USA > New York > Monroe County > Gates > From the wilderness : town of Gates sesquicentennial, 1813-1963 > Part 3
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Fires were started in the kiln at the beginning of the work year and because it was always warm in that building, it became a favorite stop-over for tramps seeking a warm place to sleep. Steam shovels dug and loaded the clay on cars which were taken by team or trucks to the mixing plant and then to the kiln, where it was put in molds and would dry over night.
According to Hobart Whitmore, who was super- intendent of the yard from 1927 to 1935 when the buildings were torn down, about sixty men were employed there at one time.
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HISTORICAL 1837 DEED
Imagine being able to buy even an acre of land today for $150.00. One hundred and twenty-six years ago, in 1837, not one, but a 4,000-acre tract of land on part of which Westgate Plaza has been built, was purchased for exactly this amount. Although parcels of the property have been sold throughout ensuing years, the original deed, as reproduced above, is still in the possession of Mrs. Etta Wilcox Cone, whose great grandparents, Mary Ann and Samuel Harder, purchased the property in that year.
The Harder's built a log cabin on the land and frequently found Indians at their door. Later they moved to the house which is still standing at 1821 Brooks Avenue. About 1851 they built a 25-room house at the Northeast corner of Chili Avenue, where Mrs. Cone was born, which was the family home- stead until it was torn down about 1950.
Mrs. Cone's brother, Roy Wilcox, operated the first gas station in the South Gates area at the southeast corner of Beahan Road and Chili Avenue. Mrs. Cone lives with her son, Everett, at 2055 Chili Avenue.
BEST IN TREE CARE
*
Monroe Tree Surgeons, Inc.
2525 WEST HENRIETTA ROAD
Rochester 23, New York
GR 3-2525
Police Protection
CHIEF WILLIAM STAUBER
Up until 1960 Gates had relied on part-time con- stables and the Sheriff's office for police protection. On January 1, 1960 however we achieved first class status, which carries with it authority to establish a regular police department. On June 17, 1960, William J. Stauber, formerly one of five part-time officers, was appointed full-time police officer. In September of 1961 another full time officer, Kent Lechner, was appointed and in August of 1962, Lewis Bryant was appointed in full time capacity. The following year in June, 1963, Norbert L. Gerow and Gerald R. Thurley received their appointments bringing the Town of Gates Police force to five full time officers, and four part-time officers.
Supervisors of the Town of Gates 1809-1963
Zaccheus Colby, 1809; Samuel Latta, 1810; Zaccheus Colby, 1811; John Mastick, 1812-16; Ros- well Hart, 1817; Ira West, 1818; Mathew Brown, Jr., 1819-21; Jesse Hawley, 1822; Mathew Brown, Jr., 1823; Samuel Works, 1824; Jacob Gould, 1825; Seth Saxton, 1826; Fletcher M. Haight, 1827; Mathew Brown, 1828; Ezra M. Parsons, 1829; Nathaniel T. Rochester, 1830-32; James H. Gregory, 1833; Wil- liam S. Bishop, 1834; Ezra M. Parsons, 1835; Calvin Sperry, 1836; Henry K. Higgins, 1837-39; Silas A. Yenkes, 1840-42; E. Darwin Smith, 1843; Melancton C. Wetmore, 1844-46; Henry K. Higgins, 1847; James Warner, 1848-49; Joseph Dewey, 1850-51; Hiram Shearman, 1852; Melancton C. Wetmore, 1853; Joseph Dewey, 1854-55; James Warner, 1856- 57; Ezra M. Parsons, 1858-60; Nathan Palmer, 1861; James Warner, 1862; William Otis, 1863; James Chappell, 1864; James Warner, 1865-66; Chester Field, 1867-71; John L. Pixley, 1872-73; Edward C. Campbell, 1874-75; Reuben L. Field, 1876; Avery L. Reed, 1881-82; Chester Field, 1883; Edward C. Campbell, 1884-86; Alfred G. Wright, 1887; Reuben L. Field, 1888; Jacob S. Haight, 1889-91; Albert Hondorf, 1892-97; Alphonse Collins, 1898-1905; Ar- clean R. Miller, Sr., 1906-07; Frank W. Wright, 1908-11; George J. Saile, 1912-15; Samuel McAu- liffe, 1916-17; Benjamin F. Metcalf, 1918-33; An- drew Harrington, 1934-35; Fred C. Sours, 1936-47 (Mr. Sours died 7-2-47. Edward Renouf appointed 7-2-47 died 8-25-47). Fred Belmont appointed 8-25- 47; Elbert Finch, 1948-59; Frank F. Kipers, 1960- .
