USA > New York > Tioga County > Owego > Owego. Some account of the early settlement of the village in Tioga County, N.Y., called Ah-wa-ga by the Indians, which name was corrupted by gradual evolution into Owago, Owego, Owegy and finally Owego > Part 22
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When Amaziah Hutchinson sur- veyed the village plot the present Lake street was a narrow road through the woods. In 1802 Henry Steward and Solomon Williams, com- missioners of highways, laid out a highway extending from the north end of Lake street north. It extended in a direct line a little east of and nearly parallel with the present North ave- nue (where there was then no street) to a point a little north of Talcott street at the south line of Joseph and Lemuel Brown's lot. Thence it ex- tended north where the present high- way runs. Lake street was then nar- rower than it is now, and on each side of it was a rail fence.
When Hutchinson's survey was made, Front street was known sonic- times as "the main street," sometimes as "Water street." and also as 'the river road." In 1795, it was made into a highway, and not a particularly straight one.
The street now known as Main street first extended from Lake street west to McMaster street. It was sometimes known as "Second" street and also as "Back" street, it being back of Front street, the main high- way. Main street and its extension as a highway into and through the town of Tioga was not then in existence. and its present course was then cov- cred with woods and brush. When
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William Pumpelly surveyed the ex- tension of this street east the ground was so covered with thick underbrush that he had considerable difficulty in cutting his way through it.
The only streets at Owego at that time were the road along the river bank, the Cayuga lake trail (McMas- ter street), Back street, and the high- way from Lake street north.
When Amaziah Hutchinson made his survey of the village in 1788-9 a street, or lane, was laid out between the lots in Front street now occupied by the residences of Howard J. Mead and J. C. Kenyon. This lane crossed Back street and extended as far north as where Temple street is now. The street now known as Paige street, ex- tending from Front street north as far as the present Temple street, was also laid down on this map as a lane. These lanes and the streets already mentioned were the only ones in the settlement previous to the year 1800.
In 1802 the road extending from the north end of what is now Lake street to near Talcott street was discon- tinned as a public highway and a new road was opened, which afterward be- came successively known as the Owe- go and Ithaca turnpike, Ithaca street, and North avenue. The next year a bridge was built across the Owego creek, and all the travel from Owego west went by Back street, the old river road having been abandoned.
The old "Owego and Ithaca Turn- pike Road Company" was incorporated by an act of the legislature, passed April 6, 1807. Its directors were Mason Wattles, John Hollenback. Lemuel Brown, Eleazer Dana, Charles Pumpelly, John H. Avery, Nathan
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Camp. Jabez Brown, John Smith. Archer Green. Eleazer Smith, and others. The turnpike was surveyed by Richard W. Pelton and laid out by Gen. John Tillotson and Col. Henry Bloom. two of the commissioners ap- pointed by the governor of the state for that purpose. The date of the survey was April 18, 180S. The stock of the company consisted of 2,000 shares of $20 each. Mr. Dana, Mr. Avery, and John Smith were appoint- ed by the act a committee to receive subscriptions.
The rates of toll established were as follows: For every wagon with two horses, or oxen, twelve and one- half cents, and three cents for each additional animal: for every one horse cart. six cents; for every coach. coachee, phaeton or curricle, with two horses, twenty-five cents; for every sulky. chair, chaise, or other one horse pleasure carriage, twelve and one-half cents; for every cart drawn by two oxen. eight cents, and four cents for each additional ox: for every horse and rider or led horse, four cents; for every sleigh or sled. six cents; for every score of horses. cattle or mules twenty cents, or of hogs or sheep, six cents; and for every two horse stage or wagon. twelve and one-half cents.
The Owego terminus of the turn- pike was Main street, now the foot of North avenue. The original intention of the turnpike company had been to enter Owego by the Cayuga lake road (McMaster street. ) At that time there were two taverns in Owego. One-the Bates tavern-occupied the site of the present Ahwaga house: the other. the Laning tavern. afterward
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known as the Franklin house, stood on the north side of Front street, near the Court street corner. Capt. Luke Bates and Gen. John Laning were the respective proprietors of the two taverns. There was great rivalry at that time between the two houses, and each landlord wanted the road to terminate in the vicinity of his house. The contest became so bitter that the turnpike directors finally compro- mised by fixing upon the present foot of North avenue, which was about. equally distant from each of the two taverns, as the terminus.
