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Lafayette’s Farewell Tour: Riding The Ridge (Road)

By Chris Carosa on June 11, 2024

Previous: The Natural Wonder Of Niagara Falls, Goat Island, And Lewiston

Western Portion of 1825 Erie Canal map showing Niagara Escarpment (upper shaded line) and Onondaga Escarpment (lower shaded line). If you look closely you’ll see Ridge Road just north of the Niagara Escarpment. Source: Laws of the State of New York, in relation to the Erie and Champlain canals / Published by authority, under the direction of the Secretary of State (E. and E. Hosford, printers, Albany, 1825)

Over the eons, what would become the North American continent heaved and hoed. Rock strata, once flat with the earth when created, now undulated in waves. Each layer born in a different geological epoch bore their own unique properties. Some too loose and soft to sustain the onslaught of wind, water, and ice; others stubbornly sturdy, able to withstand those same powerful forces.

As the most recent period of glaciation receded into Canada and further north, the melting ice revealed the natural formations known as cuestas. These landforms represent a gentle upward slope on one side and dramatic fall – often evidenced by a face of rock on the frontslope.

This precipitous cliff is called an escarpment. Western New York contains three such Continue Reading “Lafayette’s Farewell Tour: Riding The Ridge (Road)”

Posted in Western New York State of Mind Tagged Batavia, Buffalo and Erie Road, Cambria, Canada, Clarendon-Linden Fauilt System, cuesta, DeWitt Clinton, earthquake, escarpment, Finger Lakes, Genesee River, George H. Chadwick, glacier, Gouverneur Morris, Great Central Trail, Harriet Howell Cook, Howell's Tavern, Ice Age, Indian Trails, Iroquois Confederacy, Iroquois Trail, Lake Erie, Lake Iroquois, Lake Ontario, LeRoy, Lewiston, Main Road, Niagara Escarpment, Niagara River, Onondaga Escarpment, Painted Post, Peter B. Porter, Portage Escarpment, Route 104, Route 20, Route 5 & 20, Simeon DeWitt, Stephen Van Rennselaer, Thruway, William Howell, William North

Lafayette’s Farewell Tour: The Natural Wonder Of Niagara Falls, Goat Island, And Lewiston

By Chris Carosa on June 4, 2024

Previous: Augustus Porter Could Have Danced All Night

Judge Porter’s Second Bridge To Goat Island source: Robinson, Charles M., “Life of Judge Augustus Porter,” Publications of the Buffalo Historical Society Vol VII, Buffalo, 1904, p.276

Another day, another carriage. Another carriage, another bumpy ride. And the road from Tonnewanta to Manchester took a slow, lazy curve following the east fork of the Niagara River as it arcs around Grand Island. Today, driving from Tonawanda to Niagara Falls—the names that have since replaced those 1825 names—would take about twenty-five minutes. But during the time of Lafayette’s tour, it took much longer. And the ride was definitely not as smooth.

The fleet of canal boats arrived in Tonnewanta (today, Tonawanda) at noon on Friday, June 5, 1825. As he had now become accustomed to, the French guest was greeted by far more Continue Reading “Lafayette’s Farewell Tour: The Natural Wonder Of Niagara Falls, Goat Island, And Lewiston”

Posted in History, The Compleat Carosa Commentaries, Western New York State of Mind Tagged Augustus Porter, Canada, Cataract Hotel, Chief Nicholas Cusick, Eagle Hotel, Erie Canal, Goat Island, Goat Island Bridge, Grand Island, Kelsey's Tavern, Lafayette, Levasseur, Lewiston, Manchester, Martha Kelsey, Niagara Falls, Niagara River, Parkhurst Whitney, pewter chandelier, Thomas Kelsey, Tonawanda, Tonnewanta, Tuscarora, War of 1812

Lafayette’s Farewell Tour: Augustus Porter Could Have Danced All Night

By Chris Carosa on June 4, 2024

Previous: Breakfast At Black Rock Then On To Tonawanda

Judge Augustus Porter, Source: Orsamus, Pioneer History of the Holland Purchase of Western New York, Jewett, Thomas & Co., 1849, p.358a

