Ellicottville NY
By Carol Fisher-Linn
Historical Society walking tours are under way. Buildings may be vintage but the tours never get old.
As you walk around our quaint little village, it’s hard to imagine the entire landscape was once filled with gigantic trees twice as tall as any you see in the area these days. During an historical walk with Town Historian, Ellen Siriani Frank, you will learn the forests were so dense that the native Seneca Indians who traveled through the area marked trials with “blazes” so they could keep themselves on the right paths.
first condominium building in NYS.
To better acquaint you with some of the settlers and the wonderful diverse vintage architecture you will find in the village, Ms. Frank is offering a Saturday 1pm Historical Walking Tour around the village next Saturday, August 16. The cost is $10 per person (cash/check) and reservations can be made by calling 716-699-2276 or 716-474-8528. Special accommodations can be made for groups of six or more. A free brochure can be found at the Chamber of Commerce office which provides a self-guided tour.
Here are some of the things you will learn: The public square was divided into quarters to be used for public spaces: education, religion, and two lots for County Buildings since we were designated county seat because of our central location (please refer to our top cover article “1887 Building”). The original courthouse burned and was replaced. The Ellicottville Town Museum was once the County Clerk’s office, a millinery shop, a fire department annex, classroom, public library and a museum. The 1887 Building served as a school for all grades util 1978, then the library until 2006 and retail offices. Saint John’s Episcopal Church was constructed in 1827 fulfilling the mandate for the four corners. When on the tour, ask about the story of the church bell.
On tour, you will see the first frame house (1817) which is still occupied by members of the same family. It was home for a time to Seneca Eli Parker who served on staff of General Grant during the Civil War. You’ll learn about the Cotter House – he was delegate to DNC when Horace Greeley was nominated for president; the present day Villager (Chamber building) built in 1822; The Laidlaw house with its tree pillars (circa 1846) owned for three generations by the Laidlaw family since 1876; the Galloway House (1837) home to blacksmith and harness maker; Still House. Still was a Whig Party leader, newspaper publisher and friend of Millard Fillmore; Joshua Pettit house (1907) He served in Civil War Ambulance Corp. The Smith Parker house (1843) built by Smith who went to D.C. during the war to visit the troops and visited President Lincoln. Later owned by Civil War Colonel David Parker, then in 1960’s by a local beloved Dr. Leyens. Down Martha Street you’ll see the German Evangelical Lutheran St. Peter’s Church and, on the corner at 219, the home of NY Senator and assemblyman Commodore Vedder, (now known as Edelweiss Lodge – hard to imagine it as a home!). Further down you’ll find The Alan Scott home (1840). We can thank him for bringing the Rochester and State Line Railroad to Ellicottville in 1877. Down Jefferson to #44 stands the house that hatter and hotel proprietor, George Seneare built; at #35 the home of William Weller (1908) of Fitzpatrick and Weller; 58 Jefferson was the Fitzpatrick house (1885); In 1856 two houses shared a lot but were joined between 1869-1865 by Stephen McCoy. The home has been in the Reynolds family since 1901 until she died in 2015. Holy Name of Mary Roman Catholic Church was built in 1909, although its first locations were on Washington where Tops is today. The Ellicottville Inn has occupied its site since 1822 – a wooden structure was destroyed by fire in 1890, then a new brick structure was rebuilt. 13-15 Washington (Dina’s) is known as The Brick Block. Built in 1852 it is the first condominium building in NYS. What we know as the Market Place was originally known in 1885 as the Bird Block. Go up Monroe to Elizabeth to see the old Drown House – the small house with its grand pillars. On Park St. you will find the original Presbyterian Church built in 1852. It merged in the early 1980’s with the Methodist Church becoming the United Church on Elizabeth Street. Stop to admire the ornate fence around the Fox-Law-Watson House (1835) across the street from the church. Across from the Jefferson Inn stood the Eleazer Harmon house which was razed and the yellow brick Murphy house built in its place.
To hear a more detailed version, join the August walk, or gather a group.
first condominium building in NYS.