The first turnpike gate was . three and one-half miles north of this vil- lage, in the town of Tioga. The next was Smith's gate, at the "half way house," in the town of Candor. About the year 1832, Geo. Bacon, of Owego; Horace Giles, of Spencer, and Lucius Humphrey, of Candor, were the high- way commissioners, appointed by the governor of the state.
At that period the turnpikes had be- come in bad condition. A resident of the Montrose turnpike, living six miles south of Owego, complained to the commissioners of the bad state of that turnpike and called upon them to examine it. The result was that the commissioners tore down the gate of the Montrose turnpike, which gate was four miles south of Owego, and soon afterward threw the gates of the Owego and Ithaca turnpike open free to the public, and they were never afterward closed.
After the great fire of September. 1849, an effort was made to have North avenue extended down to Front street, but there was such a bitter op position on the part of those owning
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property in Lake street, who knew that such extension would greatly de- preciate the value of their lots, that the project was abandoned.
The next street opened was the one now known as Ross street, which was laid out by Asa Camp and John R. Drake, commissioners of highways. November 18, 1812, and was for sev- eral years known as the "upper cross street," it being then in the extreme eastern limits of the village.
On the 26th of February, 1821, a street known as Fourth (now Fox) street was laid out by William Puni- pelly and Elisha Bundy, commission- ers of highways. As surveyed it crossed where Paige street is now and continued on east for some dis- tance, and finally turned off diagonally across the lots until it intersected Main street.
In 1810, Lemuel Brown and Abijalı Foster, commissioners of highways, had laid out a road running from the river road to Back street, near where Paige street now runs. The road was abandoned in 1820, and that portion of the street now known as Paige street extending from Front to Main street was surveyed and laid out.
The village of Owego was incor- porated by an act of the state legisla- ture April 4, 1827. On the 4th day of the following June, a meeting of free- holders was held at the old court house for the purpose of organization. William Platt and Eleazer Dana, jus- tices of the peace, held the election, and Ezra S. Sweet was appointed clerk. James Pumpelly, Eleazer Dana, William A. Ely, Harmon Pumpelly, and Jonathan Platt were chosen trus- tees.
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The trustees at once took measures to put the streets in good order. On July 3 a meeting of the taxable in- habitants was again held at the court house, when the trustees presented an exhibit of the improvements which they deemed it expedient to make, and the sum of $300 was voted for the purpose of improving the streets and making sidewalks.
The few streets that had been laid out were crooked and but little better than lanes. Houses, which had been built before the street lines were surveyed, were in some instances standing where the sidewalks were to run. These houses had to be removed, usually against the wishes of the owner, and frequently not until after the aid of the law had been invoked- and in more than one instance while their work was in progress, builders were stopped, they having set their buildings beyond the street line. The village streets were designated as fol- lows:
The river road from Willian street to Ross street was named Front street. The street which had been variously known as Back street, Sec- ond street and Main street was called Main street. It extended from Mc- Master street to Ross street.
The street at the east end of the village, which had been known as "the upper cross street," was named Ross street. It was so named in honor of Major Horatio Ross, a mer- chant, who lived in the house, which is still standing on the southwest cor- ner of Front and Ross streets. At the time the street was first opened, in 1812, the house was occupied by Dr. Samuel Barclay. This house was built
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by Dr. Barclay, and was successively owned by Major Ross, Charles Tal- cott, Thomas Farrington, and lieu- tenant B. W. Loring.
That portion of Paige street ex- tending from Front to Main streets was named Leonard street, in honor of Stephen B. Leonard, who lived in a house which stood on the southeast corner of that street and Front street. and it was so called as late as 1837. From Main to Fox streets, the same street was called Paige street, in honor of Dr. Joel S. Paige, who lived on the northeast corner of Main and Paige streets.
Dutch alley now known as Church street, was a narrow lane. It extended only from Front to Main street, and was named Church alley by the trus- tees.
