Genesee Valley Heritage

Genesee Valley Heritage Morris
🏛️We're not the museum in Geneseo, that's the historical society!💕

✨Official account of the Livingston County Historian's Office, in the Genesee River Valley, NY✨
📜Collecting & sharing historical photos & stories from the county archive in Mt.

🎣Sara J. McBride was a Mumford native and grew up exploring Spring Creek and tying flies with her father in the 1860s. S...
09/03/2026

🎣Sara J. McBride was a Mumford native and grew up exploring Spring Creek and tying flies with her father in the 1860s. She became one of the first Americans to link entomology with fly tying, publishing on the concept of “match the hatch” almost 100 years before it became widely popularized.

🌠An upcoming presentation by County Historian Holly Watson will explore early fly tying in the Genesee Valley, McBride's mysterious life and newly discovered tragic final chapter, and her contributions to the fields of entomology and angling.

📍Caledonia Library
🕰Sept. 10, 2026, 5:30-6:30pm
✅Free and open to all, geared toward ages 13 and up.

➕Follow this page for historical info and photos straight from the archives!

🙋As always, the Livingston County Historian’s Office is here to help all researchers with all questions by phone, email, and in person. Contact info and more resources can be found at livingstoncountyny.gov/162/county-historian.

📷Salmon fly design by McBride, courtesy of the American Museum of Fly Fishing, Manchester, VT. Historical image representative of a woman fishing, unfortunately not a portrait of McBride.

🎧Experience Genesee Valley history like never before with the new Audio-Video online collection! 🧑‍💻Through the Livingst...
09/02/2026

🎧Experience Genesee Valley history like never before with the new Audio-Video online collection!

🧑‍💻Through the Livingston County Historian’s digital collections, catch silent glimpses of downtown Avon and Letchworth State Park from the 1950s. Listen to memories of West Sparta, Caledonia, and Groveland elders. Even watch Livingston County sheriff’s deputies take on the Buffalo Bills for a basketball game in 1991!

💻To browse, visit the Digital Collections from the link in our bio. Or search for specific names or subjects in our Online Records Index and Catalog. Certain entries now include a link to “View Original.”

🙋Remember: Even if a given resource isn’t online yet, you can still request it from the Historian’s Office. Staff are here to help all researchers with all questions.

Photo: Former County Historian Marie C. Preston interviewing Byron and Caroline Woodruff of Avon

Did you know that a Revolutionary War veteran buried near Scottsburg helped spark the creation of the U.S. Constitution?...
08/30/2026

Did you know that a Revolutionary War veteran buried near Scottsburg helped spark the creation of the U.S. Constitution?

🧑‍🌾On August 29, 1786, frustrated farmers – many of them Revolutionary War veterans- protested crushing taxes and debt by shutting down Massachusetts courts. Among them was Daniel Shays of the 5th Mass. Regiment, after whom the rebellion would be named.

When offered a leadership position in the protests, Shays initially refused, but by that autumn he led around 600 men to shut down to Springfield, Mass.
✊This is when the rebellion gained national attention, with Shays at the forefront. The crowd attempted to seize weapons from the federal armory in Springfield, but were defeated and forced to flee.

Although defeated, the uprising exposed serious weaknesses in the original United States government and helped fuel calls for stronger federal regulations – ultimately contributing to the creation of the current U.S. Constitution, which has continued to evolve with the country.

🏠Meanwhile, several hundred men – including Daniel Shays - were pardoned for their actions during the rebellion. Shays later moved to Livingston County, where he lived until his death in 1825.

Today, Livingston County honors veteran burials, including Daniel Shays’, with flags and other markers. The historical marker next to Union Cemetery was originally placed in 1938, and Shays’ headstone was replaced and dedicated in 2016. While the rebellion that shares his name is complicated, the man who now rests in Conesus has been immortalized for fighting for his country and his beliefs.

🔎Want to know more about Livingston’s veterans or share your own story? Contact the County Historian’s Office at livingstoncountyny.gov/162/County-Historian.

🧺Abram Elm was a Native man and Civil War veteran living in Caledonia around 1900 with his family. He was Oneida, but he...
08/27/2026

🧺Abram Elm was a Native man and Civil War veteran living in Caledonia around 1900 with his family. He was Oneida, but he lived at Canawaugus, the famous former Seneca village near the Genesee River. He made baskets from black ash bark, carrying on the traditions of his Haudenosaunee ancestors.

