for a great many years. Now they are owned and occupied by the Adams families.

Just east of these houses in the 30's stood a cooper shop. In those days hoops were made from small round poles that were split, thus making the hoops. These poles were mostly of second growth black ash and hickory. The latter, the cooper had to watch closely for those young hickories made fine bows, for the boys who wanted to make a bow and arrow to imitate the young Indian boys who came into town, with their parents to win a quarter by hitting it with their well aimed arrow.

The cooper told the boys that hoop poles were hard to get as no one but a cross-eyed man could afford to cut them, for while he was cutting with one eye, while the pole was being cut, he could be hunting up another with the other eye.

Speaking of the Indians: They would occasionally camp in a piece of timber for a while, that was suitable for making baskets, that they brought into town to sell to buy food and whiskey. They were great beggers, always sending the squaw into the house to beg, while he stayed outside. '

We now return to the Exchange Hotel, where just across the way in a log hut with bark roof was once the home of General John Swift, the founder of our village. Later he built a two-story house. The south end was used for a storehouse, the north end for his dwelling, with a very shallow cellar that could be plainly seen before the building was torn down in 1926. In 1816 the storehouse was used for a wagon shop. The sign read "Drake's Wagon and Sleigh Shop."
BR> Later Thomas Lakey came into possession of this property, including a blacksmith shop, erected in the 20's just east of the wagon shop. In these two shops he carried on blacksmithing and wagon and sleigh making.

About 1850 the old blacksmith shop was torn down and a new one erected a little at the north and east of the old one. In this shop his son, Carlton, carried on blacksmithing for several years. Since in the 70's the business has been carried on by different ones, but the coming of the automobile ruined the business.

Speaking of the old wagon shop: After the retirement of Mr. Lakey from the wagon and sleigh business, Harry Tiller, who had learned the trade from Mr. Lakey, purchased the entire property and carried on the business for a good many years. After Mr. Tiller's death, Mr. Wood and Mr. Fermer rented the shop of Fertis Beal, who had acquired the property and carried on the wagon business, and at his death Fred W. Clemons acquired the property. In 1926 the Standard Oil Company bought the




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entire property of the heirs of F. W. Clemons, tore down the old buildings and erected the present oil station.

Thus have passed away the last vestige that marked the spot where once was the habitation of the founder of our village.

Adjoining this on the west, stands a typical New England 'One-story cottage that once stood on the south side of the lot and facing Main Street and over eighty-five years of age. It was painted a light yellow and had a door knocker on the front door. At that time this neat little cottage was owned and occupied by Mrs. Cynthia Lovell, whose niece, Miss Clara Jerome slept beneath its roof many a night when a young girl. This young lady subsequently became Lady Randolph Churchill of England.

After the death of Mrs. Lovell, Harry Tiller acquired the property. The little cottage was moved to the north side of the lot facing Canal Street as we see it today.

After the death of Mr. Tiller it then came into the possessiQn of Fertis K. Beal. Now it is owned by others. This once bright little yellow cottage has faded into a dirty white. The knocker has been taken from the door and carried away as a relic of the past and its present habitation is known to but few.

We now pass on to Billy Doran's new store on the CQrner of Holmes and Canal Streets as before mentioned. After being in the grocery business several years he sold out and bought the Eagle Hotel and became its proprietor. The stQre building was converted into a livery stable kept by John C. Coates. Coates and Marshall pressed hay here. Later, Hiram O. Young bought the property, erected and kept a large hardware store. Later he sold the same to his son, Harry, who still carries on the business.

Up until into the 40's Canal Street was a residential as well as a business street. Daniel Ward was born in Wales. When quite young he came with his parents to this country and settled in Vermont. When a young man, Daniel came to Palmyra and lived on Johnson Street for a time. Then he moved into the little house west of the Youngs store where he spent the remainder of his life, dying at an advanced age. Mr. Ward was a turner by trade, and worked for James Jenner in the furniture factory as long as the factory ran. Mr. Ward was grandfather to our townsman, Ferris Palmer. After the death of Mr. Ward, Martin Clancy bought the property. At his death it passed into the Bushnell family.

Adjoining this on the west is a little house that Major John Gilbert in the 40's lived in. Mr. Gilbert set the type for the Mormon Bible. Later when Jarvis Soper was burned out, he moved to this house where he lived until his death. The late Edwin Farrell lived here a good many years. Now it is owned and occupied by Katherine Nolan.

Our next on the west is of our New England type. In the early 40's the late Richard Ford, the butcher, lived here. Later Asahel Hildreth, who was a millwright lived here for a time. Later he built the little brick house on lower Main Street, across from the Eagle Hotel. The late




39


Catherine Scalley owned and occupied this place for several years, up to her death. William Stackus bought the property, put on a covering of stucco, besides making other changes, thus making a good looking house of it.

Adjoining on the west about 1900, Oliver Comback (colored) built this little house. After his death Arthur McDonald bought the place.

The two houses across the way were built by General Rogers about 1829. In 1844 William Cray, the cartman lived in the larger house. In the 30's, a cooper shop stood nearby. Now Thomas Adams, sr., owns and occupies one of them'and Thomas Adams, jr., owns and occupies the other house.

Crossing the street again and resuming our journey west, we come to the old William Jarvis homestead, built by him in the 30's. At that time it was considered the finest house in the village and then it was called a good location. Its color has always been white until recently when it received a coat of red paint. Mr. Jarvis was called a very shrewd business man and at that time one of the wealthiest men in the village. He spent the remainder of his life here where he brought up a large family of which only one of the family, Edwin, is living in New York, being over 83 years of age. Mr. Jarvis died April 4, 1884.

The heirs, after holding this property several years, finally sold the old homestead to William Griswold, who now occupies the same. Its old neighbor on the west was erected about the same time by Jacob Sanford, retains the same color and general appearance as when first built nearly a century ago.

These two old houses have stood peacefully side by side with only a fence between them, each keeping their own secrets. The walls of these two old houses are apparently as solid as when first built. In the early 40's the late Asher Cray lived here. At that time he held the office of constable. His first wife died here. Later, Mr. Cray, about 1848 started a brick yard on Railroad Avenue and built the brick house which stands north and east of the mill and back of this house was his brick yard. At one time the brick house on Canal Street was occupied as a Methodist parsonage. A good many years ago the late William Bushnell bought the property. At his death it fell to his heirs, who still own it. His son Patsy, a veteran of the Civil War, now an old man, is living here.

Up until about 1914, there stood adjoining this on the west a large two-story frarne house, equally as old as the two brick houses just mentioned, and in its former days ranked with other good houses. In the early 40's G. O. Chipman, who ran the steam flour mill where the Wayne Coal and Lumber Yard is, lived here. But as Canal Street began to lose its popularity as a residential street, the old house became a tenant house and for want of care it went to decay. John K. Williamson was its owner for several years and when it had passed the habitable stage, Mr. William­son sold the property to Olin J. Garlock, who tore down the old house, leveled off the ground and built a front fence and made a nice tidy lawn.

Passing on to the corner of Canal and Clinton Streets, we come to




40


where Dr. Durfee Chase lived in the 30's, who had a large family. He was the father of Mrs. Louise Lakey and Mrs. George McGown. His office was on Clinton Street in what was once called the Maley house. In 1845 he had an office for a time in the Clemons block on Main Street. In the early 50's the doctor sold the house on Canal Street and purchased the house where now lives Dr. Herman L. Chase on Main Street. The house then stood further back from the street with a little office in front. There he lived and practiced until he became too old to continue any longer. He sold the place and went to live with his daughter, Mrs. George McGown on Washington Street, where he died in the late 60's at an advanced age. Dr. Chase lived in the days of general training and was the captain of a company.

The house on Canal Street was sold to Peter Fox and for many years kept its old-time appearance. The old well at the south door for many years had the same curb with windlass and bucket and a cover over the top to keep dry the rope that drew up the bucket. About 1916 the property was sold out and many improvements made and the property bids fair to last another century.

On the west side of Franklin Street, on the "Dock", as it was called, was a two-story building owned and occupied by the late John Brown. His family lived in the upper story while he kept a grocery store below. He did a thriving business in selling groceries and baked stuff that was made by the family. But in an unguarded moment he signed a paper to accommodate a friend and it ruined him. Isaac Gardner, who succeeded him, also had a bakery there. Mr. Brown had four daughters. One was married to George Wheeler, who later was sexton of the village cemetery for many years. Another married Charles Wright, wagon maker. Another married George VanDyne and another married Albert Lamson, who lived and died on Vienna Street. This large family has all now passed away.

From the store west were groceries, saloons and meat markets. Solomon Carter and David Tubbs kept the saloons. Thomas Austin and Schuyler Parshall kept the meat markets. Others came and went. At the west end of this row of buildings was a large tub with fresh spring water flowing into it. This supplied the groceries, meat markets and saloons, besides the passing boats.

The water came through wooden logs. Here was also an open space where the bus could drive up for passengers at the arrival of the packet. Nearby was a little old and dilapidated brick building that has since been abandoned and was torn down about 1929. This was once the collector's office. The first collector's office was at the foot of Main Street at Jessup's basin. A Mr. Granden was its collector. But this location was of but short duration, when Rogers' basin was chosen. This office was used before it became a free canal.

The captains of all the boats had to stop and give the name of their boat and get their clearance. This was once a lucrative office to the one whose party was in power. Among some of the collectors at Rogers' basin were: Democrats, John Gilbert, Henry Flowers; Republicans, Luther




41


Rawson, Parsons and E. S. Averill. The first collector was Granden, at Jessup's basin. The office was open day and night, the two collectors dividing up the time. This little building was standing up until 1929 when it was torn down. All its neighbors have passed away, save the ones mentioned before. The land on which stood the little collector's office is now owned by C. A. Sessions.

Long before the canal was closed an act was passed making it a free canal and henceforth no toll was to be charged and the collector's office was abandoned.

Now let us return to Franklin Street. We look in vain to see the two­story building where John Brown had his grocery store, nearly ninety years ago. This building was burned in the early 70's. About this time Gardner Wood, who came from the eastern part of the state, purchased the entire property from Franklin Street west to the collector's office.

Adjoining the Brown grocery on the west were three small stores of which two of them were moved to the south and somewhat enlarged. They are owned by C. A. Sessions and occupied as dwelling houses. The third store, a little old red building, now stands west of Fred V. Cleveland's store. On the site of these three stores now stands a large barn, erected by Mr. Wood to acconlmodate canal horses.

The store now owned and occupied by Mr. Cleveland was built by Mr. Wood. A few feet west of the present store, in early days, stood a two-story building that burned in the 60's and the new store was built partly on the site of the old one. David Tubbs lived in the upper story and had his grocery below.

In the late 70's, Henry P. Knowles became owner of this property and during part of that time John Rifenberg had a saloon here.

When quite a young man Fred V. Cleveland came from the eastern part of the state to Palmyra and for a time was in the employ of Mr. Wood. In the 80's he purchased of Mr. Knowles this property and embarked in the grocery business, living for a time in a house he owned on Railroad Avenue, where William Darling now lives. After selling the property to Mr. Darling, he moved to the second story of the store where he now resides. Mr. Cleveland has been a citizen of Palmyra for more than forty years.

Almost directly across the Street from the collector's office is the site of the once famous Bunker Hill Hotel. It was opened as a tavern in 1825 by William W. Burrell. It was originally intended for a private dwelling. Mr. Burrell was succeeded by Gad Higbee; later by William Nottingham.

In 1838 he sold out to Butler Newton and moved to the new hotel on Main Street, but it was known for years all over the state as Nottingham's Hotel. The Bunker Hill Hotel, under the management of Mr. Newton, retained its popularity with the public for he was known the whole length of the canal. His courteous and obliging manner won him a host of friends.

These were glorious days of travel. The packet boat carried nothing




42


but passengers. They took their meals on the boat. The horses were driven tandem and on a trot. Just before arriving in port, the captain would come to the bow of the boat and blow his bugle, thus warning the people that the packet was coming and that all might be ready and make no delay.

The boat was moored at the dock, that the passengers might get off and on the boat. The horses were unhitched from the long tow line in the quickest manner possible. The crack of the driver's whip would ring out as he rushed over the bridge to the Bunker Hill barns where a fresh relay of horses were waiting all ready for the driver to mount, with harness all trimmed with brass in shining splendor and with tassels dangling from their bridles in gaudy colors. He was soon back and fastened to the tow line. The boat was unloosened from its mooring and all were again on their way.

Many times when the packet bugle was blown a good many, out of curiosity, would rush down to see the packet come in.

East of the hotel was a long row of sheds to accommodate farmers when they came to town. Adjoining this on the south, on Clinton Street, were the large hotel barns and livery stable and office with sleeping place for the driver.

Where the sheds were, now stands a three-story building, built by Mr. Newton and F. L. Wood. Later the building was sold to a man from Marion by the. name of Robinson, who kept a grocery here. The late Barnett Davis had a grocery here in the 60's. Afterwards he moved to Main Street. Later the McKecknies had a liquor store, and still later it was owned by Gilbert Everson. It is now an apartment house with veranda extending over the sidewalk on Clinton Street. The site of the old barn is now a fine double house on Clinton Street. The site of the hotel and the remainder of the lot is now owned by C. A. Sessions.

At the time when Mr. Newton kept the hotel it was in the heights of its glory. But when the ˇNew York Central Railroad was built, for want of patronage, the packet business was discontinued as was also the case with the slow moving freight boats compared to the steam cars, and like the canal, the hotel business began to wane and Mr. Newton sold the property.

Among some of the landlords that followed were: Sanford Calhoon, Joseph Moore, P. W. Tinklepaugh, Davis, William Doran and Lucian Freeman. In the late 60's while Mr. Freeman was the landlord, the hotel burned and was never rebuilt. Now there is nothing to mark the spot where once the famous Bunker Hill Hotel stood, where thousands have gone in for food and lodging or to wait for the arrival of the packet or s.tage coach. All the old-time landmarks have passed away and the name of Bunker Hill Hotel has passed into history.

At the time Mr. Tinklepaugh kept the hotel, the song, "Over Jordan" was quite popular with some, and some practical wag, for fun more than everlasting fame, added another verse as follows:




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P. W. Tinklepaugh keeps the Bunker Hill,
And takes in boarders according.
But if you want to cut a swell,
Go to 'Nottingham's Hotel.
Neither pay for your board or lodging,
And if you want to cut a dash,
Just bundle up your trash,
And go on the other side of Jordan.
So pull off your coat and roll up your sleeves,
For Jordan am a hard road to travel I believe.

Just west of the hotel lived Remus Ferrin and his son Charles and little daughter, Libbie, whose mother died and was the first to be buried in the new cemetery. This was once a fine house as one can see by the looks of the wide corner boards and cornice. On the front door was his name engraved in marble as was then the custom.

About 1850 Mr. Ferrin sold his house on Canal Street and bought of Mr. Banks, the property on the south side of Main Street, where Mrs. McPherson now lives. He tore down the old house and built the present brick house. The house on Canal Street, through neglect,' fast went to decay. About 1900 the late William Phelps bought the old house and made it into a barn. In 1926 C. A. Sessions bought the property, making a garage below and renting the upper story to families.

Passing on west, our next is a frame building where in the very early 50's Alexander Rannie, a native of Scotland, and a baker by trade, started a bakery. For a great many years it has been rented to families. Adjoining on the west is a brick block running to the corner, although two separate pieces of property.

In the east end of this block, in 1845, lived Mr. Tyler, father of Edwin and Wells Tyler. The latter was a clerk in Birdsall and Sanford's store on Main Street. When a young man he was also the postmaster at one time and undoubtedly is remembered by a good many. The former has been mentioned before as a soldier in the Civil War.

About 1923 James Burns purchased this property, tore down the old frame part and made several changes besides a fresh coat of paint, making the old block look better than it did eighty years ago. Mr. Burns died June 25, 1930, leaving his wife, Anna Orlopp Burns, who still resides there.

The corner block in the 40's was owned by Isaac Gardner, who had a bakery on the lower floor and lived in the second story which was entered by a flight of stairs on the outside on Market Street. This building has had a good many different owners, as well as tenants. Billy Doran at one time had a saloon here. The late William Throop at one time had a harness shop here. In the 70's the late Henry T. Knowles owned this property. Now it is owned and occupied by Robert Collins, who conducts a successful variety store there.

Speaking of Mr. Ferrin: He was in the produce business on Canal Street. His storehouse was on the east side of the basin. East of this was a two-story building, where J. K. Cummings in the 30's, had a grocery on the lower floor. He was succeeded by Isaac Besley. The upper story was occupied by families. In the 60's the Ferrin warehouse and the Cummings




44


grocery store were destroyed by fire. In the 70's on the site of the latter, Oliver Durfee and young Henry Southwick built a small warehouse. In the 80's, Alemberl G. Wigglesworth came into possession of this property and also the site of the Ferrin warehouse. He enlarged the storehouse and erected the present coal shed on the Ferrin property. After being in the coal and produce business for several years, he sold out to C. A. Sessions and Dr. Leonard, who continued in the same business for several years. Mr. Wigglesworth went West where he died a few years ago at an advanced age.

Later Mr. Leonard sold out and went to Syracuse where he died a few years ago. Now the firm name became Sessions & Son, the new firm dealing in coal as a specialty. When the Barge Canal went through a storage plant was put up at the West Shore Railroad where they now distribute coal. Mr. Sessions's son is now village Postmaster.

Before the advent of the railroad, a good many of the boats were owned by private individuals, as well as by corporations. Sometimes there would be a break in the canal, then there would be a jam of boats, forty or fifty boats all crowded together and to keep things balanced it would be necessary to have several fights in order to hold their rights. In such a crowd a bully was easily found and sore heads and black eyes would be the result.

Mention might be made of the old-time cartmen, who instead of having a wagon, had a two-wheeled cart that the back end could be tipped down so that barrels and hogsheads could be easily loaded and unloaded.

Among some of the old-time cartmen were Johnny Smith, William Cray, Darius Kyttel, John O'Niel, Henry Huxley and Yankee Clark.

The basin was a cove dug out so that boats could be floated in and be loaded out of the main channel and was called "Roger's Basin", taking its name from General Thomas Rogers, who ovvned the land. This old basin, where millions of bushels of grain have been loaded on boats is fast filling up and will soon pass from memory.

Across the basin to the west was the large storehouse, for a long time called "The New Storehouse," erected in the 30's. Isaac Beecher and David Glossender, who bought grain and pork in large quantities, occupied this building for a long time. In the Winter at that time, pork packing was a great business. At each storehouse they bought heavy pork, which was salted and packed in barrels and when the canal opened in the Spring the barrels of salt pork were sent by boat to an eastern market.

In those days pork raising among the farmers was a lucrative business. It was not an uncommon thing for a farmer to fatten as many as forty heavy hogs. Upon a cold day in the Winter, farmers brought in their pork, piled upon their bob sleighs, some farmers having two or three loads.

At that time Main Street was the pork market. It was indeed a fine display to see the buyers bidding against each other. "I will give you so much for your pork and twenty-five cents extra if you will drive it down to my storehouse."



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At the new storehouse most of the merchandise that came to Palmyra and surrounding country was unloaded. At that time the merchants had no other way of getting their stock of goods only by canal, save a little light freight that came by stage. Consequently they had to lay in their stock of goods in the Fall, enough to last until navigation opened in the Spring.

People coming here from the East would leave their goods here until they found a place to move to.

When the New York Central Railroad went through, the forwarding business on the canal was done away with and passed into history. After this, Mr. Beecher and Mr. Glossender continued in the business only a short time, only buying grain and pork, sending the grain by canal and the pork by rail. At last their men closed out the business. Mr. Beecher died a few years later. Mr. Glossender went on a farm where he died in the 80's. Later, William H. Southwick occupied the same warehouse for a few years until his death, which occurred in the 80's. After his death this famous old storehouse that was once one of the liveliest business places in town, for want of patronage, was finally abandoned and fast went to decay, and finally it was ordered by the village authorities to be torn down, in 1912. Thus another old landmark has passed into history and is forgotten.

We now come to Division Street, surveyed February 22, 1828. "I consent to the laying out of the above road as described, through my land. May 6, 1828. Peleg Holmes."

On May 7, 1828, it was posted on the outside door of the Presbyterian meeting house in the village of Palmyra. It was witnessed and sealed by Peleg Holmes the 14th day of May, 1828. Mr. Holmes owned the land at the north to Mud Creek.

For a moment let us cross the old canal bridge on Division Street. Just as we cross the bridge, at our left, near the towpath, once stood a two-story house, painted white, built in the 20's. The late John Williamson lived here when a young man. In this house his son Charles was born, who in 1915, was Police Justice in our village. In the early 50's, Mr. Williamson bought the property where Clate Silver now lives, just west of the Eagle Hotel. He moved away the old house to Fayette Street, where he lived until he built the present brick house. He lived here a good many years and brought up his family. He was a tailor by trade. About 1850; he bought what is now the Clemons block. This he bought of General Rogers for $1,000. In the west end of this block he kept a general clothing store for several years. Then he sold out and went East to live. When he became old he came back to Palmyra and died here.

Just north of the house on the tow path was a cooper shop where Mr. Lakey employed a good many men, making whiskey barrels. The old white house and cooper shop were torn down a good many years ago.

Just across the way, at the east, was Gramby and Robinson's tannery. Later the old building was torn down and the Western Transportation Company built a barn to accommodate their horses that belonged to their line. At this station they changed horses. A little further east stood




46


another large white house where the father of John Williamson lived, who at one time had been a sailor. He died very suddenly while milking his cow.

A little further east stood a little low brick barn that belonged to another line company. At one time canal horses were shod at this station. When navigation closed in the Fall, farmers used to take their canal horses to keep through the Winter at a price agreed upon, some farmers keeping as many as forty or fifty horses at a time. They ran out to the straw stack through the day and at night they were put in the barn. Sometimes a man went with the horses to look after and care for them during the Winter, boarding with the farmer.

Speaking of the old canal bridge, reminds us of an amusing circumstance that occurred soon after the coming of the New York Central Railroad. A young man, whom for convenience sake, we will call Jimmie, went to Canada and while there got married and brought his bride back to his home in Palmyra. When they had arrived at Rochester, the bride tarried a few days to visit some friends and Jimmie came home on the cars. At the completion of the bride's visit, she was to come down on a canal boat, but Jimmie, not knowing the name of the boat she would come on or the time of her arrival, and to be sure he would not miss her, went out on the bridge and shouted to every passing boat: "Hey Cap'n, have ye a strange woman aboard?"

Across the street, west from the big storehouse in the 30's, was a hat store and dwelling house owned and occupied by N. R. Lampson, who had a fur tannery in the basement where he prepared the skins for the hats which he made and sold on the floor above. David Glossender married their daughter, Mary, who was found dead on the doorstep after being at a dance in the evening. Later, a brother of Mr. Lampson lived here and carried on the same business.

In the 60's Michael Shanley canle into possession of the property. He lived here a good many years. At his death the property came into the possession of P. T. Sexton and at his death it was sold to the Wayne Coal & Lumber Corporation. The old store was made into an office and the dwelling house was remodeled. A coat of red paint adorns the exterior and the name of Shanley house has passed into history.

A little at the south and east of Division Street lies Market Street, surveyed June 16, 1828. A true copy was recorded and posted on the outside door of the Presbyterian meeting house in said village the eighteenth day of June, 1828. Several unsuccessful attempts were made to widen the street on February 22, 1831, June 24, 1837 and May 24, 1843. On the west corner of Canal and Market Streets is where Amos Miner, grandfather of W. W. Miner, in the 30's kept a grocery store. Mr. Miner was a soldier in the War of 1812. While in the grocery business he lived in the brick house on Fayette Street called the Blaby house. After being in the grocery business several years he traded the house and lot for a farm on Canandaigua Street, two miles south of the village, where his grandson now lives. Here he lived until his death, which occurred about 1868. Mr. Miner still kept the store and Sunday morning, February 7, 1847, this building




47


was burned. There had been several incendiary fires in the village and the citizens became thoroughly aroused and determined to put a stop to it. On February 13, a village meeting was called to consider measures necessary to adopt to guard against the fires and detect and punish the guilty one. A reward of five hundred dollars was offered to secure the latter object. A vigilance committee of twenty-five and a confidential committee of three were formed. Fires occurred November 29, 1846, when Anderson's barn was burned and at other times at the Methodist chapel and Jenner's furniture factory, while the Horton block was twice attempted.

After Mr. Miner's store was burned, about 1849, Mr. Miner made a bargain with George Olivett to put up a cheap frame two-story building whereby he was to have the use of the building a certain length of time when it was to revert back to Mr. Miner.

About 1854 Joseph Allen had a grocery store on the lower floor. Mr. Olivett lived on the upper floor. Later William Ryan acquired the property. He lived on the upper floor and had a saloon on the lower floor. The little brick addition that can be seen on the west was put up by Mr. Ryan. After the death of Mr. Ryan it then came into the hands of P. T. Sexton, who was its owner until his death. Now it is owned and occupied by Walter Dennie, who has made a great improvement to the building.

Here on this corner, from the time the canal was first built, many a one who expected fish for dinner fortified himself against a coming drought that usually comes from eating fish. In early days no license was required for the right to sell whiskey. In those good old days it could be bought for 25 cents per gallon. This corner was called "Bloody Corners." for here many a battle has been fought and blood has been spilt before things could be rightly settled.

Every Spring a short strip of the canal bottom had to be cleaned out and a gang of men was employed to do the work. A water boy was also secured to pass around the water. In those days fever and ague was quite prevalant and to guard against this dreaded disease a pail of whiskey was occasionally procured and passed around. On one occasion, and only one, Whiskey Philips, as he was called, said he believed he would not take any this time. But as the boy started to go he yells out: "Hold on, hold on. Life is uncertain and I may not live to see it come around again and I think I had better take a little."

Speaking of fever and ague: This dreaded rnalady that was so common among the early pioneers who settled along Mud Creek or near marshy places is now a thing of the past and almost unknown by the present generation.

Continuing our journey west, we come to the old Charles Bingham blacksmith shop and axe factory, but we look in vain for the old sign that for many years hung over the door with his name painted with lampblack and turpentine. The wood had worn away from the name, leaving it like raised letters. We also look in vain to see the old fashioned bellows and pile of charcoal that had been delivered to him from a burnt pit.

In those days one had to serve an apprenticeship before he could




48


become a blacksmith. Among those who learned the trade of Mr. Bingham were his brother, Alanson, William Gilbert, a veteran of the Civil War, and a son oof the late John Gilbert of Mormon fame, and John J'ohnson, son of Robert Johnson, the mason. John Johnson later went to California where he died several years ago. Mr. Bingham lived just across the street in a little white house just west of the Lampson house. Now it is torn down. After continuing in the business several years, and becoming old, he went out of the business. For several years, John Johnson, the apprentice, owned the little old red shop and rented it to the late John Jeffery, who with his two sons, John, jr., and Augustus carried on blacksmithing for a good many years. Mr. Jeffery owned a little five-acre farm on Walker Road. From here he walked to and from his work each day. On this little farm he died several years ago from old age and hard work. John, jr., died a few years later and Augustus died about 1907. Thus passed away father and two sons, who had toiled together many years in this old shop that is still standing although somewhat enlarged.

Others have come to blow the bellows and strike the sounding blow, but with the coming of the automobile and the doing away with horses and the kicking mule on the canal, blacksmithing of the old order is a thing of the past and there are but few who are learning the trade. Later Charles Wilbur, who had occupied the old shop for several years after Mr. Jeffery, built a shop just west and carried on general blacksmithing for several years. He was a fine workman and did a good deal of fine work outside of common blacksmithing. Later he moved to the Ziegler shop at the foot of Market Street. Mr. Wilbur being somewhat advanced in years and with failing health, after a few years gave up the Ziegler shop and retired from business, dying about 1925, at his home on West Main Street. Thus another good mechanic of the old type has laid down his work for others to take up and follow on. John Shimmin also occupied the old Bingham shop a few years. The old shop is now owned and occupied by others. On the site of the shop stood an old house, occupied for several years by the Landon family.

Between here and the corner as we go west, in the 30's, stood two small, yellow houses. In the 60's James Ried came into possession of the east one and enlarged it somewhat and it was opened up as "Farmers' Hotel." Later the late John Hennessey acquired the property. Still later George Pfifer owned and occupied the hotel. Now it is owned by Lazersons and occupied as a private dwelling.

Several years ago the little house on the corner came into the possession of Jacob Hartman, who converted it into a bottling factory. Now it is owned by other parties.

This now brings us to Williams Street, which was laid out February 10, 1830. A new survey was made on June 22, 1837. Across the street from the blacksmith shop stood the old Drake Ashery on the bank of the canal, where they made soap, potash and candles. Wood ashes were gathered up by a man who went through the country with a team and wagon, carrying on the seat beside him a box filled with calicoes, lead




49


pencils, jewsharps, needles, wooden pocket combs, jewelry, etc. All these were exchanged for wood ashes. The leached ashes were sold back to the farmers for fertilizer. The soap and potash were packed in boxes and sent to market by canal as were also the candles that were not sold at home, for here they found a good market as no other light was used except fish oil. Kerosene was then unknown. Gas and electricity had not yet come into use. In one end of the factory lived David Lown, the weather prophet, who besides making soap was authority on forecasting the weather. Many a time if it did not happen as he predicted it was no trouble to change the date.

When coal came into use for fuel and wood ashes became scarce and Mr. Drake was getting to be an old man, the business was abandoned. Thus ended an old time industry. The old ashery has long since been torn down and not one thing is left to mark where it stood.

Mr. Drake was a bachelor and lived with his sisters and brother John at the family homestead on West Main Street. Now it is owned and occupied by Charles Joyce. Mr. Drake's pleasant and quiet manner won him many friends. This New England family has long since passed away and is nearly forgotten.

Adjoining this on the west is what is familiarly known as the Sexton Coal Yard. In March, 1827, the Palmyra Manufacturing Company was incorporated with $30,000 capital, to produce flour, etc., by George Palmer, Joel McCullen and Thomas Rogers, 2d. They built a steam flour mill on the same site where they did a large business in grinding wheat into flour that was packed into barrels and sent to market by canal. At that time Palmyra was a good wheat, corn and pork market, and the debt on many a farm has been cancelled by the aid of these three staple products.

As there was no railroad, the canal was the only way of transportation. All the marketable produce as far north as the lake came to Palmyra. Later the mill came into the possession of Constant Terry, who lost his money in the enterprise. Later he went to Texas, where he prospered and became wealthy. During the Civil War, his son, Nathaniel Terry, was arrested by the rebels and forced to join the army, from which he later escaped. His father helped him to get to the Union Army. He was killed in an explosion at Mobile Bay. In the 40's, J. O. Chipman ran the steam mill. In those days wood was burned to generate steam instead of coal. In. the 40's the mill was burned and Franklin Lakey came into possession of the site and built a very large warehouse and malt house. He also had a coal yard here.

In all probability Palmyra will never again see the day when so much of that kind of business will be done. It would be hard, indeed, for the young people of today to realize the magnitude of the business that was done at the Palmyra market in those days in the Fall of the year. The street would he lined with wagons loaded with grain, apples and potatoes, waiting to be unloaded. Those farmers living further north would not reach home until long into the night. It was no uncommon sight to see thousands of barrels of apples piled up by the side of the street, wafting




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shipment. The produce buyers would be loading boats all night long to hurry the shipment forward before navigation closed. Buying of produce in the Fall and buying and packing pork in the Winter made Palmyra a lively town.

Most conspicuous of the buyers was Franklin Lakey, who bought everything offered from a muskrat skin to a load of wheat. Mr. Lakey was born in Palmyra, a son of Abner F. Lakey. He had a brother, Ira, who was a sea captain. For a good many years he followed whaling. He also had three sisters and one half-sister. The latter, Mrs. Lucy Lakey Bowman passed away June 27, 1929. His other sisters were Mrs. Allen T. Goldsmith, Mrs. Lilley and another who married a minister. The father owned the Herbert farm on Division Street.

Mr. Lakey commenced doing business in the 30's. When a young man he owned the west end of the John Walton farm and built the old stone house that is still standing and where he lived. At that time he had a slaughter house west of Division Street, near the ice plant on the north side of the road and later had a malt house. Here he slaughtered thousands of sheep every Fall and Winter for the pelts and tallow. The whole carcass was tried out for the tallow. The scraps and offal were fed to the hogs on which they were fatted for market. Hundreds of pelts could be seen spread along on the old rail fence on which they were dried. This would not be a safe thing to do today. He paid from forty-five to sixty cents per head for the sheep. People used to go there to buy mutton. The two hind quarters, called saddles, could be bought from forty to fifty cents, according to size, no weighing. About 1848 he sold his farm and bought all that part of his father's farm lying on the west side of Division Street and built the house now owned by the Wayne Coal and Lumber Corporation, where he spent the rest of his life. About this time he built a distillery on Quaker Road, about 40 rods west of Maple Avenue on the north side of the road. The West Shore Railroad now passes over the site.

In those days a good deal of corn was raised for market and this made Palmyra an excellent market for grain, such as corn and barley. He not only bought of nearby farmers but also bought thousands of bushels that came by boat or wheat damaged by fire or water, if it could be bought cheap enough. The whiskey was also made from this. Four hundred bushels were ground up daily and after the whiskey had been extracted from it, the slop was fed to cattle and hogs. Four hundred barrels of hot slop was fed daily to six hundred and forty head of cattle and two hundred and fifty hogs, besides the hay the cattle ate. The cattle and hogs thrived on that food. At that time a good many cattle and hogs were raised around here which he bought of the farmers. Besides he bought a good many western cattle and hogs. They were all lean in the Fall when first put in, but were fat and sleek when let out in the Spring when they were driven to an eastern market. When the distillery was first built there were no railroads.

The beef was tender and juicy, but the pork was quite oily. About the first of June the cattle were sold. The distillery was not started again




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until Fall. The long row of cheap sheds was on the south side of the road, where twenty barrels of boiling hot slop came out every twenty minutes and ran into three large vats, until the four hundred barrels were all out. There was one thing peculiar about the feeding of this slop. The cattle would starve before they would eat cold slop. Consequently it was fed to them nearly boiling hot. They would sip it as we do hot coffee or tea. It required the help of twelve or fourteen men to look after the cattle and hogs. Besides there were a good many men employed in the distillery.

Mr. Lakey also ran two cooper shops where heavy oak barrels were made to hold the whiskey. These men could command good pay for it all had to be tight work. He also ran two malt houses, one at the warehouse, the other on the site of the old slaughter house. At the warehouse, everything was lively-unloading coal from boats, malting barley, loading boats in the Fall with grain, potatoes and fruit.

Mr. Lakey was also a sagacious man. One night he went over town and remained until quite late. When crossing the flats on going home, he saw a man unloading a large fat sheep and putting it in an old slaughter house that stood on the flat. He mistrusted all was not right and taking the man by the collar led him back to his office on Canal Street, shut the man in and locked the door, closed the wooden shutter to the window and fastened it on the outside with a rail. He then started for the police. When he returned the man had broken jail and departed for parts unknown. The man never came back for the sheep.

