Schuyler County Days Bygone

by Barbara H. Bell

In her fifth book on local history, Barbara H. Bell Schuyler County s longest-serving historian combines stories and historical photos from her archives, which detail the history of the people, settlements, and local legends of the Schuyler County. No one else has ever come close to her persistent investigating, studying, recording, and reporting the history of this corner of the world, says Frank Steber, former president of the Schuyler County Historical Society and a local author. For over five decades she has succeeded in gathering news and facts about the people, the places, and the events that have made Schuyler County what it is today. The legend of the Seneca Lake monster, horse rustling, pioneer living, salt mining, gold mining, wine making, and the origins of many of the settlements in Schuyler County are a sampling of the topics that appear in Schuyler County Days Bygone.

Paperback

Published December 19, 2008

Reviews

[LuAnn · Rating 4 out of 5]

While not exhaustive, seeing how at least some is compiled from Bell’s column in the local newspaper, this does give a good historical overview and feel for the days gone by with details on particular industries or places, mostly before 1900. I say before 1900 as the lack of mention of the numerous Italian families who populate the county and no mention of automobiles stands out.

The book is divided into sections on Land and Water, Living, Working, and Settlements with further subdivisions within those, such as Waterfalls & Gorges, Canals & Streams, Seneca Lake, Forests, and Rocks & Minerals. Those sections are further divided into very short chapters making it easy to pick up and dip into a topic of interest.

Each settlement seems to have was so lively with store, churches, schools and at least a few businesses, often related to horses and wagon transport, most now with little evidence of these. Many industries, population centers, pastimes and places have passed away as well as transportation, technology and economic incentives have changed, like malt houses, ice cutting, basket making for the fruit farms, and steamboats on the lake.

My birth county is now lively in different ways which makes it as enjoyable to visit now as it was enjoyable to visit its past with this book. Amply illustrated with photos and maps.

[Coni · Rating 4 out of 5]

interestting reading for the history of my ol stompin grounds as a kid.