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Members of the Town of Gates Police Department are, left to right: Julius Cavalier, Roy Bettin, Thomas Kwapick, Lewis Bryant, Chief William Stauber, Gerald Thurley, Kent Lechner, Robert Hart and Norbert Gerow.
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WM. W. DOUD POST NO. 98
AMERICAN LEGION 898 BUFFALO ROAD
OMUR ROST
0
Join the American Legion
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FIRE CALL
Y
MATES . CHILI
Gates - Chili VOLUNTEER
. INC.
FIRE DEPT
FIRE Department
It was at a meeting held February 15, 1927, that a group of men headed by Mr. H. Brown, assembled in Mr. White's Garage on Beahan Road and formed the Gates Protective Association.
On February 22, 1927 a committee of two men appeared from the Rosecroft Club with plans to or- ganize a Fire Department for the Town of Gates. Mr. Diringer, the Superintendent of St. Mary's Farm of Fisher Road, was called on to explain the fire appa- ratus that he had housed at St. Mary's Farm - a horse drawn Chemical Fire Truck which contained a 60 gallon chemical tank, 1-40 gallon chemical tank and several hand chemical extinguishers on the side of the truck. He also proposed the installation of a siren on the top of his barn which could be sounded and all available members would respond. On March 3, 1927 there were 26 paid up members of The Gates Protective Association. At this meeting the commit- tee on signers in favor of fire protection turned in a list of one hundred twelve names. The first officers of The Gates-Chili Fire Department were elected on April 6, 1927, as follows: Max Voit, President; Harry Miller, Vice-President; L. A. Christopher, Secretary; Fred Schwartz, Treasurer; C. J. Diringer, Chief; C. N. Turner, Deputy Chief; Seth Ford, Captain. The only transportation the company had was a horse drawn hose cart, therefore, the members answered the fires by bicycle or if the fire was close enough, they answered by foot.
On November 14, 1927 a committee was ap- pointed to purchase a motorized fire truck which was accomplished and the body from the horse drawn apparatus was then transferred to the new automo- bile chassis and the truck was housed in a shed at- tached to the side of Seth Ford's Grocery at 2349 Chili Road. The money to pay for the fire truck was raised from dances, turkey raffles and minstrel shows which were held annually for ten years. All meetings of the department were then held in the No. 1 School House on Chili Road.
It was in 1929 that a new fire district was formed in order to complete the coverage of the towns of Gates and part of Chili.
In 1931 the Fire Department purchased the old school house located at 2355 Chili Avenue from School District No. 1 at a cost of $2,000.00 and vol- unteer labor remodeled it, making a double truck room, meeting hall and caretaker quarters, which is known as the Headquarters of the Fire Department.
In addition to the headquarters of the Fire De- partment there are two additional fire houses name- ly. No. 2 Company located at Long Pond and Spen- cerport Roads and No. 3 Company located on Cold- water Road just south of Buffalo Road.
In 1932 the Gates-Chili Fire Department was in- corporated under the Membership Corporation Laws and was, therefore, known as the "Gates-Chili Fire Department Inc." During the early years of this de- partment there was no water system in parts of the town of Gates and no hydrants on which to hook a hose to fight fires and water had to be pumped from wells and creeks or carried by pail to the acid form- ing tanks. Now we have a water system throughout the town and hydrants are plentiful.
The First Exempt Organization was formed in 1937 and known as the Gates-Chili Exempt Firemen, Inc. The first officers of this group were Arthur E. Kintz, President; Harry Miller, Vice-President; Sid- ney B. Krohn, Secretary; and Albert A. Kulzer, Treasurer.
