HISTORIANISM

The obvious merger of the words historian and tourism is meant to convey the commitment of these two groups in their joint effort to educate and entertain both the visitor and the local community alike.

Read on - it's really fascinating.

Do you have questions for us or are you looking for genealogy?
Contact our County Historians Office

Livingston County Historian:Ms. Amie Alden
5 Murray Hill Drive
Mt. Morris, NY 14510
585-243-7955
historian@co.livingston.ny.us

Click to read the Hometown Story posted at www.gvpennysaver.com
"New Word Is Coined: Historianism"

Fact By Livingston County Town

AVON - Avon's history as a famous health resort encompasses the year 1821 through the early Twentieth Century. Though the sulphur springs were well known to the native tribes, it was after white settlement in 1789 and specifically beginning in 1821 that commercialization brought thousands of tourists to Western New York. Fourteen inns offered "the waters" as drinks and baths and presented a relaxing ambiance among the aromas emanating from the numerous mineral springs. The springs still flow in Avon today. A village park occupies the area of the Lower Springs and the racetrack, laid out in 1836 serves as a training track for standard bread horses. The Avon Inn is the last remaining hotel from that era and remains a welcoming part of the Avon community.

Submitted By: Maureen Kingston, Town of Avon Historian

LEICESTER - The little hamlet of Cuylerville within the town of Leicester has some extensive history that has become obscured by time and only traces now remain.

• It was once the site of the most significant and largest village of the Seneca Nation.
• It was also the apex of the 1779 Sullivan Campaign during the Revolutionary War.
• One of the main arteries across the Genesee River for the pioneers traveling to the Great Lakes and lands to the west.
• In the mid 1800s it was an important port on the Genesee Valley Canal and the home of Col. Cuyler and his distillery business, including the historic National Hotel (now listed in the National Register.)
• The Sterling Salt mine and Halite village, home of the immigrants who worked as miners was located here, which also had quite a history as bootleggers in the days of prohibition.
• Boyd-Parker Park established here in 1927 by the Livingston County Historical Society which was recognized in 1929 by NY State with the largest public ceremony and historic pageant ever recorded in Livingston County. It is listed on the NYS Heritage Trail

Submitted By: Tom Roffe, Town of Leicester Historian

NORTH DANSVILLE

• One of the first nursery businesses in Western New York was started in Dansville.
• The Genesee Valley Canal ran through Dansville
• The famed Health Spa "Jackson Sanitarium" was founded by Dr. Jackson and later operated by Bernar McFadden

Submitted By: Quentin Masolotte, Town of North Dansville Historian

GROVELAND

• Williamsburg in the town of Groveland was the first surveyed village in Livingston County - 1792

Submitted By: Larry Turner, Town of Groveland Historian

SPRINGWATER

• The highest point of elevation in Livingston County is in eastern Springwater. During WWII the location was the site of an aircraft "lookout" station with 24/7 observers.

Submitted By: Havilah Toland, Town of Springwater Historian

LIMA

• Ambassador and Senator Kenneth Keating was born and educated in Lima
• Henry Raymond, co-founder of the New York Times and one of the founders of the Associated Press was born and educated in Lima

Submitted By: Joyce Rapp, Town of Lima Historian

NUNDA - In the Town of Nunda are two communities with their own identities. Nunda and Dalton. Each has its own post office, each had a railroad (the Erie in Dalton and the Pennsy in Nunda,) each had its own high school then centralized school. Today these two schools have merged into the Dalton-Nunda Central School, otherwise known as Keshequa Central School. In addition, each community had its own doctors, dentists, stores, church, mills, businesses etc…

Submitted By: Valerie Griffing, Town of Nunda Historian

General County Facts

Livingston County is Home To:

• The Caledonia Fish Hatchery (New York State Fish Hatchery) is the oldest in the country and was established in 1870 by Seth Green.

• The First Chapter of the American Red Cross, founded in Dansville, New York in 1881 by Clara Barton. 2006 Marks the 125th Anniversary year of the Clara Barton Chapter #1 House of the American Red Cross. "It must never be forgotten that Dansville is the First Child of the American Red Cross." - Clara Barton

• Letchworth State Park, the "Grand Canyon of the East" - 2006 Marks the Centennial Celebration of the Park. The first 1000 acres were given to New York State by William Pryor Letchworth.

• Mt. Morris Dam, located on the north east side of Letchworth State Park - The largest dam of its kind east of the Mississippi. Free tours inside the dam are offered.

• The Genesee Valley Greenway follows the path of the former Genesee Valley Canal (1840-1878) and Pennsylvania Railroad, Rochester Branch (1882-1963), from the Erie Canalway Trail in Rochester to Hinsdale, near Olean, passing through the Livingston County towns of Caledonia, York, Leicester, Mount Morris, Nunda and Portage. Presently, about 62 of its 90 miles are open year-round for hiking, biking, horseback riding, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, and snowmobiling. Historic canal and railroad features such as the canal prism, locks, stone culverts, turning basins and railroad remnants may be found along the Greenway. Interpretive signs also provide historic information for trail users in some areas.
  

• Genesee Valley Hunt, Geneseo, New York - the oldest active hunt in the United States still hunting on original grounds.

• Francis Bellamy, born in Mount Morris. He wrote (in 1892) the "Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag." His first words: "I pledge allegiance to my flag, and to the Republic for which it stands: one Nation indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." The pledge has been changed three times since Mr. Bellamy penned the first.

• Geneseo, New York - Is a "National Historic Landmark Village" and home to the State University (SUNY) at Geneseo

• John Wesley Powell, born in Mount Morris. He lead the first expedition down the Green River and the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon

• Presidents who lived here: Chester Arthur (in York, New York as a child)
  Millard Fillmore (worked in West Sparta, New York for three months as an apprentice

• Presidents who often visited:
  - Theodore Roosevelt often stayed with the Wadsworth Family and rode with the Genesee Valley Hunt.
  - Franklin Roosevelt made many trips to Livingston County as Governor

• Civil War Hero: Gen. James S. Wadsworth died in the Civil War the Battle of Wilderness There is a statue of him at Gettysburg.

• First White Settlement in Western New York - Williamsburg (in the town of Groveland, New York - all that is left is the cemetery)

• Groveland Shaker Community at Sonyea - Important location midway between the Ohio communities and eastern NY Shakers (now Groveland prison)

• The largest black locust tree in the United States is located in Livingston County. It is 26 feet in circumference, 94 feet tall with a spread of 68 feet and has a total of 423 points. It is located on Geiger Rd. in Dansville, near Poag's Hole Road.

• The forerunner of today's granola (known as "granula") was created and served at the "Our Home on the Hillside" in Dansville, NY

• Mary Jemison - "White Woman of the Genesee" Captured by native Indians when she was an adolescent - even after gaining freedom chose to remain with her Indian family on land that is now Letchworth State Park, married twice, had children, negotiated treaty's and lived into her 80's. She is buried in Letchworth State Park

• The only place where Cool Whip (by Kraft) is made is in Avon, NY.
  NOTE: Kraft does not do public tours.