827 Farley's Point Road
Union Springs, NY 13160
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| Property Description (Hide Summary) |
HISTORY, TRADITION, FAMILY...
As might be expected, the name Union Springs is derived from the many springs within its boundaries. Two of the largest, dammed to form ponds, were the source of power for the earliest industries. Union Springs at one time had a considerable reputation as a health resort. Some of the claims of the original settlers are still in the possession of their descendants. Names, which have come down through the years, include those of Carr, Chase, Conley, Davis, Everett, Farley, Howland, McFarland, Mosher, Richardson, Schenck, Shank, Shoemaker, Thompson, VanSickle, Winegar, Yawger and others. These people had foresight and integrity above the average. The extensive and valuable minerals, gypsum and limestone found in this section played an important part in the industrial development of the town. Gypsum along the lakeshore to the north first developed a commercial importance during the War of 1812 when Nova Scotia plaster was excluded from this country. The production of the Springport Quarries was between twenty and forty thousand tons per year. Limestone quarries were developed nearby. It is said that this stone was used in paving Wall Street in New York City and to construct many buildings at Cornell University.
For many years, the only side streets were Factory Street and the now non-existent Mill Street, just south of the North Pond. These ran west from Cayuga Street to the mills. The two leading east from the ponds were Park and Spring Streets.
Later streets included Chapel, Ferry, Homer, Center and Seminary, in that order. Basin Street was originally known as Ferry Street.
The Algonquians used Frontenac Island, solitary gem of the Finger Lakes, containing less than an acre of land, as a place of Sepulcher. It was purchased for $1.00 by Leonard Simons, while a Member of Assembly in Albany and deeded to the trustees of Union Springs by Cyrus H. Davis in March 1858, to be kept exclusively as a park and pleasure ground. This transaction cost $16.00.
The original meeting house was built in 1816 at the top of Park Street next to the Quaker cemetery. In 1857 the stucco building on Main Street was built as a new meeting house. That building is now the Springport Free Library. Even before the lakeshore area became known as Frontenac Park it was always a center of community activity. Previous to 1872 all transportation had been by water, coach, or horseback. Ferryboats, yachts, sailboats and charter boats busily plied Cayuga Lake waters stopping at the many industries along the lakeshore and delivering people to various destinations.
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