In 1940 a group of No. 2 Company men headed by Alfred Marvel formed the Gates Fire District Ex- empt, Inc. Their first officers were Alfred Marvel, President; Harry Hammer, 1st Vice-President; George Hammer, 2nd Vice-President; Charles Fran- cis, Treasurer; Wm. Hayden, Secretary; Frank Chennels, Inside Guard. The group incorporated December 21, 1940.
The Gates-Chili Fire Department during the past twenty-five years have attended many conventions and carnivals in which they have participated in the parades of same and have had the honor of receiving many first prizes for their excellent appearance and splendid apparatus which they demonstrated at these parades.
In the year 1942, World War II started and there were fifty-two members who served in the various armed forces of the United States. We were very for- tunate in the fact that we lost but two men in the war.
The men are members of the Monroe County Vol- unteer Firemen, Inc., New York State Firemen's As- sociation, Western New York Volunteer Firemen's Association and Central Western New York Fire- men's Association. Through the medium of Mutual Aid System, the department cooperates with other towns in the fighting of fires, also assisting the City of Rochester when large fires exist.
On October 30, 1955, the corner stone was laid for a new building at 2355 Chili Avenue. With the completion of the new building and the two ad- ditional fire houses in Gates, together with the best in firefighting equipment, the Town of Gates can well be grateful to its fire department and the volun- teers who so willingly give of their service to protect and preserve the community.
CIVIL OFFICERS
FIRE COMMISSIONERS
Civil Officers of the Gates-Chili Fire Dept., Inc. are, left to right: John Shenton, Financial Secretary; Dr. J. Walter Knapp, Fire Dept. Physician; James Wirth, Inside Guard; Charles Dearcop, Secretary; Fred Marenus, Vice President; Arthur Hauck, President. Missing from the picture is Chester Uffleman.
Fire Commissioners of the Gates-Chili Fire Dept., Inc. are, left to right standing: William Ludwig, Charles Andre, Robert Morgan; Seated are Robert Randolph, Roland Burson, Secretary-Treasurer; Chairman John Lighthouse and Alfred Marvel.
Sardok Stois
J.
"BETTER HOMES NEED BETTER LANDSCAPING"
KODISCH'S GARDEN CENTER
Complete Line of
· SHRUBS, PLANTS AND BULBS IN SEASON
· GARDEN SUPPLIES
· FERTILIZER
· GRASS SEED
VISIT OUR DISPLAY GARDENS KODISCH'S GARDEN CENTER 2126 BUFFALO ROAD BE 5-9868
ROCHESTER 24, N. Y. ID 6-8903
Compliments of W. E. PEARSE, INC. 150 LEE ROAD
Your Genesee Beer Distributor
We take pride in having served residents of the Town of Gates and surrounding area for over a quarter century with quality forest products and building materials.
Our Warmest Congratulations and Best Wishes
to all the residents of the Town of Gates for a very successful Gates Sesqui-centennial celebration.
Coldwater Lumber Co. -INC.
149 CHERRY ROAD-OFF COLDWATER ROAD
Town of Gates -
FAirview 8-2090
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FIRE COMPANY No. 1
These are the volunteers who make up Fire Company No. 1, located at 2355 Chili Avenue.
FIRE COMPANY No. 3
These are the members of Fire Compay No. 3, located on Coldwater Road at Buffalo Road.
Radio Dispatcher
Florence Ambeau is radio operator and dispatcher of Gates-Chili Fire Dept., Inc. She dispatches the neces- sary equipment to all fire and inhalator calls. She lives at the No. 1 Firehouse and is on duty 24 hours a day.
LINE OFFICERS
Line Officers of the Gates-Chili Fire Dept., Inc. are: Chief, Elmer Schultz; Assistant Chief, George Forsaith; Company No. 1 Officers - Battalion Chief, William Ford; Captain, Fred Tytler; Lieut., Thomas McNamara; Company No. 2 Officers - Battalion Chief, Harold Plummer; Captain, Francis Guerinot; Lieut., Henry Green; Company No. 3 Officers; Battalion Chief, Henry Flagler; Captain, Herbert Statt and Lieut., John Smith.
