Medina High School - Mirror Yearbook (Medina, NY)

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MEDINA growth of western boom towns, yet 800 people came here in seven years-and, furthermore, came to make homes. In 1829 a post office was established, and three years later Medina was incorporated as a village by the legislature. An Indian agent was also appointed by the government to maintain peace and harmony among its red-skinned charges surrounding Medina, and a night watchman was hired. This completed the framework of local government. Among those prominent in establishing Medina as a political subdivision was Justus Ingersoll, a tanner. In 1826 he came to Medina and built a large brick tannery, shown in the illustration on the right, on East Center Street west of Oak Orchard Creek. However, the tannery business faded out completely, although it was a leading industry with the early settlers, and the building was converted into a flour mill. Justus Ingersoll was also the first post- master of Medina and Indian agent. In addition, he was Justice of the Peace and one of the trustees on the first Village Board. The other members of the Board were N. Sawyer, the Hrst lawyer, Asahel Woodruff, James C. Evans, and Halstead H. Parker. vkvkvk Transportation facilities on land for some years were con- spicuous by their absence. The Erie Canal was the main outlet and the chief means of travel. The roads were nearly impassable to anyone not on horseback, except at favorable times when two-wheeled carts and oxen were used. To meet this condition, in 1834 the Medina 84 Darien Railroad was built. This was a horse car line with rolling stock similar to the picture to the right. However, since its operation proved unprofitable, this road was discon- tinued after a few years. Traces may still be seen of its road- bed. Another railroad venture, the Medina 84 Lake Ontario Railroad, although incorporated, was never built. In 1850 the Rochester, Lockport 8: Niagara Falls Railroad was put through. This now forms a part of the present New York Central System. Dk Bk Pk As roads grew better and the country about Medina was settled, there was a growing demand for wagons and car- riages. Accordingly, in 1849, a carriage factory was estab- lished here by Edward Davey. This building on the right is one of the several that made up this plant. For many years the industry was very successful, but it will never again attain the prosperity it once had. Thus is shown the mutability of human affairs. 7 - , ,YW i'+.-.,M - -,Tir Y ---- L - ...- -1 -'-lMT - H, 111 - xl f- '- as -2-22 :Q .1 'F- sas X-A Y - HH! IIII un my NZ l7 . I Y? , 9 i I I: E? I :IW S 5? Q I Sf, - fa 2' as ll T S- I : :xiii 5 WlT1 xlllQl,.ff X ZZ? A A A, 1 nw , tl iii' V, rilflrn A I. La' I luulnllgi-.,r,,.. fx iljffzu 1' 'I I e 'iiiif if IQ? E lili if 7, Ll g J 'lm T Fq ai fy Zllllll I l I f ' Q V1 ' i I fn 1 I1mm+lN7'lU ll EEE W Z ....,. ilulxlmli -lilllilil lawnimvufimrlmfxvf .,..

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A il ssassga. 5 in ':1:s:r: ff- iu-: 1 15-3 :Q T 3- S1 r.- 7 H. -L ,Q 512254 2: V' M' HWWEMN axial 1 duwwaywibd -Q-F' --W' Ltig T I 2 yfa- F- s- 5 l . ' 2 Q 4-12 ' ' M 'A xi Q 3 0, I H 7 - f gli Q ig,-:fir . l 2- ,-f-f' 'ff E.Al IaY Log cabins and rude huts made up the first Medina. Until in 1822 Mr. Eggleston, a not too scrupulous contractor, arrived to build the Erie Canal through this section, the future site of Medina was an uncleared woodland. A deep- rutted road that ran from the flourishing village of Barne- gat, or Shelby Center, to Ridgeway was the only trace of civilization. In the train of this canal builder followed fifteen frontier drifters and three barrels of whiskey as working capital. Quickly others of the local settlers were hired for the pro- ject. These men were forced to hew out crude dwellings similar to the one in the illustration to shelter them on their three-year digging task. Soon, in the cluster of cabins about the canal at the foot of Shelby Street, now Main Street, the center of frontier life, a tavern, arrived. This elegant and luxurious hotel, kept by Uri D. Moore, was a structure of logs and rough hewn timbers. With the com- ing of the tavern, Medina was on its way. vkvkflf Not only was the Erie Canal the direct cause of the found- ing of Medina, but it was also one of the chief factors in its growth and prosperity. The stream of commerce that moved on it ranged from black rascality, negro slaves, to all kinds of commodities-all passing through Medina. Moreover, the raceways, which supplied it with water, furnished an excellent source of power for mills and manu- factories, which was first utilized by David E. Evans. In 1825 this man laid the foundations of a stone flour mill, pictured on the left, on the present site of the Bignall plant. Gwinn's Mill, as it was known from the man who soon acquired it, was connected with the canal by a navi- gable raceway behind Shelby Street on the east side. Canal boats would unload their grain at its elevator. This was the forerunner of a long line of mills of every sort from Hedley's saw mill to Becker's oil mill. Pkilsbk Simeon Bathgate, an emigrant from Scotland in 1788, was the founder of one of Medina's chief industries. About 1829, the town's first foundry was built in Center Alley, now Main Street Alley, near the raging Erie. This building, depicted on the left, served for about forty-five years until it was burned. It was the pioneer in a leading phase of Medina's economy. Pk Pls Pk Medina grew rapidly. Although it was not the mushroom 3' -4' IL E -.5-i ' A gi M a : ' -:-'94,-M. .. Y ff 'lE?311'- - , ,iaiiefgfgas-'H - .F's:-..-se'.42. .- ? g:' 1 .-:..1: -.,f...-., rr .155-554-'f:: 2- - U -' - - .. .. 5 L i ! I p I 5 : 2 2- .. .4 s f- E E: I- f N 2 1 aes Ni 5 1 fr-'A Z , . ,- 6