Anna Spencer Foster loved the Genesee Country. Born in East Haddam, Connecticut in 1777,¹ by the time she was nineteen in 1796 she was living in Palmyra (then in Ontario County) with her first husband Moody Stone.² The young couple traveled freely through the challenging frontier of Greater Western New York. That year, the young couple forded the Genesee River above the falls to visit her sister and brother-in-law. On the way, they passed through Irondequoit and Rochester (where “there was but one house”).³

Late in the fall of 1796, Nathan Harris hosted a “husking frolic” at his home in that growing settlement.⁴ In general, these social events allowed neighbors to gather to work on a particular task, then party upon the completion of that task. The tasks could range anywhere and included “husking bees, raisings, quiltings, and pumpkin pearings.”⁵

Harris, known as “Uncle Nathan,” as the jolly newcomer soon became known as, had Continue Reading “Lafayette’s Farewell Tour: Augustus Porter Could Have Danced All Night”

Posted in History, Western New York State of Mind Tagged Albert H. Porter, Anna Spencer Foster, Augustus Porter, Benjamin Barton, Black Rock, Canandaigua, Connecticut Land Company, Connecticut Reserve, Corn Planter, De Witt Clinton, East Bloomfield, Erie County, Farmer's Brother, Fort Niagara, Genesee River, Goat Island, Henry Clay, husking frolic, Irondequoit, James Monroe, John Jacob Astor, Joseph Annin, Joseph Ellicott, Lafayette, Lewiston, Moody Stone, Nathan Harris, Niagara River, Ontario County, Palmyra, Peter B. Porter, Phelps and Gorham Purchase, Preemption Line, Red Jacket, Utica, Yale

Lafayette’s Farewell Tour: Breakfast At Black Rock Then On To Tonawanda

By Chris Carosa on May 28, 2024

Previous: Peter B. Porter’s Home Sweet Home

Black Rock in 1925, drawn by Mildred C. Green from the original sketch made by George Catlin. Source: The Picture Book of Earlier Buffalo, Frank Severeace, ed., Buffalo Historical Society Publications, Volume Six, p.252

The gates of the grand lock at the foot of the harbor opened for the first time on Thursday evening, June 2, 1825. Water from Lake Erie came gushing in. Slowly, but steadily, water flowed into the newly opened portion of the Erie Canal from Black Rock to “Tonnewanta” (present day Tonawanda). By nine o’clock Friday morning, the water filled the nine-mile length to a depth of three and a half feet. The celebratory committee launched the inaugural fleet of five elaborately decorated packet boats.¹

Upon their return to Black Rock at three o’clock, a procession of 150 people led by Marshall of the day J.L. Marshall, Esq. marched to the Steam Boat Hotel. As the news reported of Continue Reading “Lafayette’s Farewell Tour: Breakfast At Black Rock Then On To Tonawanda”

Posted in History, The Compleat Carosa Commentaries, Western New York State of Mind Tagged Black Rock, Buffalo, Erie Canal, General Porter, J.L. Marshall, Lafayette, Lake Erie, Levasseur, Peter B. Porter, Seneca Chief, Steam Boat Hotel, Thayer's Hotel, Tonawanda, Tonnewanta, William C. Bouck

Lafayette’s Farewell Tour: Peter B. Porter’s Home Sweet Home

By Chris Carosa on May 28, 2024

Previous: Regal Reception In Buffalo’s Blossoming Queen City

Residence of General Peter B. Porter, overlooking the Niagara River, near Ferry Street (Black Rock). Built 1816. Many years residence of Hon. Lewis F. Allen, and for a short time of his nephew, Grover Cleveland. Torn down in 1911. Source: Hill, Henry Wayland, Municipality of Buffalo New York A History 1720-1923, Volume I, Lewis Historical Publishing Company, New York, 1923, p. 100a

Peter Buell Porter woke up early that morning. Yesterday, despite all its pomp and circumstance, was just a prelude to today. For it was on this day, Sunday, June 5^th, 1825, the General would host the General. General Porter would soon entertain General Lafayette for breakfast at his Black Rock house.

For nearly a quarter of a century, Peter Porter had lived in the Greater Western New York Region. During the last fifteen years, he had fought—both literally and figuratively—for his beloved home of Black Rock.

