(From the November/December 2002 Historical Society Newsletter)
American history is complex, and the ways we interpret it continue to evolve. As part of our yearlong celebration of America’s 250th birthday, we will be sharing local histories written by community members. While these materials reflect the times in which they were written, they remind us that how history told is also part of history.
Sarah Bradford (1818-1913) lived in Geneva during the mid-19th century. After her husband’s death she ran a girls’ school out her home and wrote several books. Today her best-known work is the autobiography of Harriet Tubman, who dictated the story of her life to Bradford in 1869.
Bradford was the first to write a history of the City of Geneva from its days as a Seneca village to “modern” times. Her history was published in the 1862 Geneva Directory. While not comprehensive, Bradford’s history is one of the earliest accounts of the founding of Geneva. The excerpt includes the impact of Charles Williamson on Geneva and the creation of the Geneva Hotal. Over the course of the year more selections from Bradford’s history will follow.
Messrs. Phelps and Gorham sold this immense tract of land to Robert Morris, a native of Liverpool, England, by whom a large portion of it, including that in which we are particularly interested, was disposed of to Sir William Pulteney, of London, and his associates. This was called the Association and afterwards the Pulteney Estate.
It was in the year 1792, that Capt. Williamson, the early agent of this estate, whose exertions contributed so essentially to stimulate the progress of improvement in this wilderness, turned his attention to the spot upon which our village now stands. In a letter to a friend he says, “ I passed through an uninhabited wilderness of more than 100 miles before reaching Geneva, which consisted of a few straggling huts. There is not a road within one hundred miles of the Genesee country, which will admit of any sort of conveyance, otherwise than on horse-back, or on a sled, when the ground is covered 2 shillings per acre; some few farms of first rate quality have been sold for 4 s. per acre.”
Struck with the peculiar beauty of the elevated plain which crowns the bank of the lake, Capt. Williamson began here to lay out his building lots, parallel with and facing the lake. “These lots,” says Mr. Maude, the English traveler, who passed through the region in the year 1800, “are three-quarters of an acre deep, and half an acre in front and valued at three hundred and seventy- dollars each lot. One article in the agreement with Capt. Williamson is, that no buildings shall be erected on the east side of the street that the view of the lake may be kept open. Those who purchase a lot, have also the option of purchasing such land as lies between their lot and the lake, a convenience and advantage, which, I suppose, few will forego, the quantity not being great and consisting principally of the declivity of the bank which, for the most part is not so steep as to unfit it for pasturage or gardens.”
“In the spring of 1794,” says Mr. Turner, “improvements were commenced of Geneva, the first and principal one being the erection of the Geneva Hotel. It was completed in December, and opened with a grand ball which furnished a memorable epoch in the early history of the Genesee country. The Hotel was talked of far and wide, as a wonderful enterprise and such it really was. Even now, after the lapse of fifty-six years, when fine hotels have arisen in all of our cities and principal villages, the old Williamson Hotel, as it is often called, in its fine location, with its large open park in front, is ranked as one of the first class. Imagine how it was when it had no competitors in all the region west of Utica, save perhaps three or four moderate sized framed taverns; when log taverns were generally the order of the day… Mr. Williamson wrote to his principals proposing such a house, and urged that as it would stand in the doorway or entrance to the Genesee country, it should be respectable; so delighted as to make a favorable impression; and urged beside, that such a house, where all the comforts of a good English inn could be realized, would invite respectable people to the country. And so perhaps it did. How many readers of these early reminiscences, will remember the house, the landlord, and all belonging to that early halting place, in the long and dreary journeys that used to be made. Blended with it in memory, is the old stage coach; chilled and drowsy with long night rides, over hubs or parched clay roads. There would be the smart crack of the driver’s whip, the trundling of the wheels upon a stone pavement, the squaring up to the door, the getting out and stretching of almost torpid limbs; the rushing into well-warmed and comfortable apartments, the smell and taste of smoking steak and hot coffee, and other ‘creature comforts,’ that it will not do to speak of now. Some modern travelers know nothing of the extremes of pain and pleasure, of the old-fashioned way of traveling from Albany to Buffalo. For landlord to his new Hotel, Mr. Williamson selected Mr. Powell… Although Mr. Williamson’s house was at Bath, a large portion of his time was spent at Geneva attending to matters connected with the northern division of the purchase. The company that he drew around him made a very considerable business for the new Hotel; and it was the early home of the young men without families, who located at Geneva; the principal stopping place for emigrants who could afford the comforts of a good inn.”
Capt. Williamson has two rooms in this Hotel,” says Mr. Maude, “devoted to himself, and as he resides here the greater part of the year, he takes care that Powell does justice to the establishment, and to his guests. From this cause it is, that as it respects provisions, liquors, beds, and stabling there are few inns in America equal to the Hotel in Geneva.”
… Capt. Williamson, struck with the resemblance of the scenery about the lake , to the that of Lake Leman, in Switzerland, had given the place the name of her beautiful European sister; for which kindness, if it were necessary to part with its beautiful Indian name, we of the present generation owe him a debt of gratitude. Happy to have escaped the shower of Greek and Roman titles, which were sprinkled throughout the land, when the euphonious Indian appellations so soft and so significant were gathered up and the classical dictionary supplied their place.
“At Mile Point, a mile south of the Hotel, “continues Mr. Maude, “Capt. Williamson has built a large and handsome house, intended for the residence of his brother, who had an intention of establishing himself in Geneva.”
The house stood at the intersection of the roads near Mile Point, and was intended to be approached through an avenue of popular trees, planted each side of the whole length of Main street, and widening as it approached the house. It was never occupied, and never finished but long stood a terror to the lower class of people, and the negroes, from its reputation of being ‘haunted;’ and then was pulled down, and ever trace of it removed. Two or three of those popular are still standing.
“In 1792,” I again quote from Mr. Maude, “Geneva does not contain but three or four families, but such is the beauty, salubrity and convenience of the situation that is now, (1800) consists of a least sixty families, and is rapidly receiving accessions as the new buildings get finished for their reception.”
Of these earlier residents of Geneva, and those who soon followed them, some of the descendants now remain; and from these I have been able to gather such accounts of the first acquaintance and associations of their ancestors with this place, as my limited time permits. The space given me is also circumscribed, and thus my notice of each must be as brief and condensed as possible.
Of some of these early settlers, no traces remain, and all I can say of them is, that they ‘lived and died’ of many others most interesting reminiscences might be called up, did time and space permit.
We find Geneva in 1792, Mr. and Mrs. Colt, Messrs. Johnstone, Hallett, Reese, Bogert and Beekman. Three of these gentlemen were lawyers,; there were also two doctors, two store-keepers, a blacksmith, shoemaker, tailor, hatter, hair-dresser, saddler, brewer, printer, watch-maker, and cabinet-maker.
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Sarah Bradford’s History of Geneva, Part 1
Sarah Bradford’s History of Geneva, Part 2
Sarah Bradford’s History of Geneva, Part 4
One Response
It is so interesting to continue to read and follow the history of Geneva further and further back over the 250 years.
Thank you