Town of Chemung History established 1788
The first settlers began moving in as early as 1780. It was not until 1786 and upward that the majority of newcomers moved in to claim their parcels of land, by navigating the river or using footpaths. They carried with them their belongings: tools, seeds, their tinderbox and items needed to start a new life in the wilderness, and perhaps a keepsake or family heirloom. Soon after arriving they began to organize their town. They were hard working, dedicated individuals of mostly European descent. Log homes sprung up all along the river and tributaries with the pungent smell of wood burning and smoke billowing from their crude chimneys. Wild animals posed a problem for the early settlers. Wolf, bobcat and black bear to name a few. They faced many hardships in the early days of the town.
One of the first establishments in the town in 1788 was a tavern and grist mill, run by Maj. William Wynkoop, patriot of the Revolutionary War. In 1789, a Baptist Church Society was formed with the Rev. Roswell Goff. The first school was taught in the weaving room of Maj. Wynkoop’s home in 1795 with the first log school house built in 1799. The post office was established April 1, 1801 with Sgt. Elijah Buck, a Revolutionary War Patriot as the first postmaster and proprietor of the first general store and hotel. With a route through Chemung, a horseback post boy traveled from Wilkes Barre, PA to Elmira, NY and back again. Roads were opened on both sides of the river from Chemung to Elmira by the year 1807. The first stage route of the county began in 1819 from Wilkes Barre to Elmira. Grist and saw mills sprung up quickly along the river and mill streams. The Chemung River was determined a navigable stream by Legislature in 1813. It is reported a saw mill was established on the river as early as 1820 and the first river dam was built in 1826. The oldest framed house in the town dates to the year 1789. An old stone chimney is all that remains of a two story log home built in 1793. The settlers relied on ferries, which were nothing more than primitive rafts to travel from one side of town to the other. Location of the ferry was determined by land/river access and fordability of the river. Travelers might have been expected to pay as much as a shilling for a two horse team, sixpence for a one horse rig, with many payments being paid in barley, whiskey, corn or butter.
In 1829, Chemung was the largest manufacturer within the local communities of Linen, producing 7,726 yards and 1,813 yards of fulled woolen cloth manufactured. The 1829 census for the Town of Chemung showed 1,150 inhabitants and 2,231 in 1835. 5,489 acres had been improved and 42,511 acres remained unimproved.
The Junction Canal was completed in 1858, from Tioga Point, Athens, PA to Elmira. It was abandoned in 1872. Although the canal was short lived it was very important to the economy of the town and area. The Erie Railroad was established in the Town of Chemung, before 1850. Both were situated on the north side of the river. One of the single greatest historical journey’s of the Erie Railroad through the Chemung River Valley was in the years 1864 and 1865 when nearly 12,000 confederate soldiers were transported to prison camp in Elmira. Another railroad played a great part in our Country’s history. The Underground Railroad. Slavery was abolished in New York State in 1828. Although I am unaware of safe houses, depots or stations in the town, it is very possible the Chemung river banks served as a path to freedom where runaway slaves found their way to Elmira where they were actually transported by railcar to Canada. The first bridge to cross the Chemung River in the Town of Chemung was a suspension bridge, erected in 1875. A sign on the bridge read $25.00 fine for riding or driving on the bridge faster than a walk. The mid 1880’s brought the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad through the area on the south side of the river, with a station stop in Wilawana, PA (Wilawana is located at the southeast corner of the town). Chemung is well known for it’s Never Failing Spring. Used by Native Americans and colonial settlers in earlier times, the Chemung Spring Water Co. was founded in 1880. Prior to WWI, the Erie Railroad shipped water by tank cars to New York City.
Progress has continued through the years and today the Town of Chemung continues to strive with a balance of agriculture and industry. Interstate 86 and Norfolk Southern Railroad runs along the Chemung River and through the town. The river is now used for recreational activities.
(With over 225 years of history to cover, I feel as though I have only touched the surface on the history of the town, I hope I have highlighted some of the earliest achievements for you.)