FIRE COMPANY No. 2
Fire Fighters of Company No. 2, located on Long Road near Spencerport Road.
PICNIC - 1933
It was a lovely day for a picnic back in 1933 when this picture was taken of District No. 1 Volunteers.
FLORENCE AMBEAU
Ladies Auxiliary
GATES-CHILI FIRE DEPARTMENT
Under the tutorship of Louis Bohm and Fred Bonnett, the Ladies Auxiliary of the Gates-Chili Fire Department was organized. The first meeting was held at the old school building of the Gates District No. 1, Chili Road, which had been purchased and remodeled by the Gates-Chili Fire Dept. At that meeting on May 10, 1933, the first officers were elected and a tentative charter was drawn up. Elected officers were Maude Bohm, President; Vice- . President, Helen French; Secretary, Mae Link; Treasurer, Emma Youngs, a post she held for ten years.
On the Charter were Marie Armstrong, Magde- lena Bocksberger, Maude Bohm, Georgianna Bon- nett Morris, Jennie Converse, Agnes De Ruyscher, Margaret Elliott Tennitty, Sadie Elliott, Helen French, Mae Kern, Nora Kron Hanover, Mae Link, Jean Schuler, Margaret Wrayno and Emma Youngs.
Of these Charter members, Marie Armstrong and Jennie Converse are still active. Helen French, Nora Kron Hanover, Georgianna Bonnett Morris, Margaret Elliott Tennitty, and Margaret Wrayno are still members of the group, but not actively. Magdelena Bocksberger, Maude Bohm, Agnes De Ruyscher, Sadie Elliott, Mae Kern, Mae Link and Emma Youngs are deceased.
Community service is the basic objective of the Auxiliary. As a help-mate of the Fire Dept. they are active in many local projects. Needy family service, sponsorship of Harvest Queens, entertainment of patients of infirmaries, convalescent homes and Vet- eran Hospitals, Blood-mobile and fund-raising cam- paigns are a few of these. Money for these projects is raised by holding suppers, raffles, baked food sales, rummage sales and sales of various products.
The Ladies Auxiliary have their fun as well as work. Various parties and get-togethers are held through the years. At one time or another each mem- ber has been a member of the drill team or marching unit. Cups, Plaques, and Citations have been won and are on display at Firehouse No. 1. These attest to the enthusiasm of the women in competition and sincerity of purpose. The red and white uniform of various designs in the ranks has been popular since 1935 when the colors were first used. The marchers are present not only at Firemen's activities, local or otherwise, but at civic occasions as well.
Any widowed mother, wife or daughter of a Fire- man in good standing is eligible for membership and the Auxiliary will welcome any who wish to join. At present there are 96 members, of which 7 are Charter and 15 who are Life Members with 20 or more years of service.
TURNER'S GRILL 4 HINCHEY ROAD Rochester 24, New York
Best Wishes for the next 150 Years from one of the Town of Gates' "Oldest Inhabitants"
HARRIS SEEDS
LINCOLN ROCHESTER DOFFS ITS HAT TO GATES
Lincoln Rochester salutes 150 years of progress in Gates and the people who have been a part of it! This is a great and historical occasion-a milestone in an even greater future. Lincoln Rochester looks forward to sharing with you tomorrow's trials and triumphs. Yes, whenever it's a matter of money, look to Lincoln Rochester.
LR Lincoln Rochester
TRUST COMPANY
29 offices in Rochester, Gates, Brockport, Canandaigua, Penn Yan, Corning, Geneva, Hammondsport, Macedon and Newark.
MEMBER FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM . MEMBER FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION
Transportation
Ever since the days when The Buffalo Road and the Lyell Road were dirt tracks winding through a wilderness, roads have played an important part in the history of Gates. Life went on, in those early days in widely spaced little clearings off the main roads, and even though these pioneer families were ' largely self sufficient, growing their own food and raising their own livestock, they still had to get their wheat to the flour mill to be ground, the mail had to be delivered and the taxes collected, and that in itself was no easy job. Records show that the first tax collector in the Town of Northampton was Peter Sheffer. There were less than 150 names on his tax list, and although the whole tax was $8,000, the sum paid by resident land holders was less than $200.00. It is not surprising that he often found it easier to pay some of the amounts himself than to spend days searching in the woods for the families on his list.
