y o m i n q by Harry S. Douglass - Old Fulton History

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Page 78 CURRIERS THROUGH THE YEARS (cont.) April 1954 Augustus Lyford came to Curriers in 1.861+, and conducted a store in the Grange Hall building, the former Currier store. He was elected Supervisor in 1869, and apparently retired temporarily from active business. The building was used by Philo Potter as a post office along with a mercantile business, and upon his death, Wallace Cheney erected a small building for the post office just west of the Hallo Meanwhile, the old store was converted into a hotel, managed during its latter days by John Sweetapple. Norman D. Lyford, brother-in-law of Augustus, came from their old home of Cabot, Vt., in 1868, formed a partnership with Sylvester Thompson in the store building that had been built by the Jackman's on the southeast corner. Earlier, It is thought, John Smith, son of Major Moses,had conducted a store there,erected the present Morrison house, and subsequently sold out and moved to Iowae Norman Lyford became postmaster by l870,for how long is not known,and he continued in Curriers until 1898, when he returned to Vermont where he died in 1910. In 1871, Norman Lyford sold out to Edward Kent of Michigan and shortly thereafter, Augustus joined Kent under the firm name of Kent & Lyfordo This partnership continued some years, then Mr. Lyford carried on alone, moved away the old store and erected a two-story building about 1892, his son-in-law, Clinton Twiss and family living in the building. After the deaths of Messrs Lyford and Twiss in 1910, the business was eventually sold in 1919 to John Sweetapple and Frank Meyers. After some years, the firm liquidated its stock, the building was sold, to Frank Bauman, who in 191+1 demolished it and the site, now graded and seeded, was acquired for the Congregational Churcho Frank Godfrey Kent, son of Edward, came to Curriers as a small child, acquired an education there until age 11+, when he entered the employ of the George N. Pierce Co., Buffalo, which then manufactured bicycles and bird cages. From apprentice in machine shop, he rose to warehouse manager at a time they were making Pierce-Arrow cars. Kent attained a national reputation in factory production circles,went in 1911+ to St. Louis to manage the St. Louis Car Co., then to a tool firm in Cincinnati, and in World War I served as consultant to the U. So Government. In 1925, he became vice-president of the R. Hoe & Co., No Y., from which important position he was forced to retire in 1928 due to ill health. He died in 1931+ at East Aurora. Stage Coach Days Paved county highways lead out from Curriers in each directionc The West Road, known as the "Traverse Road," was possibly surveyed in 1817, and first improved about 192£. The highway from Arcade, called by oldtimers the "Egypt Road,"ran from "Pekin" (Java Village) to China (Arcade), was surveyed in part in 1811, northward from Arcade, and consisted of little but a trail marked by blazed trees. The portion from Java Village to Curriers was paved in 1931+51 the remainder to Arcade during 1937-38. East Street was first improved by a stone and gravel base about 1921+ to the depot, and later paved to Hick's Corners. (continued on page 79)
April 1954 CURRIERS THROUGH THE YEARS (cont.) Page 79 During Civil War days, Spencer & Davis of Arcade ran a stage service to ^ttica, on alternating trips through Curriers. These "U. So Daily Mail Coaches" were advertised in l86ij. as "new, elegrant and easy." Other stages came through Curriers and on to Java Village, Strykersville and to East Aurora, Mrs. Orpha Rosier, born in i860, recalls the stage horn sounding as it approached the Corners, tells how children walking to school scrambled to the roadside to keep out of the way of the lurching vehicle as it passed by in a whirl of dust or a shower of mud. One day, a kindly driver halted the stage, pulled the children up to the driver's seat and gave them a thrilling ride home. In 1900, rural mail service came to the farms about Curriers? telephone service came over from Arcade in 1899, and for some years the old Erie-Wyoming Telephone Co., Chaffee, serviced most of the area. Electricity arrived In 1926. Curriers Grange, No. 1273, which presently occupies the old Currier store building, was organized July 10, 1912, with 52 charter members. For several years it met In the school hall, where in 1930, Pomona Grange conferred Its degree upon a class of 153s to that date the largest such class in Pomona history. When the Grange acquired its present home, the west wing of the building was torn away and the structure remodeled. Use of the present cemetery goes back to pioneer days, the oldest stone being that to an infant daughter of Ira Kibbe, who died in 1819. For many years indifferent care was given the plots it was surveyed in l865j and some fifty years ago, through the cooperative efforts of lot owners, the grounds were graded. In time, more land was acquired. The site is now fenced and in excellent condition. More than 600 burials have been made. Curriers has had at least three doctors, Dr. Lucius Peck, there around l866j Dr. Samuel S. Miller, long resident therej and Dr. William Leslie, active in the early years of the present century,. Congregational Church The present Congregational Church was instituted in May 18511, at a meeting in the old schoolhouse, as the "Congregational Church of West Java," with twenty-five constituent members, twelve of whom had received dismissal from the Arcade church. Rev. Gilbert L0 Northrup, Strykersville, who became first pastor, and Rev. L. Ac Skinner, presided, articles of faith and the church covenant were adopted. Ira Kibbe and Ephraim Fisk J-re were the first deacons and upon incorporation of the church, Jan. 11, 1855, the trustees were Mr. Kibbe, Mr. Fisk and Gordon D„ Fox. The site for the present church was obtained of Lucius Thompson early in l855*and the meeting house begun during that year although not dedicated until the summer of 1856. The contractor, Calvin Rogers of Strykersville, had the reputation of climbing to the highest part of each building he erected, and there standing on his head. When the frame had been assembled, it was found that through an oversight a long and important timber was lacking. Two men went to the woods, selected a straight and tall red beech and during the course of the afternoon, cut and hewed the desired piece. During the night of May 8, l855s> a (continued on page 80)
Page 1 and 2: V t y o m i n q Vol. VII April 1954
Page 3 and 4: April 1954 Page 67 CURRIERS THROUGH
Page 5 and 6: April 1954 CURRIERS THROUGH THE YEA
Page 11 and 12: April 1954 CURRIERS THROUGH THE YEA
Page 13: April 1954 CURRIERS THROUGH THE YEA
Page 19 and 20: April 1954 THE LITTLE STREETS How s
Page 21 and 22: April 1954 WOLF HUNT (cont.) Page 8
Page 23 and 24: April 1954 Page 87 LINUS DAY (cont0
Page 25 and 26: April 1954 NECROLOGY (cont.) Page 8
Page 27 and 28: April 1954 Page 91 r 1 ^ The Kausti
Page 29 and 30: April 1954 Page 93 QUEER TRAVELERS
Page 31 and 32: April 1954 YATES SETTLEMENT, TOWN O

y o m i n q by Harry S. Douglass - Old Fulton History

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