The old Hutchinson homestead was formerly located on the lake side of Lake Street in Cayuga. It was built in 1816 by John Davis, a prospector from Pennsylvania. Davis married Elizabeth Boardsman Hall, but died in 1819 by drowning off the Cayuga bridge. She then married Mosely Hutchinson. This home burned in the summer of 1910.

The new Hutchinson Homestead was built on the other side of the street. The home is still standing today. It contains 24 rooms, 9 fireplaces and six and a half baths. It has a five-bay facade, a gambrel roof, a large porch on the front, and capped and paneled chimneys at opposite ends of the gables. There is a large carriage house to the rear of the house which was built in 1910. In the early days there was an enclosed tennis court and beautiful flowers.

The homestead housed five families of which the area can be proud: the Chases, the Bassetts, the Cowles, the Hutchinsons and the Ferrees. Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. Chase, Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Bassett and Mr. and Mrs. Charles Bassett spent a lot of time at the homestead.

Caroline Rothkegal lived in Cleveland, Ohio. She and her six sisters went to Cleveland Professional Cooking School and graduated with honors. She arrived in Cayuga by train, June 13, 1912, to start her new job as a cook at the Hutchinson homestead.

The first day she baked seven loaves of bread, three batches of biscuits, chicken and vegetables, and a very special chocolate cake for dessert. She served 25 people that day.

Charles B. Probst came to Cayuga on May 2, 1912, from Williamsport, Pa., to be a chauffeur for the homestead. Eventually, Charles B. Probst married Caroline Rothkegal.

At the homestead, there were two grand pianos, one on the first floor and one on the second. Friends of the Bassetts, the Loesser boys were both pianists. They would spend many summers at the homestead. Arthur Loesser was a classical musician. He would practice for hours playing Chopin and Mozart.

Arthur's brother Frank preferred listening and practicing to popular music rather than classical.

He also wrote his own music. Many people probably remember the Broadway musical, "Guys and Dolls." Frank Loesser was responsible for the music and words of the musical.

Caroline welcomed her sister Emma to help with the cooking. Summers were a busy time for them. Canning, picking fruit, making jelly and cooking made life very busy for them.

There were many parties held outside. A sample menu would include fried chicken, sweet corn, fresh rolls and pie.

Charles and Caroline had their first date in September. They went to the New York State Fair. A romance was beginning to brew. On their second date, they went to church.

This is a sample of life in the Town of Aurelius during the 1900s.

Ruth Probst is a historian from the Town of Aurelius