In the Highway Book of the Town of North- ampton we find the building of the road from Ba- tavia to Rochester recorded in the years 1815-1816. The building of Howard road is recorded in 1828.
It was many years before there were any but dirt rcads in Gates. Then came the so-called "corduroy roads," made by laying trunks of trees side by side. We know that Beahan Road was once a corduroy road.
But these were too bumpy to prove satisfactory, and it was discovered that better roads could be built by paving with crushed stone drawn from the num- erous quarries throughout the town. Chili Road, for one, was paved as far as Chili Centre with stone drawn from the quarry formerly located where Fair- holm Drive ends at Little Black Creek. A single track railroad bed was built and a little "dinky" en- gine pulled the cars loaded with crushed stone from the quarry to the road.
In 1898 New York State passed a law providing for a certain measure of state control in road build- ing and a State Highway Department was created.
The state did not always have the last word, however. In the Town Board minutes of March 30, 1909, we find that the State Highway Commissioner advised building a new bridge on Chili Road over Little Black Creek at a cost of $12.00. The Board decided that "instead of building a new bridge they. would reinforce the west wall and build a new east wall using the old iron girders and three new ones."
Before 1903, residents with strong backs who were willing to help shovel the roads clear of snow, could expect a rebate on their highway tax, however, at a Town Board meeting held April 10, 1903, it was voted to discontinue the "work system." From then on the highway tax was administered on a cash pay- ing basis.
Road building was expensive, then as now, and in the Town Board minutes of November 18, 1904, we find that a contract was made with the Climax Company to purchase a No. 212 stone crusher for $1100.00 and the town's old stone crusher.
In 1910 the Town Board voted to repair public highways as follows: Howard Road from Buffalo to Chili Road at a cost of $300; Buell Road from Chili Road to 700 Ft. South at a cost of $1800; and in 1912, to repair Statt Road (now Long Pond Road) from Spencerport Road to the Town Line at a cost of $2,000.00.
One of the first Macadam roads, perhaps the first, in the town was Thurston Road, which in 1908 was included in the Town of Gates. The road was in- stalled by John Statt, Highway Commissioner at that time.
In 1916 the Federal Aid Road Act was passed and all states were required to submit a five-year program map showing the system of roads upon which the state highway departments would request federal aid.
Today only local roads, those not included in the federal-aid and state highway systems are the con- cern of our town officials. Control over the state roads is vested in the state highway departments. The federal-aid system coincides with the more ex- tensive state systems and therefore, a considerable portion of state highway improvement is done with federal aid.
During the year 1962, under the jurisdiction of the Gates Town Highway Department, 50% of the streets in the town were black-topped. The remain- der are scheduled for completion in 1963.
This was Chili Road in the early 1900's. The homestead shown here is the Cook farm and still stands at the
At this writing, our town, third smallest in the Monroe County area, is in the process of being carved up by more miles of highway construction than any other town in the county.
An Outer Loop, which will eventually ring the city of Rochester, is being built just west of and par- allel to the Barge Canal. It will cross Lyell Avenue, Buffalo Road, Chili Avenue and eventually join Scottsville Road.
The Western Expressway, which begins at the Inner Loop in Rochester, will cross the Barge Canal between Lyell and Buffalo Roads and will link the city with the New York State Thruway at Leroy.
A feeder from the Western Expressway, designed to relocate Route 31 to the west, is now being con- structed.
The Southeast corner of Gates will be bisected by the Airport Expressway to extend from the West- ern Expressway at West Side Drive and Chili Avenue to the Outer Loop Exchange at Brooks Avenue just west of the Barge Canal and again in the northwest sector by the Spencerport Expressway.
Everywhere we look construction is going on. Earth-movers and road-building equipment are ev- erywhere-homes are being demolished and trees cut down to make way for these new roads, but as traf- fic increases, so must facilities. Our forefathers knew this too, and it is those builders of the Buffalo Road, the Lyell Road, the Rapids Road and others who paved the way for the expansion of our town.
