|
|
|
Town History
The Town of Yates was set off from the town of Ridgeway on April 17, 1822, encompassing ranges three and four of township 16 in the county of Orleans, bounded by Lake Ontario on the north, on the east by the town of Carlton, on the south by Ridgeway and on the west by Niagara County. The town had been called Northton by the Holland Land Company surveyors, but a few months after organization the name was changed to Yates in honor of the governor of New York State, Joseph C. Yates.
1860 Map of the Town of Yates - Click image for larger view.
SHADIGEE: Now a quiet summer colony, Shadigee has been in the past a thriving business district and later the scene of the town summer activity. Yates Pier, 275 feet long, one mile directly north of Yates Center, was built about 1850 by a stock company composed of farmers. Mr. George Lane of Newfane, N.Y. was the principal stockholder, Nathan Gilbert the builder. A warehouse was also built to store lumber and grain to be shipped. A warehouse built by Chamberlain and Simpson had occupied this same spot, this was swept away many years before the pier was built. Mr. Lane purchased and shipped grain from here to Oswego for several years.
In 1856 Mr. Erastus Spaulding purchased most of the stock and continued in the grain and lumber business until he entered the army in 1862. Mr. Spaulding bought as much as 50,000 bushels of grain in a season from Yates farmers. His brother, Henry, and Owen D. Phelps operated the business during the war. With the coming of the railroad, the lake trade gradually decreased and soon the business ceased operations.
The pier deteriorated and disappeared under the waters of Lake Ontario. Many remember the mound of earth at the end of Rt. 63, which was originally the loading ramp to the pier and warehouse. The mound was used for fill after the extensive erosion of the Lake shore in 1973.
Contact the Town Historian
Please complete all details of your inquiry and we will get back to you shortly.
*Required fields
|
|
|
|
|
For inquiries or appointments please call Dawn Metty, Historian at the Yates Town Hall.
8 South Main Street, Lyndonville, NY 14098
Phone: (585)
765-9716
Email
Orleans County Historical Association
Historic Photos and News Clips:
Town of Yates & Lyndonville
1860 Historical Maps:
Map of Lyndonville
Map of Niagara and Orleans Counties
Map of Oak Orchard
Map of the Town of Yates
Map of Yates Center
|