The old Ithaca and Owego turnpike road, now called North avenue, was not then a street.
The street now called Lake street was named Ithaca street. The latter name was afterward given to the street now called North avenue.
There was for many years an ark yard on the bank of the river near the foot of the street now known as William street, on which account, probably, the trustees called that street Ark street.
These were the only thoroughfares recognized as streets by the board of trustees. There were no sidewalks, with the exception of narrow wooden ones in front of some of the stores, and the pathways, which were fre- quently on but one side of the street. were uneven, ungraded, and followed the natural course of the ground.
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The first sidewalks laid by order of the trustees were as follows: The en- tire length of the north side of Front street; on the west side of Church alley ; on the west side of Ithaca (now Lake) street; on the west side of the public square; on the north side of Main street from where the lot on which the new grade school building now stands to Mrs. John Laning's house, which stood near the present corner of Main street and Central avenue, and on the west side of the turnpike to the Presbyterian meeting house, which stood where the present church now stands. But little atten- tion was paid to the order of the trustees, and but few sidewalks were laid. The only ones built were in front of the business places, and they were narrow and constructed of planks, laid lengthwise.
Front street, from Church to Court street was first paved with cobble stones in the summer of 1839, by James Erwin, of Smithville, Chenango Co., who also paved Lake street in the fall of the next year.
In the fall of 1836, the board of trustees decided to have a new sur- vey and map of the village made. Stephen Dexter came from Ithaca for that purpose and made the survey and map. In running his lines, Mr. Dexter cut off in many instances land from the door yards of some of the property owners, which caused some dissatisfaction. But his survey was correct and the street lines as now existing are in accordance with his map. The map was filed in the county clerk's office, whence it was borrowed or stolen, many years ago. Mr. Dex- ter always believed that it was de-
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stroyed by some property owner who had suffered by his survey.
Church alley was private property until 1836, the land being owned by Charles Pumpelly and Latham A. Burrows. They deeded the property to the village as a public street in September of that year, and in con- sideration were exempted from all ob- ligations to make sidewalks or flag the street. The name of the alley was at the same time changed to Church street. The extension of Church street from Main street to the Pres- byterian church yard was afterward agitated. but it was not made until 1846. The street was surveyed and laid out by Charles R. Coburn, who was afterward a teacher in the Owego academy, and subsequently state su- perintendent of schools in Pennsyl- vania.
Main street did not for many years extend farther east than its present junction with Spencer avenue. East of that point the land was covered with scrub oak trees. It was after- ward extended past Paige street to about where the Catholic church now is, and when the village was incor- porated its eastern termination was at its junction with Ross street. It was proposed. in 1837, to widen it to 66 feet from Church street east. but as that would necessitate the removal of some of the houses owned by Charles Pumpelly and others. between Church and Paige streets, it was made only 64 feet wide.
Main street was extended throughi G. W. Hollenback's lots to John street, June 17, 1850, and from John street to the east bounds of the cor- poration, in April, 1854, and a street
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was at the same time ordered to be laid out from the east termination of the extension to the Lisle road. Main street from MeMaster street to the Owego creek bridge was not regularly laid ont as a highway umtil June, 1838, by the commissioners of highway of the town of Owego.
In May, 1837, the trustees decided to open a street three rods wide from North avenue to Paige street. The land was owned by Charles Pumpelly, who objected to having a street opened through his property and ro- fused to move his fences. Owing to his opposition, the street was not opened until June, 1838, when the pathmaster, in pursuance of orders, tore down the fences and Temple street was opened to the public.
This street was for several years known as Third street. Its name was changed to Temple street in honor of Jotham Temple, a blacksmith, who lived a little west of where the brick school house in Temple street now stands. Temple's shop was on the west side of North avenue, a little south of Temple street.
Temple was evidently something of a humorist. In an advertisement in the Gazette, dated April 25, 1839, an- nouncing that he had purchased Samuel Babcock's blacksmith shop, he signs his advertisement, "Jotham Temple, Anvil Organist for the Peo- ple."
Temple street was extended from North avenue west to McMaster street Jan. 24, 1853. At that time the land from North avenue to Central avenue was like a deep ditch and it required much filling to bring the sur-
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face up to a level with the rest of the street.
