This curriculum encompassed Genesee County and Genesee Country, which included some of the outlying areas of Genesee County.
The student's objectives were listed at the beginning of the book:
The student (citizen–to–be) will know that school prepares you for social living. The church plays an integral part in your community life. (Before 1961 Separation of Church and State) Tolerance of others is fundamental to democracy. Students will be able to find facts in books, see the relationships between cause and results, and will be able to draw conclusions from the printed information. The students will appreciate the work of others, consider a point of view different from their own, and will be tolerant of people or groups whose beliefs or customs are different from their own
The students were first introduced to the Native Americans residing in the area. They were taught about Ely Parker and Red Jacket, to name a few. Everything was listed in chronological order. Listed were all the names of the Seneca chiefs and a biography on each of them. An extensive list of Seneca names and places was translated into English. Ge-nish-e–a, a clear and shining place (Genesee Country), ge-ne-un-da-sais-ka mosquito town (Batavia), and Ter-ner-sun-ta swift running water (Tonawanda Creek).
After the land purchase from the Indians was discussed, Paulo Busti, Robert Morris, and Joseph Ellicott's involvement in the purchase was explained. Later the settlement of the villages and towns of the county was described. Students would learn about the industries, manufacturing, and agriculture in every town in Genesee County. The chapter on public buildings was divided between descriptions of city, county, state, and federal buildings.
Joseph Ellicott's map, drawn in 1802, showed only five streets and two roads in Batavia. Genesee Street was East Main Street to Jefferson. Buffalo Street is now West Main. Big Tree Street was Ellicott Street beginning at Jackson Street. Court Street was still Court Street, and Jackson Street was still Jackson Street.
Interesting facts about the streets were South Main Street was called Tonawanda Street. Pearl Street was Buffalo Road. Oak Street was called Oak Orchard or Elba Street, Bank Street was Dingle Alley, and Tracy Avenue was named after Judge Phineas Tracy. Pringle Avenue was named after Judge Benjamin Pringle, and Evans Street was named after David Evans.
The last section in the book, called Interesting Facts from Genesee Country, was very intriguing.
- In 1801 the first doctor came to Batavia. He was Doctor David McCracken.
- The first church organized was formed by Presbyterians in 1809.
- A brewery on West Main was built from the stones of the old Methodist Church.
- Joseph Ellicott had many duties. He also served as the first county judge when the courthouse was built in 1803.
On the veranda of the Holland Land Office stand two old cast-iron cannons that were housed in the Arsenal for years. One of them was used at the Battle of Lundy Lane in the War of 1812. Unfortunately, it had been "spiked," as was the practice with captured artillery. "Spiked" meant it was tampered with and could not be used in battle.
After the Arsenal was torn down, Dr. Charles Rand purchased the two cannons, removing them to his front yard on Liberty Street. After his death, they were bought by Baker Gun and Forging Company and placed on the factory's front lawn, now the Metal Company.
- President Lincoln stopped in Batavia in 1861.
- Lot # 25, bounded by Main, Jackson, and Center Streets, was bought from the Holland Land Company for $170.00.
- LeRoy was incorporated in 1834. The population of LeRoy in 1818 significantly exceeded that of Batavia.
- The New York Central Railroad Company paid $512.000 to lay its tracks in the Batavia area.
The first gas line through Genesee County was laid in 1870. Twenty-five miles of pipe were laid. The pipe was white pine cut into lengths from 2 to 18 feet and turned to the diameter of 12 1/2 inches. The pipes were joined with bands of shrunk iron and were tarred inside and out. Twenty acres of white pine were cut for these pipes. In 1872 the gas line was turned into the mains of the Rochester Gas Company.
Salamanca is the only city in the United States built upon an Indian Reservation.
If you would like to take the 50-question test called the Batavia Historical Quiz, stop at the Holland Land Office Museum and be our guest. You might want to stop at The Richmond Memorial Library and the Genesee County History Department to brush up on your local history.
Here are some of the questions from the Quiz.
- What was Genesee County's first courthouse called in its later years?
- What company came here to make farm machinery and later sold it to the Massey-Harris Company?
- For what circumstance was Charles F. Rand mostly noted?
- For what circumstance was Ely Samuel Parker noted?
- In what year was the Land Office dedicated?
- In whose memory?
- What was present-day Batavia Street, formerly called Big Tree Street?
- What does the name Batavia mean?
- Name the U.S. General of the War of 1812 who recuperated at Joseph Ellicott's home in Batavia after being wounded by the British in Buffalo?
- From what language is the name Batavia derived?
Here is the word bank with possible choices.
Winfield S. Scott, the First Volunteer soldier in the Civil War, Robert Morris, Ellicott Street, Johnston Harvester Company, Seneca Indian, and in his handwriting, wrote the terms of surrender between Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee at Appomattox Court House in Virginia 1865, October 13, 1894, Better Land, Ellicott Hall, Dutch.
Click on the headline above to view the answer key.
Answer Key
1. Ellicott Hall
2. Johnston Harvester Company
3, First Volunteer soldier in the Civil War
4. Seneca Indian and in his handwriting, wrote the terms of surrender between Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee at Appomattox Court House in Virginia 1865,
5. October 13, 1894
6. Robert Morris
7. Ellicott Street
8. Better Land
9. Winfield S. Scott
10. Dutch