Mr. Lakey was twice married. His first wife was Miss Tirza Page, who died November 28, 1853, aged 29 years. For his second wife he married Louisa Chase, daughter of Dr. Durfee Chase. She died October 23, 1920, being 88 years old at the time of her death. Mr. Lakey died June 4, 1875, being 60 years old.

When Mr. Lakey died a good deal of Palmyra business died with him. He employed more men than any other man in town. But as water courses change, so do the different channels of trade. The once thriving village of Palmyra that at one time commanded practically all the trade from the Erie Canal north to the lake, has now settled down to the most quiet little village in the state. The slaughter house, malt houses and distillery have all passed from memory. The West Shore Railroad today passes over the site of them all and no one can point out the spot where once they stood or realize the amount of business and money they represented. Now at the old warehouse, others press the ground with their feet where once he trod. Others go in and out of those old buildings unconscious of the past. The empty bins that were once bursting with the products of the land are now waiting in vain for the return of business that they may again; be filled. The rattling of coal while being elevated from boat to chute has died forever away. The streets are no longer crowded with teams and wagons loaded with farm produce to fill the empty boat. As we pass on down through those old empty storehouses in that lonesome stillness, we start at the sound of our own footsteps. Upon the cupola we read the name "Lakey's Malthouse," almost obliterated by the storms of many




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years. Still further up is the old wooden shovel weather vane, pointing from whence comes the gentle breeze or the most terrific gale, occupying this post and faithfully performing its mssion for nearly seventy years.

After the death of Mr. Lakey, the storehouse property passed to Simerson & Company of New York City. After being in the produce business for a few years the property passed to Pliny T. Sexton. Here he carried on the coal trade for over forty years with Edwin Becwith Anderson as manager. At his death the property was sold. Now the doors are closed, the shutters have darkened the windows and the old Lakey warehouse is remembered only by a few.

Speaking of the Erie Canal: Perhaps it might be interesting to some to give a brief idea of what the Erie Canal meant to Palmyra in its early history, in the way of business for the storehouses that dotted its banks at that time by opening up a market for the farmers in the adjoining towns. Perhaps no one thing as a benefactor to Palmyra was ever received with such open arms and cordial welcome as the Clinton Ditch, as it was called by the opponents of this great enterprise that proved to be one of the best investments the state could have made. Here the merchants north and south received their goods. Palmyra was the terminus for many a pioneer. It was also the shipping place south and north to the lake. The residents of Palmyra saw a constant line of boats pass night and day during the open season.

During the year in which the canal was completed, there went by Utica 13,110 boats and 40,000 people. In 1830, 14,936 canal boats came into and left the harbor at Albany, an average for the open season of sixty boats a day. June 15, 1827, sixty-seven boats arrived in Albany, carrying 14,000 bushels of wheat and other grain. Thirty-five boats cleared at the same time with merchandise. On Saturday of the following week, fifty-one boats arrived and ninety cleared, making an average of eleven boats for every hour of daylight.

This being a great grain producing section, probably no other village on the line felt the benefits of the canal more than Palmyra. When the canal was first opened, Palmyra was a small village of only six hundred inhabitants. In four years it had increased to 1,800. Everyone was eager to see the canal and the boats. The pioneers living as far north as the lake came to Palmyra only when necessity required, for it was a long, tedious ride over a road full of stumps, roots and mudholes. But it was a great event when the whole family was to come to Palmyra to see the canal and the boats. The horses were hitched to the lumber wagon. The wagon chair was put in for the old folks to sit upon. This was a double chair with splint bottom and straight posts. The children's easy seat was a board laid across the box. What would the young people of today think of this glorious ride? Imagine the tired mother after this long jaunt! Indeed, the hardships of the pioneer were many. Money was scarce, reverses were numerous and failures were often.

We again return to the paths of Canal Street, crossing the street and resuming our journey west of Williams Street. The little house on the




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corner and the four houses running to the south were built by Joseph Allen in 1856. The two large two-story houses on the south side are near the century mark. The west house was, in the 30's, the home of the late Leonard Jerome. It was his daughter who subsequently became Lady Randolph Churchill of England, as before mentioned. Later Mr. Jerome became a turfman in New York City, a much quicker pace than drawing wood with oxen from the Guerdon Smith farm.

In the early 50's Joseph Lovett owned these two houses. About 1898 the late Isaac Ryckman bought these two houses and made a good many repairs on them. In 1925 Gilbert Rush, who owned one of them, sold the same. Myron Calhoon owns and occupies the west house.

Our next house on the west was owned in the early 40's by Edwin Gordon and later owned by the Scalley family. Since then it has been owned by different ones.

The neighbor on the west in the late 40's was owned and occupied by James Loughlin, later by John Goggins. One of his sons went to Rome where he studied to become a Catholic priest.

The hill we can see on the south once came to the street. The gravel was drawn away for building roads, bsides the state carried away large quantities for the canal. As soon as the hill was dug back far enough on the vacant lot, two houses were built. In one lived John Cray, the cartman. Later it was moved to Jackson Street. Now it is owned and occupied by Mr. Forshay. All the houses were built after the hill was drawn away, either for road building or canal purposes. The little brick house was built in the 50's by the late Henry Williamson. On the corner once stood another little house built in the 40's by a man by the name of Allen, later owned by Lewis 'Goodell in the 50's. Later Mr. Goodell bought the gothic house on the east and put both houses into one. Since then it has been owned by a good many different ones. Harry Dibble owned it for several years. On the north side of the street is the Crandall Company's factory, now owning and occupying all the land west to Church Street. In the 30's where the main building now stands, stood a foundry where Mr. Dagett made pumps and plows for a good many years. At last Mr. Dagett became an old man and went out of the business. In the 70's the late George W. Cuyler and Isaac Bronson had a lumber yard here. After the death of Mr. Cuyler the business was closed out and the Crandall Company purchased the property, put in machinery and equipment, with Dr. W. J. Hennessy, president and John C. Coates, manager. The company prospered from the start. A few years later the old factory was burned. A new and larger one was built on the same site of the old one. More land was bought and a new and fine office was erected. At this factory they employed a good many men and women. After several years of successful business, Mr. Hennessy died and Mr. Coates became infirm and unable to attend to the business. The business was then conducted for a time by Jenner Hennessy and Frank C. Coates, sons of Hennessy and Coates. In 1923 O. J. Garlock purchased the entire plant.

When the factory was burned, a large two-story house that stood




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adjoining on the east was also burned. A good many years ago the widow of the late Wlliam Kellogg lived here for a time with her large family of five boys and two girls. After they had grown to manhood and womanhood the Civil War came on. Four out of five of her sons answered their country's call of which three of these, William, Erastus and James laid down their lives in its defense. Milo, the youngest of the family, returned. Of the two daughters, one married William Gilbert, son of Major John Gilbert. The other married Eugene Smith, a native of Walworth, grandson of the late George Smith of the same place. The husbands of the two daughters were also in the service of their country, thus showing the loyalty and patriotism in the sons and loyalty and influence of the daughters. Later in the 40's, the Heath family lived here for a number of years. The old man was blind. He had three sons who were all in the Civil War. Isaac returned and Clark and Henry lost their lives when in the service of their country. In the Village Hall we can read the names of the Kelloggs and Heaths who laid down their lives, chiseled in the marble tablet.

Where the Crandall office now stands was the home for many years of "Uncle Billy Tappenden." No cleaner place could be found in the village. He had four sons and two daughters, not one of whom are living. A grandson, Edwin Tappenden, now lives on Vienna Street. Mr. Tappenden was an Englishman by hirth, and a malster by trade. At one time he was a malster for Mr. Lakey, also at the McKachnie Brewery across the way on the west. Uncle Billy had a son, William, who was always full of jokes, and upon one occasion while down at the old blacksmith shop and looking up the road, saw a man coming. He grabbed up a piece of old burlap and threw it over an empty barrel that stood hard by, and was hugging it very tightly when the man came along. He inquired what he was doing. He replied that he had a big rat in the barrel and would he hold the burlap down while he went for a club. The fellow cheerfully grasped the burlap and hugged it tightly and William slipped behind the shop for a club, but instead of returning with a club, he went off up the street and left the man hugging the barrel, waiting in vain for William's return.

Looking across the way to the west, we can see an old two-story cobblestone house with lake stone finish on the outside, built in the 30's by Alexander McKachnie, a native iof Scotland. In the rear he had a brewery and malt house, a small affair at that time. His sale room was in the Phelp's block on Market Street. He later moved tol Canandaigua, where he carried on a large business. Mr. McKachnie boasted with pride that he was the malster and brewer from England, who for more than twenty years presided at the making of the liquor for his Grace, the Earl of Winchelsea. The McKachnie property was put upon the market for sale and was bought by Hiram Mirrick of Lyons and later was sold to Anton Roach and C. A. Sessions, the former taking the house and lot and the latter the gravel bed in the rear, where within the last seventy years thousands of loads of sand and gravel have been taken out. Of the old




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brewery, but little remains to point out its site. A few crumbling walls are all that is left and the name of McKachnie's Brewery has passed into history.

This now completes our journey on Canal Street, which ends at Chapel Street, as it was called in early days, when first opened up, but not regularly surveyed. It extended as far north as the Stephen Durfee farm. Its first survey extended as far north as the north bank of Mud Creek. The next year it was extended to the Nathaniel Harris farm (the John Wright farm) and later surveyed to Stephen Durfee's. On August 20, 1847, a new survey was ma.de to the creek. On June 5, 1860, another survey was made. The road is ninety-two links w'ide to the north bank of Mud Creek.

We now have completed our journey on Canal Street. While on our journey we have called at the bark-roof cabin of General John Swift, the first pioneer and founder of our village, while it yet stood in the midst of a primeval forest. We have called at the homes and business places of over one hundred years ago, down to the present time. We have seen the Clinton Ditch, the enlarged canal of 1850 to the Barge Canal of the present time. We have heard from the full blast of the packet bugle down to its last dying echo. We have seen the old Bunker Hill when in the height of its glory. We have seen it when the black smoke floating skyward told the story of its destruction. We have called at the hat factory, the ashery and the old steam mill. We have called at the two furnaces and seen the molten iron pouring out of the melting pot as it did ninety years ago, down to the gilded office of the Crandall Packing Company of today, whose factory stands on the site of the furnace. We have also called at the old brewery and mingled with the smiles of the past. We have also seen it when it had no fountain and its walls a crumbling mass. We pause to mark the change in the business of long ago. Some of the old storehouses have been burned and nearly blotted from memory, while others, through neglect have gone to decay.

The Erie Canal has changed its course to make a larger waterway to the sea. The pussy willow and the bullfrog now occupy its deserted channel. The packet captain's bugle and the stage driver's horn lies unblown. The rumbling wheels of the old stage coach have died forever away and the crack of the driver's whip is no longer heard.

Those old business men of the pioneer days of Canal Street, that played well their part in the welfare of our village have long since passed on to join the slumbering dead, and soon the pioneers of Canal Street will be known only by the glimmering that history may reveal.

We will return to East Main Street and make our starting point at the old blacksmith shop, near where General John Swift had his bark roof cabin. Just west of the shop stood his frame house that he afterwards built. He lived in the north end, under which he had a shallow cellar which was a small affair. The south end he built later and used it for a store-house. Later, in 1814, it was used for a wagon and sleigh shop, carried on by Mr. Drake and has been used almost continually until its destruction, for the purpose. Thomas Lakey occupied it at one time. The late Harry




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Tiller had a shop here for a good many years. After his death, Joseph Fermer carried on the business for some time, and after his death, about 1918, the old shop become so dilapidated no one has used it since. For several years Thomas Lakey, as far back as the 30's, had a blacksmith shop here. About 1852 the old shop was torn down and a new shop was built a little further to the east and north of the old one. Mr. Lakey became old and went out of the business. He died a good many years ago. He was a brother to Abner F. Lakey. Since his death a good many different ones have occupied the shop. About 1927 all this property was bought by the Standard Oil Company of New York, who tore down the old shops and leveled off the ground and now there stands a fine new gas station, erected by the company.

As we pass on we look in vain for the little yellow cottage where in the 30's lived Mrs. Cynthia Lovell, aunt of Miss Clara Jerome. Miss Jerome became Lady Randolph Churchill of England as mentioned before. We find the little house has been moved on the north side of the lot on Canal Street to make room for the James Jenner house that was moved from the south side of Main Street. We find the onee bright little yellow cottage has faded to a dirty white -- the knocker has been taken from the door and carried away as a relic of the past; such has been the fate of this old landmark. This property was owned at one time by Harry Tiller. Later it passed into the hands of Fertis K. Beal and now it is owned by Thomas O'Malley.

Our next house on the west was once owned by Carlton Rogers. In the 60's it was owned by Gilbert Oliver. Now, and for several years back, it is owned by Joseph Ray, a Civil War Veteran.

In the house adjoining on the west in the late 40's lived J. K. Cummings, and he was followed in the 50's by Philip Palmer. Then Henry Huxley, and later his son Edwin lived here. In the 80's came Patrick Callahan who now owns and occupies the place.

On the west, on the corner of Main and Holmes Streets, we find a large two-story house which in the 20's was called Kellogg's Tavern. Later Eldrige Williams, who owned the foundry bought the property and lived here. In the 50's he sold out and went to Michigan. Since then a good many different ones have owned this old landmark and now it is owned and occupied by the daughters of Howland Peter Wells.

We have now arrived at Holmes Street, named after Peleg Holmes, who owned the property. This street was to be forty-three feet wide and called Holmes Street. It was recorded February 22, 1829. Mr. Holmes also owned Prospect Hill, previous to General Rogers' ownership, from whence it derived its name, "Mt. Holmes". As we cross Holmes Street we come to the Eagle Hotel, built by Abner F. Lakey in the 20's for a cabinet shop. In the 50's it was opened up for a hotel by Billy Doran. Later it was run by John Sweeney. After his death William Throop acquired the property which was in the 60's, when it was opened up as a temperance house, and for over 60 years it has been in the family. Throop's Hotel had a reputation of setting a fine table and extending their hospitality to all.




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When the old people passed away, the son and daughters continued in the business until a few years ago, when becoming tired of hotel life, they closed the house except to a few roomers. The Throop family moved. It is now known as the Eagle Inn and is running to its full extent.

The house on the west was built in the 20's by Abner F. Lakey and in its day was a fine brick house. In the 30's a Mr. Perine bought the property. He was an officer in the U. S. Army and was killed in the Seminole War in Florida in the 40's. After the death of Mr. Perine, William Throop purchased the property in the 50's. Later the property was traded for the Eagle Hotel, Mr. Sweeney's widow taking the property. After the death of Mrs. Sweeney, Charles Deyo acquired the property and after his death, which occurred in the 90's, the place was sold to Edwin North, who was a dentist and a native of Palmyra. Now it is owned by a daughter, Janet North Holt. This fine old house, save a few changes, looks very much as it did nearly a century ago.

Adjoining this on the west is the John Williamson property, as before mentioned. Now this place is owned by O. Clate Silver. Before the brick house was built, James Jenner at onel time lived here.

Our next house on the west was in the 40's owned by a Mr. Linnell. In the 40's Mr. William N etteville lived here. He was a cabinet maker by trade and worked for James Jenner when his shop was in the Jenner block. Different ones have owned this property. It has been owned and occupied for several years by Andrew Luppold, who has changed the appearance both outside and inside of the house so much that its old-time appearance of eighty-five years ago has wholly disappeared. The little short seats on either side of the little square platform in front that were so common in those days have passed into history.

Adjoining on the west is the old brick house that was in the Tyler family for nearly ninety years. Mr. Tyler was a carpenter by trade. He had two sons who left Palmyra a good many years ago. The whole family, except a son living in New York, have passed away, but the old house still stands. It has been remodeled and is now occupied by Ralph Morhous.

Just at the northwest and back from the street, is a two-story house where the late Joseph Allen lived in the 50's. This house has had a good many different owners. Fred Wehrlin now owns and occupies the' place.

Partly in front and on the west is another large two-story house, where eighty-five years ago Mr. Miller once lived. The late Dr. Pitkin once owned and occupied the place on the north side of the street. Now it is owned by Mrs. Rosa Gavin.

In the 30's there stood on the west a narrow, two-story yellow house, with stairs on the outside leading to Dr. North's office, who owned and occupied the same. He had three sons. Henry was as good a dentist as was his son, Edwin C. North. The other sons were George and Larue. This old family have all passed away. Dr. Henry North died in 1844. His son Henry died in the 80's. The other sons left Palmyra a good many years ago. The old North homestead was destroyed by fire about 1908 and




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rebuilt after another pattern. The property is now owned and occupied by Mrs. Sarah De Voist.

In the little brick house on the west, in the 40's lived Dr. Throop and for several years it was owned and occupied by Amos Sanford, jr., who lived here until his death. It is now occupied by Mrs. Celia Truax. It still retains about the same appearance of eighty-five years ago.

After passing the brick house we come to the, old Townsand residence. In the 60's it was owned by A. G. Pierce, followed by General Lyman Reeves, follow'ed by Julius Cleveland. His widow, after living here a few years, sold the property. It was owned and occupied by Mrs. William Truax, who sold it to O. J. Garlock to be made into a flower garden and she moved to the Sanford house on the east.

We now come to the home of Peleg Holmes that stands on the corner of Main and Clinton Streets. Mr. Holmes' land extended north to Mud Creek and east to Railroad Avenue. He also owned Prospect Hill, afterward called Mt. Holmes; also the cemetery lot and the seven-acre lot north of the cemetery on Johnson Street. Now this house is owned by O. J. Garlock. It was in this house that Peleg Holmes lived in 1812. His daughter, Hariett, married General Thomas Rogers, who afterward came into the possession of this property. Mr. Rogers and wife occupied the homestead the remainder of their lives.

Mr. Rogers was born in Richmond, R. I., February 13, 1790. He came to Palmyra when a child and died here on October 5, 1853. His wife, Hariett Holmes Rogers died May 10, 1872. Their only child was the late Carlton Holmes Rogers.

Mr. Rogers was a very plain business man as his dress would indicate. He always wore a stovepipe hat that looked as though he had been to a brick-bat party, for it was so full of dents. He became a large land owner and at his death he owned a good many farms as well as business places in the village. Although the house he lived in is still standing, time and improvement have worked great changes in this old homestead on the corner. His horse barn stood at the north where now stands two houses. The old horse barn stood near the street. The general kept two dogs, one a shepherd and one a bull dog with his tail cut off, his ears cropped and one eye out. It gave him such a savage appearance that the boys in that locality gave him a wide berth and were very careful not to trespass upon the rights of the General.

In those days people used to exercise their shrewdness as well as at the present time, and the old general was no exception to the rule. In those early days it was no uncommon thing to see pigs running in the street. One day the general's pigs got out and took a stroll down to call upon Deacon Jessup. The deacon slips a couple in his pen and says nothing. At feeding time the general found that by actual count two of his pigs were missing. The next day he started out on a still hunt for the pigs and finally located them in the deacon's pen. He goes home but says nothing. In the Winter when butchering time came, the general told the deacon when he got ready to kill hogs to let him know and he would come down and help him




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butcher, as this had always been their custom. At last the time came when the hogs were to be killed. The general was on hand and when the hogs were all nicely dressed and hung up the general went home and hitched up his team on the sleigh, took his hired man along to help load the hogs and drove away.

At another time he went down to Mr. Jessup's shoe factory and bought a pair of boots. It was the custom in those days to give a pair of new boots a good greasing before they had been worn. He asked Mr. Jessup what he would ask to let him fill his boots with oil. Mr. Jessup told him a sixpence. The general paid over the money, went down cellar, put his boots under the faucet, turned on the oil, filled both boots to the top and walked off.

A young dandy had just moved in town. He went to the market to get a piece of meat for dinner, where he saw a rough-looking man standing by. He asked the butcher if he could get someone to carry the meat. The general spoke up and said he would carry it for him. He took the meat and walked along with the man. When he had arrived at the house the man paid him a sixpence. After taking the money, the general told him if he wanted any more meat carried, to call on General Rogers, and he would be glad to do it. The young man saw the embarrassing situation that he had gotten himself into and began to apologize, but the general told him never to be ashamed to carry anything that was for the good of his family.

After the death of Mrs. Rogers, the late Dr. Ingram purchased the property on the east side of Clinton Street. In the 70's he tore down the old-time woodshed and the old barn and built two houses on the site of the barn. He also made a good many changes in the old homestead. Later Dr. Herman L. Chase purchased the large house. After living here several years, in the 90's he sold to O. J. Garlock, the homestead, who also purchased the whole original Rogers property on Clinton Street, including the barn across the way, of which more will be said as we advance on our journey.

Many changes were made, both to the exterior and the interior. On the outside, the shape of the house has experienced a decided change. On the inside all the modern improvements have been added so that the old yellow house of the General's time is now beyond all recognition. Mr. Garlock has beautified the home by setting out flowers and trees at the rear and east side, still further changing the appearance of long ago.

If the General could come back to earth today and stroll through the once substantial and at that time what was considered to be a well equipped and convenient house and compare it with the improvements now in it that were not even heard of in his day, he might wonder if he ever lived there. Thus the worldˇ progresses.

General Thomas Rogers' family were among the earliest pioneers of the town of Palmyra. There were three brothers, James, William and Thomas. They came from Richmond, R. I., about 1792. Thomas preceded his brothers and assisted in surveying the town. His farm was about two




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miles east of the village and north of Vienna Road, called the Budd farm or Hammond farm. This was called the Rogers neighborhood. Mr. Rogers died on the farm. He had two sons and one daughter. Thomas went West, David learned the shoemaker's trade and lived and died on Railroad Avenue in a little house just north of the gas house. The house has been moved still further north. When the Erie Canal went through, it was a neat little cottage, but the widening of the canal and the gas house encroaching upon it, ruined his little home. His shop was on the west side of Market Street in the 30's. The little old dilapidated shop is still standing. He employed two journeymen and one apprentice. In those days they worked until nine o'clock in the winter evenings. Each man had a candle to see to work by. Later he moved across the street into the Jarvis Block. He married Mary Conant, a native of New Hampshire. No more hospitable people ever lived. In early days his wife was called upon many times to go and see some sick person and apply home remedies, as was the custom in those days. Mr. and Mrs. Rogers died in the 80's. A sister married Jerry Bingham, a native of New Hampshire. They lived for a time on Quaker Road. Mr. Camp built the present stone house.

After the death of Thomas Rogers, sr., the widow lived with her daughter and when she died, she then went and lived with her son David, the rest of her life. Her husband was buried in the old Durfee burying ground east of the Central depot.

James Rogers had two sons, Dennis and Thomas. Dennis lived on a large farm about one mile east of Macedon village on Quaker Road, near the lower lock on the old canal. When Mr. Rogers became an old man, in the 50's, he sold the farm to Jackson Downing and moved away. His brother, Thomas, lived on the corner of Main and Clinton Streets in Palmyra, as mentioned before.

William Rogers, a brother of James, was an early judge of Ontario, a member of the legislature and a magistrate. He was prominent in matters concerning Palmyra. He had two sons, Dyer and Hazzard and three daughters, Sophia, who married Draper Allen; Prudence, who married Thayer and Cynthia, who married David Johnson, who lived on a farm on Johnson Street. The brick were made on the farm for this house. Dyer had two sons, Joseph and Edwin. Hazzard had one son, Cullen, and one or two daughters.

After the death of James, father of Thomas and Dennis, who died in early years, William married the widow. By this marriage there was one daughter, Prudence, who married Thayer as mentioned above, and half-sister to Thomas and Dennis. Joseph and Edwin, sons of Dyer, died in the village. Edwin was four times married. His first wife was a daughter of the late Samuel Sherman, an old pioneer who lived and died on his farm on the E,ast Palmyra Road. At his death the farm went to his grandson, Frank Peer. Edwin Rogers had two children, a son and a daughter. His son Albert was a veteran of the Civil War. After living on the farm several years he sold the farm and moved into the village and went into the boot and shoe business with George S. Johnson. He died in 1911. The




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sister married and went to Newark to live, where she died several years ago. When Edwin came into the village he bought a lot off the east side of the original Peleg Holmes dooryard and built a house in which he lived until his death, which occurred several years ago. This house, which was owned and occupied by William A. Cady, was torn down when Mr. Garlock made improvements on his yard.

Cullen Rogers, son of Hazzard Rogers, lived for a good many years on the old homestead farm in the Rogers neighborhood on Vienna Road. He was twice married. By his first wife he had two children, a son and a daughter. The son died when quite young and the daughter married Albert Sheldon of Farmington. She died several years ago. Cullen Rogers married for his second wife, Ella Griswold Wigglesworth, and came into the village to live. He died several years ago on Cuyler Street.

Thus have passed away this old pioneer stock. There is not one living today that bears the name of Rogers, who were loyal to their Christian principals and belief and who took a great interest in the welfare of the community in which they lived. This large family of pioneers will soon be forgotten and the name of the Rogers pioneers will be known only by what history may reveal.

Speaking of O. J. Garlock buying the old barn across the way on the west side of Clinton Street: This old barn, George C. Williams, contractor and builder, bought of the Rogers estate in the 70's and had a shop and lumber yard here. At his death which occurred in the 90's it was sold to Mr. Garlock, who tore it down and sold the site to John Travers, who built a fine house on the lot. Mr. Garlock also built the double house on the north. The large brick house on the south of the Travers place was built by a Mr. Hinman, a contractor and builder, in the 30's. This house was built for George N. Williams, a lawyer, who later sold out and went to California. The late David Sanford bought this property and lived here a good many years. Later it was owned and occupied by the Hall family, by whom it was sold to F. E. Hooker, a veteran of the Civil War. The iron railing on the wall was put up by him. After living here a few years, he sold to O. J. Garlock and moved to Fairport where he died a few years later. Mr. Garlock now owns nearly all the street.

Speaking of David Sanford: He was one of Palmyra's business men. Besides being connected at one time with the Williams foundry, he was at one time in the mercantile business. He was a member of the Zion Episcopal Church and always a liberal subscriber and a willing helper in the church. At his death, which occurred in the 70's he gave $1,000 to the society.

Clinton Street was surveyed and laid out, being two rods and fourteen links in width and called Clinton Street after Governor Clinton. Recorded February 2, 1829.

Let us now pass over on the south side of Main Street, beginning at the Wayne, that was once the Joel Foster house, that has already been mentioned, but in passing let us pause for a moment and inquire who remembers this fine old house with its high board fence in front, all painted




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white, and the little gate with hinges and latch made by the village blacksmith, the gravel walk leading to the front door that was considered the best, instead of one made of cement. And where are the little rest seats on either side of the little platform at the front door that were so common in those days in front of a fine house? All these have nearly passed from memory and can be viewed only by a very few of the older inhabitants when fond memory brings to light the scenes of other days.

We have already described the Henry Jessup tract. Adjoining this on the west was the James Galloway, sr., tract, that extended as far west as the west side of the hotel, running south fifty rods. These lots were sold from time to time for resident and business purposes.

The late Schuyler Parshall in the 40's, lived in the first house west of the Wayne. In the 60's the late Charles Johnson acquired the property. In the 70's he sold the old house which was moved to Throop Street and erected a very fine modern house on the same site of the old one. Mr. Johnson was one of Palmyra's best business men. He was a son of the late David Johnson, who lived out on Johnson Street in early day. After Mr. Johnson was nlarried, which was in the 50's, he came into town and for several years he was employed by Carlton H. Rogers to look after his estate. He kept Mr. Johnson in his employ until his death, which occurred in the 80's, when he closed up the estate.

Mr. Johnson for a good many years, bought pork, poultry and fruit and sold lumber wagons. He was supervisor of the town several terms. He also took a great interest in the welfare of the village. He was president of the Palmyra Agricultural Society for a good many years, until his health failed. To him the citizens. of Palmyra owe a debt of gratitude for through his management the Palmyra Fair was brought to the highest pitch of prosperity. He left no stone unturned by which to make it a success. Mr. Johnson died in the 90's. His wife died a few years before and his only child, a daughter, died a few years later.

The large, fine house was sold to Mrs. Lillian Garlock and made into an apartment house. It is now owned by others.

Adjoining Mr. Johnson on the west, in the early 40's, was the home of the late William H. Southwick. Mr. Southwick was a prominent business man. For a good many years he was a produce buyer and at one time in the 40's was in the lumber trade with Charles Thurber. He was a Justice of the Peace for a good many years. In those days' a Justice of the Peace drew up nearly all the deeds and mortgages and also drew up a good many legal documents. He always enjoyed a good joke. One time after the squire had retired for the night, a couple came to get married. A knock was heard at the door. The squire got up and went to the window and inquired who was there. The young man said they wanted to get married and wanted to know if he would marry them. "Certainly," he said. He says, "John, do you want to marry Hannah, and Hannah, do you want to marry John?" After getting consent of both he pronounced them man and wife and told them to leave the money on the door step. He then shut the window and went back to bed.




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Mr. Southwick came to Palmyra in the 40's and married a daughter of the late William Chapman who lived on the Walworth Road on the farm now called the Whitlock farm. In the 80's Mr. Southwick had a stroke from which he never recovered.

The late Albert Rogers, a veteran of the Civil War and a son of the late Edwin Rogers, in the 80's, sold his farm east of the village on the Vienna Road, came into the village and bought the Southwick place. He went into the boot and shoe business in company with George S. Johnson and continued in this business until his ˇdeath which occurred in 1911. He was the last remnant of that old pioneer stock bearing the name Rogers. His widow is still occupying this place.

We look in vain for the old John Sanders house adjoining this on the west. After his death in the 90's, the place was sold to John Rushmore. About 1905 the Garlock Packing Company bought the property and tore down the old house to make room for their present office that stands in the rear of the lot, leaving a beautiful lawn in front that is well cared for.

Before we go any further west, let us for a moment, step across the street and examine the old James Jenner block, erectd in 1825 by the late Pliny Sexton. At an early date the late James Jenner purchased the property. He lived for a while in the east end and made and sold furniture in the west end. His business increased and be needed more room. He bought the house and lot west of the Garlock driveway on the south side of Main Street. This property he bought of Thomas Ninde. He also bought a lot in the rear of the Garlock office for a furniture factory. This was made of brick. Here he carried on an extensive business and employed a good many men. He made all the furniture from the rough to the finished product. He was also an undertaker. This factory had the reputation of doing good work. He died in the 50's. The factory was burned and rebuilt. After his death, the factory was sold to the late George C. Williams, who had a carpenter shop here. Later the Garlock Packing Company bought the property and started their infant industry, which has grown to its present magnitude.

In the 80's the late Henry Rees Durfee purchased the old Jenner house and lot. He sold the old house to Harry Tiller and it was moved to the east end of Main Street as mentioned before. He built the present house. After Mr. Durfee's death which occurred in 1915, O. J. Garlock purchased the property.

Speaking of the old Jenner block: Families are still living in the east end as they did one hundred years ago and with the exception of the little front fence and gate, it retains its old-time appearance. The old stone steps with scrapers attached, made by the village blacksmith a century ago, are fulfilling the mission assigned to them then. Thousands of weary feet have passed over these old stone steps in that time. Thousands of old men and women, young men and maidensˇ have pressed them with their feet. Thousands of children have played upon them and sat upon their lap and when these children had grown to manhood and womanhood and went to some other part of the world to make their home, and after many




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years wandered back to old Palmyra and passed on down by the old Jenner block, they beheld once more the old stone steps and iron scrapers where they spent so many happy hours. Once more old friends have met and again fond memory brings to light the scenes of other days.

The west end of the Jenner Block, after the factory had been moved to the south side of the street, was used for a furniture store. After the death of Mr. Jenner, the late Hiram Goodnough carried on the furniture and undertaking for a time. The store has been occupied by different ones. Fred F. Kelley occupied one store for nearly thirty years. Now it is carried on by Thomas Birdsall. The west store was occupied for a good many years by Bennett & Mason, who bought produce and now it is occupied by Stark's Dry Goods Store. This block is now owned by Mrs. Charlotte Jenner Birdsall, daughter of James Jenner.

Once more let us return to the south side of Main Street and resume our journey west. Our next house after leaving the Jenner homestead is a little brick house built by the late Willard Chase. After his death, Miss Adams, who was a doctor, bought the place, lived here and practiced for several years. After her death the late Charles Walton bought the property. Now it is occupied by Frank Burgess.

Adjoining this on the west is the Pliny Sexton homestead. Mr. Sexton was a great friend of the negro. During slavery times, Mr. Sexton was connected with the underground railroad. Many a colored man had been directed to his home where a bed for the night was ready for him; also supper and breakfast furnished. He was then directed to another station and so on until he reached Canada. Mr. Sexton came here in early day. He built the Jenner block. He was a jeweler by trade and opened the first jewelry store. The homestead is now owned by the heirs of his son, Pliny T. Sexton. It looks very much the same as when his father lived there. He died about 1881.

Our next house on the west is the old Abraham Martin place. In the 40's he was in the livery business. At last his health failed and he was an invalid for several years and had no use of his limbs. After his death the house and lot was sold to Dr. Myron Adams, a native of Marion. The old house was sold to Col. F. W. Clemons and moved to Fayette Street. A new house with office was built on the site of the old one. In the 80's, Dr. Donald McPherson purchased the property and Dr. Adams went to California to live. Here Dr. McPherson's first wife died. He married for his second wife, Miss Elizabeth Van Deuzer, daughter of the late Zachariah Van Deuzer. It was in this house that he had his office. He sold his house and lot to Peter Harrington, who is living there now.

West of the McPherson property is what is known as the Tripp Block. At one time it was owned by the late Burros Butler. Later it was sold to Mrs. Tripp who conducted a millinery shop. Mrs. Tripp made a good many improvements on the building and kept an up-to-date store. At her death which occurred in the 80's, the property was sold to John Shear. The upper floor is now occupied by families and the lower floor for business places.