Born in Litchfield, Connecticut in 1773, Peter B. Porter graduated from Yale College before studying law in his hometown with Judge Reeves (who, incidentally, was the brother-in-law of Aaron Burr)². He couldn’t, however, resist the lure of “the far famed ‘Genesee Country’ — of its fertile soil, its genial climate, of its beautiful lakes and rivers.” In 1793, he and a Continue Reading “Lafayette’s Farewell Tour: Peter B. Porter’s Home Sweet Home”

Posted in History, Western New York State of Mind Tagged Aaron Burr, Augustus Porter, Battle of Queenston Heights, Black Rock, Buffalo, burning of Buffalo, Canandaigua, Erie Canal, Erie County, General Porter, Genesee Country, John Breckinridge, Lafayette, Lake Erie, Letitia Grayson, Niagara County, Niagara River, Ontario County, Peter B. Porter, War of 1812, William C. Bouck, Yale

Lafayette’s Farewell Tour: Regal Reception In Buffalo’s Blossoming Queen City

By Chris Carosa on May 21, 2024

Previous: Rebuilt Buffalo

Our County and Its People, Volume I, edited by Truman C. White, The Boston History Company, 1898, p. 282

Thousands crowded the shore near Buffalo’s new harbor. Oliver Forward couldn’t help but gloat. It had been a slugfest. Whether Joseph Ellicott or Peter B. Porter, it seemed like those who could help his struggling village didn’t. But he and his friends succeeded. And now, just as the clock struck noon, the Nation’s Guest – General Lafayette – appeared on Lake Erie’s horizon.

The big show was about to begin.

But the impetus for it almost didn’t. There almost wasn’t a harbor. And without a harbor, there would be no canal. And without a canal, well, Peter Porter would have been the one Continue Reading “Lafayette’s Farewell Tour: Regal Reception In Buffalo’s Blossoming Queen City”

Posted in History, The Compleat Carosa Commentaries, Western New York State of Mind Tagged Black Rock, Buffalo, Buffalo Creek, Buffalo Harbor, Capt. Rathbun, Capt. Vosburgh, Charles Townsend, Col. Storrs, Cyrenius Chapin, Ebenezer Walden, Elijah Risley, Erie Canal, Erie County, Fort Stanwix, George Coit, George Washington La Fayette, H.B. Potter, Holland Company, Holland Land Company, Joseph Ellicott, Lafayette, Lake Erie, Le Couteulx, Levasseur, M.M. Dox, Mayville, Niagara County, Niagara River, Oliver Forward, Paul Busti, Peter B. Porter, Red Jacket, Samuel Wilkeson, Superior, W.C. Bouck, William Peacock

Lafayette’s Farewell Tour: Rebuilt Buffalo

By Chris Carosa on May 21, 2024

Previous: To The Dunkirk Dinghy By The Dawn’s Early Light

Taylor, C.B., A Centennial History of the United States, 1876, p305

Cyrenius Chapin stood where no sane man dare stand. He knew exactly what he was doing. He also knew it was all McClure’s fault.

Nonetheless, there he was. He measured his pace as he approached the British line. Despite the noise and excitement about him, he could hear his feet crunch through the snow. Or maybe he imagined his cold ears picking up the sound.

Certainly, he could feel his feet crush the white blanket as he made his way up Schimmelpenninck Avenue (it didn’t get the name Niagara Street until July 12, 1826¹). The excitement of the night and now early morning kept his blood flowing to his extremities. His medical training taught him that would help prevent the onset of frostbite.

Cyrenius fully understood the consequences of his actions. With the cannon behind him Continue Reading “Lafayette’s Farewell Tour: Rebuilt Buffalo”

Posted in History, The Compleat Carosa Commentaries, Western New York State of Mind Tagged British, Buffalo, Buffalo Creek, burning of Buffalo, D.C., Dr. Chapin, Ebenezer Walden, Eli Hart, Erie County, erie county fair, first school, Fort Erie, Fort Niagara, General McClure, General Tousard, George McClure, Holland Land Company, Holland Land Purchase, Joseph Ellicott, Lafayette, Louis Stephen Le Couteulx, Newark, Niagara County, Niagara County Agricultural Society, Niagara River, Niagara Street, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Oliver Forward, Pearl Street, Schimmelpenninck Avenue, Sir George Prevost, Sir Gordon Drummond, Swan Street, Timothy Dwight, War of 1812, Washington, Zena W. Barker