🪶Learn more about Elm and connect the dots of Canawaugus from then til now at "First Settlers: the Seneca of Canawaugus," a presentation by County Historian Holly Watson. Details:
📍at Genesee Country Village & Museum in the Wehle Gallery
🕰️Friday, Aug. 28 at 6pm
🏷️Free with museum admission

🌽The event will explore what life was like at the Seneca village of Canawaugus, historical events and figures, and the continuing importance of the area to the Seneca Nation.

🌠If you can't make this one, the Canawaugus presentation will be offered again on Sun. October 18 at 2pm at the Avon Opera Block, thanks to the Avon Preservation and Historical Society.

🗓Visit the Livingston County Historian's Office website at https://livingstoncountyny.gov/162/County-Historian for the full calendar of presentations. All are free and open to everyone!

🎖️In the South Sparta Cemetery lies Rev. Andrew Gray, who as a young man fought in one of the largest battles in the Rev...
08/27/2026

🎖️In the South Sparta Cemetery lies Rev. Andrew Gray, who as a young man fought in one of the largest battles in the Revolutionary War.

💥The Battle of Long Island took place 250 years ago on Aug. 27, 1776. Tens of thousands of British and German soldiers had descended on the Continental Army with the intent to capture New York City from Gen. George Washington. The battle resulted in a devastating defeat where nearly 300 Americans were killed, 800 wounded, and over 1,000 were captured or missing.

📍Among the captured was 19-year-old Pvt. Andrew Gray of the Pennsylvania State R***e Regiment. He would later be a well-mannered reverend in the Groveland-Sparta area, but his 1839 obituary tells a dramatic, and possibly exaggerated, tale of his military career.

🌊Before being handed over to the British, he was allegedly beaten and used for target practice by German Hessians. He was first confined to a small church with hundreds of other prisoners and then taken to a prison ship where the British gave them the options of “enlist or starve.” Choosing neither, Gray reputedly waited for his chance and slipped over the side of the ship. Using the choppy waves as cover, he made his way to shore before the long walk back to American territory.

⛪Although details differ in Gray’s military records, we know that after returning to Pennsylvania, he studied linguistics and began preaching. In 1795, he relocated to New York with his family and fellow prisoner of war Moses Van Campen. After the hardships they faced in their youth, both men became respected members of their community.

🔔To commemorate the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, the Livingston County Historian’s Office has collected many stories of soldiers who fought for independence. To explore these stories, visit the Historian’s Record Index and Catalog at https://livingstoncounty.inmagic.com/ and contact the office with any questions.

🔁Nunda’s Union Block reflects many comings and goings, and keeps Nunda’s community spirit at heart.📨Built in 1883, the U...
08/24/2026

🔁Nunda’s Union Block reflects many comings and goings, and keeps Nunda’s community spirit at heart.

📨Built in 1883, the Union Block was initially called the Post Office Block since the Nunda Post Office was on the first floor. Many may remember the post office here until it moved in 1990.

👞The Union Block was home to countless businesses over the years, including photographers, grocery stores, a dentist, beauty parlor, and shoe store.

📰One of the longest tenants was the “Nunda News,” published out of the Union Block from 1883 through the 1970s. Digitized Nunda News papers from 1859-1923 are now available on nyshistoricnewspapers.org, a free site for researchers, with more to come soon.

🌠In the late 1990s, the building was dilapidated and faced demolition. Thanks to extensive community investment, it was rehabilitated and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It stands as a testament to local pride and adds to the flavor of downtown Nunda with colorfully painted facades and 19th-century character.

🙋For more about local buildings, the National Register program, and the hidden stories beneath our noses, contact the County Historian’s Office at link in bio. All questions welcomed!

📸: Nunda Historical Society and Google Maps.

🏁The Empire Dragway in Leicester has been a unique landmark and gathering place for motor enthusiasts for over 50 years....
08/24/2026

🏁The Empire Dragway in Leicester has been a unique landmark and gathering place for motor enthusiasts for over 50 years.

🏎Once known as Dragway 36, Motorcity Raceway, and New York International Raceway Park, this track is the only one of its kind in the Genesee Valley. First opened in 1971, the quarter-mile-long track hosted both national and international sanctioned races that drew thousands. Racers traveled from all over to test their beloved cars, often expensively customized for peak performance.

