It's hard to imagine the town of Montezuma when it had reached its peak during the canal era with many prosperous, lively and varied businesses. Over the years, many businesses have been lost to several devastating fires, destroying much of our town's history along with it.
In 1883, a whole block was destroyed from the foot bridge to the bridge over the road. The fire originated in a warehouse connected to a store owned by Ross & McCloud.
It was occupied by William Curry, a dealer in groceries and provisions. Also destroyed, were Stahlnecker's Saloon, Eugene McCarthy's billiard room, Molloy Brothers' Barber Shop, Jones & Company Meat Market, W.F. Dalley's Grocery Store, Trufant's Saloon, Wallings' Restaurant, Sherman's Dry Goods and Grocery Store and a canal boat owned by Lewis Janes.
Six years later in November 1889, fire struck again on the business district. The principle business blocks lost were known as the Ross Block and the Masonic Block. Also, burned were buildings occupied by Charles Gerve as a tin shop and saloon occupied by Charles A. Humphrey.
In the Ross Block, a grocery story occupied by Nelson Ross was destroyed along with the Thomas Sullivan saloon.
Several hundred tons of coal was also burned in the coal store under the Masonic building, and other adjoining buildings suffered damage.
Nelson Ross attempted to throw himself into the fire as a sacrifice because of his religious beliefs, but was rescued by bystanders.
He apparently had set the fire and claimed also to have burned his place of business in Canada. He was arrested for the fire in Montezuma, sent to an insane asylum, later released after never being indicted and the case was dismissed.
In 1915, four more buildings were completely destroyed. Lost buildings were a general store by A.G. Potter, the Prichard and Farrell Saloon and residence on the second floor, an ice house and a barber shop.
Another general store with an olive oil bottling business on the second floor, post office and drug store were damaged.
One of the 100-year-old landmarks of the town, the Exchange Hotel, burned in 1918. The old wooden building lent itself well to the flames, and it burned to the ground. Efforts of a bucket brigade using water from the canal saved the nearby footbridge.
Again, the business section of the town was nearly wiped out in November of 1927, exactly 38 years from the 1889 fire with only two stores remaining in the village.
The fire, of unknown origin, started in an unused creamery building owned by Alex VanDitto.
Montezuma still was without an organized fire department and outside assistance was called in from Auburn, Seneca Falls, Port Byron, Savannah and Clyde.
Port Byron arrived first, quickly containing the fire from spreading to other buildings. The Auburn Fire Department had sufficient hose to run from the old Clinton's Ditch to put the remaining fire out.
Buildings destroyed were: Alex VanDitto's creamery building with machinery and contents; Frank Sullivan's Barber Shop; VanDitto's coal shed and building; Newton T. Green Grocery Store, attached residence and his delivery truck; the Mason's Lodge 176 with the town hall on the second floor, including records, equipment and furnishings; a blacksmith shop owned by A.F. Gay of Savannah, and a store building owned by Louise Bonker ready for opening as a grocery store and meat market.
Arthur Preston's store, the post office and L.A. Janes' grocery store were all that remained of the business district.
In an effort to ensure that our history is preserved, the Montezuma Historical Society's mission is to keep our history alive and close at hand so we can live with it, learn from it and be inspired by it.
The society is offering a wonderful opportunity to join in the nationwide celebration of 2007 National Preservation Month in May 2007.
“Making Preservation Work!” is the theme of the month-long celebration, which is sponsored by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
We invite anyone with photos of historic interest in town to have them scanned to help preserve its history.
Bill Hecht, local history photographer will scan photos at the Town Hall at 8102 Dock Street in Montezuma from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Scrapbooks and historic displays will be available during the day for viewing.
Bill requests permission to use any photos he copies on his Web page located on the Cayuga County NYGen project Web site at http://www.rootsweb.com/~nycayuga/hecht/index.html.
If you can't make the scanning program, please give me a call for arrangements to make copies of your photos. Let's keep our history alive!
