Shop Local!

The downtown of Port Byron has certainly had its up and downs. The old photographs and postcards show stores, restaurants, and garages, and all the needs to serve the local population. But it is safe to say that prior to 1920, the local stores were well patronized as they really were the only option. However, once the trolley line started service between Port Byron and Auburn, or even to Syracuse and Rochester, the locals had many more choices as to where to shop. And at the same time, automobiles were becoming more accessible, and the roads were getting better. Hence, we have a push by the local shops to get shoppers to shop local. These ads certainly reflect that push. The top ad is from Christmas in 1922. Need a last minute gift? Don't run to Auburn, shop here!

I ran the two page ad in another post, so you may have seen it before, but not in this context. It comes from 1932. Port Byron, like the rest of the world, was in the grips of a depression. This amazing spread shows almost every business and shop in the village, and lays it out; "Let's All Get Together and Boost Port Byron".

The struggle of the small local business to survive in a much bigger world has been going on for 90 years.

Baptist Church

 Two postcards of the Baptist Church. The real photo post card is from the collection that Hellen Davies donated to the Society. Compare the two and see what is different.

Utica Street bridge

Here is a view of the Utica Street bridge over the old Erie that I have never seen before. Thanks to Bill Hecht for passing it along.

It was taken from the east side of the bridge and is looking west. The towpath is on the right or north side of the canal.

Seeing this, I never realized how much of a bend the canal took at this point. The Main Street bridge can be seen in the background, as can the steeple of the Federated Church.

This post has a look from the other side of this bridge.

View at Hayden's

It is hard to see, but the caption says "View at Hayden's", which would mean that this is now Rt 38 looking to the south, or towards Auburn. Hayden Road would be just behind us. The old highway is still there, although it now serves as a driveway. The power poles follow the line of the old trolley line, and that route was taken over for the new state highway. Looking off in the distance, you can see the bed of the trolley going up the hill. I don't have a date. This photo comes from the Port Byron Telephone Company collection.

Grace Austin's Class- 1896

This is the second of the photos loaned me by Joni Lincoln. It was very faded, so I did my best to bring it back. I did make out that it was taken in 1896 at the Port Byron School. Grace Austin wrote the pageant that marked Port Byron centennial. She was listed as the Mrs. G. Thomas Powell of Glen Cove, Long Island.

Wilt's Mill and Erie Canal Aqueduct

It is not too often that I get to see a Dayharsh original, but here is one of Wilt's Mill. It has the raised lettering in the lower right corner that shows it was made by Mr. Dayharsh all those years ago.

Standing on the Green Street bridge, we are looking upstream along the Owasco Outlet (south) toward the mill, mill dam and Erie Canal Aqueduct. The dam had a very low head, only a two or three feet. We can see that boards were placed on top to help increase the depth of the pool above.

By the end of 1917, the aqueduct would see its last boat and the canal would be closed. The mill was torn down in the fall of 2012.

Brown and Martens

These photos are in the collection of the Port Byron Library. They show the new Brown and Martens Auto Dealer. The following ran in the Port Byron Chronicle in August 14, 1947.




By July 22, 1948, the building was complete and the following story ran in the PBC.