✨After a brief hiatus in the early 1980s, the track was revived by a local family who began hosting weekly races with large cash prizes. Over the years, the track, grandstands, and concessions have been expanded into a sporting complex.

🏅With more than 200 classes of drag-racing vehicles, there is an event for every motorist, including a junior league for children. The Empire Dragway continues to build on its story as a summer sporting destination that thrills racers and fans alike.

🙋For more historical context and celebration, follow this account and contact the Livingston County Historian’s Office at livingstoncounty.us/162/County-Historian --staff is happy to assist!

🔮In September 1780, William Rich, later of Avon, crossed paths with history but he didn’t even know it. 🧨While based in ...
08/24/2026

🔮In September 1780, William Rich, later of Avon, crossed paths with history but he didn’t even know it.

🧨While based in King’s Ferry, NY, under the command of Col. James Livingston, young William Rich was ordered to march north to West Point to retrieve am******on.

🏰Coincidentally, while following the Hudson River, William Rich crossed paths with a man travelling in the opposite direction. Little did he know that was the famed traitor Benedict Arnold, who was fleeing West Point after his plans to surrender the fort to the British had been discovered.

✌️Arnold evaded capture while Rich arrived at West Point. After his successful mission, Rich was allowed to return to his native Massachusetts, where he married Thankful Bowers. Their family moved across the young nation until planting roots in Avon, NY. William Rich passed in his late eighties and is buried near his descendants in East Avon Cemetery.

🙋Want to know more about Livingston’s veterans or share your own story? Contact the County Historian’s Office at livingstoncountyny.gov/162/County-Historian.

📸: Looking across the river at West Point in painting by John Hill, 1825 (Source: The Metropolitan Museum of Art)

🥁Are you descended from a Revolutionary War veteran who lived in Livingston County?🎖️The Livingston County Historian is ...
08/24/2026

🥁Are you descended from a Revolutionary War veteran who lived in Livingston County?

🎖️The Livingston County Historian is seeking local descendants to participate in an autumn recognition event as part of the 250th anniversary of the United States. Participating descendants will receive a small commemorative token.

Criteria:
🔹You’re descended from a verifiable Revolutionary War veteran who lived in Livingston County.
🔹You’ve done (or are interested in doing) a good-faith effort to document your lineage, or are a member of the DAR or SAR.

🔗The Historian’s Office is happy to help research your connection to a Revolutionary ancestor if needed.

⏰Deadline to be considered for this historic recognition is September 30, 2026. Share your contact and lineage information with the County Historian at 585-243-7955 or [email protected].

🌄Even if you’re not a hunter or angler, the sportsmen’s clubs across the Genesee Valley are hard to miss.🌲Clubs in Dansv...
08/24/2026

🌄Even if you’re not a hunter or angler, the sportsmen’s clubs across the Genesee Valley are hard to miss.

🌲Clubs in Dansville, Hemlock, Lakeville, Leicester, Mt. Morris, Springwater, and York represent the nearly 150-year-old local tradition of sportsmen’s clubs as places to appreciate the great outdoors.

🎣Starting in 1875 with the opening of the Dansville Fish & Game Club, these spots were originally intended for outdoor enthusiasts to participate in--or just talk about--fishing, hunting, and trapping. As time passed, they’ve become valuable community assets.

🧭Many clubhouses are available to rent for private parties, and club members host events such as dinners, raffles, and holiday gatherings for a variety of causes.
Beyond their social elements, these groups can help teach the next generation. Many sportsmen’s clubs give programs on gun safety, survival skills, and conservation to promote a fundamental understanding of and respect for nature.

🦌Local sportsmen’s organizations may have started as social spots nearly 150 years ago, but now their enduring legacy is one of the many ways to protect and share our beautiful Genesee Valley.

🙋Curious about local landmarks and their stories? All questions about people, places, and events in Livingston County are welcomed by the County Historian’s Office at livingstoncountyny.gov/162/County-Historian.

Address

5 Murray Hill Drive
Mount Morris, NY
14510

Opening Hours

Monday 1pm - 4:30pm
Tuesday 1pm - 4:30pm
Wednesday 1pm - 4:30pm
Thursday 1pm - 4:30pm
Friday 1pm - 4:30pm

Website

,

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Genesee Valley Heritage posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category