Last week we began the story of the Rise and Fall of the town of Collins and its communities, beginning with Gowanda. We will continue our Gowanda saga this week.
Early Gowanda Bridges:
The first bridge across the Cattaraugus Creek (at the present five corner intersection) was enacted by legislature in 1826. The expense of the bridge was to be apportioned from the taxable properties in both towns & counties, Collins, Erie & Persia, Cattaraugus. Bridge commissioners were selected; Phineas Spencer, Ralph Plumb & Benjamin Waterman. The trio entered into contract with Ahaz Allen & Edwin Farnsworth in July 1826 to complete the structure by January 1827.
The structure was not completed until April 1827, it was a sturdy wooden, covered bridge which stood its ground until the Great Gowanda fire of April 1856, at which time it burned.
Soon thereafter, a similar bridge was built, replacing the original. This one did not hold fast for an exceptionally long time. It would be washed away in September, 1861.
It was determined that the bridge span needed to be widened from 128 feet to 147 feet. The bridge would also be lengthened by 19 feet. On January 31, 1862 Commissioners James Locke (Cattaraugus County) & James E Moss (Erie County) entered in a contract with Edward P & George Bailey to construct the new bridge which would be a covered structure similar to the old structure. The duo was allowed to use as much of the old bridge as feasible and received $800 at the satisfaction of the commissioners which occurred on October 1, 1862. This bridge was declared unsafe in 1889.
On May 16, 1889 Persia Commissioners, James H Green & Frederick Weigand along with Collins Commissioners, John A Schoos entered into contract with the Groton Bridge & Manufacturing Company to erect a new steel bridge at a cost of $7,796. The length of the new bridge was 153 feet. The entire cost of dismantling the old bridge, erecting new abutments and building the new bridge was $13,000.
Early Gowanda Cemeteries:
Early Gowanda had two cemeteries; the Presbyterian Cemetery and one on the border with Perrysburg. By 1867, Gowanda found itself in need of more land for a cemetery. Twenty acres was donated to the newly formed Pine Hill Cemetery Association by the Hon. J. H. Plumb. The land was in the hills overlooking the village located within the town of Collins. In 1897, an additional 2 1/2 acres of land was purchased to create a water system for the cemetery. A gift of $1,000 from the Hon. J. H. Plumb, $200 from Jeanette I Kirby and a bequest of $1,000 from the estate of C. C. Torrence created a beautification fund for the cemetery.
Early Gowanda Newspapers:
Began, November 1827 - ended, approximately close of 1838: The Lodi Pioneer. Price $2.50 annually, politics: anti-masonic, Publisher: G. N Starr. While well known that Horace Greeley, founder of The New York Tribune, worked in Gowanda as a printer, it is only assumed that it was this paper he worked for.
Began, June 1830: The Cattaraugus Freeman and Lodi Messenger. Politics: Whigs. Proprietor & Editor: June 1830 - November 19, 1840: Edwin Hough, at this time Edwin Hough remained as editor while Eliakim Hough became proprietor.
The name of the paper would change to: People's Advocate and Lodi Banner as of January 17, 1844, the principals remained the same. March 1, 1844: the name once again changed, this time becoming The Lodi Banner. April 13, 1844, the last issue is published, the principal were moving to Springville where their new newspaper, The Springville Express began publication on May 13, 1844.
Began, March 1847: The Western Democrat. Publisher: A. A. LaDue. Politics: Democratic. La Due Retired April 26, 1848; William Van Vecten became the next publisher; but he remained only until May 17, 1848. John W. Mason and Charles Aldrich would manage the paper until June, 1848 when Van Vecten would return. In August 1848 the village name was changed from Lodi to Gowanda and the newspaper followed suit renaming the paper, The Gowanda Democrat.
By December 22, 1848 the Democrat was gone, replaced by The Gowanda Persian, a non-political, independent newspaper published by J. C. VanDuzer. There is little information concerning this newspaper.
October 31, 1850, The Cattaraugus Chronicle, a Democratic newspaper was established by H. M. Morgan. The following month, James T. Henry would establish The Gowanda Whig. June 26, 1852, the Cattaraugus Chronicle was renamed The Gowanda Chronicle.
This paper would see more changes, join us next week to complete the newspaper chronology in Gowanda plus much more.....