Excerpt from BRIGHAM'S GENERAL DIRECTORY published by Wm. J. Moses’ Publishing House 16 Clark St., Auburn, N.Y. 1863 HISTORICAL SKETCH OF UNION SPRINGS, --x-- By EDWARD A. THOMAS assisted by Albert Beardsley & C. Winegar. --x-- The village of Union Springs derives its name from the Springs, which in two different localities near the lake, pour forth such quantities of water as to furnish an extensive and never failing mill power. These Springs which have since become so celebrated for their force, and their remarkable situation, have given rise to numerous speculations in regard to their source. While some have surmised that they came from Owasco Lake, which is several hundred feet higher than Cayuga, others have assigned their origin to still stranger causes. Skillful geologists assert that the formation of rocks are such as to render it utterly impossible for a stream to pass underground from the Owasco to the Cayuga. But from several places, from two to four miles east of the Cayuga Lake, and about forty-five feet underground , large streams have been discovered which were running from the east to the west. Thus from these conflicting accounts, it is difficult to form a correct theory. About the year 1790, Edward Richardson dammed up the north pond, and a log grist mill was built soon after. The south Spring was not used for such purposes until several years later. The village of Union Springs is beautifully situated, on a bay of the Cayuga Lake, six miles from Cayuga Bridge and is surrounded by one of the most fertile tracts of land to be found in our State. In approaching from the Lake, we see the town gradually ascending from the water, so that every house and every tree is brought distinctly to view. We know of no hamlet, borough, or city, so admirably situated in this respect. The white houses peer out of the luxuriant foliage by which they are all surrounded, the rich meadows adjacent to, and the rounding hills overlooking the village, with the Island of Frontenac, that gem of the western lakes, form a scene worthy of the pencil of an artist. This Island, lying three quarters of a mile from the town, and two miles freom the shore of Seneca county, contains about one acre of land, and was formerly a burial place of the Aborigines. The numerous rrelics of Indian warare, and the large amount of human bones fdound here, attest this fact. This Island was deeded to the village of Union Springs in accordance with the following: “An Act to vest in the trustees of the village of Union Springs, the title, use, and occupation ofthe Island in Cayuga Lake, opposite to said village. “Passed April, 1856. “The people of the State of New York, represented in the Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows: “1. The commissioners of the land office, are hereby authorized and directed to sell and convey to the trustees of the village of Union Springs, the Island lying in the Cayuga Lake, opposite to said village, for thesum of one dollar, in trust, to be forever held, kept, and maintained by siad trustees and their successors, for the use and benefit ofthe citizens of said village, as a park and pleasure ground. 2nd. The said trustees shall, immediately upon the receipt of the deed or conveyance of said Island, make such regulations and by-laws, and they are hereeby authorized so to do, and shall cause the trees on said Island to be preserved uninjured, and the grounds kept from injury, and whatever other regulations may be necessary in their judgment, to carry out the true intent and meaning of the act. And the said regulations may be enforced by such penalties as said trustees shall determine. “3d. This act shall take effect immediately.” Soon after the granting of the deed, a public meeting was held in the village, in order to carry out the intent of this act, and Frontenac Island was greatly improved by the citizens. Brushwood was cleared away, gravel walks were made, and seats were fitted up, rendering it a fine pleasure ground. Great interest attaches to this little spot, as no other Island is found in this tier of Lakes. It has furnished the theme of one of Street’s most beautiful poems: FRONTENAC. Sweet Sylvan Lake! one single gem Is in thy liquid diadem, No sister has this little lake To give its beauty smile for smile, With it to hear the bluebirds sing “Wake, leaves and flowers, here comes the spring”-- With it to weave for summer’s tread, Mosses beneath and bowers o’erehead. With it to flash to georgeous skies, The opal pomp of autumn’s dyes, And when the winter’s tempests blow, To shrink beneath his robes of snow. Sweet Sylvan Lake! that lake of thine Is like one hope through grief to shine, Is like one 4tie ourlife to cheere, Is like one flower when all is seree, One ray amidst the tempest’s might, One star amidst the gloom of night. Sweet Sylvan Lake! In memory’s gold Is set the time when first mine eye From thy green shores beheld thee hold Thy mirror to the sunset sky! Oh! who could view this scene, nor feel Its gentle peace within him steal, Nor in his inmost bosom bless Its purer and radiant lovliness. When the Cayuga Indians sold their territory to the State of New York, they reserved a strip, four miles in width, extending from Aurora to Montezuma. The road running west from Sherewoods, was the southern line of this Reservation. As early as 1789, William Richardson and many others had settled on it. The Indians, however, entered complaints against them, and they were compelled to leave, by trhe forces of the State. Mr. Richardson removed to the west shore of Cayuga Lake, near the site of the present village of Canoga. Thus the land in the vicinity of Unioon Springs was not permanenetly occupied, as early as that part of the country lying farther south, for no title could be given until after the Indians transferred theirReservation also to the State of New York. The last of these Indians lived on the point south of the village. One of their Chiefs remained there, (with only a boy to take care of him, and after all his family had removed west,) saying that it was “impossible for him to leave the beautiful water. He finally died, and was buried near the waters he had loved so well. It is said that before a house was erected in this village, there was a hamlet three miles east of the Lake, which contained a store and several dwelling houses; but now not even a road runs by the place which was thus occupied. The water power was the first cause of the growth of the village. Some of the earliest settlers had to go eighty miles to get their grists ground. The first mill on this place was erected about the time that Hardenburgh’s mills were in Auburn. Edward Richardson was the first proprietor of the mill property. It was afterwards transferred to Longnecker. Besides the men previously named, Mr.Carr, William S. Burling, Dr. John Mosher, Dr. Stephen Mosher, JohnEarl, William Barker, and Captain Cozzens, were amongthe earliest settlers. The Post Office was established in 1800, Dr.John Mosher being the first