Zoar:
Zoar is located in the southeast corner of Collins, Erie County and the northwest corner of Otto, Cattaraugus County. The name, Zoar is said to have come from scripture, a name supposedly given the area by one of its first inhabitants; Ahaz Allen.
Early settlers found traveling to Zoar, simply par for the course. The first settler, Joseph Adams, accompanied by his wife and three children came to Zoar via Boston (NY). They brought their belongings via ox sled down the transit (Road) to nearly Scoby Mills. From here, everyone embarked down the Cattaraugus Creek via a large canoe, finally landing in Zoar. It should be noted that he and his family settled on the Cattaraugus County side of the creek.
Early folk lived on Johnny Cake, which was baked on a Johnny Cake Board. A normal sized board was about 2' long and 8" wide; of course, the bigger the family, the bigger the board. The board would have been split from white ash and the surface polished until smooth. Corn meal would be mixed into a stiff dough, then pressed onto the board and set before the fire to bake. Those that had potatoes would bake them in an iron pot with a lid which would be buried in the coals. The same kettle would be used to bake beans or bread.
Early clothing would be made of nettle cloth. Nettles would be scythed down, and left to lay until the stalks became rotten. Then they would be clean, spun and woven into thread and material.
By 1811, Zoar had become quite a little settlement; in fact, there were quite a few children so a school house would be among the first community endeavor. The following year, 1812, the call of war sounded! All but two of the settlers were subject to draft, they were simply too old to be useful to the cause. It was claimed that most of the residents were so afraid they took to their cellars, remaining there until the ships left Lake Erie waters.
Several Zoar residents were drafted into service, including; Bina Adams, Jesse Frye, Simeon Waterman, Luther Pratt and Elisha Cox. Although specifics have yet to be located, it is assumed that these men were among the builders of levies to protect our borders. During the winter school session of 1813, Bina Adams went into the school announcing; Buffalo has been burnt! He continued with the horrors he beheld: The British had hired all of the Senecas to scalp all of the Americans, he then claimed: they (the Seneca) were on their way with barbarous intent and that we (the settlers) might expect a lively time when they did come; he concluded with: all that saved my scalp was my legs did their duty!
It is said that a community meeting was held the following day. Many settlers had begun digging holes to bury their possessions, others were packing up to leave; nearly all had decided that their safety lay beyond the Genesee River. Luckily, a cooler head prevailed; Mister Pratt convinced the settlers to remain in their homes while he traveled to Buffalo to learn more specifics concerning the information.
He started towards Buffalo by way of Townsend Hill to Boston and then Hamburg. He went no further, he learned that the story was just that, a story! The Seneca, it was learned, were far more frightened then the white settlers; and they had packed up heading to the Genesee River area. After having burned Buffalo and killing several settlers, the British themselves had left the area as well.
One of the next concerns of not only local residents; but New York State elected officials was to build a bridge across the creek, connecting the two counties of Zoar. (See the Albany Argus, 1837)
In the early days; many traveled from east to west along a road following the Cattaraugus Creek. This roadway began in what would become Arcade, traveled through what would become Springville, into Zoar and finally into what would become Gowanda. With a stage coach stop and mail drop-off; it was inevitable for Zoar to become a community in itself.The Stagecoach had ceased to run this routh by the latter 1800's.
William Cook would open the first tavern in Zoar about 1813. Joseph Adams built a mill in Zoar in 1814. The Post Office in Zoar opened around 1820; the first postmaster was Phineas Orr. About 1865, plans were made by the Atlantic and Great Western Railroad to cross Zoar near the North Otto Road. The approaches to the bridge were built and most of the grading into Collins Center had been completed prior to this project being abandoned.
One of the most famous local taverns is said to have been located in Zoar during the 19th Century. The tavern was quite large and even displayed a suspended, black walnut dance floor.
During the 1880's, Natural Gas was discovered in Zoar; bringing another enterprise into the area. (See: The Buffalo Courier, July 28, 1889 and January 6, 1890.)
Finally, local lore proved to be too enticing to stay local. The Claw People (sometimes known as claw-fingered, sometimes claw-footed) of Zoar became more than local lore as first a local newspaper; The Silver Creek Gazette reported on the legendary claw people in 1894. By 1896, the story had been picked up by papers across the state (see The World) and then the country (see Chronicle-Union). The story also appeared in Alabama newspapers and continued appearing in the 20th Century when The National Enquirer picked up the story in 1976.
Join us next week as we begin our look at Collins Center!