The block adjoining on the west, known as the Horton Block, was





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built before 1830, as history tells that the Mormon Bible was printed in that building and on the second fioor. The bible bears the date 1830. In July, 1829, Mons. H. L. Baltimore opened a barber shop in the basement of the Horton Block, one door east of the Eagle Hotel. The date, therefore, of this building is probably about 1822 or 23 for in this building Palatiah West had a saddle and harness shop in 1824. In 1847 the late William Crandall had a saloon in the basement. He later moved to Michigan. In the 60's Frank Huxley had a saloon here, but this place became unpopular and finally abandoned. In the 50's John Williamson bought this block of General Rogers for $1,000, and after this transfer it was known as the "Williamson Block." In the third story of this building was a large hall, at one time the only large hall in the village, therefore a most popular place for public gatherings of size and character. The local churches at different times, held meetings here, while repairs were being made to their own edifice or while churches were being built. The popularity of this place took a slump when the Opera House and Village Hall were built in 1867. At the lower floor various kinds of business have been carried on. It is doubtful whether or not a complete list of the occupants of this building could be completed. It is not certain how long Mr. West occupied the east store for a harness shop. In 1843 the late Dr. Durfee Chase had an office here. In about 1850, Philip Palmer had a flour and feed store here for a while. William H. Southwick had the post office here. In the 60's Charles Ferrin also had the post office here; Charles Williamson a news room; A. S. Pendry sold farm machinery here in the 70's. For several years John Williamson had a clothing store on the corner. Later a Mr. Lipsky also had a clothing store here. Henry North had a dental office over the east store in the 50's. In the 70's Mr. Williamson sold out and moved away. In the later years, Fred W. Clemons purchased the block and moved into it the printing plant which he purchased of Fred G. Crandall. The paper was again called the Wayne County Journal and was later sold by Mr. Clemons to the Palmyra Printing Company and moved to the Davis Block just west of the Village Hall. Colonel Fred W. Clemons was in the Civil War and died in 1911. The property is now owned by his heirs. The old building looks very much as "it did eighty years ago. The old wooden platform in front is waiting to be torn away and replaced with one of cement and down even with the walk. In front of the block a liberty pole has been standing for nearly one hundred years. In 1892 a new steel pole was put up that was one hundred and seventy feet high. It was found to be too high for the wind and was shortened to one hundred and fifty feet.

Let us return once more to the old Jenner Block across the way, owned by a daughter, Charlotte Jenner Birdsall. Joining this on the west is the Burros Butler Block. Mr. Butler was a tailor by trade and in this block he had his store. He owned the brick house on the west in which he lived. He could go from one to the other through a doorway. Mr. Butler carried on the tailoring business a good many years. After his death, Stephen P. Seymour bought the house and made a good many improvements by putting up an iron fence and remodeling the house. At last he became an




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old man and being quite feeble, sold the house to Pliny T. Sexton and moved away. Mr. Cole bought the store and about 1910 the late Henry Dennis bought the block. He was a painter by trade, also a paper hanger. In this store he kept his goods. He was found dead on the floor of the store, March 18, 1923. Now the store is occupied by R. H. Bareham & Son, who conduct a bakery.

Adjoining the Seymour property was a row of old frame buildings, put up at an early date, extending west to Market Street.

Our first building is the Crowell Block. In front of this old building Mr. Crowell had a store where he sold groceries and candy. He also sold a good deal of cheese. He was an old-fashioned Quaker and rather sharp on a deal. One time a man came in from the country and asked him if he had any good cheese. "Oh, yes," says Mr. Crowell, "I have some cheese that is cheese and meat both." On this recommend the man bought the amount he wanted and went home. The next day when his wife went to put the cheese on the table, she discovered it was full of skippers. So the next time he came to town he went in and told Mr. Crowell that the cheese he bought of him was full of skippers. "Well," said Mr. Crowell, "I told thee it was cheese and meat both." There was a fireplace in the store and on cool days he used to start a fire. The old lady would come in and sit by a cheerful fire and do her knitting.

The neighbor on the west is another pioneer building like the one just passed, erected in early days. It was a two-story frame and kept in 1815 by Patrick O'Rouke, 8l pioneer storekeeper. Samuel Jennings kept a stock of goods here in 1820. Other merchants followed on. Among those of a later date were Birdsall & Sanford. They started their store in the late 30's and kept a general store such as dry goods, groceries and crockery. After a while as times changed, they cut out the groceries and crockery. They continued in this business a good many years. Mr. Birdsall died in the 70's and Mr. Sanford continued in the business until about 1905 when he died and the business closed out. On the outside of this building was an open stairway, leading to the upper story where in the 40's the late Dr. Henry North had a dental office. Later he moved across on the south side of Main Street in the Clemons block. He had this office until his death, which occurred in the 70's.

Our next old store is on the corner of Main and Market Streets. In 1820 it was kept by Samuel Wagstaff. This was another old-time store. As time passed on, changes came and others occupied the same old building. Among some of them were Winchester, Shoecraft & Riggs, Gurnee, who kept a book store, David Sanford, E. P. Johnson and others. In 1876 fire swept away all these old buildings from the west side of the Seymor house to the corner west to Market Street. All this has been rebuilt with brick and are now all owned by others. In this row are Asa Dove, the barber; Mrs. Ann Blair, the beautician; John Lagana, a grocer; F. J. Burgdorf, the florist; and Breen & Vanderwege, who conduct a meat market. The upper floors are occupied by families.

After the corner store was burned, William F. Aldrich purchased the




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site and erected a three-story building on the corner. For several years Leland & Harmon had a clothing store on the corner. About 1905, Charles Rifenberg bought the block, and for several years kept a saloon here in the lower floor, while his family lived in the second story. Now Hart's have a grocery store on the lower floor and the telephone company has their exchange on the second floor. The old pioneer stores have nearly passed from memory. Mr. Crowell and wife, those pleasant old Quakers, of "thee" and "thou," have long since passed away and the bright embers that once shone upon the hearth have lost their glow and the name of Crowell as well as all those who once occupied those old pioneer stores, have passed from memory.

Let us now pa.ss down Market Street and call on some of those old pioneer stores on the east side. In the days of the packet, owing to Market Street doing so much business, it became a busy street. So much that it was considered a convenient street to have the post office on, where it was kept at different times.

In those days it was no uncommon thing to find a person who could neither read nor write, and occasionally it would so happen that the post: master would be called upon to read, now and then, a letter, which he cheerfully did, especially if it was a love letter.

One day a rosy-cheeked Irish girl who expected a letter from her lover, inquired of the postmaster if there was a letter there for her. The postmaster said there was but there was 18 cents postage on it. She told the postmaster she could not read and would he be kind enough to read it for her. To this he very gladly consented and was delighted to accommodate her. After she had heard the contents of the letter she very politely thanked him and started to walk away, but the postmaster said, "Madam, there is 18 cents postage on the letter."

"Oh, well," she replied, "I have no use for the letter and you can have it for your pains," and walked away, leaving the postman a sadder but wiser man.

As we pass on we come to where in the 40's, L. G. Buckley had a harness shop. Mr. Buckley, the harness maker, and Mr. Armington, the blacksmith, had the most elaborate signs on the street. Mr. Buckley's was a good sized sign with a large picture of a saddle with the name, "L. G. Buckley, Harness Maker". That of Mr. Armington was the picture of a man shoeing a horse with the words "Horse Shoeing."

But jokes were plenty and appreciated in those days as well as today. A couple of ladies came into Mr. Buckley's shop. One of them pretended she wanted to buy a side saddle, but Mr. Buckley knew she was trying to play a joke and did not want to be outwitted or bluffed and told her she would have to sit down on the floor so he could take her measure. As she had commenced the joke, she sat down while he marked around her with a piece of chalk, leaving the pattern on the floor.

Mr. Buckley lived on Fayette Street where his daughter, Mrs. H. G. White now lives. Mr. Buckley and Mr. Armington were well known throughout the




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town. Both faithfully performed their mission until they became old and decrepit with years. These old men died a good many years ago. As we leave the Buckley store and pass along, we come to the Underwood meat market, later, in the 50's, kept by George Goodell and others. An interesting incident concerning Goodell and Underwood runs like this: Mr. Underwood gave Mr. Goodell $300 to buy cattle with. Mr. Goodell took the $300 and went to Council Bluff, then in the far West, and stayed about six months. Then he came back and repaid Mr. Underwood, showing his spirit of honesty. He not only paid Mr. Underwood's money back, but bought out the store and paid cash for that, too.

In November, 1876, all these old buildings shared the same fate as their old neighbors on Main Street. They were consumed by the same fire. All the old buildings were replaced by a brick block, owned and occupied by different ones, until about 1819, when Calvin Everson purchased the entire block as far north as the Jarvis block, which was built about 1851, when the late William Jarvis tore down an old building to give place for a brick block, which was occupied by different ones. Among some of them were the late David Rogers, who moved from the little old shop across the way. About 1910, George A. Orlopp purchased the property for $1,000. Mr. Orlopp was a cigar maker by trade. He used the lower part for a store while his family lived in the upper story. Mr. Orlopp died about 1923. His family are still occupying the place.

As we pass along we come to the home and store of M. Ritter. He came here in the 30's, built the house and store combined. His dwelling on the south was a frame, while the store on the north was made of brick. He could pass from one to the other. His wife was an invalid for many years and had to be in an asylum. He lived alone and did most of his own work. He kept an old time general store. He was a very sociable man and had a good deal of country trade. He was a man of good taste as the stone steps and iron fence in front would testify. Mr. Ritter became old and retired from business and went to live with his son in a distant city. The late Walter Stephens owned the property in the late 50's. At his death, which occurred in the 70's, Calvin Everson bought the property. For a good many years he had a cigar store in the brick part, while his brother, Gilbert, had a saloon in the frame part.

While standing across the street and looking at this once little home and business place of long ago, we see over the door a little block of marble with the words, "Ritter's Variety Store" chiseled in it, weather beaten and almost obliterated by time. We look in vain to see the carved stone steps and fence with iron pickets firmly cemented in dressed stone blocks. We can see nothing but a remnant of the old broken blocks of stone. Not an iron picket can be seen. Every one has been wrenched from its socket and wanton destruction had its sway and when I recall the days gone by, something seems to say in yvhispering tones, "Passing away, passing away, passing away".

We now come to the A. G. Myrick marble factory. When Mr. Myrick first came to Palmyra he started in business on Main Street. This was in




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the 30's. His shop was in an old building on the east side of the Lovett lot. In the 40's he moved to Market Street where he carried on the business until his death. After his death, his son carried on the business several years, when he died, about 1908. When he passed away he lived in the same house his father lived in and brought up his family. The place is now owned by others. Leon Molner for a time 'Occupied the house for a barber shop and John Watson has a marble cutting shop in the former shop.

We now pass on to the William Throop harness shop, where in the 60's he did business, but gave up the business and went into the Eagle Hotel as before mentioned. The late Charles Deyo had a shop here until into the 90's when he died, and now the property is owned by others.

The large, old-fashioned yellow house that once was owned by the late Carlton Rogers, later by William Ziegler, is now owned by the heirs. Adjoining this on the north was, in the 30's, the home of Alexander Jarvis, brother of the late William Jarvis. He was a butcher and had a little shop just north of his house in the same yard. He sold out in the early 50's and moved East; later the property came into the possession of Harvey Heath, a Civil War Veteran. He died in the 80's. His daughter, Mrs. Elizabeth Heath Boles now owns and occupies the place. Mr. Heath was born in Palmyra and when a young man he learned to be a carriage ironer and worked for the late Calvin Seeley until the Civil War broke out, when he enlisted. When the War closed he came back to Palmyra and worked for Mr. Seeley the remainder of his working days.

We now come to the property of the late William Phelps. In the 40's this property was owned by the McKachnies, as before mentioned. William Doran owned it in the 70's when Mr. Phelps, a native of Jefferson County, came to Palmyra. He kept a grocery store here until his death, about 1908. He fitted up the upper rooms and lived here. His son, Julius Phelps, owns the property and carries on the same business.

Just north of the Phelps block, in the 40's, stood a little white house, owned by Johnny Smith, the cartman, which has long since been torn away.

It was in the 20's when a stranger of sturdy frame and fine physique came into town on horseback and after looking around for a while, purchased a lot across the way on which he erected a large three-story brick block. This block has long been called the Whitely block, after the name of the man who built it. This building, he extended to the street line, against the advice of some of his neighbors, for they wanted it to be two feet further back. After he had gotten the building well under way, Judge Jerome, who was his neighbor on the south, discovered he was one foot over on his property. The Judge told him he would sell him this land and give him a quit claim deed for the same. To this Mr. Whitely consented. About the time the block was completed, all at once he. disappeared and no one knew where he went, and why he disappeared. No one could guess. It was finally settled upon that he had been a pirate on the high seas and mistrusted an officer was in pursuit of him, and had taken leg bail for security




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and departed to parts unknown. After one or two years he came back and said he had been in Ohio. He sold the property and went back to Ohio. The late General Rogers came into possession of the property and then his son, Carlton. In 1848, when they were widening the canal through the village, the Whitely block was filled with tenants, by those who were working on the canal. It was claimed one family kept a pig in the upper story. In the early 50's Calvin Seeley had a carriage shop here and employed a good many men. Later he moved to Main Street and Root and Howe had a tin shop here for several years, when in the 60's the business was moved to Main Street. The late Alonzo Langdon purchased the property. Calvin Everson at one time had a cigar store here and Mr. Wood had a wagon shop here for several years in. the north end. Mr. Langdon had a grocery in the south end for several years. About 1910 the late John Hennessey bought the property, built a large barn in the rear and carried on a general teaming and carting business until his death, which occurred about 1924. The property is still owned by the heirs.

In the very early 20's, Dorastus Cole built the brick house joining on the north and later sold the property to E. B. Granden. Later he sold the property in the 40's to General Rogers and built the brick house at the south end of Cuyler Street, now owned by Samuel Hunt.

After Mr. Granden had moved away, the late Harry Armington occupied the house for several years and carried on blacksmithing in the old shop which stood on the same site of the present shop. At length Mr. Armington became old and retired from business and moved away. In the 50's Mr. Howe of the firm of Root and Howe, bought the house and lived here until the late 60's, when on account of poor health, he retired from the firm and sold the ihouse to Langdon and Corchran and moved away.

Jacob Ziegler, a veteran of the Civil War, was a German by birth, who enlisted in the army while living in Palmyra. After the close of the war, he returned to Palmyra, married Lena Zipful and in 1870 bought of Langdon and Corchran the brick house, joining the Whitely block on the north. Mr. Ziegler was a carriage ironer and blacksmith by trade. He rented the old Armington shop for a while of Carlton Rogers, who also owned a large barn in the rear, where Hibbard and Henderson carried on the livery business; also running a bus to the New York Central depot. In the early 70's, they went out of business and were succeeded by Seneca Robinson. In the 70's the barn was burned and Mr. Robinson went out of the business and the property was thrown upon the market and Mr. Ziegler, by purchase, came into possession of the entire property. He tore down the old shop, bought a narrow strip on the north, erected the present substantial brick shop, where he did business the remainder of his working days. He died an honored and respected citizen in 1915, at the age of 83. His wife died a few years before. His son, Louis Ziegler, now owns and occupies the property, but the coming of the automobile has ruined the blacksmith business.

As we advance in our journey up the hill, we pass by a large vacant lot,




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containing the remains of an old cellar wall. On this same site, nearly 100 years ago, the late Judge J. K. Jerome erected a fine large house in which he lived a good many years. rrhe little shop down near the street that is worn by time and has become dilapidated by neglect, was his law office. In the 30's Judge Jerome moved his office to Main Street, and the little office was rented to David Rogers for a shoe shop. In the little room in back he kept his leather and wood for in those days they burned wood instead of coal. In front, he had his shop where he did only custom work, making fine and coarse boots and shoes, besides doing cobbling. Anyone who wanted a pair of fine boots or shoes, had a measure of their foot taken and they were made according to order. In those days they worked evenings, except through the months of July and August, when the evenings were short, commencing again the first of September. He had two journeymen and one apprentice. Among some of the journeymen were: Marlin Wood, William Love, Mattie Malone and others. Some of the apprentices were: John Jarvis, James Kelly and John Nolan. The latter went to San Francisco, where he made himself wealthy in the shoe business. James Kelly went to Rochester, where he also went into the shoe business. After John Jarvis had learned his trade, he stayed with Mr. Rogers several years, until the Civil War broke out, when he enlisted in the army. John had a fine voice, and while at work on the bench would sing the old-fashioned songs such as Old Dog Tray and Ben Bolt. When the Jarvis block was built, he moved his shop across the way and stayed there the remainder of his working days as before mentioned. Since then the old shop has had a good many tenants. At one time it was a paint shop. But through the ravages of time and neglect, today it looks very dilapidated.

After Mr. Jerome's death the late Henry Williamson, who was a tailor by trade, bought this property and lived here a good many years. After his death the late Alfred Marshall of the firm of Root and Marshall bought this property and lived here until his death, which occurred about 1910. About that time this old land mark was destroyed by fire. This is now owned by the heirs of Calvin Everson. Thus has passed away another old land mark that was once the pride of the street, and it seems a pity that this old house of more or less historic significance should be destroyed.

Today we can see standing back from the street, another old land mark. This is the brick house in which Draper Allen, in the 30's, lived. He was brother-in-law to General Rogers and ran the old sawmill on Mill Street. There are but few today who even heard of him. This old house has had several owners since Mr. Allen's time. Now it is owned by Ralph Sessions.

Our next is the "Oyster Bay" where Solomon Carter, sometimes called "Professor Carter," kept a saloon for a good many years. He also had one on the dock when boats were running. He died several years ago. The property has had several owners since his death and was always used for a saloon until about 1915, when John Bain bought the property and sold harnesses, etc. Adjoining the "Oyster Bay" on the south were two pioneer stores, owned in the 40's by Henry Williamson, who was a tailor by trade.




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He had a tailor shop in the north store, while the other was used for a meat market by different ones. Among some of them were, in the 40's, Thomas Austin, in the 50's, the late Jonathan Housten, who later went to the Civil War where he died, followed by William Sherman and George Goodell. In the 70's the late Spencer Stephens had a clothing store in the north one and F. W. Clemons printed the Wayne County Journal in the south one. Mr. Stephens was a veteran of the Civil War and during his occupancy the store burned. It was repaired and burned the second time, which told the story of its destruction and was replaced by two wooden buildings and at one time was owned by John C. Coates. Later it was owned by Edwin Parker, who kept a saloon for several years, occupying both stores. Now Max Maddy has a clothing store here. When these two old buildings were burned, the old land. marks on both sides of the street and around the corner can be seen only by the glimmering light of history.

The old two-story building on the south with lakestone front was erected in the 30's by the late William Tilden, who was a tin smith. Here he had his shop for several years. Finally he sold out and moved on a farm four miles southeast of the village, where he spent the remainder of his life. He died June 14, 1869.

It was in the 50's when two young men, Messrs. Root and Howe, entered into partnership and started in the same business in this same block. For a sign a tea kettle fastened to a pole extended from the second story. As their business increased and needed more room, they moved to the Whitely block, as mentioned before. Mr. Root was a native of Vermont and at one time he was president of the village. While in the Whitely block, Mr. Howe's health failed and he became almost helpless. He withdrew from the firm and died a few years later in the 70's. Mr. Root, for his next partner, in the 60's, took in Alfred P. Marshall, a brother-in-law, who married Charlotte Gordon. While in the Whitely block they started peddling-carts through the country. At one time they had as many as ten or twelve carts on the road at a time, swapping their wares for rags or anything the farmers had to sell, but later changes came in their business as in a good many other kinds of business, until it was no longer profitable. In the 70's they moved to Main Street, in the store now Congdon's shoe store. While here the peddling-carts were all taken from the road. Mr. Root died in the 70's. Mr. Marshall kept in the business for a time when the business was closed out. Mr. Marshall died about 1910.

Returing to the Tilden block: In the 70's, the late Whitney Powers purchased the Tilden block and had a meat market here for several years. At his death which occurred in the 80's, the property passed into the hands of his son, Charles. At his death, which 'Occurred several years after, the property passed into the hands of Bird & Flynn Company to be used in connection with their hardware store on the corner.

This now concludes our journey on Market Street, which was laid out and surveyed on June 16, 1828, and a true copy recorded and posted on the outward door of the Presbyterian meeting house in said village, this 18th of June, 1828. The second survey was recorded the 6th day of March, 1846.



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We will now resume our journey on Main Street. Beginning on the corner of Main and Market Streets, we find a little, low, one-story building where in 1812 Joseph Colt had a store. Mr. Colt was also the owner of two Durham boats and it is recorded that in 1804, Silas Stoddard, Gilbert Howell, Cooper Culver, John Phelps and William Clark took their boats, loaded them with flour and pork and went to Schenectady and brought back a load of goods. They journeyed via Mud Creek and took two months. Mr. Colt later moved to the little brick and wood store west of the Bowman store, now owned by William Bowman. Hubbel Hall was Mr. Colt's partner for a time. Mr. Colt died in 1831. His son, Joseph, carried on the business for a time, then sold out and went to Erie, then to Albany. Mr. Hall succeeded. the Colt's in business and was in time followed by Seymour Scoville, who became a prominent and influential man.

Returning to the corner: In the early 30's the old wooden store was torn down to make way for a brick block. Sexton and Butterfield were its first occupants, who in 1835, started in the hardware business with William H. Bowm.an in their employ, who in that year had come from Westmoreland, N. H. Two years later, it was said, next door and in the same block, he opened a hardware store with Stephen P. Seymore as partner, with the firm name of Bowman and Seymore. In 1846, Seymore sold out to Bowman. After Mr. Sexton retired from the firm, then it became Butterfield and Walker. About 1850, William P. Lampson was taken into the firm, and the name became Butterfield, Lampson and Walker. Then Lampson retired and in 1855, it became Bowman and Walker. The partition was removed between the two stores, thus making a double store. Nine years later, James E. Walker retired and the firm became William H. Bowman and Sons. Later, one son, George M. Bowman, withdrew from the firm and it became William H. Bowman and Son. Later the other son, Charles Bowman, withdrew. Then the firm became William H. Bowman and Goldsmith. On December 30, 1875, Ira Lakey bought the two stores, occupied by the firm for $7,000. Two months later, George T. Royce of Albion, bought the real estate. Although he soon sold out his interest in the stock, he still held title to the real estate and C. B. and E. D. Brigham, in 1880, succeeded the combination.

Death removed the junior member of the firm about 1895, but the firm name continued until 1903, when the other brother died and the store soon became known as the Bird and Ross and Co., Hardware Store. In 1878, while repairing the building, one noon while all the workmen had gone to dinner, except Samuel Trull, who had brought his dinner with him, and while sitting in the building eating his noonday meal, the building collapsed and Mr. Trull was killed.

Immediately after the building had fallen, plans were soon made for a new building and the present three-story building was erected on the site of the old one.

The sale of the store by Messrs. Bird and Ross resulted in a change of the firm name. Thomas Flynn and Charles B. Joyce became members of




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the firm. Later Charles B. Joyce retired and the firm is now known as Bird & Flynn Co., and has borne this name for several years. The present proprietors are now maintaining the reputation which seems to have attended the success of the earlier owners.

The little store on the west and in the same building was at one time occupied by E. E. Bates, jeweler, and now and for the past twenty years it has been occupied by Roy D. Fassett, also a jeweler. The second floor of the Royce block was for many years occupied by the late Henry R. Durfee as a law office, later by Durfee and Lines and now by the surviving member, J. Francis Lines. Antone Roach at one time occupied the room over the Fassett store for a tailor shop.

Our next store on the west was evidently built later than the original brick block on the east. In the 30's, Doctors May and Hoyt had a drug store here, who were about the first occupants if not the first.

Dr. May was a native of Vermont. He died September 10, 1865, aged 57 years. Dr. Hoyt dieq. in 1857, aged 55 years. After several years they closed out the drug business, their partnership was dissolved and each one had an office of his own and practiced medicine the rest of his working days. Later Stillman Jackson, who was a gunsmith by trade, had a shop and store here. Later he moved his shop on Washington Street, where he lived.

Not many will recall the drug store kept by Gallup and Crookston. James Gallup was born in Brooklyn, Conn., May 25, 1820. He was a brother of John Gallup, both of whom lived in Palmyra in the 50's. John Gallup went to Michigan from here, but James remained and married Hannah Capron whose father lived on the Walworth Road just south of the Walworth railroad station.
Mr. Gallup lived on the corner of Canandaigua and Jackson Streets, where the Farnham property is located. James died in Grand Rapids, Mich., in 1904. His partner, James A. Crookston, was born in Newark about 1829 and came to Palmyra in 1843, as an apprentice. A few years later he became a partner of Mr. Gallup in the above named store. On March 4, 1859, J. A. Crookston & Company sold out to Clark S. Chase and William Tucker. Mr. Chase had been a clerk in the Hemingway store.

Mr. Crookston went to Grand Rapids, Mich., and in April, 1859, again embarked in the drug business. After a short time he found the climate did not agree with him and came back to Palmyra where we find him in a hat and cap store under the firm name of Crookston & Smith. He again returned to Michigan where he died several years later.

Ten years later Chase withdrew from the firm and the store was continued alone by William H. Tucker. A short time after this, Charles W. Tucker, his son, who had been in Troy, gave up his position there and came to Palmyra and entered into partnership with the firm name of Tucker & Son. A few years later the son died very suddenly, leaving Mr. Tucker alone. Wright Gardner was for several years clerk in this store, and in 1876, when the store was sold by Mr. Tucker, the firm became Gardner & Davis, Menzo Davis being interested with Wright Gardner in the owner-




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ship. This partnership continued until September 1, 1878, when it was dissolved and Mr. Davis continued in the business. For eight years he operated the store alone and made money. In 1888 he sold out to Charles B. Bowman & Son. The local papers said "$40,000 to the good." Mr. Davis went to California and built a hotel at Orange. In five years the real estate boom in Orange was off, and he returned to Palmyra and built the Davis block. The death of Charles B. Bowman occurred in 1898. The senior member of the firm left the management of the store to the son, William H. Bowman, who still continues the success which has always seemed to follow in that particular location.

When William H. Tucker sold out his interest in the store he still retained the real estate which W. H. Bowman bought of the widow about 1915. It was either when the block was first built or some time later, when the chimney was being repaired, that the masons wanted a good cap stone for the top. So he went to the marble factory and there found two pieces of grave stone that he thought were just the thing, one bearing this inscription: "Parmelia, wife of Ambrose Hall. Died May, 1832," the other, "Demarius, wife of W. D. Wylie. Died January 2, 1836." If these stones were put upon the chimney when first built, it would show the building was not put up until after that date. These people were undoubtedly buried in the old cemetery on Church Street, for the new cemetery was not opened until 1844.

When William H. Bowman came to Palmyra in 1835, he moved into what is now called the Blaby house on Fayette Street. He later bought the brick house on the south and enlarged it and made a good many changes. Here he lived until his death which occurred in the 80's. He left two sons; George and Charles. George died a few years after his father. Charles died in 1898 as before mentioned. A granddaughter, Mrs. Mary Bowman Lawrence, now owns and occupies the homestead. William H. Bowman, a grandson and a son of Charles, is in the store as before mentioned.

For over ninety years the Bowman family has been represented in a business way around this corner.

We now come to the only old pioneer store left on the street. All the others have been burned or torn down. In 1810 it was occupied by Cole, thus making it far beyond the century mark. I have no knowledge who succeeded Seymour Scoville until we come to George Stoddard, who in the 80's had a shoe store here, followed by Nims & Avery, who carried on the same business. Later White & Ives had a jewelry store here; the late Henry Birdsall, a clothing store; later Walter Stephens, a second-hand clothing store. In the 70's, Henry M. Johnson became owner of the property and for a while was in the boot and shoe business with his son-in-law, John Schofield. Later the firm was known as Schofield & George S. Johnson. After a time Schofield retired and the firm name became Johnson & Rogers. In the 80's they bought the Root store on the west and made a good many improvements suitable to their business.

William H. Bowman now owns the old store and has for several years.




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At one time it was rented for a candy kitchen. Now Edward Farrell has an up-to-date barber shop here, and Albert Lawrence also sells radios in part of the shop with Farrell.

The alley on the west between these two stores has for many years been a public drive and has assisted in making ingress and egress to and from the rest of the stores to the west an easy matter.

On the site where the Brown block is, Nathan Thayer opened a store. He was succeeded by his brothers, Joel and Levi, who did an extensive business. They bought produce, dealt heavily in the purchase of cattle and were of material benefit to the village. For a time they conducted an ashery on the present site of the gas house at the lower end of Canal Street and shipped via Pultneyville to Montreal. The Thayers were twin brothers and as such were designated. They built a number of freight boats for the canal trade, one of which took the name 'Twin Brothers."

It was in the 20's when a Mr. Brown of New York furnished the money to purchase the cheap wooden stores that had been occupied by the Thayers. He tore them down and erected the present three-story brick block which has always borne the name of "Brown Block." This block contained four stores with stairway in the center. The first store on the east, was in the 40's, occupied by Edwin M. Anderson, who carried on the boot and shoe business several years. He made all his own goods in the rooms above and employed several men. He also bought hides. Besides carrying on the store he was a contractor on the old Erie Canal when it was enlarged.

The local papers of January, 1870, report the sale of the brick shoe store to Pancost & Sage of Rochester. John F. Strain, who had been a clerk for Mr. Anderson for a good many years, became a member of the firm which took possession about the time that Pancost & Sage went out. In 1870, because of the opening of the store in the Cuyler block, many changes were made in the Main Street firms. Root & Marshall purchased the building of the Rochester firm and took possession April 1, 1870. At the death of Thomas L. Root, his son, Addison L., took his father's place, but the firm was dissolved a few years later, Mr. Marshall retiring. George F. Barron then became a partner of Mr. Root and the sign then read "Root & Barron." The stock of hard"vare was closed out in 1894 and Charles J. Washburn was taken in as a partner and business was resumed until 1899, when Mr. Root retired from business as a Main Street merchant. Johnson & Rogers purchased the store and all real estate connected with the same and moved their stock of goods from the small store across the alley into their new location.

Upon the death of Mr. Rogers the firm became Johnson & Congdon. At the death of Mr. Johnson, which occurred October 11, 1924, Mr. Congdon continued in the business, having purchased his partner's interest. The heirs retained the real property.

Our next store on the west is where in the early 40's, Agustus Elmendorf kept a dry goods store. In the years of 1849-51, while an official of the village, a bounty was offered by the town for the killing of crows and to Mr. Elmendorf, evidence of the fact was produced in the shape of crows'




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bills. During the season of slaughter, hundreds, perhaps thousands of bills were swept from the floor of the store into the alley in the rear. Later Crookston & Smith had a hat and cap store here. In the late 70's, Alfred Sansbury became owner of the store and carried on the furniture business, followed by Drake & Johnson, then Winston & Crandall. A good many have occupied the store since. In 1905 Ryan & Bonte had a clothing store here. For a number of years it has been owned and occupied by the Empire Gas & Electric Company, who bought from the Sansbury heirs.

Our next store as we pass on, in the early 30's was that of Messrs. Zull & White. A little later this store was occupied by Joseph C. Lovett, one of Wayne County's most prominent merchants, who was born in Williamstown, Mass., December 15, 1812. When but one year old, his parents removed to western New York and settled in Tyron, Steuben County, where his early boyhood was passed assisting his father in the summer time in clearing up and cultivating his new farm and attending the rude common schools of that period, during the winter months. At the early age of fourteen he had left his parental roof forever to devote himself to mercantile pursuits which he had chosen as the business of his life. He came to Palmyra and entered as clerk in the dry goods store of the above named firm where he remained for several years. He subsequently became a junior member of the firm of Hyde & Lovett, during which time, in 1838, he was married to Miss Electa A., daughter of Joel C. Thayer of Buffalo, N. Y., by Rev. C. S. Hawks of that city.

For forty-six years Mr. Lovett was prominently identified with the mercantile interests of Palmyra and he contributed very largely to the material wealth of the village and its importance as a business point, as one of the firm of Hyde & Lovett, Lovett & Scotten, and in the later years of his life to the business house of J. C. Lovett. He was well and personally known in the commercial world, a man of culture and refinement. David S. Aldrich, who was a native of Massachusetts, came to Palmyra in the 20's, when sixteen years old. He carried the mail on horseback from Palmyra to Pultneyville. Later he clerked at one time for Lovett & Havens and for Sexton & Butterfield. About 1850 J. C. Lovett bought the brick block adjoining on the west, called the "Lovett Block," and moved into one of the stores.

Mr. Aldrich purchased the vacant store and started in the dry goods business in his own name, although at one time James Byron Reeves was his partner. Their associations in business were severed in February, 1866, when Mr. Reeves went to Ohio. Mr. Aldrich continued in the business, later retiring to the homestead on West Main Street, where he conducted his large farm. He still retained the store until his death which occurred in 1882, when the store came into the possession of Pliny T. Sexton. Since the retirement of Mr. Aldrich a good many different ones have had the store. Among some of them were Riley S. Eddy, Lebrecht & Jones, a grocery store for a time. Later Clifford Crandall, a furniture store, and after his death his son, Harold Crandall, and Thomas McGuire, who now carry on the same business.




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Our next business place on the west has been a boot and shoe store for nearly ninety years. Here Robert W. Smith started in business. Later the store was conducted by Jessup & Foster. Then Joel Foster & Company were here, which partnership was dissolved about February 1, 1865, when the firm name became Foster & Smith, which existed for a number of years.

After the death of James H. Smith the other member of this firm became the sole proprietor. Entering this same store when a boy of fourteen as a clerk, Mr. Foster continued in the business until his death which occurred in 1918, he being 83 years old. Mr. Foster had outlived every business man on the street who became a merchant at the time he came to Palmyra. He had been in this same store for nearly seventy years. After Mr. Foster's death, his three daughters continued the business which they still conduct.

For several years after Mr. Foster came into the store the goods which were retailed to the customers were made in the second story. The late Giles Crandall was at one time a cutter there. Later James H. Smith was the cutter and did all that kind of work as long as he was in the store. For many years they bought hides.

Here at this store the writer, in his younger days, bought his boots. The measure was taken and they were ordered made straight, changing them each day. The boot that was worn on my right foot today would be worn on my left tomorrow. By so doing they did not run over on one side. This I did for economy's sake. Every well-regulated family had a grease-dish with mutton tallow, beeswax and lampblack, all melted together. This would turn the water fairly well. Nobody wore rubber boots in those days.

The managers of this store from its beginning to the present time were all related in some way, thus making it seem like the old original store.

Warren R. Smith, a son of Robert M. Smith, and a nephew of James Smith, was a partner of Mrl> Foster for a short time. He withdrew from the firm to accept a responsible position in the First National Bank of Palmyra.

On this same site, as early as 1810, long before the Brown block was built, Nathan Thayer had a wooden store. He was succeeded by his brothers, Joel and Levi. The latter's dwelling was just east and in the rear of where the Brown block is now. But when the block was built he moved away and the house became a tenant house until in the early 60's.

We have now passed through on the lower floor of the Brown block. We have called upon a good many of the earlier merchants as well as those of more recent date.

A good many of the occupants have passed away and are forgotten while others are remembered only by few. A little later we will return and visit some of those on the upper floor.

Bearing this in mind we will continue our journey. The brick block adjoining on the west, for many years was called "Exchange Row". This




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name was painted in large letters just under the upper story window running the whole length of the block, but these letters have long become obliterated. In 1832 Daniel Finch had a dry goods store which was bounded on the east by the Brown block. This store, for a good many years, was called the Rogers store. There for several years, Carlton H. Rogers, son of the late General Thomas Rogers, kept a dry goods store. He came into this store as a merchant in the 40's. Mr. Rogers retired from business in the early 50's, followed by Barnett Johnston. In the early 60's Mr. Johnston sold out and moved away, Mr. Rogers still owning the real property. After Mr. Johnston came Terry & Phettiplace, who came from Farmington and fitted up the store to do a thriving business in groceries and clothing of which they had an abundance. The sliding chests under the counter and the green glass in the floor to light the cellar were put in by them. After doing business here for a while, the business was closed out and Barnett Davis moved from the corner of Clinton and Canal Streets to this store, and the former occupants went back to Farmington, where they died a few years later. The Davis store kept drugs and groceries. After being here a few years, Julius Cleveland became a partner and in this line did a thriving business. Mr. Davis was a staunch Republican and at one time very prominent in the Republican party. He served two terms as Member of Assembly. At length Mr. Davis became old and his partner Mr. Cleveland had died. The business' passed into the hands of Henry Runterman, a clerk, who had been with the firm from boyhood.