post-master. Messers. Hoskins and Wood opened their store about1810. Mr.Winegar came here in 1816, and started a factory in 1830. The grist mill at the south pond, waserectedfive years later, for a woolen mill, and was but a few years since arranged forits present business. The town, from the time of its first settlement, gradually spread, owing its increase not only to the mill power, but also to the large quarries of limestone and gypsum near the village, which were worked at a very early period. Besides these minerals, sulphur abounds in this section to such an extent, as to impregnate much of the spring and well water. Salt has also been found near the lake insuch quantitites as to cause numerous plans to be laid for the erection of salt works, and many now believe that such an investment would be profitable to capitalists, and a source of prosperity to the village. There was a salt spring where the Basin is, which furnished to the first residents a good supply of that article, and many of the wells in the vicinity have salt, brackish water. Previous to 1835, George Howland, Esq., of New Bedford, purchased a large amount of property in and about the village, new vigor being added to its growth by his entereprise and liberality. At this time he ertected the largeflowering mill at the north pond. This mill is four stories high, is built of limestone, cost forty thousand dollars, and has four runs of stone. There is adjoining it, a mill for girinding plaster, and a saw mill. These three mills are connnected with the Lake by a canal, so that all articles from them can be shipped without cartage. The pond covers four and a half acres, the water rising in it two and a half inches per hour. The fall is about eighteen feet. These mills are now the property of Messrs. Howland, Robinson & Co. This firm is now building a propeller of forty horse power, fourteen inch cylinder, and sixteen inch stroke, to make trips between Ithaca and Syracuse, by way of the Cayuga Lake, and Seneca and Erie Canals. It is to carry both freight and passengers. In 1854, the prosperity of the town received a sever shock by fire. The entire agricultural works of Anthony and Rowentree, besides numerous stores and offices were destroyed. These works had employed a large number of hands, who shortly after this disastere moved away. In the Fall of 1861, another conflagration broke out in buildings, which though adjacent, had escaped the former fire. By it were consumed a leather harness and shoe store, a grocerey, a dentist’s office, a jeweler’s store and a large amount of other property. In spite, however, of these great losses, the village promised to again become very prosperous. In addition to the large and flourishing shcools, othere improvements are being made, and new buildings erected. A stranger who had merely passed through the main street could form no idea of the large amount of business done here. It is by the Lake that the life of the village is to be found. On the south side of the town, we first see the large limestone quarries of Hamburg, connected with the Lake by a pier and horse railroad, so that the stone can be loaded direrctly on the canal boats; then on the right, in entering the village, is one of the large nurseries of Thomas & Herendeen; on the left, a tile yard, a lumbef yard, large store house for greain, etc., the basin and the pier. Four schooners and several canal boats owned in the village, are employed in carrying away the grain, flour, plaster, limestone, and manufactures of the place. The teown is connected with New York, Buffalo, and imtermediate places by water, through the Erie and Seneca canals and Cayjga Lake, with Cayuga Bridge by two daily steamers,and with Auburn by a daily stage. We next come to the agricultural works and foundry close by the Lake shore, a grist mill and saw mill by thesouth pond, then the various establishments of Howland, Robinson & Co., on the north pond. These include, besides what we have already mentioned, a lumber yard, and a steam factory, on an extensive scale, for the manufacute of felloes and other articles of wood, then another tile yard, and finally, north of the village, the large plaster and limestone quarries belonging to Mr.Howland, and several other proprietors. Theamount of ground plaster shipped fromthis place annually, is estimated at from seventeen to eighteen thousand dollars worth, and the limestone and unground plaster to over eighty thousand dollars. Union Springs has sent three companies of soldiers to the war. At the first call, Captain Angell raised a company for the 19th. When in the following autumn, that regiment was changed from infantry to artillerey, and his company was consolidated with others, he returned; and raised another company for the same regiment. A third company was raised for the 111th regiment, in the summer of 1862, by Capt. Tremaine, Lieut. Capron, and Lieut. Smith, of Aurora, the last named officer being the present commandant of the company. At Gettysburg, they suffered terribly, all the officeres being wounded, Lieut. Capron seriously, andnearly half the men being either killed or wounded. SCHOOLS Friends’ Academy, at Union Springs, belongs to the New York Yearly Meeting of Orthodox Friends. It was founded by subscription in 1858, and has gradually increased in size until the present time. The building, with apparatus, has cost $20,000. The former will accomodate one hundred boarders, and consists chiefly of a brick edifice, one hundred and thirty-five feet long and three stories high, besides the basement. It is supported entirely by current receipts, all the profits being devoted to improvements. The scholars include both sexes, the Institution having carried out very successfully this combination; both dining in the same room, and reciting in classes together, and meeting once a week at a geneeral party. The attempt has also been carried out with great success, to unite in one common interest, scholars, teachers, and manageers, and much harmoney of action has existed among them. The scholars, genereally, have shown great interest in their improvement, and have exerted a high and beneficial influence. This is not a local Institution. The pupils, most of whom are children of members of the Society of Friends, come from all parts of this and other States. A thorough tiennial course of study lhas been adopted, including English literature, French, Latin, Greek, Mathematics, and the leading Natural Sciences. For healthfulness and beauty of location, this Institution is unsurpassed. Situated high above the Lake, it escapes all malaria from the low lands, and commands a fine view of Frontenac Island, and of the country and Lake for many miles around. It is but a sort drive from the Cayuga Depot, on the New York Central Railroad, which, however, can be reached in the summer by two steamers daily. This school was first organized with Mr. and Mrs. Ezra Willits, as Superintendents, and Mr. F. B. Hill and Miss Sarah Lapham as principal teachers.ese