Trains - Trolleys - Waterways - Planes
The Tonawanda Railroad was the first railroad through Gates, having received its charter in 1832. The first trains ran between Rochester and Batavia in 1837. The New York Central Railroad was incor- porated in 1853 and the Tonawanda Railroad subse- quently became part of the Main Line of the New York Central Railroad and still remains so. The
An important part of road building equipment in the « 1900's was this stone crusher. It was used by John St. Highway Commissioner at that time.
CANAL
LYELL
SPENCERPORT
EXPRESSWAY
MANITOU
ELMGROVE
++
+ .
OUTER LOOP
BARGE
OF ROCHESTER
HOWARD
HINCHEY!
AIRPORT EX-WAY.
WEST SIDE DRIVE
GATES TOWN LINE 7
ROCHESTER MONROE
AIRPORT
CHILI AVE.
FISHER RC
Lá-
Map showing where the Outer Loop, Western Expressway Spencerport and Airport Expressways will bisect the Tow of Gates.
corner of Stewart Drive. Note the three methods of transportation - horse and buggy, bicycle and early auto.
The photograph was lent by Mrs. Marion Cook Christopher.
WESTERN EXPRESSWAY
PIXLEY
depot at Coldwater was thus named, during the 1800's by officials of the railroad for the reason that cold water was secured at this site for the train en- gines. Hence we have the hamlet of Coldwater which became one of Gate's carly Post Offices.
Another railroad came into existence in 1869 and was known as the Rochester and State Line Railroad. The railroad runs through the Town of Gates, across Buell Road and Brooks Avenue and is now known as the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. At the beginning the tracks were laid only as far as Leroy. The next sec- tion was extended to Gaines and by 1878 tracks were laid as far as Salamanca. The quaint little depot at the overpass on Brooks Avenue across from the airport, dates back to 1913 at which time the Brooks Avenue subway was completed. In those days this area was considered strictly country, according to Guy Foote, a resident of Chili Avenue, who worked for this railroad in 1913. Mr. Foote was a motorcycle enthusiast in those days but dared to ride his cycle out Brooks Avenue only as far as Chili Avenue and back again because he didn't want to get stuck way out in the country.
R. L. & B. TROLLEY
Another boon to Gates residents was the com- pletion of the Buffalo, Lockport & Rochester Trolley line in 1908. This 54-mile line, later named the Roch- ester, Lockport & Buffalo, ran from Rochester to Buffalo along the Erie Canal and the Falls branch of the New York Central Railroad. In Rochester it followed Lyell and State Streets to the old Erie Sta- tion on Court Street. It was the first of the inter- urbans to enter the city subway-the first car com- ing down the ramp at Lyell Avenue on February 4, 1928. On April 30, 1931 the last R.L.&B. car "shuf- fled off" to Buffalo at Lockport. Incidentally its old road bed in Monroe County outside the city has been acquired by the county for possible use as a highway. Trolley Boulevard, which runs between Long Pond and Lee Roads, was named for this trol- ley line.
BARGE CANAL
Yet another mode of transportation came through Gates around 1906 with the digging of the Barge Canal. No doubt there were many residents of Gates who worked on the operation. One was Joseph Statt, a member of one of Gate's pioneer fam- ilies, who was badly burned when a fire occurred while work was going on in the canal bed. Mr. Statt is now deceased, but his sister-in-law, Mrs. Theodore Statt, who still resides on Long Pond Road, said that she put an application of molasses and flour on his burns, which must have been effective, for he never had a scar.
The canal never made of Gates the thriving can- alport that it did of Perinton and Brockport, how- ever, today several petroleum and other industries in Gates utilize the services of the canal barges.
AIR TRAVEL
First attempts to fly in Rochester were made in 1910. In that year the airport was located on Scotts- ville Road and was known as Britton Field. In 1928 facilities were expanded and the name changed to Rochester Municipal Airport. Operations increased over a period of years and by 1940 it was found necessary to annex land'from the town of Chili. By 1947 more land was needed and a second annexation from both Gates and Chili was effected. In this same
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