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Link to original content: https://web.archive.org/web/20010306144721/http://www.ouroldetowne.com/small_histories.htm

42 captures

06 Mar 2001 - 15 Dec 2018

Feb	MAR	Apr
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2000	2001	2002

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Organization: Alexa Crawls

Starting in 1996, Alexa Internet has been donating their crawl data to the Internet Archive. Flowing in every day, these data are added to the Wayback Machine after an embargo period.

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TIMESTAMPS

Approximately at the same time as Dr. James Pratt, Eaton's first physician and teacher, came to Eaton Village, John and Matthew Pratt arrived in what is now Pratt's Hollow, New York.

These Pratt brothers came from Vergennes, Vermont and settled in the Town of Eaton, in a place later named in their honor, Pratt's Hollow. It is said that the two industrious young men came with a small cutter (sleigh) of belongings and little money.

In the clearing they made, they decided to build a grist mill which was a money producing venture, and a necessity of their day. It is related by the noted historian Luna Hammond "That is those days no building was raised (or erected with the labor of your neighbors) without 'ardent spirits' "(alcohol) "So the young men approached by a man by the name of Major Clough, who lived in Madison to procure some Rum. The man, Major Clough, declined to give them credit." "The young brothers feeling that it would be a 'dishonorable raising' without the rum, went to Col. Joshua Leland to beg their case. " Col. Leland being a man great stature in Eaton, only had to give the word and credit was lent in the form of a cask of Rum."

The mill was located about a half a mile outside of Pratt's Hollow and was a success. This success enabled the young Pratts to open sawmill and distillery which prospered. (In the mid 1800's there were 15 distilleries in Eaton.)

John and Matthew Pratt eventually owned many houses and before 1825 ran a large store and one of the first woolen mills in Madison County. The firm of Pratt Brother's was estimated to be worth wopping $60,000. After a number of set backs they dissolved their businesses.

Pratt's Hollow continued in prosperity for a number of years thanks to hops, and farming eventually becoming the peaceful, quiet little hamlet in the geographic center of New York State. Beautifully set in the unusual rolling ice age hills of Southern Madison County!

Morrisville was once called Morris Flats which described to a tee its flat terrain and its founder's name. Thomas Morris went to the flat area above Log City, as Eaton Village was called then, and made a clearing which he opened. His house was located at what is the corner of Main and Cedar Streets today. Thomas encourage new settlers to join him, and so a new community was born. Being on the Third Great Western Turnpike or Cherry Valley as it was called, the community sprang up quickly. (Click here to learn about the early roads.)

By 1817, the Madison County Seat was moved from Cazenovia to Morris Flats, which became Morrisville. The movers and shakers of the area, which included Elisha Carrington of Peterboro, Joseph Morse of Eaton, and Captain Jackson of Nelson were given the job of overseeing the building of the New County Court House. Three such buildings would eventually rest in Morrisville. The first was removed to make way for the second, which was burned, leaving today's Historic Madison Hall which was the last. The building was abandoned by the county in 1907. Madison Hall became part of the New York State School of Agriculture (now SUNY MORRISVILLE), and today it is being restored by the not-for-profit corporation which owns it..

One of the court houses famous trials was that of Abram Antone the last man to be hung in Eaton, and certainly the most legendary trial, that of Wash Loomis of the Loomis Gang. Many believe the Loomis Family burned the court house to get rid of evidence in the case!

Morrisville had many businesses in its day including the Cross Foundry, Bicknell, Coman & Dutton's Distillery, Steven's and Gurley Silk Factory, Comb Factory, Holt's Soap and Candle Company, Lewis Harness Shop, Tillinghast's Tannery, a number of hotels, boarding houses and taverns to support the people who did business at the Madison County Court House, and four fountains. The fountains were added to provide water for the fighting of fires.

With the passing of the County Seat to Wampsville, however, Morrisville's many businesses which flourished in the late 1880's and early 1900's closed. (Click here to learn more about Morrisville and it's first Village President Able DeForest.)

In its early years Earlville was called the "Forks" because of its location on the Chenango River. In actuality it never gained in stature until after the building of the Great Chenango Canal. After the canal's inception, "The Forks" became Earlville, named after Canal Commissioner Jonas Earl. (To learn about the Chenango Canal click here!)

Earlville itself rests in two counties, Chenango and Madison and at the convergence of four townships, Lebanon, Smyrna, Hamilton, and Sherburne. (Resting mostly in the later two.)

The first businesses sprung up in the 1840's after the opening of the canal, among them was Henry Water's Store and one owned by Marvin Tanner. Four brick stores were added in 1859 after a fire destroyed a number of small businesses. Businesses opened and closed with few that were long lived. One of the exceptions to the rule however, was the "Low Down Wagon Works".

The Original "Low-Down Wagon Works" (1890 - 1934) was created and built in Earlville. Manufacturing these 'low down' wagons was a unique answer to the tiresome problem posed to the diary, meat and bakery industry of that day, which had to deliver these goods to metro and rural neighborhoods. The wagons of the day were awkward and even dangerous with high steps or two steps at every stop! Then, John Parsons designed the 'Low Down" one step wagon shown here:

The company was eventually sold to J. D. Meyers in 1907 and revisions in the design were added which included the "fifth wheel" that allowed the front wheels to "cut under" and thus enable much shorter turns. These were manufactured and shipped world-wide. The company expanded further when World War I broke out, snagging a contract to make mule carts for the U. S. Army.

The 1900's brought a number of businesses including, Young's Pharmacy, Baker's Garage, Taft's Variety Store, Morgan's Used Cars, Conklin & Rogers Gas Station and more. Today few businesses are left!