Yates County, New York

Businesses in the Town of Middlesex

From the History of Yates County, NY
published 1892, by L.C. Aldrich

pg. 475 - 476

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Businesses of Middlesex     

 The locality commonly called Vine Valley, in the town of Middlesex, is not only one of the most interesting areas of the town, but it is one of the most fertile and productive districts, especially in the staples, fruit and grapes, in the whole Genesee county.  By reference to the chapter in this work which relates to the vineyards and their products, the reader will learn something of the peculiar value of this valley as a grape producing region.   

Middlesex has been since its earliest settlement a peculiarly agricultural township and in the pursuit of husbandry has the success of the town become established.  Half a century ago legitimate  agriculture was the only occupation of the people, but within the last quarter of a century the farmer’s mind and calling has been diverted somewhat into other channels of trade and following, in that the region bordering particularly on the lake has been turned from farms into extensive vineyards.  For years the production of grapes and fruit has been far more pleasant and agreeable to the landowner, and what is still better, more profitable.  But this subject is made one of special and individual mention in one of the early chapters of this work and therefore need not be pursued further in this connection. 

The only settled locality in the town of any particular importance is that commonly called Middlesex Center; which, as its name indicates, is located in the geographical center of town.  But ever the Center has never acquired a sufficient population to entitle it to a corporate municipal organization independent from the township at large.  The Center has a population of perhaps 200 souls and its business enterprise are confined to the neighboring saw and grist mills, the few mercantile stores, and other necessary appendages of the settlement, the blacksmith, harness, wagon, shoe and joiners’ shops.  But the Center has its well ordered and well governed school, and has had three organized church societies, the Methodist Episcopal, the Baptist and the Free Will Baptist.

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