Allegany County Bookshelf

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Contributed by Richard Palmer

 This line opened as the Genesee Valley Canal Railroad was
opened in 1882 from Rochester to Hinsdale, near Olean, where it
connected to the Buffalo, New York and Philadelphia Railway, Much of
the right of way was on the old Genesee Valley Canal, abandoned in
1878. The canal right of way from Hinsdale to Olean was not used as
it closely paralleled the BNY&P. The Genesee Valley Canal Railroad
was immediately leased to the BNY&P.
 

Also, the old 12-mile branch of the canal from Mt. Morris to
Dansville was not used by the railroad, as these places were already
served by the Erie and Genesee Valley Railroad and the Delaware,
Lackawanna and Western Railroad.
 

Previously, the Rochester, Nunda and Pennsylvania Railroad had
built a line roughly parallel to the canal between Mount Morris and
Nunda, turning southeast to Swain's. In 1881 the part north of Nunda
was abandoned, and on July 11 of that year, the company was
consolidated into the Rochester, New York and Pennsylvania Railroad.
That company opened a new line in 1882 from Nunda northeast to the
new Genesee Valley Canal Railroad at Nunda Junction, and the Buffalo,
New York and Philadelphia Railway leased it that year.
 

At the north end, the Genesee Valley Terminal Railroad was
incorporated August 14, 1882, and in 1883 opened a branch from the
Genesee Valley Railroad southwest of Rochester north to a junction
with the New York Central Railroad main line at Lincoln Park, near
the city limits..
 

On September 1887 the Western New York and Pennsylvania Railway
acquired the Buffalo, New York and Philadelphia Railroad and with it
the Genesee Valley Canal Railroad. In 1900 the Pennsylvania Railroad
leased the WNY&P. A short branch from Scottsville west to Garbutt on
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad's Rochester and State Line Railroad
opened on September 16, 1907.
 

On November 15, 1912 the Genesee Valley Canal Railroad and
Genesee Valley Terminal Railroad merged to form the Pennsylvania and
Rochester Railroad. That company was absorbed on February 28, 1916
into the Western New York and Pennsylvania Railway, still leased by
the Pennsylvania Railroad. Passenger service between Rochester and
Olean was discontinued in 1941. The line between Wadsworth Junction,
south of Rochester, to Hinsdale, a distance of 84 miles; and between
Nunda and Nunda Junction, was abandoned in 1963, but it was some
years before the rails were all removed. An earlier portion of the
line which had been three-foot narrow gauge was abandoned between
Nunda and Swains, a distance of 11 miles, in 1910. A three-mile
branch from Scottsville to Garbut was abandoned in 1944.

The connecting Allegany branch:

Olean-Allegany, 3 miles, 1972

Allegany - West Salamanca, 20 miles, 1975

West Salamanca - Struthers, Pa., 37 miles, 1962

 

 

Cuba Patriot, Friday, June 11, 1882

      Genesee Valley Canal Railroad

   From the Rochester Express we clip the following: "A construction train is now running on the Genesee Valley Canal. from this city to Fowlerville, or Spencer's Basin. within 10 miles of Mt. Morris. Between Mt. Morris and Fowlerville the grading is completed for the distance of six miles, and the iron will be laid as fast as possible.

   " The remaining four miles is very heavy work, and will require a few weeks to grade. The ballasting is nearly finished between  here and Fowlerville. The bridge at Ross crossing over the Erie road will be completed within about 10 days. Another postponement is necessary relative to running of trains to Swains and Mt. Morris, owing to some delay on the Allegany Central. There are now six construction trains on the line of the G.V.C. R.R., and eight new locomotives have been ordered by the Buffalo, New York & Philadelphia road, which is to operate the line."

 

Cuba Evening Review,  June 24, 1882

     The people of Belfast were quite excited when the smoking engine on the Genesee Valley railroad arrived in their town for the first time. The Press says: "There was no little  anxiety among our people as the tracklaying approached the Hughes street crossing followed closely by the engine.

    "The weather was not favorable but the work went on . Norm. Holden took  couple  of kegs of lager to the track layers in order to counteract the moisture outside with internal moisture. People watched and counted the rails, and when the work was finally done, the men marched into Main street, where powder was burned, and three hearty cheers were given.

