Yates County, New York

Businesses in the Town of Torrey

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

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Businesses of Torrey    

Dresden Village – With the building of the Crooked Lake Canal, in 1830-1833, there was about the same time built up at its eastern termination, a thriving, prosperous village to which was given the name of Dresden; but why so named there appears no present satisfactory explanation.  The village of Dresden, as originally established, occupied the part of the then town of Milo that bordered upon Seneca Lake, and in close proximity to the canal line, but as the hamlet increased many fine houses an a number of public buildings were erected on the more elevated lands north of the village proper, and all were included within corporate boundaries in 1867. 

As early as the erection of Yates County, Dresden village had an existence and the good people of the locality presented to the commissioners selected to designate a site for county buildings their claims to the seat of justice of the county.  The broad table-lands overlooking the beautiful waters of Seneca Lake presented a most attractive situation, not only for the buildings themselves, but as well for the gradual building up of a municipality of considerable size and importance.  But, unfortunately for Dresden and its people, the then owner of this table-land refused to part with any portion of his possessions for less consideration than $1,000 per acre; nor would he sell his entire tract for anything less than a fabulous sum.  The result was that the county buildings were given to Penn Yan, and the possibilities of a future Dresden of some note were practically destroyed.  However, during the early canal days of Dresden, in a way, was an important place.  On the outlet were saw and grist mills, a woolen factory and other industries, while a boat-yard and dry-dock on the canal added to the business of the locality.  But when canal boating on and between the lakes began to decline, and yielded to the more rapid transportation by rail, there began also a decline in the importance of Dresden and her business interests.  The old industries were changed in occupancy, and a number of them were destroyed by fie; and the only manufacturing concerns now within the village are the Russell & Birkett mills, and one other not in operation.

On the 16^th of July, 1867, the village of Dresden was incorporated.  To accomplish this a numerously signed petition was presented to the County Court and five months later the application was granted.  At that time the territory sought to be incorporated contained a population of slightly more than 300 persons, and the survey made by Lorimer OGDEN included within the village limits a little more than 200 acres.  The committee to superintend the survey and census taking comprised of Jacob VAN DEVENTER, Charles W. BROWN and George S. DOWNEY.  The first officers elected were: Trustees, Luther HARRIS, Edward M. VAN CLIEF, Charles W. BROWN, George W. BRUNDAGE and James THOMAS; assessors, Aaron M. DAVIS, Charles F. SISSON and Albert G. PROSPER; collector, George W. HAZARD; treasurer, Francis HOOD; clerk, Aaron R. MC LEAN.  The officers for 1891 are: President, Benjamin F. PADDOCK, and trustees, Christopher HALPIN and Michael KINNEY; treasurer, George C. SMITH; collector, Charles C. CARR and clerk, Seth YOUNGS. 

The business interests of Dresden now comprise the general store of Caleb BRUNDAGE and Denniston & Son; the post office and grocery of C. A. DAVIS; the drug store of Edward CASTLE; the Dresden Hotel of George R. HAZARD; the American Hotel, kept by Albert NORMAN; the elevator of Denniston & Birkett and the mills before mentioned.  The public buildings of the village are the large brick school house and the churches of the Methodist, Presbyterian and Episcopal societies.  These, although located in the village, are institutions of the town, and as such will be treated.  

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