One time when Mr. Davis was in New York, he came across this young German, who was a mere boy, yet in his teens, and could not speak a word of English, brought him home where he was engaged as a clerk. After the death of Mr. Cleveland and the retirement of Mr. Davis, he bought the stock of goods and is now doing business in the same store he went into as a clerk nearly thirty years ago.

After the death of Mr. Sexton the store came into the market. Mr. Runterman bought the property and today is one of our leading grocerymen as well as a very highly respected citizen and church worker.

Mr. Cleveland died about 1910 and Mr. Davis, after retiring from business, went to Montclair, New Jersey, to live with his daughter, where he died a short time after. The old store still retains its appearance of long ago.

In our next store, adjoining on the west, in the 40's, R. G. Pardee had a general store as was the custom in those days to sell groceries as well as dry goods.

Mr. Pardee became very much interested in the growing of strawberries. In those days cultivated strawberries were a new thing, but wild strawberries were plentiful in their season, therefore the few he grew in his garden were to some a curiosity for they were much larger than the wild ones. He left Palmyra in the early 50's. Shortly after Mr. Pardee moved away J. C. Lovett purchased this store, also the two stores on the




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west as far as the alley, making three stores. For a long time these three stores were called the "Lovett Block."

S. C. Alles succeeded Mr. Pardee and kept a dry goods store here. In the early 60's he sold out and went away, followed by H. P. Knowles & Co., who had a banking office here. In the rear of the bank office was the Express Office which existed contemporary with the banking business. He also bought grain. Mr. Knowles was a Major in the Civil War and a member of the G. A. R. Post. He died in the 90's and the business was closed out. After the death of Mr. Lovett, P. T. Sexton became owner of the entire Lovett block and this store was opened up by Mr. Sexton as a rest room and went by the name "Forum." Mr. Sexton furnished heat and light, papers and magazines, etc., for all who wished to avail themselves of this opportunity. This practice he kept up for several years at his own expense. The store is now owned by J. W. Thomas.

We now come to the J. C. Lovett store where he moved after leaving the Aldrich store, as mentioned before. Mr. Lovett was the first merchant in town to put rest seats in front of the counter to accommodate customers. During his business career he had employed a good many clerks. Among them were William H. Farnham, a native of Walworth, Rice from Marion and Alfred Sansbury.

It was in this store in 1844 that Pliny Sexton started the Palmyra Bank. After Mr. Lovett's death then came to Palmyra from Seneca Falls Mosher M. Story, who opened up a dry goods store in the same place. He was a natural merchant and began to prosper from the start. As time passed on and business increased, he was obliged to build an annex in the rear, and at the first opportunity he rented the store on the west of P. T. Sexton, who then owned the entire Exchange Row, and by throwing the two stores together made one large store. After a successful career of practically thirty years the death of Mr. Story resulted in a change in the I.; business.

A partnership or corporation was formed, the individuals entering into the same being of the most part foriner employees in the business. In 1925 the company purchased the double store of the Sexton estate. Until his death, P. T. Sexton owned the entire Exchange Row.

As we resume our journey west we come to the fourth and last store in Exchange Row. Previous to the occupancy of the M. Story Dry Goods Company, away back in the 40's, Charles E. Wilder had a hardware store here for several years, when he sold out and moved away, and for a good many years the name of "C. E. Wilder Hardware Store" could be seen painted in large letters on the outside wall at the west end near the top of the building. After Mr. Wilder came Sexton & Chase, who were in the same business previous to coming here. Mr. Chase had had a hardware store in the east end of where the Union Club room is. Mr. Chase commenced business here in 1848.

After the death of Mr. Sexton (who was a son of the late Pliny Sexton) the firm name of Sexton & Chase became L. M. Chase Hardware Store. Mr. Chase had been a hardware merchant nearly twenty years. He had his tin




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shop in the upper stores of the block. The late Garry West was foreman of the shop. Here, too, the late Robert Martin Smith learned his trade as tinsmith and worked at it until his entry into the service of his country at the breaking out of the Rebellion.

Mr. West also enlisted and after the period of conflict had ended both of these young men returned. Mr. West later moved to Canandaigua, engaging in the plumbing business.

A few years previous to his death he came back to Palmyra to live, bought a home on Vienna Street and lived there until the death of his wife, when he went to the Powers Hotel to live, later making his home in Fairport, where he ended his days.

Robert M. Smith soon after returning from the war, entered into the employ of the First National Bank of Palmyra, where he spent the rest of his life. He died January 10, 1925.

In January, 1866, Luther M. Chase sold out his interest in the store to William Doran, better known as "Billy" Doran. He then moved to Wilkes-Barre, Pa., where he engaged in the lumber business, dying twelve years later. Mr. Chase was a son of the late Willard Chase and brother of Clark Chase of whom mention has been made before. Mr. Doran continued the business a little less than a year when he sold out his interest to Orleens W. Dey and William Doolittle. These young men came from Livonia and the firm name became Dey & Doolittle. They took possession in December, 1868. Doran then purchased the old store at the corner of Canal and Market Streets. Mr. Doran came to Palmyra before the Erie Canal was finished. He was a native of Ireland and died in Palmyra in November, 1876, being over 80 years old. Messrs. Dey and Doolittle dissolved partnership in April, 1870. Mr. Doolittle continued in the business with a partner in the person of J. P. Briggs. The firm later became Briggs & Co., with Willard Price as tinner, succeeding Mr. Wheeler, who went West. In a short time the store was sold to Newton & Irish, or Newton & Short, or at least the stock of hardware was transferred. Later, C. H. and E. D. Brigham with George F. Royce purchased the stock and opened a new store at the corner of Main and Market Streets, as mentioned before. After the use of the Chase store for many years as a hardware store another changing of ownership came.

James Johnson opened up a newsstand for awhile, for it is recorded that in March, 1889, the late Mosher ThL Story leased the store in the west end of the Lovett Block.

Among the old clerks that formed a part of the M. Story Dry Goods Company were Frank Hutchins, son-in-law, who died several years ago. George S. Trull and Fred Shoal, who later sold out his interest and moved to Rochester. Later, Samuel Newman, who had been a clerk in the Farnham store several years, became a member of the firm.

Thus these young men trained in the school of honesty and fair dealing have won the confidence and respect of the community in which they live and the business house of the Story Dry Goods Company is well and personally known in the commercial world.




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We have now completed our journey on the first floor of the Brown Block and Exchange Row. On our journey through these two blocks we have mingled with the past and present. We have called on some of the old-time merchants who burned wood to warm their stores and burned fish-oil to light them; who kept a general store and sold groceries as well as dry goods. Their molasses came in hogsheads and crockery came in withed crates, a thing we do not see today. Many times they took dried apples that were dried on a string in exchange for goods. These apples while in process of drying furnished a night's lodging for many a fly during the drying season, but a little scalding water applied just before using would restore them to a palatable and healthy sauce.

As we step outside we notice the west store in the Brown block, which is the Foster store, and the last store in Exchange Row, which is the Runterman store, have higher floors than the rest of the stores in the two blocks. When these two blocks were built nearly 100 years ago, the lower floors were up the same height as the Runterman and Foster stores. About fifty years ago the late George Williams, who was a contractor and builder, as before mentioned, lowered all the floors in these two blocks except the two mentioned. Some of them had wooden platforms in front while others had stone steps. The walk in front of the store was either dirt or gravel and in the Spring and Fall would be quite muddy.

Let us now visit some of the upper rooms. We have already made mention of the L. M. Chase tin shop on the second floor. It was on the third floor of this building and over the tin shop that Major John Gilbert set the type for the first edition of the Mormon Bible, while the second edition was printed in the Clemons block, as before mentioned.

In the center of this block is a stairway leading to the different rooms and floors. The first on the right was for a good many years the office of the late Dr. 'V. J. Hennessy, who came from Perinton to Palmyra when a young man and studied medicine with the late Dr. Kingman. Dr. Hennessy married Minnie, daughter of J. C. Lovett, and went to Kansas, later returning to Palmyra where his wife died. For his second wife he took Mary Birdsall Blodgett, daughter of Henry and Charlotte Birdsall. He opened an office in this room and built up a large practice. Contemporary with this business he became financially interested in the Crandall Packing Company, of which he was president at the time of his death, which occurred about 1917.

At our right and in the third story we find the photograph gallery of George M. Elton. Mr. Elton was born in Toronto, Canada. His great grandfather was in the Revolutionary War. His grandfather was in the War of 1812 and his father was in the Civil War, in which he lost his life while in the battle of Gettysburg.

Mr. Elton lived on a farm until he was thirteen years old, when he came from CanandaIgua to Palmyra In March, 1861.

A Mr. Vail at that time was in the photograph business, and being a clever man, this boy thought he would like to work for him. Accordingly he applied for a job. Mr. Vail thought he was too small,




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but finally consented to give him a trial. A bargain was consummated and the lad started in on his duties. From the start he took to the business and remained in Mr. Vail's employ until 1868, when Mr. Vail took him in as a partner, which continued until 1880, when Mr. Elton bought out Mr. Vail's interest and the latter moved to Geneva.

Mr. Elton continued in the business and occupied the same gallery for more than 55 years and won ten medals in national and international contests.

After the death of Lucius Foster, Mr. Elton was the oldest man continuing in the same business and occupying the same location in the village. He died November 15, 1927, at the age of 79 years.

There are others who have been in the photograph business in years gone by. Among them were Thomas Stead, who sold out to Vail, A. P. Little, Richard Atkinson and Alfred C. Hopkins. The latter was born in East Dean, England, and came to this country on February 22, 1851. At the age of eleven years he started to learn the photograph business in Utica.

In 1877 he came to Palmyra, bought out Richard Atkinson, who was in the photograph business in the Brown Block, and for fifty years occupied the same gallery. Contemporary with this business he has been overseer of the poor for the Town of Palmyra, occupying the office continuously and in a creditable manner for a good many years, as his record will show. About 1927 he retired from the photograph business and is still living in our community. On February 3, 1929, he returned to his native country, England, for a visit.

Thus from youth to old age those two old business men in our village made their daily rounds up and down the stairs.

Many an infant has been brought here in its mother's arms to have its picture taken, returning from time to time until they, too, became old men and women. To these galleries thousands of young men and maidens have come to have an exact facsimile of the original to send to their lover. Thousands of middle-aged men and women have come to have their picture taken to send away to some friend. Old men and women with hoary hair and abated breath have climbed these stairs for the last time to get something to leave to their children that in after years they could see how father and mother used to look.

Their long experience and knowledge of the business and their courteous and obliging manner won for them many friends.

At our right at the top of the stairs was the office of the Palmyra I Courier. Edward S. Averill came to Palmyra in 1854 and bought out the Courier.

We notice that the stairway in Exchange Rowand in the Brown Block are in the center of the building, leaving two stores on each side of the stairway in each block. It was up this stairway in the Brown block that the shoemakers came to get to their work. Those who worked for Jessup & Foster took the alley at the left in the rear of A. C. Hopkins' picture gallery and those who worked for Anderson took the alley at the right in the rear of the Courier office.




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At the time this block was built it was so planned for the accommodation of the stores on the lower floor that the workmen would not have to pass through in going to and from their work.

Let us now resume our journey west, passing the little alley which we will have something to say about later on. In the rear of this alley in the early 40's was the lumber yard of Southwick & Thurber. In the 50's they dissolved partnership. On this same site about 1905 Richard Hoff had a hitch barn. Later he erected a very large barn covered with galvanized iron. He also carried on the livery business, but with the coming of the trolley and automobile the business began to wane. He sold the property about 1918 to the Bird & Flynn Company for $6,000. The building was then used to store agricultural implements. About 1920 the building was partially destroyed by fire. A portion of it was rebuilt and is now owned and occupied by the same company.

When we arrive at the alley we are at the west end of Exchange Row. On the west adjoining the alley we come to William H. Cuyler's hat and fur store. Mr. Cuyler started the store in the 40's and at one time he had the post office in this store. He retired in the late 60's. This store was one of the old type with box windows projecting out in front. There were stairs on the outside leading to the office of Dr. May. How many are there living now who remember seeing him coming down these stairs from his office on a bitter cold day wrapped in a buffalo overcoat and with a well-filled saddle bag on his arm, in which he had castor oil, blue pills and jalap, to take a long ride in the country after the little fleet-footed grey mare?

The next store on the west was the Truman Hemmingway drug store. His advertisement read: "T. Hemmingway's Drug Store. Sign Golden Mortar."

The Golden Mortar was on a high post near the curb. This old-time store, like its neighbor, had a flight of stairs on the outside leading to the upper story. Sometimes this was used as a billiard room. In the early 60's Mr. Hemmingway became old and retired from business. He was succeeded by a young man by the name of Wilcox and later followed by Oak Sylvester, who bought out the store and carried on the business) for a few years.

We now come to another old landmark. In the 40's Franklin Lakey occupied this store. Here he bought grain, pork, skeep skins and wool. About 1849 a Mr. Wiles had a clothing store here for awhile, then moved across the street. Later he went to Rochester where he kept a wholesale clothing store.

The late Henry Flowers at one time occupied this store. He also bought wool, pork, etc. On the west was still another old landmark. In the 40's it was occupied by William Walton who bought pork and kept groceries. For awhile Thomas Bussey was his clerk.

In the 50's C. J. Ferrin occupied the store. He bought wool and sheep skins and also sold flour and salt. At this store a cheap shed extended over the walk to the curb, where barrels of salt were piled up near the curb. He was assisted by William Thayer, who had two sons, William and Amasa. The latter was rather inclined to be unruly and sometimes tried the old




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man's patience, who was very lame and corpulent. Amasa could easily keep out of the old man's way, but would occasionally forget himself and get within the reach of the old man's cane. Then all back dividends were paid.

Mr. Thayer and his two sons boarded with Mrs. Gilbert Oliver, who kept a boarding house in the Rannie Block across the way.

In the early 60's Mr. Ferrin went out of the business and left the oldstore to someone else.

But the time at last came when this row of old wooden buildings, landmarks of a former generation, were to be torn down or moved away to make room for a more modern and attractive brick block.

George W. Cuyler owned this row of old buildings and in 1870 the present new building was erected on the site, which extended from the east side of the Walton Block east to the west side of the alley. The two old stores on the west were torn down, while the Cuyler and Hemmingway stores were moved around the corner on Williams Street and became the property of P. T. Sexton. The Hemmingway store stood on the east side of the street and was used as a storehouse. It was, however, shorn somewhat of its former appearance. The old box windows were renloved, the old outside stairs were pretty well dilapidated, but if we took a look on the inside we could have seen the old drawers in which different kinds of herbs were kept.

In plain sight across the way was its old neighbor, the Cuyler store, which was of more recent date, looking very much as it did in days gone by, with its box windows and outside stairs. This, a better building, received better care and was used as a carpenter shop byˇ Mr. Sexton. These buildings were torn down about 1926.

In April, 1869, the foundation for the Cuyler Block was laid and nearly a year was consumed before its completion.

Of this perhaps a little of its early history might be mentioned. The third story was planned especially for the use of Palmyra Lodge, No. 248, F. & A. M. The second story contained several offices and the lower floor was arranged for four separate stores.

Palmyra Lodge took possession on May 6, 1870, and has, without interruption, been the tenant ever since.

The Lodge dedicated the hall on June 9, 1870, with a ceremony. A public parade was held, the line of march following the usual routine, i. e., Masonic fIall to Washington Street, to Jackson, to Canandaigua, to Main, to Cuyler, to Jackson, to Fayette, to Main, to Eagle Hotel, where the procession countermarched, returning to the hall.

A part of the second story of the block was used as a storage room for merchandise belonging to tenants of the stores below. The rooms thus utilized were later vacated and offices fitted up for prospective tenants. For several years the west office was occupied by Justice S. Nelson Sawyer, either alone or as a practicing attorney, or as a county official or in partnership with David Aldrich or with George S. Tinklepaugh, which partnership was dissolved when Mr. Sawyer was elected County Judge. Then Mr.




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Tinklepaugh moved to the adjoining office in the rear of that occupied by Judge McLouth from the time the block was completed until his death.

Justice Sawyer and Mr. Tinklepaugh remained until they became tenants in the Davis Block where they are still located. For several years Mr. N. R. Gardner maintained an apartment over the store he occupied while the office between his room and the office of Judge McLouth was occupied by the late Samuel R. McIntyre, who became an occupant as soon as the block was completed. After the death of Mr. McIntyre the office was occupied for a brief time by Charles W. Hurlbut, who later went to New York where his death occurred a few years later. Frederick E. Converse then became the tenant. About 1915 his son Ray became a partner and the firm now became Converse & Converse. All those mentioned above were lawyers except Mr. Gardner. In 1923 the Converse firm moved to the Walton block on the west. Charles McLouth, jr., occupied, for a time, the same office his father did. Later he moved his office to Rochester.

In 1925 the Masons became a tenant of a part of the second floor where they have a library, an armory and a cloak room, the latter for the accommodation of the ladies whenever they have entertainments.

Commencing at the east store in the Cuyler Block: In January, 1871, the late John W. Corning became its first tenant and opened up a grocery store. This store had stood vacant for nearly a year. After a few years he was followed by Norton R. Gardner and his brother Wright Gardner who kept a drug store. In 1885 Wright Gardner retired and went to California where he died. N. R. Gardner then became the sole owner. His retirement after 22 years was a source of regret to his many friends. Mrs. Lord had a millinery store in one of these stores, being one of the first tenants. In the next store Clark S. Chase was the first occupant. Mosher M. Story was the next occupant, conducting the "Boston Clothing Store." For a few years William H. Rogers, a son-in-law, was manager. Later Lebrecht & Jones had a clothing store, and in 1921 Lebrecht withdrew and it became Jones Brothers.

Now for a moment let us return to Leach & Tuttle in Exchange Row. When the Cuyler Block was completed Leach & Tuttle moved to the third store in the Cuyler Block and M. Story, who was in the old Lovett store, wanted more room and rented the Leach & Tuttle store in Exchange Row. He tore out the partition and put the two stores into one. In the Cuyler Block Leach & Tuttle was followed by Tuttle, then Tuttle & Williamson, followed by Thomas. In 1922 Thomas moved to Exchange Row, as mentioned before.

The store Thomas vacated is now occupied by George Brandetsas. In the store on the west, among its first tenants, was William H. Cronise, followed by H. G. Critchell, Reed & PeLee, who left about 1891, then Wells & Beatty, Glen H. Reeves and Simon xxx~onte.

After Mr. Lebrecht sold out to Jones in 1921, he bought out Bonte. Now Lebrecht & Son are occupying the store as a clothing store. Let us for a moment inquire what became of the little alley between

the old Cuyler store and L. M. Chase, that we have spoken of before. This




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alley was still open when the Cuyler Block was completed and for two years or until 1872. On April 18 of that year Mr. Cuyler bought of Joseph Lovett the driveway between his block and the Lovett store. Here he erected the brick building, now occupied by S. E. Braman's insurance office. Mr. Braman came here from the Rannie building across the way. Among some of the earlier tenants in the little store were Thomas Birdsall's cigar store in 1886, followed by David "Lyon who had a paint shop, coming from the Jarvis block across the way. Also one time the Gas Company occupied it.

Although the Jarvis block was built in 1876, and is of more recent construction than the Cuyler block by six years, the erection of the latter building made the most pronounced change in the business of the north side of the street. Since the coming of the trolley the Jarvis plock has always been occupied.

Speaking of the Cuyler block: The title to this block at the death of its founder, George W. Cuyler, passed to his widow, Caroline Cuyler. At her death division of her property resulted in the passing of this property to a grandson, Cuyler C. Hunt.

Adjoining the Cuyler block on the west is the Walton block, erected in the 30's by George W. Cuyler, who owned the property from the corner to the east line of the Cuyler block and north to the Pickett lot, including the Allen foundry. When Mr. Cuyler first built the block he kept a hardware store here and for many years after one could see traces of the lettering of the old sign on the west end of the building which read, "George W. Cuyler's Hardware Store. Oils, Paint."

In 1849 or 50, William Walton purchased this block and kept a grocery store and meat market. He was also an extensive buyer of pork which he salted down and smoked the hams. In 1856 Morgan Bingham was his clerk.

While on our journey along on this side of the street, we noticed outside stairs on a good many of the old wooden buildings and we find this brick block no exception to the rule. The stairs to this block were on the west side and obstructed the street, which annoyed some people.

On the Fourth of July bonfires were the custom for midnight entertainment. But one of the Trustees of the village thought the stairs had been there long enough and told one of the boys if they tore down those old stairs they must do it while he was not looking and if caught they would suffer the penalty of law. Of course, this was all the hint they wanted and when morning came no stairs were to be seen and were never replaced.

How many of the inhabitants remember seeing Mr. Walton's old sorrel horse in the summer time, standing in front of the store, while the old dog was enjoying a nap on the seat? When the old horse became thirsty he would back out and leisurely walk down to the lower end of Main Street to the watering trough as before mentioned, with no one to guide him but the old dog that sat upon the seat enjoying the ride.

At Mr. Walton's death the block c.ame into the hands of his son




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Charles, who had a meat market here for a time. At his death the property passed to his wife and daughter. After the deaths of Charles Walton's wife and daughter, the heirs sold the block to the State Bank and in 1930, Spencer L. Knapp, the insurance man, and Fred D. Guile, the real estate broker, purchased the block and are now occupying the lower floor. The front part of the upper floor, is occupied by Converse & Converse, attorneys, and the back part by Dr. McCarthy, a chiropractor.

About 1906 William Darling, who conducted a meat market where the trolley station now stands, moved to the Walton block, doing the same business until 1922, when a new State Bank was projected. The Walton block seemed to appeal to the stockholders as an ideal location for the new bank. A long time lease was procured, the building was enlarged and remodeled, up-to-date equipment for a country bank was installed and the charter secured in January, 1922. The bank opened August 19, 1922, with the following named officers: John W. Walton, President; Arthur T. Jones and W. Ray Converse, Vice-presidents; Clitrord G. Adams, Cashier; Sanford M. Young, Assistant Cashier.

Let us now take a stroll down Williams Street. After leaving the corner, going north, we come to the John Rifenberg saloon, erected by him about 1898 and is now owned and occupied by his heirs; also the building on the north is still in the hands of the heirs. This building in the very early 50's was owned by Samuel Palmer, who used it for a paint shop. Mr. Palmer took contracts and employed a good many men. When Mr. Darling left the Walton store he moved his market to this building where he is still located.

Our next is a house owned by Ward K. Angevine.

Somewhere in here, in ye olden times stood a little fire engine house long since disappeared and forgotten. The old Hemingway store was moved here but now is torn down, while across the way the V. H. Cuyler store was moved. In 1925 both buildings were torn down, thus wiping out all the old stores where now stands the Cuyler block.

Next north of the Angevine house is a little building used as a photograph gallery, called the Hooper Studio.

Below the Hemingway store the' Jackman Brothers built a brick laundry, on the site of the old Samuel Sawyer carpenter shop. After doing a good business for several years, they merged with a Newark company. The building is now owned and occupied by The Palmyra Courier Company, Inc., publishers of The Palmyra Courier-Journal.

Our next is the old Allen Scale factory. Here in the early 50's, besides making scales, he also made plows and cultivators and kept an all-around hit-and-miss store. His scales were very accurate. He also built the house on the north in which he lived. In 1856 he built the five little houses across the way, now owned by J. K. Williamson's estate. In 1924 these were covered with stucco. He died about 1900. A short time after his death Roy Barrett purchased the property and kept a hardware store and also did plumbing. After his death, which occurred in 1924, the stock was sold to Harry Williamson, who continued in the same business.




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Mr. Barrett left one daughter, his wife dying several years ago. The daughter retained the store and the dwelling on the north. The store eventually passed to Powers & Sons, the present owners, who have an indoor golf course here now. The house is still owned by the daughter.

Still a little further at the north, until in the 70's stood an old twostory house, in the early 50's owned and occupied by William Pickett. About 1910 Jacob Hartman bought the property and tore down the old house and erected two new houses.

This street was laid out February 10, 1830, and to be three rods wide. Resurveyed June 22, 1837.

Let us now return to the corner of Main and Fayette Streets. Away back when the first church was built in the village, a log house was built that was used for a parsonage for awhile. Later Stephen Phelps bought of James Galloway this same site and erected a two-story frame house in which he lived. This house he opened up for a tavern. In 1820 he sold out and went to Illinois. This house was rebuilt and enlarged to a three-story structure in 1824 and called the Eagle Hotel. It was reputed a fine house and the patronage correspondingly extensive. The following were the names of some of the landlords: Horace Warner, who married a daughter of Mr. Phelps, Alexander Galloway, William Rogers, jr., Lovell Hurd and Solmon St. John.

A new hotel had been projected and a stock company was formed in 1836 of which the following are the names of the stockholders: Henry Jessup, Abner Lakey, General Thomas Rogers, James Jenner, W. W. Nottingham, Burros Butler, Abraham Martin, S. T. Horton, H. K. Jerome, Alanson Sherman, A. P. Crandall, A. C. Jackson, George Beckwith, Pliny Sexton, Stephen Hyde, Truman Hemingway and J. C. Lovett. Cost $12,000.

In 1836 the old building was removed to make way for the present three-story hotel which was built in 1836 and 1837. William Nottingham, coming from the Bunker Hill Hotel on Canal Street, was its first landlord. In 1838 Mr. Nottingham purchased the property known as Palmyra Hotel, and it was known for years throughout the length of the state as Nottingham's Hotel. His name and fame as host was well spread. After serving the public in this hotel for nearly thirty years he sold out in 1865 and retired to private life.

Among successive landlords were Messrs. Cleveland & Gates, Joseph E. Cochron, C. B. Stewart, Delos Cummings, Robert Hale, William Andrew Powers. When the latter came into possession of the hotel the name was changed to Powers Hotel. After living here a good many years, about 1912, he sold out and went to California, where he died in 1924. Other landlords followed on.

This old hotel with its massive columns and surmounting dome and dignified and stately appearance bears a semi-courtly and venerable aspect. The exterior of the building has recently been changed.

This fine old land mark has made a kindly impression with all who have entered its portals to tarry over night or to be served at its table.




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How many are there living that can recall the time when they kept step with the music when Major Gilbert called out "Balance your partner," in the third story, dancing on the springing floor in the then fashionable ball room?

Long years have passed since then and many have been the changes and many of those young people left Palmyra to go out and battle with the world. And when nearing the sunset of life, wandered back to old Palmyra only to learn that the old friends whom they expected to see had vanished from sight and passed from memory, and, while yet pondering upon the fact, the most familiar thing that greeted their eyes was the old Palmyra Hotel. Here on the old veranda they loved to linger while in town, recalling the past and watching the people as they passed by. But they look in vain to see some familiar face or to hear an accustomed voice. As they look down Fayette Street they look in vain to see the hotel barns, only to learn that long ago they were burned and on its site cottages have been built and strangers are occupying them. Daniel Gates and Freeman Thompson, his partner, who kept a livery stable on the east side of Fayette Street, were familiar faces around the hotel. They learn that they, too, have passed away.

They wait in vain for the arrival of the Rochester four-horse stage coach. Yes, they remember well when there was an opposition line and how great and exciting was the strife between the rivals. Oh, yes they recall the time when Mahlon Kinman shouted out, "Get there first Ben, if you kill every horse on the team," meaning Benjamin Langdon who was an old stage driver and father to Alonzo Langdon.

Or perhaps later when the New York Central was first built, when Morris Huxley, "Old Dad" as he was called, drove the first omnibus to the depot, just before train time he would call out, "All aboard." Many a time when on his way to the depot and he saw a man going along toward the depot with a satchel he would whip up his team as though in a great hurry. He would then call out to the man, "Say, do you want to get that train?" Generally the man would say yes. "Then get right in here if you don't want to get left," and thus secure another passenger.

All these and many more would come thronging back upon his memory, but in memory only. Those scenes and personages cannot be viewed only by the glimmering light of the past.

The time at last came when in 1928 this old building was to undergo a change. It was then in the hands of the heirs of the late Pliny T. Sexton when it was sold. The lower floor was converted into two up-to-date stores, the east one being occupied by an A & P store and the west one having been leased to E. R. Smith, just here from Rochester, to be used as a drug store. The rest of the old hotel is being used as a hotel.

Leaving the hotel and passing westward, we find the land between the hotel and Cuyler Street is divided into two lots, Joseph Colt owning. the east lot as far west as the Jarvis block and Theodatus Sawyer, a brotherin-law of Swift owning on west to Cuyler Street. Then later Sawyer sold




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to Constant Southworth who in 1806, sold to William Howe Cuyler, from whom the street was named.

Just west of the hotel Stephen Phelps and Ira Silby occupied a long wooden building, side to the street. The upper story was used to store wheat and corn. The weight burst the frame apart and precipitated the grain to the room below to the great discomfort of the owners. On the west was the dwelling of Joseph Colt, a large flat-roofed structure. Later this became the property of Nataniel Beckwith: also the Phelps and Silby lot on the east to make room for the present brick block. Wells Anderson, a native of East Haddon, Conn., married Dolly, the tenth child of Samuel and Hannah Beckwith. He came to Palmyra at an early date, occupied and became owner of the east store, now owned and occupied by D. W. Briggs as a drug store. Here he opened up a boot and shoe store about 1820. He was a tanner by trade. He built a tannery in the rear, the south end being over the brook. The leather was made into boots and shoes in the back end of the second story of the block where he employed a number of men.

The entrance to the tannery was through a driveway between the store and hotel. The little house in the rear he built in 1846. The old tannery was built in 1820 and torn down in the 40's. The old frame part we see on the back of the store was rented to families.

Miss Williams kept a select school in the front of the second story for several years.

When she gave up teaching, Dr. Francis Clayton Brown, a native of Walworth came to Palmyra in the early 50's and opened up a dental office in this same room, and after growing old in the businesa he gave up his office and opened up an office at his residence on the corner of Main and Washington Streets. He died about 1910 at an advanced age. The late Augustus Foskett then occupied the down town office where he had a tailor shop. He died in 1914 at the age of 80. Since then different ones have occupied the room, while the back part was rented to families.

Where the line fence was and at the northwest corner of the little house was a deep well that furnished water for the Beckwith family and all tenants in the whole block, but in those days no one was afraid of being killed by drinking water from a well in a congested neighborhood. Mr. Anderson after being in the business a good many years and becoming an old man, in the early 50's retired from business.

The late Dr. J. P. H. Deming purchased the property. The old box windows in front were torn away. Larger and more modern windows were put in; also an iron front making a modern store and the drug store of Dr. J. P. H. Deming was opened up. In the 60's he sold the entire property as well as his house and lot to Dr. Kingman and moved to Shortsville. Dr. Kingman continued in the same business until about 1885, when he died. The doctor also had a large practice.

At the death of Dr. Kingman the store property was sold to the late William Rushmore. For a time the store was occupied by Petitt and




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Briggs, the latter being a son-in-law of Mr. Rushmore. This firm also carried on the drug business.

In the 70's Mr. Rushmore and his SOl1, John, continued in the same business, when the firm of Petitt and Briggs dissolved. After the death of the senior Rushmore, his son John, conducted the store and also owned the property. About 1912 he rented the store to D. W. Briggs who also bought the drug business. In 1923 Mr. Briggs purchased the entire real property once owned by Mr. Anderson, except the site of the tannery. By the removal of the old box windows, and putting in an iron front, the oldtime appearance of the Wells Anderson shoe store has departed.

Adjoining the Anderson store on the west, Franklin Williams, in the 40's, had an up-to-date jewelry store, while on the west in the next store in the 40's, Thomas Douglass, a brother-in-law of Mr. Williams, also kept a jewelry store until late in the 50's, when he sold out and moved away. In the store at the west end of the block, in the 40's, Jacob Crandall had a tailor shop. He left Palmyra about 1850 and moved to Michigan.

Returning to the Williams store: During all this time the three stores on the west of the Anderson store were still in the Nathanial Beckwith estate, until in the 60's, when this property was put upon the market. Mr. Williams bought the three stores and now they are known and designated as the Williams block. As soon as IVfr. Williams had made this purchase, he began to improve the property. New windows and an iron front were put in and on the store he occupied the window sash and the iron front were washed with an imitation of silver that stayed on until covered by a coat of paint put on in 1925 by the late "Pete" Weber, who purchased the property of the P. T. Sexton estate.

In the 70's Mr. Williams moved into the west store, which in the 60's had been occupied by Shultz and O'Dwyer as a dry goods store. Mr. Williams occupied this store until his death in the 80's. At his death this property passed to Pliny T. Sexton.

When Mr. Williams moved from the east store, the late Lyman Lyon, who had a banking office on the second floor, moved to this vacant store, where he carried on the banking business until his death, which occurred in the 80's, when the business was closed out. After the death of Mr. Lyon the place has been occupied by the late "Pete" Weber as a barber store and since his death which occurred October 16, 1930, his son Theodore has carried on the business.

When Mr. Douglass moved away, the store was occupied for a time by Birdsall & Tyler as a clothing store in the 60's. Their advertisement in the local newspapers read: "Birdsall & Tyler's Clothing Store, South Side Main Street. George Howland, our cutter will continue to give our customers fits."

Later Giles B. Crandall occupied this store for a good many years where he carried on the furniture and undertaking business until his death, which occurred about 1905. After Mr. Crandall's death, Silver & Cady bought the Crandall stock and continued in the same business until 1925 when Karl Engel bought the store of the Sexton estate and




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opened up an electric supply store. After Mr. Williams' death, the west store which he occupied as a jewelry store at that time, was occupied by different ones. Among those who occupied it were Charles Brown, a grocery store, and George Girard in the san1e business. In 1899 the King's Daughters opened up a public library in this building and occupied the same until 1924 when they moved to the club rooms near the park.

We have now visited the last store on the lower floor of the entire block, including the Anderson shoe store. Let's return once more and call on some of those who occupied the front rooms in the second story. We have made mention of those in the Anderson block. Just across the alley, over the Williams jewelry store, in the 40's, the late Dr. Alexander McIntyre and his son, DeWitt, had an office. Later Lyman Lyon had his banking office as before mentioned. Here, Edwin North had his dental office for several years. After his death different ones came on. Over the Thomas Douglass store in the 40's, was the law office of James Peddie, a lawyer of the old colonial type. He always wore a ruffled shirt bosom and was quite a noted orator. The Palmyra Grange occupied this room for a time. Silver & Cady now occupy it as a furniture and undertaking room. Across the alley were the rooms for a great many years of the G. A. R., furnished to them free by Mr. Sexton, who owned the building. About 1920, there being only three or four living, they gave up the room. It will be but a short time when all will have answered the roll call. The rooms back of these in the upper story were rented to families, among them being Louis Furney and James Turner, who was a soldier in theWar of 1812.

