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Archiver > NYNIAGAR > 2002-09 > 1033140891


From: evelyn b cooper <>
Subject: Early Railroad Routes in Western NYS
Date: Fri, 27 Sep 2002 08:34:51 -0700


Hope no one minds my forwarding this article from the NY-WESTERN mailing
list. Although it does not mention Niagara County, it can give us an
idea of how our ancestors traveled across the state during those early
years. ~ Evelyn


The Daily News
Batavia, Genesee County, New York State
August 28-1888
-part 3-

Early Railroad Routes
Historical Facts Concerning Western New York Roads.
Mr. David E. E. MIX of Batavia has compiled from records in the
County
Clerk's office, some valuable and interesting information in regard to
early
railroads in Western New York. Mr. MIX read a brief paper before the
Pioneer Association at Silver Lake from which the following facts are
taken:
The Tonawanda railroad company, which was one of the early roads from
which sprung the great New York Central Corporation, was incorporated
April
24th, 1832, and was the second railroad built in this State, the first
being
the Mohawk and Hudson railroad, incorporated April 17th, 1827, and
extending
from Albany to Schenectady. The Tonawanda railroad was intended to run
from
Rochester to Buffalo, via of Batavia. In 1836 the road was completed to
South Byron, about eight miles Northeast of Batavia, and cars were run as
far as that point, horses furnishing the motive power. A year later the
road reached Batavia which was then the terminus. The Company then
purchased of James BRISBANE, a wealthy merchant and extensive land owner
in
the village, six acres of land on which to locate their depot. The road
as
originally mapped out was to run North of Main street in Batavia and the
depot was to be located near the present site of Mr. George BRISBANE's
residence. It was then the intention to cross the Tonawanda Creek where
the
Alleghany road bridge now is, and taking the line now followed by the new
Buffalo road go direct to Buffalo, but through the influence of men
owning
the property on the South side of the street, the engineer was induced to
change the route and locate it where their property would be more likely
to
appreciate in value. The Company built their first depot at the corner
of
Big Tree street (now Ellicott street) and South street, (now Jackson
street)
in the village of Batavia.
The first ticket agent of the Central road at Batavia was Erastus
SEYMOUR, who kept a book and registered the name of every passenger who
purchased a ticket. This book came into the possession of Mr. MIX
several
years ago and was later given to Ellis N. OSBORNE, then the Central's
station agent at Batavia. After Mr. OSBORNE's death his son presented
the
book to the Buffalo Historical Society, which now has it among many
interesting and valuable relics of the pioneer days of Western New York.
The first depot was built with the track running through the same and
having
large doors at each end in which the cars were locked up every night. A
track was laid from the depot along Ellicott street to a point near the
present site of the Court House, at which point was located the
turn-table
and water tank. The opening of the road from Rochester to Batavia was
celebrated May 8th, 1837, with a grand demonstration, great crowds coming
from the surrounding country to see the first locomotive.
April 13th, 1840, the Legislature granted an extension of three years
time for the completion of the road from Batavia to Attica, and May 1st
of
that year the State of New York loaned the Tonawanda railroad $100,000
with
which to go on with the construction. At Attica the road connected with
the Attica & Buffalo railroad, which had been chartered by the
Legislature
May 13th, 1836. These roads were completed, and opening of a through
line
from Rochester to Buffalo via Batavia and Attica was celebrated January
5th,
1843. April 9th, 1850, the Tonawanda railroad and the Attica & Buffalo
railroad companies were authorized to consolidate and change the name of
the
corporations to the Rochester & Buffalo railroad, and also to shorten the
distance between Rochester and Buffalo by the construction of a branch or
second line running direct to Buffalo from Batavia. This is the line
now
occupied by the four tracks of the New York Central.
The Albion & Tonawanda railroad company was chartered April 17th,
1832.
The line was to run from Albion, Orleans county, to Batavia, but the road
was never begun. In 1853 a survey was made from Batavia to Oak Orchard
Harbor by Mr. MIX, and a few years ago the plan of building a road from
Batavia, through Albion, to Oak Orchard Harbor was revived and
considerable
interest awakened in the project. The route was surveyed, and though the
scheme now lies dormant, the probably is that some time such a road will
be
built.
The Medina & Darien railroad was chartered May 5th, 1834. It was to
run
from Medina, Orleans county, to Darien, Genesee county. The company
began
work and built the road as far as Richville, in the town of Pembroke,
Genesee county, and in 1836 had that much in running order. The tracks
were
of wood and the cars necessarily light. The business did not warrant the
continuance of the project and the road was soon given up. Some
evidences
of it still remain.
The Warsaw & Le Roy railroad company was chartered May 5th, 1834.
The
name indicates its purpose to connect the two villages. The project was
given up at the time, but the Rochester & Pittsburg railroad now occupies
the field which at that early day those interested in the growth and
prosperity of the two villages saw would ultimately be trod by the Iron
Horse of Modern Civilization.
+
submitted by
Linda C. Schmidt



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