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.,-.1.M,. - .47 ,-- - - , - - ,- -T -- - -s,5,- ,-ll M' TL XY. .1-L i ki -- 1 ' Y - ,. . :-' li - -gff a ' ,,1L X ,- 55-s':.1'-Q-1?--E24 l:i:E:::1,X G ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 5 4 ! Q ! Q Q Q Q ! 2252255235 'I ' 2i:2:2:2:2:3. . ' : 1 E H131 'I' 'EI'il'll215 A -1 .1 4-1-.:.-.-X : : I it-. , 'g -i' j A , ...Q-QP E-M. T' W Y' 'J 4- ' 'T 11. 1 - -.:, - ---R l1T M f Y 1-31-- - Y - ' fir' A.'P V ' ... F ----- ---- - -------.-.......,1-,S 5 I 5 I l - - - 'I F ! ! Ill ! ! Masai I I na 'I I W :i i i F P F :E . -tag Y- i 1 f 1'-f C fskflg 8 5-1 .T f. V Y- 1 i f n, 11. 1 QUE all EIIIIIIE W ' ?E Fi? EO?-.3 Txtlx, ENG- 2 ' 5 E a s IJ '11 :...'.-.f...v--32 , Q, QW, 1 .---L+--Lai--gi,,+ 3? ' : t-55 ' IILAP The business section of Medina expanded with the rest of the town. One of the first of the so-called blocks was the Arcade Building, which was erected some time in the 1840's on the charred ruins of the burned Eagle House. The Arcade Building, which is shown on the left, had many alterations and survived many vicissitudes. At first three stores occupied it, but in the 1870's H. N. Bancroft added a tower to it and changed it to a hotel called the Bancroft House. It was finally burned in 1922, when it was known as White's Hotel. Pk bk if Educational opportunities were extremely scanty in Medina for many years. In 1825 a log cabin was erected to serve as a school. School terms were uncertain, and teachers were more so. Intemperance and ignorance were common faults, since the chief qualification for an instructor was his ability to maintain discipline among the older boys. The first district school was organized in 1835. It was a one story building, which was later enlarged to serve as an arsenal for the local militia. This structure still remains as a barn in the rear of the Walsh House. Not until 1850 did Medina secure a high school or acad- emy, as institutions of learning were then called. Before this date, students from Medina attended the large and flourishing academies at Yates or Millville. The Medina Academy proved an instantaneous success with over five hundred students. A stone building, pictured on the left, was erected and served as the center of learning for about forty-five years in Medina. Fkfkvlf The first citizens of Medina early gave attention to the spiritual needs of life. In 1827 St. Luke's Episcopal Church was incorporated. Shortly afterward the name was changed to St. John's, and the Rev. Richard Salmon was called as the first rector. In 1836 a stone edifice, depicted on the left, was completed. On February 19, 1829 a Baptist Church was organized at Medina as an outgrowth of a weak congregation at Ridge- way Corners. The first minister was the Rev. E. Savage, and the first edifice was dedicated in 1832. The Presbyterian Society in Medina was organized March 19, 1829 with the Rev. George Coan as first pastor. The first church to be built in Medina was erected in 1832 by this organization. The Methodist Episcopal Church in Medina was formed on September 27, 1830 with the Rev. Thomas Harker as first minister. In 1833 a stone church was built. In 1849 the Roman Catholics began to hold regular serv- ices with the Rev. John Boyle as first priest. 8