We now come to the dwelling of Joseph Colt, who lived in a flat-roofed house on the site of the Beckwith house. When this property came into the hands of Nathaniel Beckwith, the old flat-roofed house was moved to the south end of the Anderson store, and a new brick house was erected on the site of the old one. The old house, after being moved, was used for a tenant house. A door opened into the alley and the old oven protruded out from the side of the building. When the property passed to Dr. J. P. H. Deming the doorway was closed, the old oven was taken out and it became a part of the main store.

At the death of Nathaniel Beckwith, he left one son, James, being a minor at the time of the death of his father. The late Durfee Osban of Macedon Center was appointed as his guardian.

In the 40's the late Henry S. Flo"vers lived in this then red house. Later, when James became of age, he came into the possession of this property. He soon married and occupied the house and made very elaborate improvements and repairs. Among some of those on the house were massive colonial columns. It was remodeled inside and out. With plenty of means at his command, he entered into partnership with William H. Farnham in the dry goods and grocery business, occupying the old frame store just west and adjoining the Beckwith property.

But at last reverses came and he soon lost all he had. His wife died and his life of luxury soon changed to one of extreme poverty. He gave up




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the store, he lost his home and tried to get a living by selling oranges, etc., to passing boatmen on the canal as they passed his little row boat. His lodging place was in shops or any place that would afford him shelter from the storm. He continued this for awhile, when at last he left town and a few years later died.

Such was the fate of this well-meaning man. He had no enemies. He was not a dissipated man. He was honest. His beautiful home soon passed into the hands of William P. Nottingham, soon after retiring from the hotel, who after living here awhile sold the property to Calvin Seeley and bought the Briggs farm, west of the village, now known as the Alderman farm. Here he lived until his death, which occurred in the 70's.

Mr. Seeley, besides occupying the house, moved his business from Market Street to a shop in the rear of the dwelling. He built the Seeley block. He did a good business for a good many years, making sleighs and carriages from the rough to the finished product. He hired a good many men. But at last, he, too, became old and died about 1900, at an advanced age. The property went to his daughter, Mrs. Romana Seeley Griswold. In 1914, Smith & Ziegler became the owners of this property by purchase. About 1918 the house was sold to a party in Newark, the owners retaining the rest of the property. In 1920 the time came when this old landmark was to be torn down to make way for an up-to-date garage. Loghery & Chisholm bought the old home, then the destruction hegan. The old house was soon demolished. The cellar was filled and a new garage occupies the whole front and the Nathaniel Beckwith homestead will be remembered only in history.

Our next lot adjoining on the west is the one Swift sold to Theodatus Sawyer, his brother-in-law. Sawyer sold to Constant Southworth, who in 1806 sold to William Howe Cuyler, from whom Cuyler Street is named. Mr. Cuyler was one of the first lawyers to have an office in the village. On this lot he had his office, store and dwelling. After the War of 1812, the sale of the Cuyler estate was very slow until 1830, when about that time William Jarvis came into possession of this entire corner running south to the south side of Odd Fellows' Hall. At the time Mr. Jarvis purchased this property, in front, on Main Street, was a board fence and a row of poplar trees.

From time to time, as business called for it, frame buildings were put up until the whole space was fined with six cheap wooden buildings, besides a driveway leading to the old Cuyler barn. In the rear of these buildings stood the old Cuyler homestead, a long, low frame, New England house.

William II. Farnham when a boy, in the 40's came from Walworth to Palmyra and entered into the employ of J. C. Lovett. He remained here until in the very early 50's, when he entered into partnership with James Beckwith in the mercantile business in the east store of the Jarvis wooden stores. Here they kept a general store as was the custom in those days. They bought dried apples, sometimes being dried on a string. They also kept a crockery and groceries until 1856, when they kept only an up-to-date




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dry goods store. This change was made while in the old store. Mr. Beckwith withdrew from the firm in the 50's and Mr. Farnham bought the Beckwith interest. With his early training in the mercantile business, combined with his natural ability, he made a success of it from the start. When a young man, he boarded with the family of the late William H. Southwick, whose wife was a daughter of the late William H. Chapman, who owned and occupied a farm one-fourth mile north of the Yellow Mills, which we will have pointed out while on our journey through the country.

Mrs. Southwick's sister, Miss Chapman, used to visit her and here she met Mr. Farnham. An affection sprang up between them and they were finally married on February 15, 1854, in Zion Episcopal Church of this village by Rev. George D. Gillespie.

He soon after bought of James Gallup, the house on the corner of Jackson and Canandaigua Streets, where they commenced housekeeping and Mr. Gallup moved to Detroit, Mich. In the upper story of the old wooden store the late George Beckwith, uncle of James Beckwith, had a carpet store which he carried on for several years. When he retired, Mr. Farnham took over the carpet business in connection with his store below. We will now leave the Farnham store for awhile and return later when more will be said of Mr. Farnham.

Immediately after leaving the Farnham store, going west, we cross the alley leading to the old Cuyler barn. On the west side of this alley are all old wooden buildings as far west as Cuyler Street. Our first is a two-story building occupied in the early 50's by Peter Huycke as a tailor shop on the lower floor, while the second story was occupied by a family.

Later George Bortells had a grocery. store here. In the 70's he sold out to George Brown, a Civil War veteran, who carried on the same business until the place was burned, which will be mentioned later.

The next store on the west was rather more conspicuous than its neighbors on either side. It had a veranda with large, high columns and in the gable end the name of "Clark & Scotten" could be seen in a half-circle long after they had gone out of business, which was in the 40's. Mr. Scotten went to Detroit, engaged in the tobacco trade and became very wealthy. Among some of those who occupied the store later, were L. M. Seaman, who at one time ran the Yellow Mills and had a flour and feed store here. Mr. Seaman was a clothier by trade and in the 50's sold woolen cloth to people to be made into suits as was the custom in those days. Edward Smith, the Quaker, bought and took in wool here in the 50's. William Moore had a seed store here besides others who followed on until in the 70's. In the second store, Judge Jerome had a law office at one time and lived on Market Street as mentioned before.

Following along, we come to another two-story building, where in the 50's Mr. Wiles had a clothing store, coming from across the street as mentioned before. Later he sold out his goods to Walter Lapham in the 50's and went to Rochester where he had a wholesale clothing store. Mr. Lapham continued until the 60's when he closed out the business,




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followed by a Mr. Rice, who had a jewelry store until the 70's. Mr. Rice was a bachelor. Over this store, J. W. Corning had a law office. When the Civil War broke out he entered the army as Colonel. He was also in the Mexican War. Mr. Corning was a native of Nova Scotia.

Our next is a little, low, one-story building in which in the 40's the post office was once kept. In the 50's, William Pickett kept a saloon for some time and it was occupied by different ones until the 70's.

Our next building is on the corner. This small building stood upon a high wall. It also had a veranda. One had to climb several steps to reach this shop. In the late 30's, Mr. Jarvis, who owned the entire block, kept a meat market for several years here. Later Lewis Goodell kept a meat market here for a good many years. This little store had a basement, in which saloons were generally kept. Among some of the occupants were James Shirtliff, John Brown and others.

We have now arrived at the corner and have been through all the old wooden buildings on the Jarvis tract. Now let us return once more to the old Farnham store. We look in vain to find it. But we are told that on July 5, 1876, this whole row of old wooden buildings was destroyed by fire, including the old Cuyler homestead. The time for which these buildings were insured had expired only a few days before, making the burning of these buildings a total loss. Undaunted by this calamity, Mr. Jarvis immediately set himself to work planning for a substantial two-story brick block. Mr. Farnham's wishes were considered in erecting a store suitable to his trade. Mr. Farnham accumulated a large fortune and was held in high esteem by those who knew him. He died about 1904. His wife died a few years before. They left one son, William Southwick Farnham, who died about 1912.

At the death of the elder Farnham the Lawrence Brothers succeeded him. Now the store has been enlarged by taking in the store on the west. In 1929 Lawrence Brothers dissolved partnership, Charles retaining the dry goods business and Albert moved the radio trade to the east part of the Farrell barber shop.

As to the rest of the new stores, different ones have occupied them. Among Some of the tenants were L. M. Chase, a grocer, and George Parker, who had a shoe store called "The Four Hundred," Roy Barrett, a hardware, William Parsons, a bakery. Beginning with the Farnham store, now occupied by Charles J. Lawrence & Co., and going on west we find the Western Union Telegraph office, the Market Basket grocery, the Central News Room, Chittenden's Barber Shop and the Coffee Shoppe.

The store on the corner has for many years been occupied by Smith & Ziegler, who keep an up-to-date jewelry store. Over this store Dr. W. H. Marks has had a dental office for over 20 years. Across the hall were the rooms of the telephone company for several years. In the rear of Dr. Mark's office is the law office of Charles Congdon. The Garlock Club rooms were on the second floor. William Parker, a harness maker, had rooms here for a good many years. He was a bachelor. He died about 1915 and was a native of Canada.



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Mr. Jarvis came to Palmyra in the 30's and settled on Canal Street and built the fine brick house as before mentioned. He built and owned the Jarvis block on Market Street which has been pointed out in our journey and also a house on the site of the trolley station, besides owning land and old slaughter houses on the west side of Division Street. Mr. Jarvis was called a shrewd business man and at that time one of the wealthiest men in the village.

At the death of Mr. Jarvis, his daughter, Mrs. Emily Jarvis Mirick, was appointed agent to look after this property. At her death, which occurred in 1920, her daughter, Mrs. Harriett Jarvis Elton, succeeded her mother and is still acting in that capacity.

This completes our journey between Fayette and Cuyler Streets. We find in our journey the changes have been many and varied. We have been amid scenes fraught with strange memories. We have mingled with the past and present. So we leave the glimmering light of history to reveal the rest.

As we journey on and across Cuyler Street, we come to the Alva Hendee store. Mr. Hendee was one of Palmyra's earliest merchants. He married Mary, daughter of David Wilcox, born June 29, 1791, being the first white child born in this town.

David Wilcox lived east of the village on Vienna road, just east of the corner beyond the gravel pit. When the female portion of the Gideon Durfee family were sick, the wife of David Wilcox crossed the creek daily to render assistance. Stephen Durfee, then a small boy, went with her to carry the babe, Mary, the first born female child in the settlement. They crossed the creek upon the trunk of a large basswood tree that had been felled across the stream with a stump so high that boats could pass beneath it.

In 1854, Mrs. Gilbert Oliver kept a boarding house here. In 1856, an Englishman by the name of Ralph bought this property. It was sold later to Alexander Rannie, who came from Scotland and was a baker by trade. A brick addition was put on in the rear and a bakery started and carried on as such for several years by William Smith, who later moved to Canandaigua. Then John Rannie, a brother, became the owner of the property, followed by the late Alexander Grieves, who was also a native of Scotland and a son-in-law and lived in Canandaigua. In the 70's Robert Bareham became the occupant and stayed here until 1925, when a part of the block was sold for a site on which to build a new bank. About 1908 Austin R. Knapp and Miss Agnes Epler bought the property. Later they sold a portion for the bank. Mr. Knapp, being in the insurance business, occupied an office here for a great many years. Some time after his death, his son, Spencer L., purchased the Walton block where he is now located. Previous to Mr. Knapp's occupancy, S. E. Braman had an insurance office here for several years, when he moved across the way as stated before.

Probably it will not be long before this old landmark will be torn down and a new building put on its site. This is considered a good




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location on account of its nearness to the trolley station which now occupies the site where in early days was Pratt's tavern. Later William Jarvis bought the property and it Was used for a tenant house for a good many years. At that time this old house had a picket fence in front with a little gate. In the 70's Joseph Williamson bought the property and enlarged the building by making it into a business place on the lower floor. He rented rooms for offices and families on the upper floor. In the rear of the building Jerry McGrath had a shoe shop for a good many years. In the rear and separate from this building, Mr. Williamson built a small house in which he lived. He also built a little shop where he made bluing, etc. About 1890 he sold this place to his nephew, George D. Williamson, who was in company with Hiram Clark in the insurance business. They occupied the west office and Pratt and Darling occupied the east store for a meat market. Later Clark and Williamson dissolved partnership and Mr. Williamson moved to Batavia. Then the firm became Clark & Knapp. This partnership continued until Mr. Clark's death, caused by a wound received in the Civil War. Then Mr. Knapp carried on the business alone in this office until the Rochester & Syracuse Railroad Company bought the property for a station, when he bought the Rannie Block as stated. Such has been the fate of this old pioneer tavern that has so long been forgotten.

It was in the year 1800 when Solmon Hathaway came from North Adams, Mass., to Palmyra, but his family did not come until 1804. He was a sadler by trade and built a house on the site of the present village Hall. After working at his trade for awhile, he enlarged his house, building on in front with two piazzas, one above the other. He opened it up as a tavern and called it "The Franklin House." This, too, was known as a stage tavern where the stage arrived and departed. This was one of the earliest taverns in the village. At that time steel knives and two-tined steel forks were in use at all times and on all occasions. Everything they had to eat was served on the same plate. Sauce dishes and butter plates were unknown. The same might be said of canned fruit and preserves. Tea was poured into the saucer to cool.

On one occasion during Mr. Hathaway's occupancy of the tavern, a man came along to stay over night. For supper they had some applesauce that, to the stranger, seemed very palatable. After gathering up all he could on the spoon, a very little juice still remained that he could not gather. After looking at the remaining juice, he said, "I swan, that is too good to go into the dish water." So he picks up the plate and licks it off.

After being in the tavern several years, Mr. Hathaway sold out to Kingsley Miller and moved on a farm on Canandaigua Street. The old Hathaway homestead is still standing just north of the little brook. It is now owned and occupied by Charles Sawyer. Mr. Hathaway died in 1843, being the fourth to be buried in the new cemetery, the widow dying fifty-two years later at the age of 95 years. Two grandchildren are living in the village, Mrs. Charlotte Jenner Birdsall, who lives on Cuyler Street,




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and Mrs. Catherine Hathaway Johnson, who lives on Canandaigua Street, adjoining the old homestead.

Mr. Miller, after keeping the tavern awhile, sold out and moved to the Ennis farm east of the Central depot, which will be pointed out while on our journey through the country. But with the decadence of trade the old tavern began to go to decay and was no longer fit for a public house.

In the 40's William Nettiville occupied a portion of the old tavern for a cabinet shop for a time. On holidays for a long time after, the upper veranda was occupied by those who wanted to get a good view of the circus parade and Fourth of July fire works. In the 50's the upper floor was occupied by different families. A family by the name of Porter lived here a long time. The lower floor was occupied by a religious society called Christians. Here they held meetings two or three years. The pastor's name was Burnham, who was held in high esteem by the citizens of the village. He moved away about 1858 and the meetings were discontinued.

But the time at last came in the Fall of 1866, when the old Franklin Tavern was bought of the late Carlton H. Rogers and torn down to make room for the present Village Hall. The contract was let to Elton St. Johns and was completed in January, 1868. The design was of H. M. White of Syracuse. C. H. Rogers and A. P. Crandall were building committee. The whole building is 100 feet long by 58 feet wide. The post office had been located in different parts of the village until in the early 70's when it was permanently located in the Village Hall.

Across the hall and in front of the post office we could see chiseled in a marble tablet, the names of those who in the Civil War, laid down their life in the defense of their country. With reverence we read their names and with solemn thought we pay them homage.

The auditorium is reached by an easy flight of stairs which rises toward the front of the building on each side of the lower hall and rise toward the center, then rise by several broad steps to the floor level. This room is 75x55 feet, twenty foot high with ante rooms and stage. It will comfortably seat 800 persons.

The post office has now been moved to a new location and the building is used for village purposes.

On the site of the Davis block, once stood a small white house, which in the 40's was owned by A. M. Anderson. In 1855, Professor Baldwin of the Palmyra Union School lived here. Later the father of the late George Pettitt owned and occupied the place for a time in the 60's. Later Mrs. Lord bought the place and lived here and had a millinery store in front and later moved her store to the Cuyler block as stated before. In the 80's Mrs. Lord sold the house and lot to Menzo Davis, who came to Palmyra about 1863 and entered into the employ of the late Barnett Davis as clerk," while Mr. Davis was on the corner of' Canal and Clinton Streets. He came with Mr. Davis when he moved to Main Street. After being with Mr. Davis some time, he took a job of driving the express wagon. In the 70's in company with Wright Gardner, he bought out the grocery store




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of William L. Tucker for whom Gardner had been clerk for several years and the firm name became Davis & Gardner. After a short time Mr. Gardner sold out his interest to Mr. Davis, who operated the store alone for several years. In the 80's he sold out to Bowman & Son, as mentioned before, and went to California. It was stated in the local papers he carried away forty thousand dollars which he had made in the store. After being in California awhile, he returned to Palmyra and after looking around awhile purchased the little white house as before mentioned, to make way for the fine brick block that we can see there now. The lower floor was fitted up for an up-to-date grocery store, which he occupied until his death, which occurred about 1904, when the late Frederick W. Griffith purchased the property for $8,000.

The fine offices in the second story have been occupied and still are, Judge S. Nelson Sawyer occupying the front office while George S. Tinklepaugh has a very pleasant office in the rear. The third story was occupied for some time by the fire company.

Mr. Davis, although an eccentric man, was honest in his dealings. If a child was sent to the store it received the same treatment as a grown person.

One day while Mr. Davis was sweeping the floor of his store, a lady was standing by. He had gotten so near with his broom she thought she would try and get out of his way and there was no other way only to go through the dirt. She gave a jump and landed in the middle of the pile. He says, "There you are, just like all the rest of the women, jump right square in the dirt." He kept right on sweeping without even cracking a smile.

One day while down town he saw an advertisement in Mr. Bowman's window, "Six cakes of soap for 25 cents." Mr. Davis thought this below cost. When he came back to the store, he put a notice in his window, "Six cakes of soap at Bowman's, 25 cents."

At the death of Mr. Davis the property was divided among his brothers, who soon scattered it to the winds. His grocery store was the printing office of the Palmyra Journal for several years.

Mr. Davis will soon be forgotten but the fine brick block he erected bids fair to stand a long time, bearing the name of Davis block.

As we pass along our next place is the late Dr. J. P. H. Deming residence and office. The doctor came here in the 30's when a young man. He studied medicine with Dr. Alexander McIntyre and married in the 40's. He practiced medicine until the 60's when he sold out to Dr. Kingman and went to Shortsville to live where he died a good many years later.

Dr. Kingman, soon after coming into possession of the property, made a good many changes in the house. He died in the 80's. The house was rented for awhile and the late Colonel A. P. Seeley lived here a few years. In the early 90's the late Senator F. W. Griffith bought the property and it is owned by his heirs.

The old neighbor on the west looks very much as it did in the 40's,




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when Augustus Elmendorf lived here. Mr. Elmendorf came to Palmyra in the 30's. While here he was engaged in the dry goods business, as mentioned before. In the 70's he sold his property and moved back East. Hon. Charles McLouth purchased the house and lot and lived here until the 80's when he built his new house on the corner of Cuyler and Jackson Streets.

The late David Johnson purchased the property and lived here until his death which occurred in the early 90's. Dr. L. H. Smith, when a young man, came to Palmyra from Syracuse, soon' after graduating from a medical college and began to practice medicine. Later he married a daughter of the late James Herbert and purchasd the Elmendorf house where he is still living. On or near this same site in 1812' was the clothery of Andrew G. Howe.

As we pass on still further we come to the Zion Episcopal Church. On this same site in 1820, Pliny Sexton had a jewelry store. In 1826 this property was sold to the Zion Episcopal Society and on September 28, 1827, the corner stone for the original church was laid of which more will be said later.

Exactly in the corner of the church yard and up to the street line on both Canandaigua and Main Streets and at a very early date on this same site was erected a two-story brick building. This was the first brick building in the village. James and Orin White, who erected this building, had a store here in 1817. Orin went to Ann Arbor, Mich., and that flourishing place owes its name to the wife of Mr. White, whose name was Anna. It was first known as Ann's Arbor, then Ann Arbor. James White removed to Black Rock. Israel J. Richardson and Samuel Allen succeeded the Whites and for a time conducted a heavy business. The former, after awhile, became engaged in the practice of law, and the latter a proprietor of a stage line between Canandaigua and this village. Later this building was used for a paint shop and at one time a wagon shop. In the 30's Isaac E. Beecher purchased the property and fitted it up for a dwelling house in which he lived. A frame addition was put on the south end. Here Mr. Beecher lived until the Zion Episcopal Church Society, in 1871, acquired the property to add to their lot. The old brick part was torn down and the frame part was sold to Hannah Sexton and moved to her lot on Church Street, just south of the Catholic Church. Mr. Beecher died a short time after.

Let us go back to the First National Bank of which more will be said later. The original building was built about 1830 and was painted red with green blinds. When the Palmyra Savings Bank went out of existence and the property came on the market, William Aldrich became its owner around the late 40's or 50's and moved into the north end. The building at that time was very much smaller than at the present time. There was a cellar kitchen that opened out on Williams Street.

Mr. Aldrich was a lawyer with an office on Williams Street. In 1925 it was moved across the way.

In the 60's Pliny T. Sexton married Hariett Hyde, daughter of Stephen




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Hyde, who lived in the Bowman house on the corner of Cuyler and Jackson Streets. Shortly after his marriage he bought the bank property and Mr. Aldrich went to New York to live where he died several years later. Mr. Sexton made elaborate and extensive improvements. The house was made larger on the ground and higher. In 1892 a fire-proof office was built on the west. The bank was also remodeled. He lived in this building until his death, which occurred in September, 1924, when O. J. Garlock purchased the real estate on that corner, extending north to the Williamson line. In 1926 the old post office in the Village Hall had become too small to meet the requirements of the government. When Mr. Garlock made a contract with the government to remodel the old bank and make an up-to-date post office, it was a great credit to the village. That same year Mr. Garlock sold the west end which included the fireproof office to a theatre syndicate that has erectd a fine theatre building. Thus has passed into history another old pioneer building.

Our next on the west is the old Robert Smith homestead. Mr. Smith came to Palmyra when a young man and at one time was foreman in the Jessup shoe factory at the foot of Main Street. At his death his son James came into possession of this property. Few places, if any, on our Main Street were in the possession of a single family longer than this. James Smith was, for a good many years, a partner of Lucius Foster in the boot and shoe business and under the firm name "Foster & Smith." During James' occupancy he made a good many improvements on the house. Following the death of Mr. and Mrs. James H. Smith the place was purchased by Mr. Sexton, who made a good many extensive improvements on the property. The archway in the center of the building was closed. Previous to this the east side of the archway was occupied in, the early 50's by L. M. Chase as a hardware store. Later Dr. Brown had an office here. Other tenants followed. Mr. Sexton, after making extensive repairs and improvements, placed the property so it might be utilized by many of the local organizations. The Red Cross Society found it a most desirable place for its activities in behalf of the boys who were in the service of their country. Mr. Sexton not only gave the rent, but furnished heat and light free of charge.

About the year 1846 Albert G. Merrick, who was born in Dorset, Vt., and 33 years of age, came to Palmyra and opened a marble shop in an old building in the southeast corner of the Lovett lot. Later Mr. Lovett purchased the property and tore down the old building and Mr. Merrick moved down on Market Street, as before mentioned, and opened a factory. The purchase of this property by Mr. Lovett added very much to the attractiveness of his property. The house in which Mr. Lovett lived stood about where the present band stand now is. With its spacious grounds, large shade trees and desirable location, this was the most attractive resident place in the village. At the death of Mr. Lovett, which occurred June 4, 1872, Mr. Sexton came into possession of this property. For a time, through neglect, the old house went fast to decay and was torn down in 1897, to give way for a fine band stand or pavilion, erected by




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Mr. Sexton. He also furnished in all, more than 5,000 chairs, for each year more or less were broken. At any time there were no less than 2,000 chairs that all who came, friend or stranger, might enjoy the music or watch the free movies, then screened on the side of the Smith house. Swings were put up for the children to enjoy.

This was not a public park, but a private park, and all who came were his guests, for he paid for the lighting, seating and care of the grounds.

One man spent nearly all his time during the sumer months in arranging the seats and keeping the park in order. On a pleasant evening in the summer time it was not uncommon to see two thousand people here. Fifty automobiles might be seen lined up on the side of the street in front of the park. The occupants had come from near and far to enjoy the ride and entertainment.

Anyone was welcome to enter this park, if they were willing to conform to the rules governing one's conduct therein, which rules were not arbitrary and which any respectable citizen would blush to disobey.

The iron fence in front of the park was erected about 1855 by Mr. Lovett. The builder was Robert Johnson, a skilled mechanic, the durability of the fence bearing mute testimony to his skill. The heavy stone base has hardly stirred out of line since it was built 75 years ago. The iron work was made in the foundry of the late Eldridge Williams where now is located the lumber yard of F. E. Rowley. Hiram H. Kelly, Elisha Kellogg and William Parsons. were the workmen employed. Kelly and Kellogg, when the Civil War broke out, answered their country's call where Kelly laid down his life in its defense. Mr. Kellogg and Mr. Parsons died a good many years ago.

The house on the west side of the park was, in the late 40's, the home of the late Dr. Durfee Chase, who moved here from the house on the southeast corner of Clinton and Canal Streets. He had a little office close to the street that has long since been torn away. The house at that time stood further back from the street. Joseph C. Lovett bought the house and lot of Mr. Chase in April, 1869.

Dr. Chase died at an advanced age at the home of his daughter, Mrs. George McGown on Washington Street and his wife died several years later. The late John W. Corning, a veteran of the Civil War, bought the property. After his death the property was sold to Dr. R. A. Reeves who made a good many changes on the house. After living here a few years he sold the place to Dr. Herman L. Chase and Dr. Reeves moved to the Anderson house on the corner of Jackson and Canandaigua Streets.

Adjoining this place on the west: This house is on the same site where a merchant by the name of Barnett Johnson lived in the early 50's. Mr. Johnson sold out and moved away. For his second wife he married Miss Priscilla Wylie, who in 1855-56 taught in the Union School.

The property was bought by the late Seth Harkness, who moved the old house away and erected one that was more modern and attractive. In the 70's this fine house was burned and rebuilt. He lived here until his death, which occurred about 1898. The property was sold to the late




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Hiram G. Clark, a veteran of the Civil War, who had lost a leg while in the army and that injury cost him his life. Mr. Clark, for a number of years, was engaged in the insurance business with W. H. H. Osborn, later with Austin R. Knapp as mentioned before. After the death of Mr. Clark the place was sold to Dr. Herman L. Chase, where he lived and had his office. In 1923 he sold this place to Robert Dohse and moved to the Dr. Reeves house.

Passing on to the corner and turning north on Church Street: Our first house, up to about 1900, was one evidently built in early times. The south end was brick, while the rest of the house was of wood. In the 40's a Mr. Warner lived here, who moved buildings. In those days it was a good business. Mr. Warner had two sons, Orin and Palatiah. The latter was in the Civil War. After the death of Mr. Warner, the Presbyterian Society bought the property and it was rented for several years. About 1910 the house was torn down.

Still farther north are two old pioneer houses. These houses were bought by the late Hannah Sexton and moved to this lot. The one in front is the old Kingsley Miller house that stood on Cuyler Street and on the site of the Williamson house on the east side of the street, which will be pointed out as we advance in our journey. The old house in the rear is the old Beecher house as mentioned before. The little house across the way, next to the cemetery, is the old Dagett house, whose owner once had a foundry on Canal Street, where the Crandall Company's factory now is. When this house was built it stood on a high hill that has been drawn away and the house lowered. Later it was owned by the Fennell sisters.

The little house south was once owned by Mrs. Ella Hulburt and now it is owned by Frank Rush. Near this little house and just south in 1812, was Washington Hall. This was a two-story building. The upper story was used for societies. George Beckwith occupied the lower floor for a store. At that time there was but one house on the street and that was the home of James Benson. This old hall has long since passed from memory.

The little two-story white house on the south is where Dr. Henry North lived in the 50's. Later it was owned by Mrs. Ella Antisdale. Now it is owned and occupied by Frank Van DeMortel.

We have now passed over Church Street, which was once called Chapel Street and was laid out August 20, 1847, and again June 5, 1860, having passed over the northern end when we journeyed along Canal Street. We will say more, however, later.

We have now arrived at the Methodist Church. On this same site in 1792 Dr. Azel Ainsworth opened a public house. He was born in Canterbury, Conn., December 22, 1759. He removed to Wayne County in 1792 and died in Buffalo May 5, 1854. He married first Sarah Rogers, September 15, 1785, a sister of Judge William Rogers of Palmyra. She died September 9, 1824. He married again, his second wife being Betsy




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Johnston. The marriage was performed April 8, 182'6. She died August 16, 1840.

In 1805 he was granted a tavern license. Dr. Ainsworth was Palmyra's first postmaster, holding that office in 1806, being succeeded by Ira Silby in 1814.

When Rochester began to attract attention he moved there. At the corner of Main and State Streets, where the Powers block now stands, was erected the first house on the west side of the river. The lot originally belonged to Colonel Nathaniel Rochester, who sold it to Henry Skinner of Geneseo, and he built the house for Hamlet Scranton in 1818. This house was removed to the rear of the lot for a stable and Dr. Ainsworth built the Ainsworth House, the precursor of the Eagle Hotel. The attic of this house was the first to have a public hall, and in 1821 was opened up as an elegant museum, consisting of 34 wax figures, two organs, and other attractions. The first concert heard in Rochester was in this attic hall and was given by Philip Phillips. Russell Ainsworth, son of Dr. Azel, was the landlord in 1827. In 1829 this building was removed and replaced by the Eagle Hotel, and for nearly 40 years was well and favorably known throughout the country. The last landlord was S. D. Walbridge, who closed its doors to the public on the 11th of February, 1865.

Thus did one of the early settlers of Palmyra become actively identified with the early days of Rochester.

Dr. Ainsworth had three children: Marie, who married Hubbard Hall in 1813; Sophronia, who married Benjamin Campbell, February 5, 1823, and Russell, who died in 1834. Marie was born in Connecticut and came to Palmyra with her father, married at 20 and moved to Churchville and Byron, where she lived until 1872, when she returned to Palmyra. She died here November 21, 1880, aged 88 years.

Many will remember the Hall family of Clinton Street, where they lived for many years. Julia M. Hall was the last member here, dying in California a few years since.

Where Dr. Alexander McIntyre built his house, just east of the Ainsworth tavern, was previously the dooryard of the tavern. The front part of this large house was of brick and was three stories high with a ball room on the third floor. The beautiful winding stairs leading from the first floor to the upper story was in all probability, built by William Kellogg, who was noted for his ability in putting up stair railings and mantels that adorned many a fine house in our village.

In the rear of the brick front was the original Ainsworth tavern of wooden construction, and for a good many years, Dr. McIntyre rented it to families. But in the 50's the old wooden part was torn down and rebuilt of brick and was two stories high. The old Ainsworth tavern has now passed into history and there are but few who remember it. And even the old McIntyre house is fast passing from remembrance.

After the death of Mrs. McIntyre, the doctor broke up housekeeping and the brick structure was to act in the capacity, and follow the same vocation, as its predecessor, either as a tavern, or boarding house, until




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July 23, 1866, when the Methodist Episcopal Church Society purchased the property and the ground was broken for the present brick edifice. After erecting the church they built a new parsonage on the site of the old barn. The first minister to occupy the new home was Rev. E. J. Brooker.

Going west from the Methodist Church we come to an old-time two-story house erected in early day when everyone wanted to live near the street. Previous to Dr. McIntyre's buying the tavern, he owned and lived in this house. Here his son Samuel was born. This old house has been owned and occupied by the Everson family a good many years and still retains its old-time appearance.

Its neighbor on the west, when first built was equally as close to the street, until in the 70's when a Mr. Bell purchased the property and moved the house further back and remodeled it and it now bears a more up-to-date appearance. In the early 50's the late Walter Stephens once lived here and in the early 50's also, Anson Talcott, the tobacco man, lived here. After Mr. Bell, George S. rrinklepaugh bought the property and occupied the house. After making some improvements he sold the property to Milo Sweezey who owns the place now.

We now come to the old Lilley tavern, owned and managed by Asa Lilley and known as the "Lilley Coffee House" in 1812. The tavern proper stood near the street, while in front in the street was a well with a pump and watering trough. The dwelling house joined on the northwest corner running back to the north, lapping by sufficient for a door that they might pass from one to the other.

Where the Nichols house now stands were a barn and long sheds to accommodate the tavern. Before this tavern, on training day, the militia used to parade. In the day of the stage coach, this was one of the calling places.

Franklin Bortles was a son-in-law, who after Mr. Lilley's death, kept the tavern until in the 50's when this was given up. The old tavern was moved away; the well in the street was filled up; the old sheds and barn were demolished and the lot was sold to William Tucker on which to build a house.

Mr. Bortles and wife died in the 70's. The rest of the family moved away and thus the old Lilley tavern passed into history.

After Mr. Bortles' death, George S. Johnson purchased the house and lot, remodeled the house and lived here until his death, which occurred in October, 1924. Mr. Johnson was a son of William R. Johnson and was brought up on a farm. When a young man, for awhile, he taught in the Union School. He married a daughter of Lucius Foster. He was in the boot and shoe business a number of years until his death, as before mentioned. He was at one time President of the Village. He also served two terms as Supervisor and later was elected a Member of Assembly and again elected the second time, but he did not live to begin his second term. His death was a great loss to the village and community in which he lived. His wife died several years before.




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After Mr. Tucker had purchased the vacant lot he soon erected a fine house in which to live. This was in the 70's, but he did not live long to enjoy his new home. One day he climbed a ladder to clean out a gutter on the roof, when he fell, striking his head on the flag walk, rendering him unconscious. He never rallied. The widow, after living here a short time, sold the place to Eugene Nichols, one of the firm of the Garlock Packing Company. After buying this place the house was enlarged and remodeled. The grounds were made attractive. But this young man did not live long to enjoy the prosperity of this new enterprise, dying in the 80's. His widow retained the place, made a good many additions and improvements and enjoyed her great fortune that came from the large profits of this infant industry. She died in 1922, leaving upwards of two million dollars to her two nieces, one of whom married a Mr. Randall of Rochester. The other married George L. Abbott, who is at present president of the Garlock Packing Company. Such have been the changes on the original site of the Lilley tavern, since it first opened in 1812.

Adjoining this on the west, in 1812, was Blackman's blacksmith shop. A good many found shelter in the long sheds for the horses whose drivers had business in the Coffee Shop. Later a large white house was built on this lot and in the late 40's and early 50's was the home of E. M. Smith. This fine house had a large veranda on the south and about 1854 was owned and occupied by a Mrs. Lilley, but no relation to Asa Lilley. She was a daughter of the late Abner F. Lakey. About 1858 she sold the place to L. M. Chase, the hardware man. In the 70's the Baptist Church Society bought of Mr. Chase, this property for a Baptist parsonage and Mr. Chase moved to Pennsylvania. Rev. C. N. Pettingill was its first occupant after coming into their possession.

