Henrietta
New York
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When Henrietta officially became a town in 1818, it also became the crossroad of Monroe County.The pioneers settled here on the various crossroads of the town and agriculture became their prominent occupation. Not only is Henrietta the geographical center of the county, it has also become the apex for business and commerce, culture and history.
The history of Henrietta began with the sale of land that is known as the Phelps and Gorham Purchase This purchase opened up western New York State for development after the Revolutionary War. It included over a million acres starting north from Lake Ontario and south to the Pennsylvania border; east from Geneva and west to the Genesee river. The town which later would become Henrietta is located in Township XII, Range VII of that purchase. It had been under the jurisdiction of Pittsford and was called "The Woods of West Town" or sometimes just the 'West-Town'. When the pioneers were not allowed full representation in Pittsford, they broke away and formed their own town in 1818. A new name of "Henrietta" was chosen in honor of Henrietta Laura Pulteney, Countess of Bath. She was the daughter of Sir William Johnstone Pulteney, who was the major British investor of the Phelps and Gorham Purchase in which he bought in 1791.
Settlement began in the early 1800s by people of English descent on the various crossroads of Henrietta. One settlement was called "Calkins Corners" located on Calkins and East Henrietta Road and then there was Stevens Corner at Wadsworth (Pinnacle) and Calkins' Roads. Another was at the corner of East Henrietta Road and Lehigh Station Road, while another was located at the intersection of the plank road (West Henrietta Road) and Erie Station Road. These two areas became known as the East Village and the West Henrietta Village. Rivalry existed between these two hamlets. People built homes on the western crossroads of East River Road as well as Pinnacle Road on the east side of town. Settlement also took place on Middle Road and Erie Station Road which was known as Search's Hill for a prominent citizen whose Greek Revival house stilll stands looking over the valley below.
The early settlers established small businesses. By 1812 there were six asheries, three sawmills and one brickyard. On the east side of town by 1810 a store was located in Acer's Tavern on East Henrietta Road where he also opened a post office. On the west side of town a store was opened by David Jeffords atop Methodist Hill. Taverns would follow and a hotel was kept by Henry Chapman on the southeast corner of West Henrietta Road and Erie Station Road by 1820. Several other taverns were built in other parts of town. Medical needs of the town were met by Dr. Jonah Simonds, the first physician. He came in 1811.
Town Of Henrietta
When Henrietta officially became a town in 1818, it also became the crossroad of Monroe County.The pioneers settled here on the various crossroads of the town and agriculture became their prominent occupation. Not only is Henrietta the geographical center of the county, it has also become the apex for business and commerce, culture and history.
The history of Henrietta began with the sale of land that is known as the Phelps and Gorham Purchase This purchase opened up western New York State for development after the Revolutionary War. It included over a million acres starting north from Lake Ontario and south to the Pennsylvania border; east from Geneva and west to the Genesee river. The town which later would become Henrietta is located in Township XII, Range VII of that purchase. It had been under the jurisdiction of Pittsford and was called "The Woods of West Town" or sometimes just the 'West-Town'. When the pioneers were not allowed full representation in Pittsford, they broke away and formed their own town in 1818. A new name of "Henrietta" was chosen in honor of Henrietta Laura Pulteney, Countess of Bath. She was the daughter of Sir William Johnstone Pulteney, who was the major British investor of the Phelps and Gorham Purchase in which he bought in 1791.
Settlement began in the early 1800s by people of English descent on the various crossroads of Henrietta. One settlement was called "Calkins Corners" located on Calkins and East Henrietta Road and then there was Stevens Corner at Wadsworth (Pinnacle) and Calkins' Roads. Another was at the corner of East Henrietta Road and Lehigh Station Road, while another was located at the intersection of the plank road (West Henrietta Road) and Erie Station Road. These two areas became known as the East Village and the West Henrietta Village. Rivalry existed between these two hamlets. People built homes on the western crossroads of East River Road as well as Pinnacle Road on the east side of town. Settlement also took place on Middle Road and Erie Station Road which was known as Search's Hill for a prominent citizen whose Greek Revival house stilll stands looking over the valley below.
The early settlers established small businesses. By 1812 there were six asheries, three sawmills and one brickyard. On the east side of town by 1810 a store was located in Acer's Tavern on East Henrietta Road where he also opened a post office. On the west side of town a store was opened by David Jeffords atop Methodist Hill. Taverns would follow and a hotel was kept by Henry Chapman on the southeast corner of West Henrietta Road and Erie Station Road by 1820. Several other taverns were built in other parts of town. Medical needs of the town were met by Dr. Jonah Simonds, the first physician. He came in 1811.