HECTOR FALLS
Cascade of the Seneca, Whose Waters Mark the silence
Site of Old Time Thrift and Enterprise. Copyrighted by John Corbett.
[ca 1908]
Hector Fails tumbles a torrent in spring; Flows a
graceful stream in summer and autumn, and is an ice cascade in winter,
yet through all the seasons remains the moat marked feature of the sites
of Seneca. Over rocks of the Chemung and Portage Groups
ends the current of’ waters that, wind from spring fed sources in the heart
of upland vales. The strata being principally gracious
offer in their sandy surfaces little facility for
wearing and hence the gorge. is inconsiderable which extends summated
from the Falls.
The stream meets Seneca at the silent site of old
time, thrift and surprise. In olden days, John. B. Seeley there kept the
first store in the town of Hector and on the dug way leading to the
Point erected the first frame house on the east- slope of the Lake. The
first grist miil and carding machine in the town were put in operation
at Hector Falls by Samuel S. Seeley, who also kept and conducted
a distillery. In 1828 he thus advertised in the Tioga Patriot, published
at Havana:, “Samuel S. Seeley wants cords of wood chopped immediately
for which a liberal price be paid. He has 100 barrels of whiskey on hand,
stands to sell soon. Farmers who want had best call soon; and he who are
responsible, and have no money shall not go away empty handed. The
Seneca chief the first steamboat of Seneca Lake, made her landings
at Hector Fails; which at the time, 1828 was an important business
center. In addition to the’ enterprises enumerated above, Ledera Wood had
a foundry in. which were cast the first plows, used in this section. The
mills were the most extensive along the Lake. The original structures
were painted red. Upon burning, two mills were erected by Samuel Lawrence
and Charles Miller. One was up the hill from the other; both were painted
white, and so arranged that their upper doors could be -- led with
water. The wheel tower was a feature of the established, on which were
located three water wheels, one above the water thus utilizing a great
proportion of the power of the stream. These mills the distillery,
else woolen mill and the house of Mr----- were destroyed by fires. A third
mill was built at Hector after the business of the place had died out.
It was run by turbine wheel amid burned a few years after erection- Then
a fifth mill was built up by the highway, with a rod from the turning
wheel at the lake-side, as motive power at first, but flames destroyed
the structure, and only blackened foundation walls today, ruins as evidence
of endeavors of the past.
Hector Falls was mentioned as follows, in a New York
publication of November 17, 1823, under head of “Inland Navigation”;
arrived yesterday from the town of Hector, Tompkins County, the pioneer
Mary and Hannah, of Factory Falls, Captain Jackson, commanding and
Mr. Osbornc, super cargo. This is the first vessel of such reached the
port of New York through the Canal. brings a cargo consisting of 800 bushels
of wheat, three tons of ---- and four barrels of beans, all of excellent
quality, consigned Phillip Hart, Jr. The Mary and Hannah is owned by Messrs.’
----son and Osborne, two enterprising farmers living on the border of Seneca
Lake Mr. Jackson informed us this morning that the ----oer of the schooner
is from his own forest and that the ship was built and rigged by
himself, including the greater part of the iron ----ks blocks,
cordage, etc. He is now the navigator, combining his character the practical
agriculturist, mechanic, ship-builder mariner Such a versatility of talent
and ingenuity is seldom possessed.
“The town of Hector is situated on the southeastern
extremity Seneca Lake, 420 miles from this city. An average voyage will
----py 12 to 15 days. Produce may be brought at less than one ---- the
expense which it cost before the canal was opened. The arrival of this
vessel from a fertile agricultural district in the interior
of the State, is not less a subject of congratulation than of ----osity.
Many visitors called to examine her this morning at -----ntis slip.
She will lake on a return cargo and sail early in the present week, that
she may arrive at her destined harbor before the trail is frozen. It is
an interesting fact that the Mary and Hannah have the names of wives
of the two farmers by whom she was named.
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