The Genesee Valley
Historic New York
The 150 mile-long Genesee River rises in Pennsylvania and flows northward into Lake Ontario. Though relatively a small stream, except in flood stages, it has cut, in its middle portion, a deep gorge with walls rising 600 feet above foaming waters. This spectacular section in Letchworth Park has been called “The Grand Canyon of the East.” The Genesee then courses into a broad, level intervale before again tumbling over a series of falls at Rochester. There the river’s water contributed greatly to Rochester’s development.
Genesee meant “beautiful valley” to the Seneca Indians who occupied several villages here. To the Genesee in 1782 came the captive Mary Jemison who lived with the Senecas for 71 years. The Big Tree Treaty at Geneseo, in 1797, ended Indian occupation, and the Wadsworths by 1835 bought much of the best arable land in the valley. Fertile land made the Genesee famous for growing wheat in the 19th century.
The Genesee Valley Canal connected Rochester with Olean and Dansville. Started in 1836, it was abandoned in 1878. A railroad later followed much of the canal’s route. Dairying, corn growing and fruit cultivation are now leading agricultural activities. The world’s largest underground salt mine is located in the area.
Marker can be reached from Genesee Expressway (Interstate 390 at milepost 38), 4.7 miles north of Sonyea Road (New York Route 36).
Courtesy hmdb.org
