I couldn't make it to the marker dedication for the East Boundary of the Holland Land Purchase at Four Corners in Stafford on Friday. Sue Conklin sent along this photo and the press release below.
On Friday, November 8th 2013 a historical marker commemorating the Eastern Boundary of the Holland Land Purchase was dedicated in Stafford at the intersection of routes 5 and 237. More than 20 people attended the dedication ceremony, which included a brief reading of the history of the survey and a gun salute provided by the War of 1812 militia.
Following the dedication the Stafford Historical Society served cider and donuts and several people toured their award-winning museum.
Prior to the dedication a survey using original links and transit was conducted by:
- Rochelle Stein, Genesee County legislator for District No. 5
- Lynne Belluscio, Le Roy House director and LeRoy Village historian
- Susan Conklin, Genesee County historian
- Phyllis Darling, Stafford Historical representative
- Jeffery Donahue, Holland Land Office Museum director
This survey revealed the location of the marker and the actual boundary line is over by 83 links. Had the marker been installed in the actual location, it would be in the center of the intersection of Route 237, something the Department of Transportation would have forbidden. The Town of Stafford graciously provided the Genesee County History Department with an alternative spot.
Welcoming Remarks / Mary Pat Hancock Genesee County Legislator:
"Genesee County included not only the Holland Land Purchase, but many other smaller land tracts. The County had six land companies with the Holland Land Purchase being the largest. It included two-thirds of the county lands and was located west of the Transit Line. The other smaller companies were located east of the Transit Line and include one third of the county lands. The other land tract companies were the Connecticut, Triangle, Phelps & Gorham, Craigie and the 40,000 Acre.
"When the Holland Purchase was made, the land was in Ontario County, with the county seat in Canandaigua. On March 30, 1802, Genesee County was formed with the county seat in Batavia. As populations grew, eight other Western New York counties were carved from the original Genesee County.
"The eastern boundary of the 3.3-million acre Holland Land Purchase bisects the old State Road, now known as Route 5, in the Town of Stafford. This boundary runs from the State of Pennsylvania north to Lake Ontario. The Holland Land Purchase extends west from this line to Lake Erie and the Niagara River.
"Today we honor the Holland Land Purchase and commemorate their Eastern Boundary."
Two questions. 1) How much do
Two questions.
1) How much do those signs cost?
2) Who has ever found it important enough to stop and read one?
Reminds me of the signs "Capital for a day" from Pataki adm.
I read them. a friend and I
I read them. a friend and I once made an effort to read every marker between Santa Rosa to the White Sands Proving Grounds. We learned quite a bit. Even the makers close to home are informative.