Montezuma was first settled in what is known as the “old village” located to the north of the present hamlet, closer to the Montezuma Turnpike (now Route 31) and the Seneca River. Before the original canal was built, Dewitt Clinton visited Montezuma in 1810, looking for possible routes for the canal to be built across the state.

At that time Montezuma was in No. 80 Brutus, in the town of Mentz. He found a scattering of houses, which had sprung up in a short time. The hillside, that became known as Prospect Hill, furnished Clinton and his group with a spectacular view of the marshes with the Seneca and Canandiagua Rivers winding through them.

The “new” village grew up along the canal, extensively moving the settlement south about a quarter of a mile turning it into a bustling canal town.

Although the route of the canal changed slightly with its enlargement in the 1850s, the basic outline of the streets did not change.

When the route of the Canal was moved to the Seneca River in 1917, Montezuma changed dramatically. This event, coupled with several fires that destroyed prospering businesses along the canal, forever changed its landscape.

An opportunity to revisit this bygone era will be held at Montezuma's Community Days, the weekend of August 17 through 19. The Montezuma Historical Society is sponsoring a historic walking tour led by Mike Riley, historian from the town of Mentz and author of the book, “Twelve and One-Half Miles, The Erie Canal in Cayuga County.” Riley has expanded his tour from last year with some interesting new sites and stories uncovered for the event. The walk begins at Memorial Park at 10 a.m., at the original site of the canal basin, through town visiting the Cayuga and Seneca Canal lock, and on to the remains of the impressive Richmond Aqueduct on the Seneca River, second largest on the enlarged Erie Canal. A tour guide will be offered for sale which gives the history of each stop. Following the tour at noon there will be a Pedestrian Walk held on the track at Memorial Park fashioned after the once popular heel and toe walking. World Champion walkers from the area made this a popular spectator sport in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Stop by the historical society's booth for waffles made by Paul and Bunny Baker on their cast iron Griswold collection topped off with ice cream and delicious homemade sauces. View a historic display of life as a canaler on loan from the Village of Port Byron's historian, Penny Helzer.

Cheryl Longyear is historian for the town of Montezuma. She can be reached at 776-8632 or e-mail montezumahistorian@tds.net

Montezuma's Community Days events:

Friday, Aug. 17

4 p.m. - Fireman's cookout (hamburgers, hot dogs, sausage) with vendors and crafters present

7 p.m. - Prince and princess crowning

7 to 11 p.m. - Entertainment by DJ The Fireflies sponsored by VFW

Saturday, Aug. 18

9 a.m. - Vendors and crafters, dunkin' and cake booth, carnival games, castle blowup and air maze and New York State Troopers demo of the seatbelt convincer and roll-over simulator

10 a.m. - Historic Canal Walking Tour by Mike Riley

11 a.m. - Chicken barbecue

Noon - Pedestrian walk at Memorial Park

1 p.m. - Maxman Reptiles Presentation

3 p.m. - Ping-Pong ball drop at Memorial Park

6 p.m. - Parade

7 p.m. - Entertainment by DJ & Karaoke Toby Tunes

9:30 p.m. - Fireworks

Sunday, Aug. 19

9 a.m. to 4 p.m. - Vendors and crafters, firemen's cookout, auto extrication demos and the Mercy Flight Helicopter

1 p.m. - Fire Fighters Challenge Games featuring: Midnight Alarm, Bucket Brigade and Water Ball Tournament