Later this was sold to a man by the name of Van Deuzer, who had been a contractor on the West Shore Railroad, when it was built and the Baptist Society bought the Sansbury place on the corner of Canandaigua and Jackson Streets. Mr. Van Deuzer remodeled the house and made a great many changes on the exterior. A cupola was added and the house was made modern inside as well as outside. After living here a short time, he sold to J. K. Williamson, who had been living in a house he built on Jackson Street and Mr. Van Deuzer went West.

We now come to Liberty Street which was laid out May 8, 1841. Passing along on the west side our first house is the little Oak Sylvester house. Mr. Sylvester lived here in the 50's. He was a cooper by trade and later bought out the Hemingway Drug Store as before mentioned. Later he moved to a house on Washington Street which we will see as we advance in our journey. As we pass along Liberty Street our next house is the Ludlow L. Hansen house. Mr. Hansen came to Palmyra in the 70's and purchased this house of V. Nims. He also bought all the land north to the Canal, had Hansen Street laid out and sold the lots on which the houses have been built. He also had a dry house on the north side next to the Canal. Hansen Street ran west and intersected with Carroll Street.




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About in the 90's Mr. Hansen sold out and moved away. George Bockoven now owns and occupies the place and has for several years.

Our next house was built by the late Wesley Bly, who came from his farm in the country and erected this fine house in the 80's. After living here a few years he returned to his farm. About 1908 Samuel Newman purchased the property and still owns and occupies the house. Liberty Street runs to the Canal and on the west side and on top of the hill lives Mrs. Beatty, who bought this house which was built by Mr. Hansen.

This hill was for a iong time called "Cannon Hill," for at the completion of the Erie Canal, when the first boat passed down through from Albany to Buffalo, cannons were fired at every village as the boats passed. There are but very few today who ever knew or ever heard of Cannon Hill.

On the corner of Main and Liberty Streets in early day, a story and half house was built. In the 40's John Rowling, an Englishman and a carpenter by trade, purchased this property and transformed it into a typical English residence, with high fences and shrubbery almost hiding the house from view. Mr. Rowling died in the early 50's, his widow a few years later. When this property was put upon the market for sale Dr. Almon Pratt bought the place, moved the old house on Washington Street and built the pres'ent Parker home on this same site. Dr. Pratt was born in Ontario in 1805. He lived in Palmyra and studied medicine with Alexander McIntyre. He married a sister of Mrs. G. R. Stoddard and died in Rochester in 1875. Lorenzo Parker bought the property of Dr. Pratt in 1861, moving with his family from the large farm situated on the Walker Road about three miles from the village. He made this place his home for many years. Here he died in 1887. Since 1896 the widow has died; also one son, John, leaving a son and daughter occupying the homestead, with another son now living in New Jersey. Much of the land lying between Liberty and Church Streets and north of the front row of lots on Main Street between those two cross streets, w'as owned by Mr. Parker and years since Mr. Parker was accustomed to cut from his timber land on the farm, cords and cords of wood, drawing it to the village and piling it on the vacant land east of Liberty Street. All this land has been sold and houses have been erected here. Stephen Smith's son owns and occupies the north house.

Adjoining on the south is the Congdon homestead, occupied by Edgar Congdon, who has a shoe store on Main Street as I said before. The remainder of the lot lying to the south was bought by Mrs. Edna Nichols and very much improved.

Returning to Main Street and passing on west: Dr. Hagaman bought a lot off the west side of the Parker place and erected a fine new home. Adjoining this on the west is the old Drake homestead. The family came here in the 30's. At one time this was classed among the fine houses in the village, with its veranda facing the east and south and painted white with green blinds. Long years have passed since Cornelius and William




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Drake and two sisters lived here in this home until death claimed them one by one.

On July 3, 1872, lightning struck near the house, while members of the family were about, and Willie Drake was killed. He was but a child, perhaps two years old at the time of his death. Mr. Cole, one of the local editors lived here at one time, in fact was living there when the place was purchased by Russell F. Stoddard in March, 1887. The purchase price was $2,500. After living here many years Mrs. Stoddard died. The daughter married and moved to Syracuse and Mr. Stoddard later made his home there where he died in 1913.
The place passed into the possession of Albert A. Mitchell following the removal of the Stoddard family and for a number of years was occupied by Frank Wallace and family. In March, 1905, Charles Joyce purchased the property and now still owns and occupies the place.

When Daniel Harmon sold his house and lot on Washington Street to David Finley, a native of Walworth, and brother of M. C. Finley, in February, 1874, he bought a lot on the east side of the Beckwith place and built the present home of William Wemes.

Mr. Harmon, after living here a short time, sold the place to Frank Antisdale. Here, too, Mrs. Chloe M. Norton lived at one time. She was the widow of C. M. Walker, later marrying Philander H. Norton in 1875. The Nortons lived for a time just north of the New York Central depot, across the way from the Thad Philips farm. The Antisdales moved into the village in 1889, after the Nortons.

We now come to the home of the late George Beckwith, who should have more than just passing mention. He was one of the earliest settlers of this county. Mr. Beckwith was born in East Hadden, Conn., October 16, 1790. He left his native state in 1811 and located at Pittsford, Monroe County, where he served as a clerk in the store of Augustus G. Elliott. He remained there but a short time, removing to Palmyra, forming a copartnership with his older brother and embarking in mercantile business under the firm name of N. H. and G. Beckwith. He subsequently conducted the business alone and succeeded in making a fortune. On August 1, 1814, he married Ruth Maston Clark, a native of Lynn, Connecticut, born February 2, 1793. At the time of his marriage, he was a resident of Palmyra. As there were no railroads or canals at that time their wedding journey had to be made in a carriage, the gift of Gordon Clark, the father of the bride.

His family consisted of five, none of whom are living. His name, influence and enterprise can be traced in the institutions and foundations of this community. Few of the early families to make a home or homes in this village were more closely connected with the commercial and social life here than that of the Beckwiths. Almost the only reminder of that family today is the old homestead situated on the north side of West Main Street, back from the road.

The members of the family were gradually lessened in numbers and the homestead had been transferred to others. About twenty-two years




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ago interest in both the family and home was revived by the fact the old homestead was undergoing extensive repairs. At that time the following paragraph appeared and was probably penned by the late Fred W. Clemons. In the March 2, 1902, issue of The Wayne County Journal, we find the following:

"In the general overhauling and repairing of the Beckwith place at Palmyra, the removal of a layer or two of wallpaper disclosed the following valuable information: 'Octobber 16, 1835, Asahel Millard builder, Elisha Hinman carpenter, Benjamin T. Gregory plasterer.' This record was evidently made nearly 90 years ago. Mr. lVlillard and William R. Johnson married sisters. Millard and Hinman subsequently worked on the Palmyra Hotel building in 1837-38 and later on the Union School building in 1847-48. There was building and there were builders in those days in old Palmyra."

The foregoing record as found made in the moist plaster on the wall of the old homestead may be accepted as evidence of the age of the building. Samuel Beckwith and Hannah, his wife, lived in East Hadden, Conn. They had twelve children. Eight of them came to Western New York. Naomi married John Church and settled in Hopewell where she later died leaving four children. Barak went to Albion, lived to be ninety years of age and at his death he left a son William. Samuel lived where the Fred L. Reeves farm is now on the East Palmyra Road. His death occurred as the result of an accident. Nathaniel was a business man of Palmyra. He built the late Calvin Seeley house on Main Street. He died in Palmyra leaving a son James B. Beckwith. George was a successful merchant in Palmyra for fifty-five years. Ann was the wife of Alexander McIntyre, whom she married in 1818. Sophia was the wife of Joel Foster. Dolly was the tenth child and was born in 1752 and in 1810 married Wells Anderson of East Hadden, Connecticut.

Following the completion of the repairs to this home in 1905, Professor W. G. Dean occupied all but the west part of the house. S. D. Van Alstine occupied the west wing' and took his wife there as a bride, but the following Spring moved to the Flowers house where he lived until removing to Rochester.

Professor W. W. Bullock succeeded Professor Dean as a tenant, while Mr. and Mrs. George Trull occupied the west end. Mr. and Mrs. Hans Giese later became occupants of the homestead.

Thus of this old family we have collected and woven together some of the scattered threads of their early history and of the old homestead, which in outward appearance looks today very much as when first built about ninety-five years ago. Lots have been sold that others might build. Mr. Beckwith died in 1867, his wife a few years later and the old homestead passed into the hands of P. T. Sexton. After the death of Mr. Sexton the place passed to his daughter, Mrs. Hans Giese and at her death to Mr. Giese, who later sold it to Cecil R. Hubbard who has remodeled the place and is now living there.

The house in which George S. Tinklepaugh lives stands on a lot that




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came off the Beckwith place. This house was built in the 60's by the late George Bowman. After living here a short time it came into the hands of Frank C. Mann, about 1898. It was also once owned by Almon Green and finally this elegant home became the property of Mr. Tinklepaugh, a very able lawyer of this village, and was enlarged to one of the finest homes in Palmyra.

The house adjoining on the west, way back in the 50's, was for a short time the home of Thomas Richmond, a son-in-law of William B. Nottingham. He was a contractor on the Erie Canal and built the aqueduct at the west end of the village, which was called a fine piece of work, although owing to the changes that have been made in the canal, it never will be used again. At the time Mr. Richmond lived here it was a large two-story yellow house. Later the late Henry North purchased the property and lived here until his death. He was a dentist by profession and considered one of the best of his time. His daughter, Mrs. Hattie North Chase, now owns and occupies the place which has been remodeled and enlarged.

Adjoining on the west, on the same site as the Sherburne garage, in the 40's, stood a little white house with old-time door scraper, in which Harvey Starkweather lived. Later Polly Ford and her sister Abby bought the property and after living here a number of years sold the place to Mrs. Harriet North and moved to Oregon. After a few years Mrs. North sold the little house to Ulysses Sherburne. The old house was torn down to make room for the present garage. Thus passes away another old landmark.

Let us return to the corner of Main and Canandaigua Streets. Shortly after the Erie Canal was completed, Messrs. Lasher and Candee, canal contractors, opened a supply store in a building previously occupied by Timothy C. Strong on the same site where the Baptist Church now stands. This firm did a good business with the canal hands, bought produce of the farmers and brought to Palmyra the first stock of gilt-framed looking glasses of various styles.

As we pass along on West Main Street after passing the Baptist Church, in our first place in the 40's lived Lorin Oysterbanks, in an old frame house which he sold in 1850 to Remus Ferrin, who tore down the old house and erected the present brick house. Mr. Ferrin came here from Canal Street as mentioned before. Mr. Ferrin died in the 50's and the property was rented to the late Fay Purdy, a Methodist Exhorter. In the 60's Mr. Purdy moved away. The widow Ferrin, in the 60's, married Dr. Samuel Sabin and occupied the house. A few years later the doctor died, his wife dying a few years after.

Among some of the owners after the death of Mrs. Sabin were the late Dr. Brown, who came here in the 60's and died in the 70's. After his death the family moved away and Dr. Herman L. Chase became a tenant for a time. In the 80's the; late Zachariah Ashley Van Duzer, moving from his farm, purchased the property from the Brown heirs. Mr. Van Duzer died December 30, 1914, leaving the home to his daughter, Mrs. Elizabeth




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McPherson, wife of the late Dr. Donald McPherson and she is living there now.

The neighbor on the west, was in the 40's, the residence of the late Thomas Douglass, the jeweler. In the 60's he sold out and moved away and Mrs. Edgar Jordon bought the property and lived here several years. In the 90's Mrs. William Chapman bought the property. The old house was sold and moved to the corner of Walker and Fayette Streets. It is now owned by the heirs of Mrs. Eleanor Gowling. A new house was built on the same site of the old one. At her death the property passed into the hands of Clyde Hall who owns and occupies it now.

Our next house on the west was built by the late Daniel Harmon, a contractor and builder. The barn in the rear he built for a shop. In the 80's this attractive place was sold to M. Story, the merchant. In this home he lived until his death, which occurred in the 90's, his wife dying a few years later. Then the place was sold to Arthur T. Jones, who keeps a clothing store on Main Street.

We now come to where once lived Albert Jessup in the 40's. He was in company with Mr. Tuttle in the tanning business at the lower end of Main Street. After Mr. Jessup's death the property came into the hands of Henry M. Johnson, who died about 1910. His widow still occupied the place, renting the west part to tenants, until her death, which was about 1914, and the place was sold to Miss Agnes Epler, who now owns and occupies the place as Mrs. Frank Boutall.

In the large two-story house on the west in the late 40's lived Edwin M. Anderson, son of Wells Anderson. In the 60's he sold the place to the late Henry P. Knowles, coming from Lyons. Mr. Knowles was a major in the Civil War and was in the banking business on Main Street until his death, which occurred in the 90's. At his death the business was settled up and the bank closed. The honlestead is still in the family.

Hard by in the 90's stood an old landmark owned and occupied by Eldridge Havens, a native of Connecticut, who came to Palmyra in an early day. Before the New York Central went through, Mr. Havens was meat inspector at one of the warehouses on Canal Street, where in the Winter they bought pork and packed it in barrels for Spring shipment when the canal opened. At his death which occurred in the 50's the house and lot went to his grandchildren, Charles and Eldridge T. Allyn. In the 90's the old house was moved away and a new one built on the same site. The Allyn brothers sold the place and went to California to live where they both died.

Mrs. Edna Nichols purchased the property which is now owned by her heirs and occupied by Hays Ostrander. While this old landmark has passed from memory its old neighbor on the west is looking hale and hearty, although built in the days when all the frames to the houses were hewn out instead of sawed out. In this house in the 40's lived the Presbyterian minister by the name of Fisher. After he moved away the late Henry Flowers occupied this place until 1906, when Sanford Van Alstine purchased the property. Previous to this there had been no change in




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this old-fashioned house and with tenacity it seemed to cling to its oldtime appearance. The little old 5-foot seats and a 5x6-foot platform at the front door occupied the same position as in the early 30's when the house was first built and was not complete without these fair weather resting places at the front door. We also look in vain to see at the back of the house the old open woodshed where a pile of plenty of hard maple wood was stored for future use for the kitchen and sitting-room stoves. Yes, we look in vain to see the old well with its pulley wheel and rope attached to draw water. All of these have passed froIH nlemory. Now a modern porch adorns its front. The opening at the woodshed has been closed. The old well has been filled and the old oaken bucket and the pulley wheel are known only in story and in song. Coal now takes the place of wood. A turn of the faucet delivers the water instead of a bucket and the charms of old have faded away like a dying echo. Mr. Van Alstine is a native of the town of Palmyra, born on his grandfather's farm four miles north of the village. After passing through college he entered into the employ of Pliny T. Sexton in the First National Bank of Palmyra. While here he married the daughter of the late James Harrison. For several years he has been holding a lucrative and responsible position with the Eastman Kodak Company.

Our next call will be where Thomas Ninde lived. He was once the postmaster on Market Street in the 40's. In the 50's Newton Foster acquired the property. He was engaged in making drills and other agricultural implements. His factory was on the north side of the canal where the old electric light plant was. The firm name was Jessup & Foster. He had one son and a daughter, the latter married a Mr. Vail, a photographer, who lived in the brick house on the east side of Mill Street near the brook. The son, Harold, went to Lincoln, Nebraska, where he died several years later. In the 70's Major Murganzie Hopkins purchased the property and remodeled the house and barn. He was born at Union Hill where he spent his early days on his father's farm. He was a soldier in the Civil War and was promoted to major. After returning from the army he chose law as his profession. He practiced a good many years, having a partnership with F. E. Converse, under the firm name of Hopkins & Converse, with an office in the Aldrich block, now owned by the Wayne Telephone Company. When he became too old for active legal work the partnership was dissolved and he retired from business. In the 70's he married a daughter of the late Hon. Martin Butterfield. He died about 1910 and his wife went to live with her daughter in Syracuse and died a few years later. About 1914 the late Dayton Smith purchased the property. His widow still owns and occupies the place.

On the corner of Main and Washington Streets is where the married daughter of the late Edward S. Averill lives. This house was built by the late Pliny Sexton and in the 50's this was his home. In the 50's a Mrs. Higbee lived here. Later Edward S. Averill, editor and proprietor of the Palmyra Courier, purchased the property. About 1856 he also purchased the paper property. At the time of his death he was the oldest newspaper




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man in service in Wayne County. He was born in Albany in 1835. He was collector of canal tolls from 1863 to 1868. He was postmaster in 1871-72 and was at one time a member of the Board of Education. His two sons, Ralph R. and Harry L., carried on the pUblication of the Courier until the death of Ralph R., which occurred about 1920, when the business was sold to Jenner Hennessy. A third son, Robert Averill, lives in Rochester.

On the opposite corner as we go west, we conle to the home of the late Dr. David Hoyt, who came to Palmyra in the 30's. He was a partner of Dr. May in a drug store as stated before. He died in 1857 and his wife died soon after, leaving one daughter who came into possession of the the property, In the 50's she married Dr. Francis Clayton Brown.

In the 70's a new home had been projected and as soon as plans had been completed the old house was divided and moved on two separate lots on the south side of Jackson Street. A large, fine, new house was erected on the same site of the old one. The late Samuel Sawyer was its builder and under his supervision it was well built. The house was built after Mr. Brown's design. The observer will note there are no corner boards, but that the joints made by the two sides being brought together are so well made that corner boards were unnecessary. Here for many years Dr. Brown lived, who had his dental office over the Briggs drug store on Main Street as mentioned before. He died January 2, 1904, leaving a widow and one daughter. The widow died soon after. At her death, title to the property passed to the only daughter, Sibyl Huntington Brown, who after living here several years, sold the property in 1924 to Henry Mason and moved to Rochester. The house has been divided and remodeled and is now owned by U. W. Sherburne.

Adjoining this on the west is the old Jacques place. That family owned and occupied this place in the 40's. In the 90's John Bulmer bought the property for $500 and made a few improvements, then sold it to Mrs. Mary Ryan.

Our next place on the west is the old Henry P. Allyn property. Mr. Allyn was a native of Connecticut and a son-in-law of Eldridge Havens. He came here in the 30's and later bought this lot and built the house. He was a plasterer by trade, which he followed for many years. Mr. Allyn had three sons, one dying in the 50's. He had a brother living in New York who was a miser and whose wardrobe was valued at fifty cents. This brother died in the 70's leaving a large fortune to his brother who wisely invested it in real estate. One piece of property was the old Jackway farm on Stafford Street in which they moved, retaining the homestead. After the father's death the property came to his two sons, Charles and Eldridge T. H. Allyn, who after living on the farm several years and building the large barn, sold the farm and moved to California. Charles died about 1900 and Eldridge about 1915. About 1910 Charles Wilber bought the village homestead and diyided the lot. His son-in-law, Leo Spier took the old house and remodeled it and Mr. Wilber built the house that stands on the east, where his heirs are still living. Mr. Wilber was a




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carriage ironer by trade. More will be said of him as we advance in our journey.

The little house on the west was owned in the 70's by a Mr. Bigelow, son of George Bigelow. Later it was owned by Dickinson Lyon, who after living here several years, sold the place to Henry Hunt. In 1924 Mr. James Harrison purchased the property.

The little brick house on the west was built in the 50's and has had a number of different owners. Among them is Dr. William B. Crandall, who practiced medicine at one time in Palmyra, at one time with Dr. Hoyt, later in the drug store of Dr. Deming. In 1864 he moved to Rochester and conducted a drug business in or near the Arcade on Main Street. Returning to Palmyra in 1872, he made his home here again. His death occurred in 1874. The widow died several years later. About 1907 it was finally sold to B. M. Nobel who was employed by the Crandall Company. After staying here a brief period Mr. Nobel sold the property to Jacob Hartman and moved away. Mr. Hartman now owns and occupies the place.

We now come to another old-time place, the home of Dr. George N. Bigelow, who came here over eighty-five years ago. Long years have rolled around and no changes have been made only to keep it in good repair, making it look as well as it did in the long ago when the doctor went down town behind the old gray mare on the democrat wagon. In those days a doctor was a dentist as well. Then teeth were extracted with an instrument called turnkey and when one had to have a tooth drawn, he bade farewell to friends and kindred before he took the chair. Dr. Bigelow died January 21, 1867 in his sixty-seventh year. The widow died at the home of her daughter in Boston in September, 1903, at the age of ninety-four years. At the death of the mother, a daughter, Mrs. Lydila Bigelow Scott came into possession of the property. Mrs. Scott, who lived in a distant city, came every year to spend a few summer months in her childhood home. The old apple tree in the back yard, the little 7x9 glass window lights in the old house, all had their charm for her. One was impressed by the material evidence of a desire on the part of the daughter to maintain the home unchanged as a nlark of respect to the father and mother who made this their home for so many years.

Mrs. Scott has now passed away and the home is now owned by Raymond Smith who has made many changes.

As we pass on we come to another old-time place where around 1800 Silas Hart built the first frame house in the village. In the 40's Captain Daniel Gates purchased the property and lived here. When the days of the packet boat had passed and the captain found it no longer a paying business, he sold out and went into the livery business in company with Freman Thompson under the firm name of Gates & Thompson. In the 60's the firm sold the business to another party and the partnership was dissolved.

About that time or soon after, John Bulmer came to Palmyra to engage in the lumber business and after looking around awhile he purchased




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the Gates property. Mr. Gates, after living in Palmyra over thirty years, moved to Canandaigua where he died January 29, 1884.

As soon as Mr. Bulmer came into possession of the property and this being a desirable location, he inlmediately began to lay plans for a new house. The old house was moved to a vacant lot on Gates Street and remodeled. This old pioneer house was shorn of its old-time appearance. Now instead of a large, plain, old house with 7x9 windows, it was changed to one of a more modern type. After awhile it came into the possession of the Olivett family by purchase. Later it was sold to H. W. Guthrie. Now it is owned and occupied by W. H. Fitzgerald.

On the old site Mr. Bulmer built the commodious residence now owned and occupied by Fred E. Rowley, who came here from Smethport, Pa., and bought out the Bulmer interest, both in the Main Street property and the lumber yard on Canal Street. Mr. Bulmer had the distinction of keeping the best stocked lumber yard of any village in the state of the size of Palmyra. Mr. Bulmer died about 1906, being nearly ninety years old at the tinle of his death. His wife survived him a few years. No member of the family is living here at present. Thus another family active in the affairs of the community and prominent in the lumber interests of this locality is gone. He lived most of his life here and has gone the way of all, leaving behind his impress upon the life of the community.

Across on the opposite corner in the early 40's stood; a story and a half double house. In the 50's it was owned by a Mr. Rice, a bachelor, who came to Palmyra to engage in the jewelry business. He died in the 70's and the property passed into the hands of the late John Philips, the butcher, with whom Mr. Rice lived for a good many years, occupying the Rice house.

After coming into possession of this property, Mr. Philips sold the old house to George P. Nichols who moved it to Stafford Street. Now it is owned and occupied by Fred Jeffery. On the site of the old house Mr. Philips built the present double house now owned and occupied by Dickinson Lyon.

As we pass on we came to where in the 50's Samuel Sawyer, father of our townsman, Justice S. Nelson Sawyer, lived. In the 60's Mr. Tyler, father of the late Wells Tyler, lived here. A son, Edwin, enlisted in the Civil War and a short time after was taken with smallpox and died. Later in the 70's the late Richard Ford purchased the property. Mr. Ford was a butcher by trade. He came from New York in the 20's and spent the remainder of his life in this community. He died at this home about 1906 at the age of ninety-five years. After the death of Mr. Ford, Benjamin Throop purchased the property. After living here a short time he sold the property to Harry Young, who conducts the large hardware store at Holmes and Canal Streets.

Our second place, a large two-story house, was built away back in the 30's. In the 50's the place was owned and occupied by John Tripp. Milla Smith, a niece who lived with them and whose parents lived west of




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Macedon, married Milton Brown, who died a few years later. In the 60's she married the late Wells Tyler, who was in the clothing business and at one time kept the post office.

After the Civil War, Henry Wood, a veteran, purchased the property of Mr. Tripp. After a few years his son Henry built the small house on the east side of the lot, now owned and occupied by Abigal Bishop. Henry Wood, sr., died in the 90's and his widow died in 1928.

Our next place is the Albert Niles place. He was a cooper, who lived here in the 60's and died in the 70's. It is now owned and occupied by William Harding.

Adjoining this on the west, away back in the 40's, lived the late Lyman Tiffany, who had one son, Byron, who went to Washington in the 60's and lived there until his death which occurred in 1923. At one time the father was deputy postmaster. About 1905 Edwin Hurlbut bought the property, enlarged the house and made a good many repairs, making it into a double house. Mr. Hurlbut has been street commissioner in the village for several years.

In the early 50's the late Jerry McGrath bought the next house and came there to live. In the 70's he remodeled the house. He was a shoemaker by trade and for many years had his shop in the rear of Pratt's meat market where the trolley station now is. He died about 1900. His wife lived several years when she died. Then the place was sold to L. C. Dresser who died a few years ago and the place is now owned by Miss Blanche Hunt.

Our next neighbor on the west is where the late Walter Lapham lived in the early 50's. Mr. Lapham at that time, kept a clothing store in one of the old wooden buildings in the Jarvis row before the present brick block was built. He died in the 70's and his wife, a little later. Francis Jones bought the property and made a gOOd many changes. Mr. Jones died in 1930.

We now come to the old Harvey Tice place. This house was built in the 60's and occupied by the late Charles Bingham who previous to coming here carried on the blacksmithing business in the old Bingham shop as before mentioned. Mr. Bingham died in the 70's. The place was in the Tice family until 1926 when it was sold. It is about four rods wide and extends south to Jackson Street and may sometime in the future be opened up as a street.

We now come to the old Bela Morgan place. He was a native of Connecticut. He came from his farm to the village in the early 50's. His first wife died in the 60's. A short time after, he married the widow Schemerhorn who was once the wife of the late John Hurlbut. He died in the 70's. The place was left to his nieces, daughters of Orlando Stoddard, one of whom owns the place. More will be said of Mr. Morgan as we advance in our journey.

The next is a part of a tract of land owned in 1812 by Zebulon Williams, who was Palmyra's first merchant. This property came into




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the possession of Richard, his son. The tract extended from the Morgan west line west to Stafford Street.

On the lot that F. E. Converse owns once stood an old house. It was torn down in the 70's by a Mr. Winslow, who had acquired the property and erected the present house now owned and occupied by Mr. Converse, who is an able lawyer in our village. Mr. Converse bought the property in the 90's.

As we advance in our journey we come to where in early day stood another old-time house. In the 70's Captain Stephen Tabor came from Walworth, purchased this pJace, tore down the old house and built the present house, and if you will remove the ornament over the window you will see the figures 1-8-7-6, built in that year. Mr. Tabor was a native of New Bedford, Mass. He was from a sea-faring family and was a sailor himself who followed whaling. In the 40's he and his brother Abraham, who was also a sailor, came to Walworth and each purchased a farm. Stephen, in the 70's sold his farm. After living in his new house in the village of Palmyra a few years, he died in the 80's. His widow lived several years later when she died.

Mr. Tabor had two sons and one daughter. The latter married a Dr. Rose and went West to live. The sons were Stephen and Pardon. The latter started out as a whaler when but sixteen years old and followed the sea a good many years. He died in Walworth about 1920, being about eighty years of age. Stephen died in 1928 at the age of ninety-three. After the death of Mr.Tabor the place was sold to Franklin Stoddard, son of Orlando Stoddard, who still lives here.

Adjoining this on the west was the home of the late Joseph Truax, a veteran of the Civil War. After returning from the war he married Hariett Shirtliff, daughter of the late James Shirtliff, whose father was one of the first settlers in the village. Mr. Truax was a carpenter by trade. He bought the present lot and built the house. He died at the age of eighty-four. Mr. Truax received injuries in the army which resulted in having his leg amputated. He was a great sufferer. He died in 1922. The widow is still living.

We now come to the corner of Main and Stafford Streets. On this corner in the 20's stood the Abner Cole house, later purchased by O. H. Palmer. The old house was moved to a vacant lot on Stafford Street and sold to James Shirtliff. The present house was erected on the corner about 1849. Orin Archer came from Marion to Palmyra, purchased the property and Mr. Palmer moved to Rochester. Mr. Archer at one time was Professor in the Marion school. He had studied law and was admitted to the bar and began the practice of law with the late Colonel Joseph W. Corning as partner, under the firm name Archer & Corning. Their officewas in the old wooden building on the same site of the Jarvis block. Mr. Archer was a staunch Republican and served twice as Member of Assembly. He was a lawyer by profession and an orator by nature. He was a graduate of Williams College and was a proficient Greek and Latin scholar. He died with lung trouble, coupled with paralysis, on February




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24, 1890. His daughter, Mrs. William L. Knapp, is now living at the old homestead.

On the opposite corner, going west, we come to the old Kingsley place, built in the very early 40's. The late Isaac Tabor married one of the daughters and Richard Ford, the butcher, as mentioned before, married the other. At the death of the parents Mr. Ford came into possession of the property. In the 60's the place passed into other hands. It is now owned and occupied by Jacob Cornelius.

The little house on the west built in the 40's by Nathaniel Brooks, has met with several changes. For several years it was occupied by Major John Gilbert. About 1900 the late Henry Harding bought the place. It is now occupied by Earl Bennett.

The vacant lot on the west known as the Sampson lot is the site of the old Shirtliff homestead of 1810. Here the father of James, Silas and Sidney Shirtliff lived. This little, low, one-story, wood-colored double house with two doors in front, has long since been torn down and but very few living today remember it. A granddaughter, Mrs. Hariett Shirtliff Truax, wife of the late Joseph Truax, and daughter of James Shirtliff, is still living but a short distance east of the old homestead at the age of ninety-two years.

Its old neighbor on the west, built only a few years later, has received better care. In the 40's it was occupied by the Hazens; later owned and occupied by the Risleys. In the 70's H. P. Knowles acquired the property and made some improvements. About 1920 Michael Griffin bought the house, put on a coat of paint and made some changes, thus making the old house a nice little cottage. Another old landmark still remains. In the early 40's it was a long, bright red house, owned and occupied by Joseph Johnson, a brick and stone mason. He was a contractor, employing his brother and his son Joseph until he lost a leg and had to retire. At his death his son Joseph came into possession of the property and after his death it was sold to Alfred Hicks, who now owns and occupies the property.

In the 70's two lots were sold off on the west. On the first one Richard Cator built the present house and sold the place to John Anscomb, who died several years ago. The widow is still living on the place. The house on the west was built by the late John Alles who was a scale-maker by trade and worked for the late Joseph Allen for a good many years. After the death of Mr. Alles the place passed into the hands of Irving Young. Now it is owned and occupied by Mr. Cyphers.

Let us now return to Carroll Street, which was laid out and recorded July 8, 1829. The land at that time was owned by Nathaniel Beckwith, brother of George Beckwith, Mr. Beckwith releasing all claims. The street was laid out east of the west line so that a row of lots could be left on the west side of Carroll Street, where he erected a few houses that are still standing. On the corner was Blackmer's blacksmith shop, later occupied by one of the old stone school houses. He lived in a little house that stood on the site of the Boeheim house and was moved in the




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rear for a garage. Back in the 50's an Englishman by the name of Mumford lived in the old house. Later a colored family by the name of Baxter lived here several years until it was sold to give way for the present garage.

Adjoining this on the west in the 40's lived a colored man by the name of Perry Lee, respected by all who knew him. He carried on the barber business a good many years. He was also an old-fashioned "Hoss" doctor as they were called in those days, when such remedies as soft soap for bloat and beef brine to set a bone were called into action.

"Well, Perry, how is the Brown horse?" "Oh, he died. Nothing could save him."

But Perry Lee and all his family have passed away and the name of Perry Lee is forgotten. At his death the property went into the hands of P. T. Sexton. About 1915 George Cornwell purchased the property and later sold to M. F. Cathers who is still living on the place.

Adjoining on the west is another old-time dwelling. In the 60's Miss Cornelia Van Allen owned this house and lot. Later Frank Trumbull of Marion came into possession of it. About 1921 it was sold to Ernest Jones.

The late Morgan Bingham in the 50's lived in the next house. Mr. Bingham went to California in 1849. When he came back he bought this house. At his death which occurred in the 60's the property was sold to Captain White, who was in the jewelry business and was also in the Civil War. In the 70's Roswell Whitney bought the place. After living here several years he sold out and went to California, where he died a few years later. John Kostomer bought the property about 1909. He sold the place to George Cornwell and went to Rochester to live. These two old houses undoubtedly were built about the same time for they were of the same style of those built in the 30's.

Adjoining this on the west in the 40's was the Baptist parsonage, occupied by the late Rev. Daniel Harrington, who remained in Palmyra nearly nine years when he moved away. In the 50's this property came into the possession of William Valton, who was a shoemaker by trade. In the 50's he went into the grocery business on the corner of Main and Williams Streets of which mention has been made before. It is now owned and occupied by Frank C. Jones.

In the neighborhood of this old parsonage are a good many old-time two-story frame houses that were built in the long ago and are of very much the same style of architecture, although the exteriors of some have been changed a little.

But where is the old dooryard fence with its little gate? The gravel walk leading to the front door? The little cozy seats on the platform at the front door and the old door knocker on the front door? All these, like their old-time occupants have had their day and passed on, that other ways and customs may take their place.

As we jog along on our journey we come to the old Thomas Stead home, who lived here in the 50's and was in the photograph business.




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After his death the property passed over to a Mr. Mills and about 1900 Mrs. Louise Converse, mother of F. E. Converse, bought the property and put on a new porch. Mrs. Converse died December 6, 1927, at the age of ninety-seven years.

The next is the narrow two-story old house on the west that stands back from the road. Everything goes to show that this was the home of Benjamin Cole in 1812, brother of Abner Cole. Later it was a cooper shop.
Then again it was fitted up for a dwelling. The late Joseph Johnson lived here in the 60's and Hiram Goodnough in the 70's; Leon Cator, around 1900. Later it was owned by James Cavanaugh, whose daughter still retains the place.

The house adjoining on the west is another old landmark like its neighbor on the east, erected around 1812 and was once the home of John Hurlbut, who was one of Palmyra's early settlers. He at one time owned a good deal of land south of Jackson Street. Mr. Hurlbut married for his second wife, Mrs. Schemerhorn. He helped to layout Main Street.

Some time after Mr. Hurlbut's death, George L. Clark purchased the property. He has had the care of the village cemetery since 1885. Although long years have passed since this house was built, a coat of paint and good care has kept it still looking young.

In 1898 Alembert G. Wigglesworth bought a lot off the west side of the Clark lot and built the present brick house, using the brick and other material that came from the original union school building. A few years later it was sold to Mrs. Floretta Walker and Mr. Wigglesworth went to Utah. A few years later Mrs. Walker sold to W. Ray Converse, a young lawyer, son of F. E. Converse, who is now living there.