The old Ithaca and Owego turnpike, which was for a time commonly known as Turnpike street, was, as has already been mentioned, called Ithaca street. In reciprocation, one of the principal streets in Ithaca was called Owego street. March 3, 1842, Ithaca street was surveyed by Stephen Dex- ter, and on the Sth of the same month its name was changed to North ave- nue. In retaliation for the change, the authorities of Ithaca a few years afterward changed the name of Owego street in Ithaca to State street.
In 1878, the board of trustees, to gratify a whim of Dr. James Wilson, who was the owner of several brick stores in North avenue, changed the name of the street to Broadway. This absurdity was displeasing to nearly everybody, and the street continued to be called North avenue. The village newspapers invariably mentioned the street by its old name. March 28. 1881, a petition, requesting the restor- ation of the name of North avenue to the street, was presented to the board of trustes, and granted.
Fox street was so named in honor of Capt. Sylvenus Fox, who lived at the southeast corner of that street and North avenue. In May, 1841, Stephen Dexter surveyed the street and re- duced its width from four to three rods. The street, as then surveyed. extended from Paige street to the old Cayuga and Susquehanna railroad track, which extended down through the village a little east of where Cen- tral avenue now is. In 1851 an un- successful effort was made to have the trustees extend Fox street east to
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Green street. The street was not ex- tended west to McMaster street until 1857.
Dog alley, sometimes known as Hickory street, was a "cul de sac" ex- tending from Main street a few rods north. It was also sometimes called Duncan street from the house of William Duncan being in the street. The name of Dog alley was naturally unpleasing to the residents of the street, and in February, 1848, they ap- plied to the village trustees to have the alley regularly laid out as a street. In connection therewith they wanted another street opened, to ex- tend from the north end, which was then where the Temple street corner now is, east to the old railroad ( now Central avenue). Nothing was done in the matter until November, 1850, when the alley was widened to 43 feet and its name changed to Liberty street. The street was extended north to Fox street in August, 1857.
John street from Main to Front street was opened June 17, 1850, through lands of George W. Hollen- back, who named the street in honor of his uncle, John Hollenback, who at the time of his death was the owner of much of the land in that part of the village. When Main street was extended from John street east, April 17, 1854, Fulton street was opened.
Farm street was laid out in May, 1858. Walnut street, now known as Division street, was opened in Sep- tember of the same year. The land for these streets was given to the vil- lage by George W. Hollenback. There is, or was, another Division street in the western part of the village, ex- tending from Main street near the
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electric light plant north and nearly parallel with the canal that supplies the plant with water power.
Tinkham street was opened from North avenue to Spencer avenue in May, 1855, and so named in honor of Samuel Standish Tinkham, who lived at the corner of that street and North avenue. April 28, 1856, the name was changed to Chestnut street.
Forsyth street was a lane twenty- four feet wide. When it was laid out as a street May 4, 1857, it was wid- ened to forty feet. At the time the street was laid out Elisha Forsyth had a crop of corn growing on a part of the land which was required for the street, which land he had rented for two years. He released his claim to the land on condition that the street should be named Forsyth street, and it was so named.
Spencer avenue at its south end covers what was for many years a large pond of water, supplied by a liv- ing spring. There had been a lane from Main to Temple street, a little east of the present avenue, which lane was closed several years before the avenue was opened. The land was owned by Charles Pumpelly. The portion of the present avenue extend- ing from Temple to Fox streets was for many years a lane two rods wide. known as Furnace lane. This lane was so called as it led to an iron foundry, or furnace, which stood in Main street in the southwest corner of what is now the M. E. church property. This furnace was known as the Owego furnace and was conducted by Joel Smedley & Co. Furnace lane was surveyed by Stephen Dexter in
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July, 1853, and accepted as a street Aug. 16, 1858.