Lafayette’s Farewell Tour: To The Dunkirk Dinghy By The Dawn’s Early Light

By Chris Carosa on May 14, 2024

Previous: Dunkirk, The Last Frontier

Walter Smith, from The Centennial History of Chautauqua County Vol I, p.355

Walter Smith was there, no doubt in front of the crowd of people riding along with Lafayette. Unlike the fawning civilians eager to not let go of the Nation’s Guest, Smith wore the uniform of a Colonel, confidently in command of the militia regiment that received Lafayette. He even had an elegant sword draped from his belt.¹

Major General Elijah Risley, Jr., father of nine-year-old Hiram (and future grandfather of Olive) strode with his military staff alongside Smith. With little notice, Smith was tabbed as marshal of the day.² Both were businessmen, not full-time soldiers. Today, or rather this night turning into early morning, they faithfully presented all the martial pomp and circumstance proper in honoring the last surviving general of the American Revolution.

But there may have been more on the mind of Walter Smith. He wasn’t just a Continue Reading “Lafayette’s Farewell Tour: To The Dunkirk Dinghy By The Dawn’s Early Light”

Posted in History, The Compleat Carosa Commentaries, Western New York State of Mind Tagged Abell, Buffalo, Central Avenue, Chautauqua County, Dunkirk, Dunkirk Bay, Elijah Risley, Fredonia, Hiram Risley, Jr., Lafayette, Levasseur, Railroad, Superior, Walter Smith, Westfield

Lafayette’s Farewell Tour: Dunkirk, The Last Frontier

By Chris Carosa on May 14, 2024

Previous: Fast Fredonia Frenzy

It was three o’clock in the morning when Lafayette and his travel partners left Fredonia. They weren’t alone. A horde of enthusiastic citizens accompanied the nation’s guest to the Superior, the famous Great Lakes steamer that had been waiting offshore in the Dunkirk harbor from the previous day.

The late (or early) hour had no impact on the escort. They gladly trudged through the dew and mud. It would be something they would remember for the rest of their lives. There they were. Side by side with the Revolutionary War hero, the friend of George Washington, an icon they could only dream of meeting.

After all, who were they, these pioneers of Western New York? Sure, a few were surviving Continue Reading “Lafayette’s Farewell Tour: Dunkirk, The Last Frontier”

Posted in History, The Compleat Carosa Commentaries, Western New York State of Mind Tagged Barcelona, Brigham Road, Buffalo and Erie Road, Canadaway creek, Central Avenue, Chautauqua County, Chautauqua Creek, Dunkirk, Erie, Erie Canal, Fredonia, French, Heman Ely, John Brigham, Lafayette, Lewis Morgan, Mary Ann Drake, Niagara Frontier, Presque Isle, Temple Street

Lafayette’s Farewell Tour: Fast Fredonia Frenzy

By Chris Carosa on May 7, 2024

Previous: Gaslighting The General

The trot to Fredonia was anything but quick. The Buffalo and Erie Road turned out to be less “finished” than Joseph Ellicott had hoped. André-Nicolas Levasseur, one of Lafayette’s traveling party who would eventually publish an extensive journal of the General’s American Farewell Tour, went out of his way to point out the poor condition of the Main road between “Portland” (a.k.a. “Westfield”) and Fredonia.

“On leaving Portland,” wrote Levasseur, “yielding to the fatigue of the preceding days, we were sleeping in the carriage notwithstanding the violent jolting occasioned by the trunks of the trees forming the road over which we were rapidly passing.”¹

Ellicott had rather strict guidelines for those he hired to clear roads, especially when it Continue Reading “Lafayette’s Farewell Tour: Fast Fredonia Frenzy”

Posted in History, The Compleat Carosa Commentaries, Western New York State of Mind Tagged Abell Tavern, Andre-Nicolas Levasseur, Buffalo and Erie Road, Capt. Brown, Capt. Whitcomb, David Brown, David J. Matteson, Doctor Crosby, Dunkirk, Fredonia, John M. Edson, Joseph Ellicott, Lafayette, Main Road, Mosley Abell, Obed Edson, Olive Risley Seward, Portland, Sinclairville, Westfield

Chris Carosa