Cheryl Longyear is historian for the town of Montezuma. She can be reached at 776-8632 or e-mail montezumahistorian@tds.net
It was occupied by William Curry, a dealer in groceries and provisions. Also destroyed, were Stahlnecker's Saloon, Eugene McCarthy's billiard room, Molloy Brothers' Barber Shop, Jones & Company Meat Market, W.F. Dalley's Grocery Store, Trufant's Saloon, Wallings' Restaurant, Sherman's Dry Goods and Grocery Store and a canal boat owned by Lewis Janes.
Six years later in November 1889, fire struck again on the business district. The principle business blocks lost were known as the Ross Block and the Masonic Block. Also, burned were buildings occupied by Charles Gerve as a tin shop and saloon occupied by Charles A. Humphrey.
In the Ross Block, a grocery story occupied by Nelson Ross was destroyed along with the Thomas Sullivan saloon.
Several hundred tons of coal was also burned in the coal store under the Masonic building, and other adjoining buildings suffered damage.
Nelson Ross attempted to throw himself into the fire as a sacrifice because of his religious beliefs, but was rescued by bystanders.
He apparently had set the fire and claimed also to have burned his place of business in Canada. He was arrested for the fire in Montezuma, sent to an insane asylum, later released after never being indicted and the case was dismissed.
In 1915, four more buildings were completely destroyed. Lost buildings were a general store by A.G. Potter, the Prichard and Farrell Saloon and residence on the second floor, an ice house and a barber shop.
Another general store with an olive oil bottling business on the second floor, post office and drug store were damaged.
One of the 100-year-old landmarks of the town, the Exchange Hotel, burned in 1918. The old wooden building lent itself well to the flames, and it burned to the ground. Efforts of a bucket brigade using water from the canal saved the nearby footbridge.
Again, the business section of the town was nearly wiped out in November of 1927, exactly 38 years from the 1889 fire with only two stores remaining in the village.
The fire, of unknown origin, started in an unused creamery building owned by Alex VanDitto.
Montezuma still was without an organized fire department and outside assistance was called in from Auburn, Seneca Falls, Port Byron, Savannah and Clyde.
Port Byron arrived first, quickly containing the fire from spreading to other buildings. The Auburn Fire Department had sufficient hose to run from the old Clinton's Ditch to put the remaining fire out.
Buildings destroyed were: Alex VanDitto's creamery building with machinery and contents; Frank Sullivan's Barber Shop; VanDitto's coal shed and building; Newton T. Green Grocery Store, attached residence and his delivery truck; the Mason's Lodge 176 with the town hall on the second floor, including records, equipment and furnishings; a blacksmith shop owned by A.F. Gay of Savannah, and a store building owned by Louise Bonker ready for opening as a grocery store and meat market.
Arthur Preston's store, the post office and L.A. Janes' grocery store were all that remained of the business district.
In an effort to ensure that our history is preserved, the Montezuma Historical Society's mission is to keep our history alive and close at hand so we can live with it, learn from it and be inspired by it.
The society is offering a wonderful opportunity to join in the nationwide celebration of 2007 National Preservation Month in May 2007.
“Making Preservation Work!” is the theme of the month-long celebration, which is sponsored by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
We invite anyone with photos of historic interest in town to have them scanned to help preserve its history.
Bill Hecht, local history photographer will scan photos at the Town Hall at 8102 Dock Street in Montezuma from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Scrapbooks and historic displays will be available during the day for viewing.
Bill requests permission to use any photos he copies on his Web page located on the Cayuga County NYGen project Web site at http://www.rootsweb.com/~nycayuga/hecht/index.html.
If you can't make the scanning program, please give me a call for arrangements to make copies of your photos. Let's keep our history alive!
Cheryl Longyear is historian for the town of Montezuma. She can be reached at 776-8632 or e-mail montezumahistorian@tds.net