At the north end of the lane lived several Irish Catholic families, and the street was named St. Patrick street, in honor of their patron saint. St. Patrick street was extended south from Temple street to Main street in May, 1863, and was made forty feet wide. At a meeting of the village trustees in 1870 there was some talk of changing the name of the street. Wakely Spencer, the street commis- sioner, happened to be present, and, as a joke, Ira A. Post, one of the trus- tes, moved that its name should be changed to Spencer avenue. His motion was seriously considered and adopted, and the street has ever since been known by that name.
Previous to the completion of the New York and Erie railroad to Owego, in 1849, John R. Drake owned a large amount of land on both sides of the railroad extending from east of North avenue to the Owego creek. He had previously had a map made and litho- graphed, which was called, " A Map of Drake's Reservation in the Village of Owego." On this map his entire property was laid out into squares and streets. It was his intention to build up the village on what is known as "the flats," but his design was frustrated by a stroke of paralysis, which rendered him incapable of carrying his intentions into execution. To all these streets except one he gave the names respectively of his son, his daughters, and a granddaugh- ter. The streets on this map extend- ing north and south were Arianna, Theodore, and Charlotte streets. Those running east and west were
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Adaline 'and Delphine streets and West avenue. All of these streets ex- cept Harriet. Arianna, and Theodore streets were subsequently accepted and laid out by the village trustees. Adaline and Charlotte streets were released to the village by judge Drake's heirs May, 12. 1864. West avenue was accepted July 11 of the same year. and Harriet street July 31, 1876.
A quit claim deed of Delphine street (named in honor of Mrs. Harmon Pumpelly) was made by Theodore Drake to the village in August, 1863. The street was regularly laid out in May, 1872.
This street, as surveyed began at North avenue a little south of the United States hotel and crossed the D., L. & W. railroad track. In June of the same year a petition, signed by 22 taxpayers, was presented to the board of trustees, praying that that part of the street between McMaster street and North avenue might be opened to travel. The trustees, ac- cordingly,passed a resolution authoriz- ing the opening of the street across the railroad track. To prevent the carrying into effect of this resolution and in order to retain possession of the land, the railroad company ob- tained an injunction prohibiting such extension until the matter might be legally settled. Soon afterward the company caused an engine house, large enough to contain a locomotive. to be built in the centre of the pro- posed extension of the street. The street from North avenue to McMas- ter street was, consequently, not regu- larly opened as a public street, but several years later the engine house
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was removed, and the street is now open for public use.
East Temple street was originally known as Patch street, so called on account of Timothy P. Patch, an Owego merchant owning land in that street. Later its name was changed to Bell street, in honor of Joseph C. Bell, who lived on the northeast cor- ner of that street and Paige street and who was a member of the board of village trustees in 1840. It was regularly laid out as a street as far as Green street in August, 1843, Green street was laid out at the same time. In February, 1853, Bell street was extended from Green street east forty feet, and thence across the Erie railroad tracks to Erie street in April, 1880. The name of the street was changed to East Temple street in 1884, a majority of the residents of that street having presented a peti- tion to the trustees asking for such change.
Erie street was laid out in January, 1859, and South Depot and North Depot streets in May, 1851. Little John street named in honor of judge Drake and so called to distinguish it from John street-was also laid out in May, 1851. It has been for many years generally known as John R. street.
Central avenue occupies the ground where the old Ithaca and Owego rail- road ran previous to 1850. It was widened, surveyed, and laid out as a street in May, 1862.
Talcott street, so named in honor of George Talcott, who lived on its north side, near North avenue, and who owned the land through which it was opened, was laid out in August, 1862.
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Hill street takes its name from James Hill, the owner of the land through which it was opened in May, 1870.
East avenue was known as "the mountain road." In 1840 it was laid out as a highway by the commission- ers of highways of the town of Owego. The road was cut in the side of the hill by Patrick Geary. All that por- tion of this road lying within the vil- lage limits was recorded as a street in February, 1872, and named East ave- nue.
The land through which Franklin street extends was owned by Gurdon Hewitt the elder, who sold to Hiram A. Beebe the first building lot on the east side of the street when it was opened. Mr. Hewitt asked Mr. Beebe to give the street a name, and as Mr. Beebe was editor of the Owego Ga- zette and a printer. he named the street Franklin street, in honor of that illustrious member of the craft, Ben- jamin Franklin.
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