Adjoining on the west is another Hurlbut lot on which in 1805 was a distillery, carried on for seven years by Shubel Smith and a man by the name of Harrison from East Palmyra. Here men used to congregate to talk over matters.

At the time the present Zion Episcopal Church was built, which was in the 70's, the Downing brothers bought the old wooden church and moved it upon this lot that they had purchased from George W. Cuyler, with the intentions of erecting a brewery and malt house. This building was made of stone, using timbers of the old church on the inside. A barn was also built. For several years they did a thriving business, malting and making beer. In the 80's they closed out the business and about 1910 Roy D. Fassett purchased the property, tore down the old building, sawed the large timbers into lumber and erected two new houses, keeping one and selling the other to George Case, who later sold to George Cadwallader, who still owns the place. About 1914 Mr. Fassett erected the large garage on the east. Mr. Fassett is a jeweler with a store in the Royce block. When the Downing brothers ran the brewery in the 70's a garage was unknown, the automobile was yet to come. The nice little attractive house on the west was many years ago a




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cooper shop. Later Russell Risley bought the property, converted it into a dwelling house and after a few years another story was added.

This little house was sometimes called the cyclone house from the fact that in the 70's a cyclone passed over, coming from the south. Striking a barn on the Winslow lot across the way, it leveled it to the ground and picking up a 2x4 scantling, whirled it across the street, striking endwise in the gable of this little house, it passed through the house. It also leveled the malt house barn. In the 70's Mr. Risley sold the property and moved to California where he died several years later. Now William Powell has owned and occupied the place for several years. Many changes for the better have been made since it came into his possession. An up-to-date porch has been added, a new chimney on the outside, making the old cooper shop a pleasant and attractive home.

We find as we pass along that we have arrived at the Asa Chase house, erected by him in the 60's, later in the 90's owned by John Bulmer. Now it is owned and occupied by George Bernhard and has been for several years.

Our next on the west in 1812 was owned by William Jackway. On this lot was a house and blacksmith shop. Later Levi Daggett occupied both. His daughter Sarah married Henry Wells, prominent in connection with the express business. Later the old shop was torn down and Hiram Jesse and Abigal Jackway owned and occupied the little wood-colored one-story house. Here they all lived until they died, which was in the 70's. The property passed into the hands of a niece, Mrs. Annie Lockrow. About 1912 Jones & Guile bought the property. The old house was torn down and four modern cottages were built upon the lot, owned and occupied by Fred Guile on the east, George Brandetsas, Edward Pfohl and Arthur Breen, the latter living on the west side. Thus another old landmark has gone and the typical old New England cottage has nearly passed from memory.

Our next old-time neighbor on the west is Zebulon Williams, one of the oldest settlers in the village and the first merchant. His store was where the New York Central station now is, which will be pointed out as we advance in our journey. Mr. Williams at one time owned a large tract of land in this neighborhood. The old homestead was a large, two-story, yellow house with a low wing on the west. The main building is still standing but changed beyond recognition. The wing has been torn away and a lot has been sold off the west side where a little cottage was built and occupied by Henry Fox. After the death of Mr. Williams, his son Homer occupied the place for a time. Later a brother, Richard, came into possession of the property. He died in the early 80's. His only child, a daughter, married the late Clark Chase, a son of Willard Chase. The daughter died in the 70's and her husband a few years later. Since Mr. Williams' death the place has changed hands several times. Now it is owned by George Gratton while the Fox house is owned and occupied by Henry Mink.

Our next house on the west was the home of Platt Williams, who




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lived in a story and one-half house way back in the early days. About 1899 a Mr. Ames purchased the old house, tore it down and built a neat little cottage on the site. After living there awhile he sold it to Fred D. Guile and moved away. The cottage passed from Mr. Guile to AlbertChapman and is now owned by Mrs. Lena Chisholm Burns.

The little white house on the west once stood on the site of the Davis block and in 1849 was owned by a man named Anderson, who sold out and moved away. When Mr. Davis purchased the property the house was moved to its present location as mentioned before, while on our journey. It is now owned by Mrs. Augusta Fisher.

In the 70's John Parker came from Walworth, bought the lot and built the next house west. After the death of Mr. Parker and wife, their son John Willis Parker came into possession of the property.

The Gates family built the next house on the west in the 80's. Now it is owned and occupied by William Sabedra and family.

The west line on the next lot was once the west line of the Zebulon Williams land. In the 70's Eugene Smith, a veteran of the Civil War, bought a lot on the west and built this little house. He died in the 70's. After his death Mrs. Nancy Stetson bought the property. Her husband, George Stetson, bought a lot in the very early 70's on the east side of the Bull farm from P. T. Sexton and built the present house where he is still living. Mr. Stetson came to Palmyra and married Nancy Pratt, a daughter of Chloe and Delos Pratt and entered the employ of P. T. Sexton as an assistant in the First National Bank. This position he held until the death of Mr. Sexton in 1924.

We have now covered all that part of the Jackway and Williams property, now covered with buildings. Many have been the changes since those old pioneers passed away. Could they come back to earth they would be at a loss to get their bearings.

We now come to the Bull farm that in the 40's contained about sixty-four acres, Mud Creek being the north line and extending south far enough to make the sixty-four acres. All this land at a very early date belonged to the Jackways.

On the north side of the road and not far from the west line still can be found the site of a cellar wall that once supported a large, one-story, wood-colored New England house, occupied in 1805 by Shubel Smith, who for seven years ran a distillery in company with a man from East Palmyra, as before mentioned.

After many years this property passed into the hands of a man by the name of J. C. Bull, who lived in Canandaigua, and on June 5, 1868, Pliny T. Sexton purchased this property for $10,000.

The old farm barn that stood on the south side of the road back in the field with the same rough siding that was put on over 100 years ago and faithfully shielding the old frame for over a century from the many storms, is gone, but its old companion, a stately elm, standing a little at the north, each in their solitude, watching one another for over a century, has escaped the cyclone and the woodman's ax. The old barn bowed to the fire brand, as a sacrifice to patriotic enthusiasm.




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On the north side of the street is a remnant of an old orchard that no doubt has long since passed the century mark, although neglected and unnoticed by most people, yet at each returning spring time following their old-time custom, they decorate themselves with seeming pride, with just as handsome and fragrant blossoms as when in their prime. Although the old bodies grow weaker and weaker as the years go by, they still demonstrate to the young it is better to wear out than rust out.

The old wood-colored New England house that was guarded by these same old trees, furnishing fruit and flowers each in their turn, has long since passed into history. And while we linger around this silent and deserted spot, we find the same old spring that was back of the house, still. flowing from the hillside, clear and cold as it did over one hundred and twenty years ago when it supplied the inmates of this old home.

A little depression in the ground and a few stones which belonged to the old cellar and a few brick scattered here and there that 'belonged to the old fireplace where the family gathered around to enjoy its evening glow, is the only evidence which marks the spot where once stood a pioneer's home.

Not far from the front door of this dwelling, about 1860, a cold-blooded murder was committed. James Bailey, a farmer living northwest of Walworth, came to Palmyra one day with a load of wood, bringing two or three other men with him. After selling the wood and just before going home, he and his companions imbibed rather too freely and just before reaching this house while on the way home, they met Patrick Kelley and Mr. Sheridan, who were going along on the sidewalk. The latter was living in the old house and while passing, in some way they exchanged words which led to an altercation. Mr. Sheridan said something that displeased Mr. Bailey. The latter grabbed a stake from the wood rack and started for them. Mr. Bailey being a powerful man, dealt a heavy blow upon Mr. Sheridan which resulted in his death.

Mrs. John Coppins, who lived in the old house, saw the fracas, making her a valuable witness. Mr. Bailey was arrested. The trial was adjourned from time to time. The Civil War had just broken out and Mr. Coppins moved to a little house he had bought on the south end of Fayette Street. After moving his falnily he enlisted in the army.

Mr. Bailey had now sold his farm and was staying with his daughter near Canandaigua. Again the trial was about to come off and Mrs. Coppins was the important witness. A short time before the case was to be tried, Mr. Bailey came to Palmyra.

Mrs. Coppins was now, living alone. The next morning after Mr. Bailey had been in town, Mrs. Coppins was found dead in her house. On examination it was decided that she had been strangled to death by some unknown person. Suspicion was centered upon Mr. Bailey. He was again arrested and so hotly pursued he took something to end his life.

Here we have portrayed to us the evil of strong drink. When Mr. Bailey was himself he was not a quarrelsome man. He was a good neighbor, a kind husband and an indulgent father. He had two children, a son




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and daughter. The son was a fine, large, good-looking young man and respected by all who knew him. This disgrace he keenly felt. He went to New York and made good.

Long years have passed since this melancholy and fatal event and it is revealed only by the glimmering light of history. A good many years ago the old house was burned and is remembered only by a few. At the death of Mr. Sexton this tract of land on both sides of the road was sold, John Lauer buying a part to the north where he has erected a fine new bungalow and that on the south being purchased by William W. Williamson. Mr. Williamson has laid out two streets, each seventy feet wide. Lots have been measured off, giving plenty of room to build. The streets are so wide and the lots so generous that in time this will be the most desirable resident place in the village. Mr. Williamson has erected a gas station and two houses have been built on the east facing Main Street. One is occupied by Isaac Cook and the other by Luther Sheldon. Just west of the gas station William Eibler has erected a fine house which he is now occupying.

Just a little to the west on the south side of the road and back from the road was a house on which hung a sign "Jackway, the Hatter." West of here is the Aldrich homestead which has been enlarged since 1812. Dr. Gain Robinson lived here. His office and drug store was some distance in front, not far from the trolley stop. He was a successful doctor but at times rather intemperate.

The story was told that one time when called on a case, upon his arrival the family thought he was in no condition to examine the patient and suggested to him that he lie down for awhile on the couch. He replied, "I will when it comes around again."

In 1851 the late David Aldrich bought the property. Here he lived a good many years and brought up a large family. Mr. Aldrich was born in Mendon, Mass., in 1813, removing thence at an early day. The family settled in Farmington, this state. After a few years he came to Palmyra as clerk in a store where he remained until 1830. It was during this time that while a clerk in the post office, then situated in a dry goods store, he sold to the Mormon Prophet, Joseph Smith, his first decent suit of clothes.

Coming to this country at an early date he lived to see it advance from a small hamlet and pasture lands into handsome streets, filled with commodious homes. He died in September, 1882. His family have all passed away. The property is now owned by Michael Grace. We are now at the end of Main Street. Let us now take a stroll down Fayette Street. Before Palmyra was called Swift's Landing, the Ganargua Indians had a trail down through the woods where Fayette Street now is, continuing south up over Crandall's Hill and continuing its course to the western slope at the foot of Bear Hill and on south, keeping about forty rods east of the present Canandaigua Road until it came to the present Jacob Kommer farm; then bearing off to the southwest, coming out at Miner's corners and still following on south where




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the Canandaigua Road now is, to an Indian reservation near what is now Dr. Pratt's house in the village of Manchester, thence on to Canandaigua. More will be said of this trail as we advance in our journey. This trail was gradually widened out and finally made into a street, but not regularly laid out and surveyed until 1829, when it was named Fayette Street in honor of General Lafayette, who came to visit this country, landing in New York August 15, 1825.



Fayette Street - between Main and Jackson Streets

Beginning on the east side at the two old wooden stores that belong to the Clemons estate: Several years ago one of these old stores caught fire. In the second story that was reached by an outside stairway, lived a colored man by the name of George Ballard, who at one time had been a slave. When the fire broke out he was aroused and on his way out, in coming down the stairs, he made a misstep and fell to the bottom of the stairs and was so badly hurt he expired right away. The funeral was held from the Baptist Church of which he was a faithful member. It was a large funeral for he was a man respected by all who knew him. It is very seldom that we see more flowers at a funeral than were brought here by the citizens out of respect for this old colored man.

Adjoining this on the south is the former tobacco factory of the Williamson Brothers, now occupied by the Palmyra Hardware store. Beyond are two small brick houses built in the 40's by William H. Bowman. Since they were built they have had a good many different owners and tenants. Now they are owned by William Campbell. Just south were the old livery barns of Gates and Thompson and previous to their ownership they were owned by Mahlon Kinman, who was proprietor of a stage line between this place and Rochester as mentioned before. Henry Bump, in the 70's, had a stable here for several years. But the trolley and automobile killed the business. Now it is used for a garage.

Our next is the hotel barns. Since the hotel barns across the way were burned and just south of the hotel barns which have been torn down, stands a little white house owned by Mrs. Jessie Powers, wife of the late Andrew Powers, who for a good many years was the proprietor of the Powers Hotel. About 1912 Mr. Powers sold out and moved to California, where he died in 1924. Just beyond was the wagon shop of Alanson Sherman who came here in the 30's * and went into the carriage business. Later A. P. Crandall became a partner. It then went under the firm name of Sherman & Crandall and for a good many years did an extensive business in making sleighs, wagons and fine carriages. They employed a good many men. At this shop all parts were made from the rough to the finished product of wood, iron, paint and upholstering. Mr. Sherman's brother Rhodes, Elisha Lewis and Charles Wilber did the iron work and Mr. Shannon did the trimming. The latter had the distinction of upholstering the first railroad coach in the state. Out of all that army of men not one is living now.

After the death of Mr. Sherman and the business closed up, Mr. Wilber opened up a blacksmith shop in the old Bingham shop on Canal Street. He was a fine workman and a good mechanic, being the last one of the old shophands living. About 1917 he retired from business on

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* Transcriber's note: "Alanson Shearman" is listed on the 1830 US Census records for Palmyra township. Four different "Shermans" are listed on the 1820 records, indicating that Alanson either arrived between 1820 and 1830, or that in 1820 he was not the head of a household.




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account of poor health. At his death he lived in a neat little cottage which he built on West Main Street. He died about 1921.

Mr. Sherman and Mr. Crandall were prominent men in the village. Mr. Sherman lived in the large two-story house south of the brook while across the way in a brick house next to the brook lived his partner, Mr. Crandall. Now the place is owned and occupied by the daughter of an adopted son.

After the death of these two men the business was closed out and the old shops where so many had found employment for so many years were torn down. Just north of the brook and just south, new homes have been erected. In the small house south of these once lived one of Mr. Sherman's sons. Across the way stood the old Anderson tannery. The building stood north and south with the south end partly over the brook.

All the houses north of the shop were built in the 70's by Robert Hale on the site of the old hotel barns that had been burned. The Shimmins house that stands over the brook was at one time the Sherman and Crandall show room and paint shop.

After Sherman and Crandall had gone out of business, his brother Rhodes Sherman and Elisha Lewis built a shop north of the Shimmins house and carried on blacksmithing until by reason of old age they retired from business. John Shimmins, who was a blacksmith, bought the shop and moved from the old Bingham shop on Canal Street. In this shop he worked until his death which occurred in 1922.

The brick house south of the Shimmins house was the home of A. P. Crandall. The well-kept grounds and beautiful flower garden made a very pleasant home. Mr. Crandall had one daughter who married George D. Downing and lived on the old Downing homestead west of the village. Now not one of the above-named persons is living. The Crandall homestead is owned and occupied by a daughter of an adopted son, Mrs. Cady-Hazelton.

Mr. Sherman had four sons who have all passed away and not one bearing the name of Sherman is now living here. The Sherman property on the east side of the street is now owned and occupied by others. Near the Sherman property was one of the fire engine houses.

Adjoining the old Sherman property was the home of Samuel Cole, who published a paper called the Whig. This was in the 40's. Many others have since lived here.

Our next in the 40's was the old Pomeroy Tucker house. In the 70's the late F. W. Clemons purchased the property and bought the old Abe Martin house that stood on Main Street and moved it to give way for a new house built by Dr. Myron Adams as mentioned before. This old house was moved south of the Tucker house in the same yard. It is now owned and occupied by Edson Shaw while the old Tucker house is owned and occupied by Mrs. Charles Jackman.




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The brick house on the south is now owned by the Wardlaw family, as it has been for a good many years.

On the south is the old Merill homestead. Mr. Merill worked for Mr. Sherman in the carriage shop a good many years. At his death a son-in-law, William Parsons, came into possession of the property. At his death it passed to Ray Chisholm. It is now owned by others.

On the corner [with Jackson St.] is the Solomon Crowell house, in the 40's. Later it was owned by Jerry Bernett and later by John Strain of Lyons.

Returning to the Crandall property on the west side of the street: Next comes the old Gardner house which is now owned by Miss Nellie Crandall, daughter of the late Giles Crandall, who owned the place while living. Mr. Crandall was a cabinet maker by trade, having learned his trade in the Jenner shop. For a good many years he kept a furniture store on Main Street. He was also an undertaker.

The brick house on the south in the 30's was owned by Amos Miner, and later by Lorenzo Sanders and many others. Among some of them were George Stoddard, Hiram Clark and Joseph Blaby, the latter dying in 1925, and the place was sold to Mr. Miller.
Another old landmark is still standing just south. These two old houses have been neighbors for a good many years and this was the home of the late William H. Bowman as mentioned before. This place is now owned by a granddaughter, Mrs. Mary Bowman Lawrenee.

Our next is where once lived L. G. Buckley, the harness maker, as before mentioned. His daughter, Mrs. H. G. White, now owns and occupies the place.

The little brick house on the corner [with Jackson St.] was the Solomon Carter house as before mentioned; owned by the heirs of the late Judge Charles McLouth.

Many have been the changes of the occupants of these old-time houses in this little block, but most of them retain their old-time appearance of eighty years ago. The old people have passed away and the only remnant of those old-time people are the Bowmans and Buckleys.

Fayette Street, South of Jackson Street

Suppose we venture a little further south on Fayette Street. Our first house on the east side of the street is the William Bump place, who kept the livery stable. Mr. Bump built this house here in the 70's and lived here until his death, which occurred about 1908. His wife died a few years later and the property passed into other hands.

Our next house was owned by Alanson Sherman in the 50's; later by P. T. Sexton and now by Harry Cottenham. In the late 60's Maltby Easterly built the two houses on the south. The first of these is owned by Cyrus DeFlyer and the second by Sanford Miller.

Our next house is the old Linnell house that in the 50's stood on East Main Street near where the brick house now stands as mentioned before. About 1908 Robert Hart bought the place and about 1917 he sold the place to Corneil Cleason, whose widow still lives here.

The house on the south was built by Mr. Easterly and afterward came into the possession of Mrs. P. J. Jones who died in 1922 at nearly




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one hundred years of age and the place passed into other hands. Now it is owned and occupied by the Tomes family.

The next house was in the 60's owned by a Mr. Minters, who was an Englishman, spending the most of his time in New York, while a son-in-law, Benjamin Lodge lived in the house and later the Jenks family, Charles Vedder, Orlopp, VanHanahan and Orlopp again.

The brick house which was built by a Mr. Bullard is now occupied by Peter Crowley.

Our next house was built by Mr. Easterly, father of Maltby Easterly. Mr. Johnson, a tanner by trade, came from Macedon, followed by Melvin Galloway; later owned by a daughter, Mrs. Mary Stacy and now by Isaac McGee.

Joseph Eibler built the next house in the 80's and also owned the one on the south. In 1896 he sold out to T. L. Cook and moved to Illinois. These houses have changed hands several times. Now Roy Everett owns the north house and Thomas Hughes owns the one on the south.

Now let us return to Jackson Street corner and call on the west side of Fayette Street. Our first house in the 60's was the Mrs. Major house, for the last twenty years owned and occupied by Eugene Lake, who after buying the place, remodeled the house and now has a tidy little home.

Our next is the William Steadman place, now owned and occupied by the DeChard family. Our next house on the south was at one time owned by Fred Hale, then by the Gates family and now by William Storr.

Our next in the 40's was owned by Darius Kittel, who was a cartman. In the 50's the late George Goodell owned the property. Mr. Goodell was for a good many years a butcher with his market on Market Street. Now it is owned by Mrs. Niles.

Our next was built by Elisha Lewis, a veteran of the Civil War. After coming back from the war he bought this lot and built the house. Mr. Lewis was a blacksmith as mentioned before. At his death his daughter, Mrs. Kennard, came into possession of the property. Now it is owned by G. Edward Sanders.

Adjoining this is the old Jackway property. After his death in the 90's it has been owned by different ones. Among some of the owners are Howard Jackson, Brulee and Leonard DeWitt.

The large two-story house on the south in the 50's was owned by Isaac Gifford. About 1866, Timothy Jackson, a native of Fairfield, Herkimer County, New York, came to Palmyra and was for a good many years engaged in the insurance business. After buying this house he enlarged and remodeled it. He died in 1886 and his daughter Anna has carried on the business successfully ever since. Mrs. Jackson died in 1922 at the age of 96 years.

The little house on the south is where lived Rhodes Sherman, whose name has been mentioned before. Mr. Sherman came to Palmyra in the 30's. He died in the 90's. His daughter Mary came into possession of the




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property. In 1925 she passed away, she being the last of the Shermans Now William Contant lives here.

The late Thomas Hicks in the 70's, built the next house on the south. Later he sold the place to Lewis M. Chase who still owns and occupies it.

On the corner [at Walker St.] at a very early date, stood a home occupied a long time by the Ray family. Around 1900 the old house was torn down to give way for the present house, the front of which was moved from Main Street and was once the Thomas Douglass home as before mentioned. This house was moved here by John Shimmins, who bought the lot and put on the addition. Later it was sold to Mrs. Eleanor Gowling, who has since passed away. The same old columns are still doing service on the porch that they did several years ago.

Just west on the hill on Walker Street we see a neat little house where in the very early 40's lived Tommy Brown, the whitewasher, who was an expert at the business and was called "Whitewasher Brown." In those days in cleaning house time he was in great demand, for all walls in well regulated families had to be whitewashed. At his death the place passed into other hands and the na.me of Tommy Brown is forgotten. Among some of the owners were David Heath, Pinckney and Henry Runterman, who is still living on the place.

Many and varied are the changes of eighty years ago. Houses now occupy vacant lots. The old people have passed away and there is no one left in this neighborhood to tell the story of long ago.

Looking south we can see standing upon the hill, a two-story house, once the home of Samuel Adams, who was a painter. When the Civil War broke out he enlisted and died while in the army. A few years ago his wife died. Now Albert Powers owns the property. Mr. Powers, a carpenter, has erected four houses to the south of his home. The first is owned by Dennis Cook; the second by William Jones; the third by James O'Brien and the fourth is still owned by Powers but occupied by others.

Just south of the Hughes place was once the home of Giles B. Crandall, later moved further north as mentioned before. Among the different owners were John Ennis, Charles Nelson and James Mitten at the present.

Adjoining on the south is the old Crandall homestead. Mr. Crandall came here in an early day and he was a cabinet maker by trade as well as all four of his sons. At his death a son, Charles, took the property and lived here and brought up his family. At his death, a daughter who married Frederick Gates, bought the property. At this purchase the time at last came when a change was to be made in this old homestead. At the time this house was built and for many years after, this was at the head of Fayette Street. Two new cottages stand on the same frontage and the old homestead has passed away and is forgotten. The south house was sold to William O'Brien, who now owns and occupies the property. Emil DeSmith owns the other house.

Passing on, our next house is where Jacob Ziegler lived in the late 60's. Later he moved to Market Street where he carried on blacksmithing for many years. Mr. Ziegler was a native of Germany and a veteran of the Civil




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War. He came to Palmyra when a young man. All who knew him can say he was a true patriot. Marvin Dailey now owns and occupies the place. The brick house on the south was built by Washington Sherman in the early 50's. At his death it passed into other hands. Among some of them were Selleck and Frank Vandewater, who has made a good many improvements, besides building a large evaporator where he dries large quantities of apples each year. Mr. Vandewater has had charge of the village water works for a good many years.

The late Thomas L. Root lived in the next house. In the 70's he sold out and moved to Canandaigua Street where he died in the 80's. This place, like a good many others, has met with many changes. It is now a double house and is owned by Peter Burke.

The next two houses on the south were erected by Joshua Lawrence for business purposes. The one on the corner he used for a blacksmith shop in which he worked, while the other was used for a carriage shop. He himself, lived in a little old house that is now owned by Mrs. Nellie Coughlin, just east of the shop. The house has been rebuilt. Mr. Lawrence was a veteran of the Civil War and died in the 90's. The large shops have been converted into dwellings. The place on the corner [at Spring. St.] is owned by John Geldof, while the one to the north is owned by Louis Gratton.

Two little houses were built by the late George Brown in the 70's. These are on the south side of Spring Street, while the other two came from back of the trolley station, and were built and owned by Joseph Williamson.

After passing the Jeffery house on the corner the first house we see is owned and occupied by Patrick Hickey; the second by Mrs. Mary Tilburg; third, by the heirs of Daniel O'Brien.

The next, which was erected here very recently is owned and occupied by Fay Bacon, while the last, which is one of the two houses that were moved here, is owned and occupied by George Burke.

Next to the Coughlin house, across the way, is the pumping station for the Palmyra Water Department. Frank J. Vandewater, Superintendent of the Water Department, lives in the house adjoining the station.

On the southeast corner of Fayette and Spring Streets stands a house built and occupied by a Mr. Zipful, who was a blacksmith. It is now owned and occupied by Isaac Jeffery, who has added a new porch.

The old Ashley Hibbard house is still standing on the south, looking finer and more modern than when first built. Now it is owned and occupied by others.

This was originally the end of Fayette Street, but it was lengthened to intersect Foster Street when that street was laid out in the 70's. John Coppins, a war veteran, as mentioned before, whose wife was murdered, lived in a little house on the corner [at Foster St.]. At his death Peter Vanderwege purchased the property and built three fine cottages on the lot. Elmer Hibbard owns and occupies the first, Fred Race the second, and Peter Vanderwege the one on the corner.

The large two-story house across the way [on Fayette St.] was built in the 70's by Joseph Benedict, later sold to Mary Breen. At her death it was sold to Jacob





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Cuyler. Mr. Benedict was a veteran of the Civil War. He died in 1925, being over 90 years old.

The little house on the corner was owned in the 60's by Asher Cray, later by John Trumbull and now by Frederick Black.

We have now arrived at the end of Fayette Street. Let us return to Jackson Street.

Jackson Street

This street did not come legally into existence until April 28, 1829, when its survey and description were adopted by the trustees of the village. The survey of the extension to the east of Fayette Street having been recinded in December, 1830, that portion of Jackson Street did not become a street until 1869, when Jackson and Catherine Streets were united by Sexton Street. In 1928 the course was changed and it was renamed Prospect Drive. Later we will find a more accurate description in the survey of streets.

As Jackson Street seems to be our next street to visit, suppose we start at the southeast corner of Jackson and Fayette. Near the corner stands two brick houses, erected in or near the 40's by the late William H. Bowman. In the 60's the late Marcus C. Finley purchased the corner house. Mr. Finley was a native of the town of Walworth, N. Y. He was born on what is known as Finley Hill, two miles noth of the village of Walworth. Here on this hill his father, John Finley, and an uncle, Reuben Finley, came and settled at an early date, each owning a large farm. Each raised a large family. Marcus received his early education at the district school and Walworth Academy, part of the time being employed as teacher. He also attended school at Lima, teaching school winters to defray the expense while getting his education. Later he studied law and was admitted to the bar and located in Palmyra. In the 60's he married Helen, a daughter of Albert G. Myrick. He held several town offices, among them school commissioner, Justice of the Peace and he was for a good many years Police Justice; also an assessor for both town and village. He died in 1911 at the age of eighty-one years and the property passed into the hands of his son-in-law, Samuel II. Hunt. Now it is owned by Abram Tilburg.

In the 50's Miss Emily Jarvis, daughter of the late William Jarvis, married Jackson Mirick of Lyons. Shortly after their marriage they moved to Jordan "There Mr. Mirick became engaged in the milling business. After his death which occurred in the 60's, Mrs. Mirick came back to Palmyra and purchased the little brick house west of the Finley house. Here she lived and brought up her family. At her death, which occurred in 1922, the homestead went to her daughter, Mrs. Hattie Mirick Elton, who still owns and occupies the place.

Our next place on the west in the 40's was the residence of the late Dr. May. At his death, which occurred in the 60's, the property was sold to Uria S. Milliman, who was a veterinary surgeon. Mr. Milliman came from Walworth and was a native of Avon, N. Y. In the 90's Mr. Milliman sold out and moved to Michigan where he died a few years later. About 1905 the late Frank Holway bought the property and built a new house on




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the east side of the lot. A few years later Mr. and Mrs. Holway died. The last house is now owned and occupied by Howard Jackson, while the old May house is owned by Frank Fish. Away back in 1835, across the way where a little cottage now stands, was erected a stone schoolhouse which was used for a district school until the Union School house was built. For many years after it had served its purpose for a school house, it was occupied by William Gardner as a dwelling house. Later it was owned and occupied by Julius M. McLain. After his death, Judge Charles McLouth bought the property, tore down the old stone house and built a neat little cottage on the same site. Now Charles McLouth, jr., lives here.

Now if you will please follow me we will go to the north end of Cuyler Street to Main Street. We will start on the east side of Cuyler Street and go south and return on the west side.

A brief mention has been made of the old William Howe Cuyler homestead that stood just south of the Jarvis block and north of the old church and back from the road. It was a typical old New England house, long and low. In the 30's when Mr. William Jarvis purchased the property, the old house was used as a tenant house and in the 50's the north end was occupied by John Milbank and the south end by James Shirtliff. These tenants occupied this house for several years until the fire of 1876, when the old house was burned to the ground, meeting the same fate of the neighbors on the north. Thus has passed away another old land mark that will be known only in history.

At a very early date Mr. Cuyler owned a strip of land on the east side of Cuyler Street, extending as far south as Cyrus Foster's north line. At that time no houses dotted this landscape. Neighbors' cows and pigs were permitted to roam at large over the same ground where now stands palatial homes with tidy yards, furnishing fruit and flowers each in their season as we shall see as we pass along.

In the front yard stands a bowling alley, while a little further south stood the old M. E. Church of which mention will be made later. On the same site of the garage once stood the house of William Cuyler, son of William Howe Cuyler. At his death the place went to decay. The place was sold, the old house was torn down and a garage has been erected on the same site. Mr. Cuyler kept a hat and fur store on the north side of Main Street, where the Cuyler block now is, and the old store stands on the north side of Williams Street and was used as a carpenter shop as mentioned before. Now it has been torn down. Not one of this family is living.

Adjoining this on the south was another old land mark of the '30's. In the early 50's the late Kingsley Miller owned and occupied this property. At Mr. Miller's death the property was sold to Reeves Culver who was a fine carpenter. He sold the old house to Hannah Sexton which she moved to Church Street to keep company with the old Beecher house that stands in the rear and built the present house on the site of the old one. At Mr. Culver's death William Williamson purchased the property. He was a veteran of the Civil War. He was in the cigar business with his brother




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John K. Williamson on Fayette Street as mentioned before. Mr. Williamson died about 1905. His widow is still living at the same place.

As early as in the 30's the late Wells Anderson, who was a shoe merchant and tanner at one time, with store on Main Street, lived in the next house south. In this house he lived and brought up his family. At his death B. T. Babbitt, the soap king, purchased this property, moved the old house back and put a large two-story front on. After a few years Mrs. F. E. Candee acquired the property and lived here a good many years. At her death which occurred about 1919, the place was sold to Thomas Birdsall who made a good many improvements on the property. He now owns and occupies the place. Mrs. Candee was a natiVe of Palmyra. Her maiden name was F. E. Ackley and at one time she was a teacher in the Union School.

Our next house was in the 30's, the home of Thomas Birdsall, grandfather to the Thomas Birdsall previously mentioned, one of the leading merchants on Main Street. At his death which occurred in the 60's the homestead came into the hands of his son, Henry, who died in the 90's. His widow, Mrs. Charlotte Jenner Birdsall, is still living on the place. About 1900 Mrs. Birdsall moved the old house on a vacant lot on Charlotte Avenue to make way for a more beautiful and attractive home on the same site of the old one. Mrs. Birdsall is still living and enjoying the comforts of the new house, surrounded by her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

The next neighbor on the south was Mrs. Mary Anne Woodward, who built a little Gothic cottage near the ravine. After living here a few years, she took a trip to Europe, and rented her little cottage to Myron Pardee; later to Albert G. Hemingway, followed by Mrs. Henry Gardner. After spending a few years in Europe she returned. She was wealthy and well educated and was possessed of high literary attainments, but being a very eccentric person, her acquaintance was confined to a small circle of personal friends. For many years prior to her death, she arranged even the minute details of her funeral, and left written instructions to her nephew, Daniel C. Lillie, to be carried out at her death, and Mrs. Charlotte Birdsall, a near neighbor and intimate friend, assisted him in doing so.

In hopes that they may prove of benefit in this extravagant age of funerals, we give a few of the details followed at her funeral: The coffin was not to exceed in cost ten dollars, and was to be a black box, with trunk handles, and she was to be laid out in a calico dress, which Mrs. Birdsall personally superintended; no hearse in attendance, no carriages, no sermon, no singing. After the reading of the scriptures, prayer and brief remarks by Rev. Horace Eaton, the plain coffin was placed upon a bier, and four colored pallbearers, whom she had chosen, namely, John Baxter, George Ballard, Frank Bogart and Andrew Foster, on foot, bore the remains to their final resting place for which, according to her request, each received a five-dollar gold piece for their services, which she had laid aside for that purpose. She also requested not to exceed twenty guests to be invited to attend the services. No time was set for the funeral. Mrs. Irving Eggleston,




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Mrs. Charlotte Birdsall, Dr. Horace Eaton and Daniel C. Lillie followed the bearers on foot. But, however, it was thought best by Mr. Lillie and Mrs. Birdsall to secure one carriage, for the convenience of Mrs. Allen Thayer, who was too old, and too feeble to walk, who was accompanied by Mrs. Eaton.

Her grave was prepared and tombstone erected many years ago. She left Dr. Horace Eaton $500 in her will. There was poetry and power in the march of those sable pallbearers, as they carried their benefactress to her burial.

Mrs. Woodward left the strong to stand in their own might. The neglected and depressed drew her sympathies and help. Her watch word was "the survival of the weakest." While residing in New Orleans she saw that slavery was a bitter draught. She took stock in the underground railway. At a large price she bought a female slave, and set her at liberty. Her solicitudes and charities never ceased to go forth in behalf of the education and elevation of the men her influence contributed to make free. She died June 20, 1881 at the age of eighty-seven years.

After the death of Mrs. Woodward, Norton Gardner bought the property and after living here with his parents until about 1889, sold the same to Mosher Story and William Rogers, his son-in-law, occupied the cottage for eight years until the death of his wife, when he moved away. Then Mr. Story moved the little cottage to the corner of Charlotte Avenue and Hathaway Place and built the present fine residence in 1898, and gave it to his daughter Frances, who married the late Frank Hutchins, who was a clerk for many years in the M. Story Dry Goods Store until the death of Mr. Story. Then a co-partnership was formed in the business by the old clerks of which Mr. Hutchins was a member. He died several years ago, his wife retaining her interest in the firm and still living and enjoying the blessings of her beautiful home and thrifty family.

