Signs from History in our area (July article, 2016)
A couple of months ago I wrote that a group of history minded folks in the Auburn area have undertaken a campaign t ocate, refurbish, or replace if necessary state roadside historical markers. We have divided the list up by townships and redictably I got the Town of Brutus. It was amazing to me that as I drove around reading these signs that I have lived in Weedsport all my life and despite the fact that I'm a history buff I don't know as I had EVER stopped to read one of hem! Weedsport resident and Victory Historian Beverly Sayles has agreed to check out the Victory list. For those of you n the same boat as I, here are my findings on the signs of the Town of Brutus. I list the signs, location, condition, the egend contained thereon and who erected the sign. Most signs erected between the early thirties and early fifties were pu p by the state education department. Others have been put up by municipalities, non profits, commercial entities and ven individuals. Most signs erected over the past several years have been funded by the Pomeroy Foundation.
3 of the signs originally in the Town of Brutus have disappeared over the years--these include one on Rt. 34 near the outhern village limits that noted the early name of Weedsport was Macedonia. I found it interesting that in 1951 at the ast accounting of these signs in the county, it was already missing. 2 other signs have disappeared, one in Centerport and ne on Rt. 5 at the county line. My guess is that they either were taken down for road maintenance and never put back up r were destroyed in an accident. The existing 8 signs are listed below in no particular order:
TOWN OF BRUTUS Formed from Aurelius 1802. First settlement in town made by Aaron Frost in 1795. He built the rst grist mill. Sign is located at Whittler's Green Park on the SE corner of W. Brutus St. and Erie Dr. (Rt. 31). Erected in 935 by the State Ed. Dept. Good condition
WEED'S BASIN Named after Elihu and Edward Weed who constructed a basin on the old Erie Canal in 1821. P.O. stablished 1822 Weedsport Inc. village 1831. Located at 8896 S. Seneca St, near the Furnace St. intersection. Erected by he Village of Weedsport. Needs Paint.
FIREHOUSE Constructed 1884 of local brick to hold the newly purchased 1878 Silsby steam powered pumper. Belfry ell is original. Located in the firehouse parking lot on South St. Erected by the Pomeroy Foundation in 2015. Good ondition.
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF WEEDSPORT Has been placed on the National Register of historic places in 2003 by The United States Department of the Interior. Located at 2707 Liberty St. Erected by the Pomeroy Foundation in 2014. Good Condition.
GOD'S ACRE First community cemetery in the Town of Brutus 1801-1863. Most stones removed 1916. Declared Town ark in 1974 Located at 8801 S. Seneca St. (Rt.34) Erected by the Town of Brutus in 1976. Needs paint.
WILLIIAM McCREEDY AND FAMILY BURIAL SITE.. Soldier in revolution. Born 1755-died 1824. Early Methodist meetings held in the nearby family home. Located one tenth mile south of the intersection of Rt. 34 and Down's Rd. Erected by the Town of Brutus in 1976. Needs paint.
BURIAL PLACE OF LIEUT. ADAM HELMER AND WIFE ANNA BELLINGER HELMER. A famous Mohawk Valley scout in the Revolutionary War. Purchased this farm in 1803. Located 1/2 mile from Brutus Street Rd. (Rt. 31B) nd Cottle Rd. intersection. Erected by the Cayuga County Historian. Good condition.
CENTERPORT AQUADUCT PARK Supervised for the State of New York by the Town of Brutus. Dedicated 31 May 976. David E. Coyle, Supervisor, Councilmen Kenneth Weller, James Sullivan, Ernest D. Blumer, Kenneth Spingler, Located one tenth mile west of Village limits on Rt.31. Erected by the Town of Brutus 1976. Needs Paint.