One of the first establishments in the town in 1788 was a tavern and grist mill, run by Maj. William Wynkoop, patriot of the Revolutionary War. In 1789, a Baptist Church Society was formed with the Rev. Roswell Goff. The first school was taught in the weaving room of Maj. Wynkoop’s home in 1795 with the first log school house built in 1799. The post office was established April 1, 1801 with Sgt. Elijah Buck, a Revolutionary War Patriot as the first postmaster and proprietor of the first general store and hotel. With a route through Chemung, a horseback post boy traveled from Wilkes Barre, PA to Elmira, NY and back again. Roads were opened on both sides of the river from Chemung to Elmira by the year 1807. The first stage route of the county began in 1819 from Wilkes Barre to Elmira. Grist and saw mills sprung up quickly along the river and mill streams. The Chemung River was determined a navigable stream by Legislature in 1813. It is reported a saw mill was established on the river as early as 1820 and the first river dam was built in 1826. The oldest framed house in the town dates to the year 1789. An old stone chimney is all that remains of a two story log home built in 1793. The settlers relied on ferries, which were nothing more than primitive rafts to travel from one side of town to the other. Location of the ferry was determined by land/river access and fordability of the river. Travelers might have been expected to pay as much as a shilling for a two horse team, sixpence for a one horse rig, with many payments being paid in barley, whiskey, corn or butter.
In 1829, Chemung was the largest manufacturer within the local communities of Linen, producing 7,726 yards and 1,813 yards of fulled woolen cloth manufactured. The 1829 census for the Town of Chemung showed 1,150 inhabitants and 2,231 in 1835. 5,489 acres had been improved and 42,511 acres remained unimproved.
The Junction Canal was completed in 1858, from Tioga Point, Athens, PA to Elmira. It was abandoned in 1872. Although the canal was short lived it was very important to the economy of the town and area. The Erie Railroad was established in the Town of Chemung, before 1850. Both were situated on the north side of the river. One of the single greatest historical journey’s of the Erie Railroad through the Chemung River Valley was in the years 1864 and 1865 when nearly 12,000 confederate soldiers were transported to prison camp in Elmira. Another railroad played a great part in our Country’s history. The Underground Railroad. Slavery was abolished in New York State in 1828. Although I am unaware of safe houses, depots or stations in the town, it is very possible the Chemung river banks served as a path to freedom where runaway slaves found their way to Elmira where they were actually transported by railcar to Canada. The first bridge to cross the Chemung River in the Town of Chemung was a suspension bridge, erected in 1875. A sign on the bridge read $25.00 fine for riding or driving on the bridge faster than a walk. The mid 1880’s brought the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad through the area on the south side of the river, with a station stop in Wilawana, PA (Wilawana is located at the southeast corner of the town). Chemung is well known for it’s Never Failing Spring. Used by Native Americans and colonial settlers in earlier times, the Chemung Spring Water Co. was founded in 1880. Prior to WWI, the Erie Railroad shipped water by tank cars to New York City.
Progress has continued through the years and today the Town of Chemung continues to strive with a balance of agriculture and industry. Interstate 86 and Norfolk Southern Railroad runs along the Chemung River and through the town. The river is now used for recreational activities.
(With over 225 years of history to cover, I feel as though I have only touched the surface on the history of the town, I hope I have highlighted some of the earliest achievements for you.)
Friends of the Chemung River Watershed - http://www.chemungriverfriends.org/recreation.php
The Joyce M.Tice's Tri Counties Genealogy and History website has amazing and extensive history that I highly recommend, it is great reading and posts many old photos. http://www.joycetice.com/towns/chemung.htm
Please visit the Town of Chemung (Official Website) - www.townofchemung.com
References:
-A History of the Valley and County of Chemung, Ausburn Towner
The Joyce M.Tice's Tri Counties Genealogy and History website has amazing and extensive history that I highly recommend, it is great reading and posts many old photos. http://www.joycetice.com/towns/chemung.htm
Please visit the Town of Chemung (Official Website) - www.townofchemung.com
References:
-A History of the Valley and County of Chemung, Ausburn Towner