When Mr. Story came into possession of this property he measured off a suitable lot to go with the cottage and sold the remainder of the lot to Wright Gardner, who built the present house in the 70's on the south. After living here a short time he sold out to W. H. H. Osborn and went West. Mr. Osborn was at one time in the insurance business with Hiram Clark, a veteran of the Civil War, and later had a mince meat factory and coal yard on Railroad A venue in a wooden building a little northeast of the gas house, which has since been torn down. He, being an enterprising man, built a culvert over the brook, and filled in the ravine, thus making a great improvement in the property. After living here a few years he sold the property to Robert H. Bareham, who has been a lifelong resident of Palmyra and one of the oldest business men, having carried on the bakery business since he was a young man. He is now living in this pleasant home which is made attractive by plants, shrubs and flowers.

But who remembers the little yellow cottage, the wild ravine and the brook? We looK in vain to see the old plank bridge that spanned the little stream that crossed the highway and the old long wooden foot-bridge, across the ravine, used as a sidewalk, with its rickety guard rail. We look




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in vain to see the little wild ravine, for it has been filled in and leveled off and the little brook is hidden from view by an archway that covers the stream. This little wild spot that is now level with the land on either side and covered with a mantle of green, is remembered only by the grandfathers and grandmothers of today.

Passing on we come to the house where in the 50's lived the widow of Dr. Eggleston. After her death her son Irving built a new house. He died in the 80's. Now it is owned and occupied by Walter P. Smith, a jeweler by trade and engaged in the business with Charles Ziegler as partner and the firm name is "Smith & Ziegler."

Near 1880, Hon. Charles McLouth, who lived in the house east of the Episcopal Church, wishing to build a new house, chose for the site on which to build, the corner of Jackson and Cuyler Streets. He bought two lots on Cuyler Street, one where Col. Joseph W. Corning lived; also the Peter Huyck place. The Corning house was moved to west Jackson Street and the Huyck house was moved to the Amos Sanford lot on Canandaigua Street. The little hood over the front door looks very much the same as in the 40's, while the porch columns that were sawed out of plank on the Corning house look just the same as when on Cuyler Street. For nearly forty years Mr. McLouth was permitted to enjoy this beautiful home. He was a native of Walworth, received his education at the Walworth Academy, came to Palmyra in the 50's, studied with the late William Aldrich in the little office north of Sexton's bank, admitted to the bar and practiced law until his death, which occurred in 1917, at the age of eighty-three years. He was an able lawyer and a good citizen.

But let us pause for a moment and view the ground we have just passed over since we left Main Street and roll back the tide of seventy years. We find not a single one living here that lived here then. They all have passed away and if by chance the young man or woman that went away seventy years ago should return to the home of their childhood they would not find on the east side of Cuyler Street a single house standing that stood here then. The old wooden bridge and the brook and the ravine would be hidden from their view. But iif they turn their eye to the west they will see the same innocent little brook that now, as in days gone by, in the Spring of the year, like the river Jordan, when on a rampage, it sweeps everything before it, as it did little Russell Bareham when a very small boy, who was playing with some other children at the upper end of the culvert and accidentally slipped into the rushing torrent. He was soon washed down out of sight. The children at once gave the alarm, and an older brother ran to the lower end, a distance of nearly two hundred feet and caught him when he came through. They were all crying. He said, "What are you all crying about? I am all right."

This little brook still goes gliding on its way from its fountain to the seas as in days gone by, leaving a sweet impression on many a child that waded in its stream or sported upon its bank.

No other block in the village furnished as many young men for the European War as this little block on Cuyler Street. Eight young men




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cheerfully answered their country's call, Karl Lebrecht, Lucian and Nelson Bareham went across while the others went into the training camp, ready to go at a moment's notice, but the war closed suddenly and the boys were not needed.

Across the way in the old brick house just north of the brook, lived a young lady by the name of Margaret Stevens, who had lived in Palmyra nearly all her life and was for a long time a teacher in the Union School. This young lady, at the election in the Fall of 1918, had the distinction of putting her name unconsciously into history by being the first woman to cast the suffragette vote in town. Thus another honor to the little block.

John Rushmore, about the year 1906, bought of Carlton C. Hunt, on the southeast corner of Cuyler and Jackson Streets, a lot on which to build the present fine house. Mr. Rushmore belonged to a family of Quakers who were among the first settlers of the town of Farmington. In the 70's his father sold his farm in the town of Farmington and came to Palmyra to live. When John was a young man he kept a drug store on Main Street for several years, just west of the hotel, but with failing health the care of his large farms and the drug store was too great a burden. About 1914 he sold the drug business, retaining the real property until about 1923, when he sold the entire property to D. W. Briggs, who had previously bought from him the drug business.

Farther south upon the hill, with the same commanding view as when Major George W. Cuyler in the 40's lived here, this old-fashioned house with mansard roof is now owned by a grandson, Carlton C. Hunt, who has kept it looking very much as it was in his grandfather's day. Mr. Hunt spends his Winters in Florida, coming North to the old homestead in the Summer.

Very different is its neighbor on the south where the late Judge Strong lived in the 40's, in this old colonial house with his law office on Walker Street. About 1850, Mr. Strong sold out and moved West. Shortly after leaving Palmyra, his son Hart Strong was stopping at a hotel in a western city. The hotel caught fire and their son perished in the flames. After Mr. Strong moved away Albert Wells lived here for awhile; also Wells Tyler who at one time was in the clothing business and in the 70's kept the post office. After living on the place a few years he sold out and moved to Rochester, then to Detroit, Mich., and after his wife's death went to Baltimore to live with his son Lewis Smith rryler. When a young man he was a clerk for several years in the Birdsall & Sanford store. About 1898 the late William H. Kent purchased the property, which through neglect had become quite dilapidated. He repaired the house and cleaned up the grounds and restored it more in keeping with its former appearance. He sold the little office which was moved to West Jackson Street and can now be seen in a yard just east of the fair grounds.

Mr. Kent, six or seven years later, sold his large farm situated tnreefourths of a mile north of the Yellow Mills, to the New York Central Railroad Company for the gravel. A few years later he sold the old colonial home and moved to California. A few years later his wife died and he




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then returned to Palmyra where he died a few years later. Mr. Kent sold the property on Cuyler Street to Thomas Trull and Frank Hutchins. The lot was then divided, Mr. Trull taking the house and barn and Mr. Hutchins taking the south half on which he built the little cottage on Walker Street, later owned by Mrs. Christina Stell. After the death of Mr. Hutchins the vacant lot was sold to Charles Ziegler on which he erected the present modern cottage. Mr. Trull built the fine house on the north and sold the old homestead to George P. Baker, who keeps it for a summer home. These two new and modern houses and the old colonial house restored to its early appearance, makes South Cuyler Street the most attractive and park-like street in the village.

The fine large brick house at the south end of Cuyler Street was built by Egbert B. Granden in the 20's. At the time this house was built it was very much smaller than at the present time. As soon as 1830 the property came into the possession of Otis Clapp. Mr. Granden came from the Ziegler house on the north end of the Whitely block on Market Street.
Some time in the late 30's Mr. Clapp sold to James Walker, sr., who shortly after coming to Palmyra became engaged in the hardware business with Martin Butterfield. In the 60's Mr. Walker sold the place to Hon. Henry R. Durfee and moved away. Mr. Durfee, after living here a few years, sold to the late Allyn F. Goldsmith, who left his farm in Port Gibson to live a retired life, but after the novelty had worn away and an idle life had lost its charm, he longed to go back to the old farm that had furnished him with food and clothing for so many years. He sold this little handful of brick and clay to James Walker, jr., who was equally anxious to come back to the home of his childhood.

On his large fine farm, Mr. Goldsmith spent the rest of his life peaceful, contented and happy. After the death of Mr. Goldsmith, a daughter, Kate, came into possession of the farm and now owns the old homestead. The house and out buildings have been remodeled and repaired and made into an attractive home. When the Barge Canal went through a beautiful lake was made by overflowing a large tract of land. This sheet of water is in plain sight of the old homestead. With Miss Goldsmith's business ability, she has made the old home a delightful spot.

After Mr. Walker had purchased the old homestead, he enlarged the house and made extensive improvements. About 1900 this property passed into the hands of Nelson G. Drake by deed from Mrs. Floretta Walker and then to Pliny T. Sexton, who about 1906 sold the same to Samuel Hall Hunt, a grandson of the late George W. Cuyler. Again the h0use was extensively remodeled and with this beautiful view and standing at the head of Cuyler Street, it makes a very desirable location.

For many years this location was in the shade of a beautiful maple grove that stood on the west. About 1902 a new street was put through opposite Walker Street, extending west to Canandaigua Street and named Charlotte Avenue in honor of its owner, Mrs. Charlotte Jenner Birdsall, it being a part of her grandfather's farm.




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We leave Charlotte Avenue, one of the newest streets of the village and the sketch of its creation and occupancy until later.

Crossing the corner of Charlotte Avenue and passing to the north, we find on the west side the home of the late Hon. Frederick Winter Griffith. The lot upon which this house stands was purchased in September, 1887, by Edwin C. Hall. In October Mr. Hall began the erection of the house with the Harmon Brothers as contractors, doing the work. The house was completed about the first of May, 1888. Mr. Griffith purchased the property in 1891, taking possession in October of that year. The house was enlarged and remodeled and every convenience that could be added to one's comfort has been installed and the well-kept lawn made more attractive by the presence of two or more of the famous Hathaway grove maples, all of which adds much to the attractiveness of the home.

The Griffith homestead is now occupied by the elder son, Frederick A. Griffith, while the younger son Henry W., lives in a fine new home on Canandaigua Street.

Adjoining on the north and close by stands the home of Dr. William H. Marks. This pleasant little house was built in 1896 by the late Samuel P. Nichols and by him sold to the present owner. George C. Williams was the builder. For more than twenty years this attractive home has been well cared for and is one of the most pleasant homes in our village. The doctor is a native of Canandaigua, coming to Palmyra when a young man. He opened a dental office in the Jarvis block where he still continues to do a flourishing business.

The next house was built and occupied for several years by Lawrence S. Travers. About the year 1894, previous to his occupancy of this place, he built the house now occupied by Ralph J. Hinkle on Charlotte Avenue. He later sold to James B. Kent and purchased the lot and constructed the house now occupied by the druggist, David W. Briggs, who came from Warsaw and bought the Rushmore drug store on Main Street.

As we pass on we come to the Selner E. Braman property. Mr. Braman has always lived in Palmyra. When a young man he chose the insurance business for his life work. After being in the office with William H. H. Osborn for a time, he started out and opened an office of his own and a short time after purchased the lot and built the house where he now lives. Mr. Braman has taken the same pride in the neatness of his home and grounds as his neighbors.

On the next lot at the north, in the year 1856, the late Lewis Goodell, who kept a meat market on the corner of Main and Cuyler Streets, in an old wooden building, built an ice house on this same lot near the street. At that time there were no houses in this block on the west side of the road. Mr. Goodell employed a few men to dig out the bank for the building. Among them was an old colored man by the name of Congo Grason, who at that time was supposed to be over ninety years old. This old colored man who was noted for his wit and honesty was once a slave. He had lived in and around Palmyra for a good many years. About this time he was living with his fourth wife and had twenty-one children. Upon being asked one time as to the number of his children, he said he did not know 'zactly, but




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thought he had between twenty-one and twenty-two, suh. At one time he took a job of sawing wood, but shortly became sick of his bargain. He sublet the contract for one shilling less, thereby losing money in the transaction. He was asked why he was willing to lose money on the job. "Well," he said, "it was worth something to be boss."

There are but few today that remember the old "Congo," as he was called. His color was genuine, his laughter bore the same characteristics of others of his race. He did not know his own age, but from certain information and dates secured from him, he was perhaps 110 years at the time of his death.

At the time the ice house was put up, George W. Cuyler found a good deal of fault and justly, too, for the building was made of old boards and the structure was certainly no ornament to the street or surroundings. Isaac W. Brooks and George Olivett were the carpenters. Although the latter was a good carpenter and of a jovial mind, still it was not the aim of the builders to display any of the better qualities of workmanship on a building of this kind.

During the erection of the ice house it became necessary one cold autumn day to shorten a board which he desired to use in a certain place. This board had been standing up against the pile of lumber, but the time at last came when this board was to take its place in the building. Mr. Olivett, upon setting the board up against the building found it was too long and would have to be sawed off.

The writer of this sketch, who at that time was a boy and living with Mr. Goodell, was sent up occasionally to assist in the erection of the ice house, and seeing that the board must be sawed off, threw a snowball with the intention of hitting the exact spot, but unfortunately it went rather wide, of the mark, but Mr. Olivett said about six inches from where that snowball hit, and on taking it down it was discovered that there was a knot just where it wanted to be sawed. "Well," says Mr. Olivett, "I know it is right for it is always right when you have to saw through a knot."

Mr. Olivett and his oldest son, William, were in the Civil War, both returning from the conflict.

A few years later, William, while working in a paper mill at Shortsville fell through an opening in the floor and was instantly killed, August 10, 1882.

Those individuals that worked upon the ice house have long since passed away and are nearly forgotten.

Long years have passed since the ice house was built. We look in vain for the old crooked rail fence that once bordered the street. We look in vain for the old ice house. It has long since been torn down and the old cellar filled up. But few individuals of our village know that such a building ever stood there.

But again we turn our eyes. In the rear of where once stood the old ice house and back upon the knoll, and in line with the other houses of the street, stands the home of Alfred C. Hopkins, built by the late George C.




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Williams, the contractor. Mr. Hopkins was its first occupant, moving in March, 1897.

Our next to the north is that of Joseph W. Leach, who came to Palmyra as a young man in the 80's and went into partnership with his brother-in-law, James P. Tuttle in the hardware business. Shortly after, he married Annie F. Winston, daughter of the late George Winston. He bought this lot and built the present house. About 1920 he sold to Albert Mitchell and went with his son and daughter to California to live. He died in 1923. His wife died several years before he left Palmyra.

We now come to the last house in the grove, yet it was the first of these to be built. About 1870 Charles B. Bowman, son of William H. Bowman, purchased the lot and in 1871 built the fine house now occupied by his son, William H. Bowman, whose mother, Mrs. Lucy Lakey Bowman passed away June 26, 1929. Mr. Bowman with his son kept a drug and grocery store on Main Street for a good many years. After the death of his father the son continued the business.

One is attracted to this home by the primeval elms and beautiful flowers that decorate the grounds.

We are now at the north end of "Hathaway's Grove." Here for many years was the entrance to the circus ground, when Dan Rice, P. T. Barnum and others drew large crowds that came to town on circus day to see Dan Rice and the elephants and to hear the lion roar and the band play. Old Dobbin was hitched to the buggy, a good quantity of new mown grass was put in the back end of the wagon for old Dobbin to eat throughout the day. In those days some people would not let their children go to a circus but they could go to the caravan that usually followed about two weeks later, thinking it more instructive to see the animals. The names of these circus proprietors are now history and the "circus grounds" as such are entirely forgotten.

With all these homes standing in a line back upon the knoll a liberal distance from the street, their dooryards decorated with plants, trees, shrubs and flowers, we yet fail to find trees that made up part of the grove, except those at the Griffith home and the two elms in the Bowman yard with their branches spreading across the street to the admiration of all who pass beneath them.

The former owners of this part of the village and those who laid out the street are known in the memory of but few. Changes are on every hand. Those who may have left Palmyra two generations ago upon their return would look in vain for the grove. The old landmarks have vanished. The axe and the winds have done their work. The few remaining sentinels of the former forest afford shelter and shade to him who thus appreciatingly breathes the prayer:
Woodman, spare that tree,
Touch not a single bough,
In youth it sheltered me,
And I'll protect it now.
But time has drawn its curtain. The Hathaway Grove is lost in the shadow and we carry away with us none but the fondest recollections of




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the past as we bid adieu to the south end of Cuyler Street and resume our journey north.

Crossing Jackson Street we fInd on the northwest corner the home of the late Samuel Sawyer. Until 1871 when Mr. Sawyer purchased this lot and built the house the lot had laid to the commons. Mr. Sawyer was a fine carpenter. He came to Palmyra in the 40's and learned his trade with Captain George Cook of the Huddle, near Walworth village. At one time he was canal superintendent and he was also president of the village. He died about 1906. He was the father of Justice S. Nelson Sawyer. This place is now occupied by R. D. Sessions whose wife is a granddaughter of the late Samuel Sawyer and a daughter of Justice S. Nelson Sawyer.

The double brick house on the north was built in 1849 by Jacob Crandall, who was a merchant tailor with a store in the west end of the Williams block on the south side of Main Street. In the 50's he sold out and went to Niles, Mich., where he died in 1879. Since the ownership passed to Edwin Anderson the property has been owned by his heirs until 1923 when it was purchased by Mrs. Louisa Smith who is still the owner.

The next house on the north side and close to the brook, although occupying this location not so many years, may be rightfully considered one of the old houses of our village. It once stood on the south side of Main Street. where the Jackman house is now. In the 40's it was owned and occupied by Mr. Tuttle, who was at one time in the tannery business. Later John C. Coates purchased the property. After living there several years he sold the house to a Mr. Parker who moved it to its present location. It was later owned by Frances C. Hooker who sold it to George McKnutt. Mr. Coates built a new house on the site of the old one.

Next adjoining on the north is an old brick house. Although not authentic, some claim that it was built by Judge Palmer. Later it was owned and occupied by the late Dr. A. W. Marsh, who lived here several years, dying in the year 1884, aged 80 years. His widow died about seven years later. The builders of those two old houses have long since passed away and no one living can tell who they were. Charles Lebrecht now owns the place.

North of the Lebrecht house stands one of later date and more modern in construction, built in the 60's by George C. Pettitt. After the death of Mr. Pettitt it passed into other hands. Now it is owned and occupied by Rev. A. L. Boynton. It was formerly owned by Hiram O. Young.

The Cullen Rogers house on the north, although modern in appearance, was when first built a little, low cottage. Here at one time in the 40's lived Leonard L. Seaman. He came to Palmyra from Poughkeepsie before 1835. He was a clothier by trade. At one time he ran the Yellow Mill and had a feed store in one of the old wooden buildings in the Jarvis block. Later here lived Edward Smith, the wool buyer, who also had an office in one of the old wooden buildings in the Jarvis block. The late Dr. Trowbridge, coming from the Sweezey house on Main Street, in the 80's, purchased the property, remodeled and enlarged this little cottage to its present dimensions. After the death of Mr. Trowbridge in March, 1886, it came into the possession of Cullen H. Rogers, who died about 1910. After his death his




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widow lived here a few years. About 1920 she sold the property to Dr. Clarence C. Nesbitt.

About 1850 the late Carlton Rogers, son of General Thomas Rogers, built the large residence on the north. At the time it was erected, with its spacious grounds, ornamented with rare plants, shrubs and flowers, together with those stately elms, it was considered one of the finest residences in western New York. While time may not have changed the structure to any great extent, yet its former occupants have long since passed away. The daughter and only child, left three sons, whose homes have been made in other localities. Mrs. Radcliff, the mother, at her death left the property 'to her sons, who about 1910 sold the property to Pliny T. Sexton, who at his death gave it to the King's Daughters for a library.

In the rear stands the little double house that was moved to its present location to make room for the Grange Hall. In this small house, once the late Dr. Eggleston lived. On Saturday afternoon it was his custom, very much to the regret of his son, Irving, who had to stay in, to make blue pills for the distribution among his patients.

In those days a good many of the village people kept a pig or two. The doctor was also inspired by this enterprise and accordingly purchased one. For some time all went well, but before long the pig sickened and died. He engaged Johnnie, Smith, the cartman, to take the dead animal and bury it. When Johnnie came for his pay, he charged the doctor fifty cents for his services. This amount the doctor thought exorbitant and would offer but twenty-five cents. This Johnnie indignantly refused to accept and informed the professional gentleman by saying "And you will get your pig back again." Sure enough, the next morning when the doctor went out into the yard he found the pig, according to prophecy, lying in plain sight.

Long years have passed since the local press advertised the "Palmyra Gardens," located in the rear of the Main Street buildings, with entrance to same either from Cuyler or Main Street. Here the public congregated on holiday occasions. On July 4, 1834, about three hundred ladies and gentlemen gathered here in the evening to I witness the display of fireworks, which closed the celebration locally of the national anniversary. It was on this occasion ninety-five years since, that a certain pedagogue --or rather more of ordinary pretensions 00 affecting to entertain certain conscientious scruples against patronizing the vulgar amusements as he seemingly termed them, stole through an adjoining back yard and by means of a woodpile and other facilities obtained a seat upon a high fence which enclosed the Gardens, in company of a parcel of boys, negroes and ragmuffins. Fancying himself unobserved, he was experiencing a bountiful share of that peculiar situation of acquiring something for nothing, when he was hit by a skillfully directed rocket which knocked him from his ill-gained eminence into a large open cask beneath. 'The scene drew from the company in the Garden, loud and long-continued exclamations of encore! encore! encore!





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We now find ourselves back to Main Street from whence we started to visit Cuyler Street.

Jackson Street -- at Corner of Cuyler

Once more we will return to Jackson Street and resume our journey west. On the southwest corner of Cuyler and Jackson Streets is the old Stephen Hyde homestead, where he lived in the 40's. Printed history does not appear to record the existence of any building upon the corner lot. The "Hyde House" facing Jackson Street is the former home of the family and may be credited with being the last house in the village to have the old-fashioned side seats on the front porch, a very usual feature of the early homes in this vicinity. Stephen Hyde died in the village, November 22, 1859, at the age of fifty-nine years, while his widow, aged eighty-three years, died in April, 1883. The age of these two residents as here given would make their year of birth 1800.

Mr. Hyde also owned the farm on Stafford Street now known as the McKuon farm. William H. Bowman owns the Hyde homestead in the village and having converted it into a two-family house, now rents it.

As we pass along to the west we again come to the same little brook that we crossed on Cuyler Street. Here, too, we find the little wooden bridge has met the same fate as the one on Cuyler Street and has been torn away. A stone culvert is occupying the place and the stream is hidden from view.

As we pass on west we come to where in the 40's, Hiram Wilcox built a brick house in which he lived. In the 50's it was a Methodist parsonage, occupied at one time by Rev. Brown. In October, 1866, Samuel M. McIntyre purchased the property for $3,200. Mr. McIntyre enlarged and remodeled I the house, improved the grounds and made it one of the finest homes in the village at that time.

Mr. McIntyre was a son of the late Dr. Alexander McIntyre. He was an able lawyer. When the Civil War broke out he enlisted in Company A, 111th Infantry and was a First Lieutenant. He was discharged in 1864 and again took up his professional work. He died about 1905. His wife, who was a daughter of the late Dr. Pomeroy of Newark, died several years before. It was Dr. McIntyre who stood by General John Swift when he was shot.

At the death of Mr. McIntyre the homestead passed to his two daughters and while in their possession two lots were sold off on the east. The double brick house was built by the Williamson brothers, Harry and William W., sons of the late W. W. Williamson, a veteran of the Civil War, while the house on the west was built by John W. Marder, about 1910; later sold to C. A. Sessions, the coal merchant, who still occupies this attractive home. In 1921 the two daughters, Mrs. May McIntyre Bush and Mrs. Edith McIntyre Bott, sold the homestead and this beautiful home was converted into a three-family apartment, and is now owned by Leigh Sessions of New York. On the north side of the street and on the west side of the brook, we can see another fine residence, built by the Hon. Barnett H. Davis in 1872,




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at a cost of $13,000, and it has been for over a half century one of the finest houses on the street.

Mr. Davis came to Palmyra in the 60's and started in the grocery business on the corner of Canal and Clinton Streets. In the 70's he sold out to a Mr. Robinson who carried on the same business. Mr. Davis moved to Main Street and entered into partnership with the late Julius Cleveland, occupying the store now occupied by Henry Runterman. He continued in the grocery business until about 1910, his partner having died. Mr. Davis became old and infirm, sold out his interest in the firm. and retired.

In politics Mr. Davis was a staunch Republican, having been chosen twice by the people for Member of Assembly. He was at one time a leader in the Republican party in Wayne County. His wife having died about 1910, he went to live with his only daughter in Montclair, N. J., where he soon died.

About 1914 Judge S. Nelson Sawyer purchased the property, made a good many repairs and improvements, thus making it one of the pleasantest homes in the village.

Just west of the Davis property, in 1886, Charles H. Chapman, leaving his farm, bought of Alfred Sansbury for $1,000, sixty-five feet which at that time was part of an orchard. The old barn that stood close to the street was moved to the northwest where it now stands, and Mr. Chapman built the present house and barn for $3,000. About 1900 he was badly hurt at the West Shore Railroad crossing from which he never fully recovered, dying a few years later. His first wife died a few years before. She was a relative and adopted daughter of the late John Shepard. His second wife was the widow of the late George Cornwell. At her death, the daughter, Mrs. Arden H. Hurlburt, sold the place to David B. Lamb and went to California to live.

Adjoining on the west, still another lot was sold in February, 1888, to Thomas L. Cook, the writer of this book, fifty-three feet front for $1,000, on which he erected the present house for $2,500, and is still living here now, at the age of ninety-two years.

We now come to the old Truman Hemingway homestead from which the two lots previously mentioned were taken. Mr. Hemingway came to Palmyra at an early date and for a good many years had a drug store on Main Street as mentioned before. At his death the property passed to his daughter, Mrs. Alfred W. Sansbury. In 1868 this property was sold to the Baptist Society for a parsonage. The purchase price was $6,000, and Mr. Sansbury moved to Vienna Street. But this was of but short duration, for Mrs. Sansbury was homesick and longed for the home of her childhood. The next year the Baptist Society began to talk about building a new church and to economize, thought a cheaper parsonage would answer every purpose. Accordingly the property was offered for sale. The old home was bought back. Extensive were the repairs and many were the changes made, making the old home more modern and it was the Sansbury home for a good many years. Mrs. Sansbury died in the 80's and the pleasant old home was broken up. Mr. Sansbury was now an old man and went to




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live with relatives at Oaks Corners, where he died about 1905. The old home was sold to Edwin B. Anderson, who lived here a good many years. At his death, which occurred in 1923, the place was sold to Dr. R. A. Reeves in the Fall of 1923.

There were two of the Sansbury children, a son, Albert, who lives in New York and the daughter, Mrs. Mary E. Sansbury Mills, lives in Poughkeepsie, N. Y. When the homestead was sold, Mrs. Mills reserved the mantle over the fireplace in the front room, which was a piece of art, it being hand-carved by the late William Kellogg, a very skilled mechanic and a father of the Kelloggs previously mentioned.

The lot upon which the little cottage at the north stands, came from the Sansbury property. In the 80's James Bourne purchased the lot and built the house, Charles Nelson being the builder. Later it was sold to Pliny T. Smith, son of R. M. Smith. He learned to be a dentist and later sold out to Nelson Bement and moved to Rochester. Mr. Bement is a cigar maker and has a little shop in the rear of his house.

we Will now pass the Union School grounds, of which mention Will be made later. Our first house is where in the 40's lived one of the McKachnies; later owned and occupied by Butler Newton and in the 50's by Lewis Goodell; later by the family of the late Dr. William May. In the 90's William Ryckman owned it.

Adjoining on the north in the 50's lived the late Dr. Crandall. In the 80's it was sold to Lucius Foster, Who made the one-and-a-half story house to one of two stories and with other improvements made a fine home in which he lived until his death which occurred in 1914, his wife having died several years before. After Mr. Foster's death the homestead came into the possession of his three daughters, as has been prevoiusly mentioned. In 1923 the homestead was sold to make way for the present new school house as well as the house on the south.

Now let us cross the street and return south. We now come to the property of the Baptist Church Society and occupied as a church for many years. Here was a business office in the early days of Palmyra. Here was printed the early issues of the first newspaper published in Palmyra. Here was kept 'the early stores of the village. Here, too, was later to be found one of the homes of our community. More will be said about the history of the church later. In earlier days a little red house stood south of this property and for a good many years was occupied by John Shably, the harness maker. He died in July, 1887, only a short time after the death of, his wife, who was stricken while attending a social at the Methodist Church of which she was a faithful member, dying soon after being stricken, leaving two children, Mary and Charles.

In the 60's a Baptist minister by the name of Mudge, who was a carpenter as well as a minister, bought this little red house, tore it down and erected the present house, which has since been occupied by different ones. Among them were Mrs. Jordan, M. Story and Col. A. P. Seeley. At his death, which occurred in 1920, the property was bought by Fred F. Kelly, who died in 1927. His widow now lives there.




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In our next house on the south in the 40's lived Mr. Scantlin, followed by Mr. Parsons, a bookkeeper at the canal collector's office in the 50's. Later Mr. Parliman, the carpenter lived here and now Mrs. Marie H. Dryer occupies the place.

The house on the south is another built by Rev. Mudge, in the same year as the Kelly house. The Moors lived here several years. In the 80's they sold out and went to California. The late Edwin Brigham at one time owned the place. Later came Mrs. Milliman, followed by Charles O'Connor and now it is owned and occupied by Theodore Whitlock.

Where the Presbyterian parsonage now stands, in the 50's the Burbanks lived. Later the Presbyterian Society bought the property and for several years it served as a parsonage. About 1908 the old house was sold to Duane Smith and moved south of the brook on Canandaigua Street, and a new parsonage was erected on the san1e site. Adjoining this on the south is the old Barnett Johnson house, moved from the site of the Harkness house just east of the Presbyterian Church. In the 80's this place was purchased by the late Thomas L. Root, the hardware merchant. At his death it passed to his children, a son and daughter, who moved to Rochester. Now it is owned by Harry Elder.

The house on the south, in the 40's was owned and occupied by Mr. Pardee, a merchant on the north side of Main Street and was the first man in the town to raise cultivated strawberries. It was for several years the home of the late Stephen P. Seymour. Later it was owned by Enos W. Pomeroy, who about 1902 sold out and went to Michigan where he died. A short time after, the property was sold to Dr. Lacy Bebee Darling, who remodeled and enlarged the house. After living here a few years he died and the place was sold to Elmer L. McBride who again remodeled the house and now owns the place.

The late Schuyler Parshall, about 1849, built the house on the south. In the early 50's the late Hon. Martin Butterfield, of the firm of Butterfield and Walker, purchased the property. He was at one time a member of Congress and also owned the Mitchell farm on the Creek Road, where the rope walk stood. Mr. Butterfield died in the 60's. The house has been enlarged and made into a double house. Now it is owned by Harriet Cornelius of Rochester.

Until about 1920, the little white cottage on the south kept its old-time appearance for seventy years. At that date the late Allen Williams, the tailor, owned and occupied this little cottage. After his death the late Isaac Bronson purchased the property, in the 70's. Mr. Bronson, at one time, was employed in the First National Bank of Palmyra. Later he was in company with George W. Cuyler in the lumber trade, where the Crandall Packing Company is located. After Mr. Bronson's death it passed into the hands of the late William Macauley, whose heirs still occupy the place. The next house on the south was built by Guile &.Jones, who sold it to Walter Brown and later he sold to Miss Mildred Smith and he moved to Buffalo.

In the 40's,on the south, stood a small white house, owned and




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occupied by Franklin Williams, the jeweler. In the 70's Mr. Williams moved away the little white house to erect a more attractive, larger and more modern house on the same site of the old one, and at that time it was considered one of the finest houses in the village. Mr. Williams was a great lover of flowers and took great pains to keep his home attractive. He kept an up-to-date jewelry store on Main Street. He died in the 80's and the property went into the hands of Pliny T. Sexton. It is now owned by Mr. Ziegler.

In the 40's, on the south, once lived Leonard L. Seaman, who once ran the Yellow Mill, as before mentioned. In 1849 the late Dr. Horace Eaton, a native of New Hampshire, purchased this property and lived here until his death. His wife died about 1906 and a daughter, Elizabeth, occupied the place until her death on November 1, 1925. In the 70's Mr. Eaton enlarged the house and also made many improvements.

Mr. and Mrs. Eaton were typical New England people and as long as they lived still retained that same hospitality that is so characteristic of those people. At this homestead the latch string was always out to the rich and poor alike.
On one occasion when the doctor was ill, two or three of the individuals, who were unfortunately addicted to strong drink, but whose affection for the doctor was unbounded, hearing of his illness, after a little consultation, unanimously agreed to go in a body and call upon him and express to him their genuine sympathy. Thus showing that these old bums, as they were called, had kind hearts.

Canandaigua Street -- at Jackson Steeer

On the northwest corner of Jackson and Canandaigua Streets, we find the brick house, built some time in the 40's, by John N. Green. His widow, Mrs. Maria Green, mother of Mrs. Joshua Drake, died in this village on March 8, 1875. Nelson Drake once owned and occupied this place and after his death, which occurred in June, 1866, the property came into the possession of John J. Shepard, who had previously rented the place. Here he lived until May, 1875, when he passed away, leaving a widow, who maintained the home until her death, when the place was sold to Edwin W. Mason, who with his family and parents occupied the place until 1922, when Mr. Mason sold the property to David Levis, a produce buyer, who immediately began to make very extensive repairs, changing it both on the outside and inside and making it an up-to-date home.

Between Jackson and Main Streets, we find on the west side of Canandaigua Street twelve homes and the church on the corner of Main and Canandaigua Streets.

Mr. Shepard's mother, Mrs. Sarah Shepard, who lived with her son, was a French Huguenot, born in August, 1769. She moved from Duchess County to Wayne County in 1834. She died in February, 1873, aged one hundred three and one-half years. At one time this particular part of the village was noted for the number of aged persons residing there, Mrs. Shepard, Mrs. Salmon Hathaway and Col. James Stoddard and others.

We have now returned to Jackson Street on which we will continue our journey for a while. On the southwest corner of Canandaigua and Jackson Streets is the William H. Farnham homestead. Mr. Farnham




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came here in the early 50's, buying the place of James Gallup. Previous to this, David Aldrich lived here at one time and it is claimed by some that he built the house.

Mr. Farnham, in the 70's, remodeled the house in every way, besides making it larger. The work was done by George C. Williams, the contractor.

Mrs. Farnham was a great lover of flowers and always had a fine flower garden. Now with the modern house and beautiful grounds this is an enviable home. At the death of Mr. and Mrs. Farnham, the property came into the hands of their only son, Lewis H. Farnham, who died about 1917. In 1921 the place was sold to Sanford M. Young for $5,000 and the widow of Lewis Farnham moved West. Mr. Young enlarged and remodeled the house, which again became a modern home.

During the occupancy of Lewis Farnham, two lots were sold on the west side. Elmer Bird, the hardware man, bought the east lot, while Marvin Tyler bought the west lot. About 1916 the latter erected a very attractive cottage in which he lived a short time when he sold the same to William Huxley, who is still living there. In 1923 Mr. Bird also built a modern new cottage on his lot in which he now lives, enjoying all the comforts