     "The ladies had prepared a bountiful supper to be served in the park, but the rain prevented; and it was served in the large room of the Renwick store. It was well served and well relished by the goodly number who partook of it. Mr. Daily of the Exchange, also gave a dinner to a number of railroad friends and invited guests, which passed off pleasantly."

Cuba Evening Review, Tues., Oct. 31, 1882

Rochester Division, B., N.Y. & P.

     According to announcement the Rochester Division of the Buffalo, New York & Philadelphia road, heretofore known as the Genesee Valley Canal railroad, was opened yesterday. The time-table gives the schedule time for two trains, of the second class, which run northward Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and southward Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The trains are local freight and passenger.

     The time of the northward train at the most important stations is as follows: Cuba 7:25 a.m.; Black Creek 8:01; Belfast 9:00; Fillmore 10:18; Nunda 12:40 p.m.; Mt. Morris 2:38; Rochester 7:05 p.m.

     The southward trains are as follows: Rochester 6:15 a.m.; Mt. Morris 11:05; Nunda 12:40 p.m.; Fillmore 2:55; Belfast 4:20; Black Creek 5:21; Cuba 6:00 p.m.

     The time is necessarily slow at first, especially with local traffic. Fast trains will undoubtedly be put on soon. The telegraph line along the route is fast nearing completion.

 

Cuba Patriot, Feb.. 9, 1883

               Along the Line.

                     ____

    The Livingston Republican of last week contained an interesting article on the Genesee Valley Canal Railroad, by  a writer who signs himself "Robert Morris," of Mt. Morris, in which various towns along the route taken by the recent press excursion are taken note of. A few of the historical points of some of the towns named are copied, as follows:

   Caneadea. - This town, in Allegany county, is famous as the spot where the Seneca Indians had their council house, now removed to Glen Iris. Here Mary Jemison settled after a journey of 600 miles on foot with her papoose on her way from  Fort Duquesne, now Pittsburgh, to Little Beardstown.

     This place, history says, was the spot where Captain Horatio Jones was taken prisoner by the Indians, and successfully ran the gauntlet. The town was first settled in 1803 by parties from Pennsylvania. Widow Brady kept the first inn in 1810. James Hoyt built the first saw mill in 1816.

     Angelica. - This old township is widely known as the home of the Church family, so intimately connected with the early settlement of Allegany county. The ancestral residence of this family is about two miles from town.

     The first settlement was made here in 1802 by Philip Church. He erected the first saw and grist mill in 1803. Joseph Taylor kept the pioneer inn in 1804. Angelica took its name from the wife of John B. Church and daughter of General Philip Schuyler.

      Angelica was formed from the town of Leicester, then in Genesee county, in 1805. Before 1805 the residents of that town had to travel to old Leicester to attend town meeting, and at that early period Angelica had her mail from Bath, forty miles distant, and only once a month. At that time Angelica paid $2.50 bounty for every wolf caught in the town. This place has an ancient court house built in 1818.

     Belfast - This town was formed in 1824, but there were early settlements on the river in 1803, by three brothers, Chamberlain, from Pennsylvania. Joseph and Raymond opened the first hotel, David Sanford the first saw and gristmill in 1809. The first religious meeting was held at the residence of N. Reynolds.

      Friendship.  - This is a flourishing lumber town. Its early settlers came in 1806 and 1807. The first child born in the town was Sherman Haskins, in a sugar camp;  S. Gates had the first inn; James Sanford and Sally Harrison, the pioneer married couple, in 1809;  Pelatiah Morgan, the pioneer schoolmaster, in 1810.

     Cuba. - The Indian oil creek reservation is in this town. The Oil Creek Reservoir,  built by the State for  the Genesee Valley Canal, costing about $150,000 and covering 1,500 acres, is also in this town. Th first settlers in Cuba came i n 1817 from Connecticut, viz: Abbott, Hall, Frier, Bennett, Cole, Hawley. S. Cole was the pioneer inn keeper in 1814. David Row taught the early school in 1822.

     Olean. - Around the town are about 200 oil tanks, and also some manufacturing interests, and has a population of about 6,000. The first settlers of this town came about 1804. The road to this place from Angelica was surveyed by Major Moses VanCampen, of Revolutionary War memory. The first lumber rafted down the Allegany river was by Dr. Bradley,  Follett and Jedediah Strong in 1807. Sylvanus Russell kept the first tavern in 1808, Levi Gregory the pioneer store in 1814.