York Historical Society Timeline (Full Version)
All Information contained in this timeline is from resources on file.
| Year | Month Day | Event | Event Memo | Source |
| 1722 | Tuscarora Indians, exiled by North Carolina colonists, move into New York to O-HI-GI (Crowding the Bank) near Piffard, making the Five Nations of the Iroquois the Six Nations. | Various Sources | ||
| 1775 | July, 26 | Benjamin Franklin became Postmaster-General. | Benjamin Franklin became Postmaster-General. | Various - On File |
| 1778 | July, 26 | New York became the 11th state to ratify the US Constitution. | New York became the 11th state to ratify the US Constitution. | Various - On File |
| 1789 | July, 27 | Congress established the Department of Foreign Affairs, the forerunner of the Department of State | Various - On File | |
| 1790 | June, 10 | The most prominent of these local pioneers were James and William Wadsworth, from Durham, Connecticut, who located at Geneseo, June 10, 1790 | The most prominent of these pioneers was James and William Wadsworth, from Durham, Connecticut, who located at Geneseo, June 10, 1790. They became large land holders later, and because of their liberal policy in the selling of this land greatly helped the settlement of the district. Most of the first settlements were at Geneseo, and near the sites of the old Seneca towns, and were made by folk from New England. Just a little later York, Avon and Caledonia were founded by colonies of Scotch. | Early Livingston County History |
| 1791 | Robert Morris purchased these four million acres from the state of Massachusetts. | Robert Morris (finance commissioner of the revolutionary government) buys four million acres of land lying between the Genesee and Niagara Rivers in Western New York from the state of Massachusetts: eastern boundary - Genesee River; western boundary - Niagara River; northern boundary - Lake Ontario; southern boundary - Pennsylvania. Immediately thereafter, he sells the land to a private Dutch syndicate known as the Holland Land Company for $4 million. But before the deal could go through, extensive Indian claims on the land have to be canceled - and the "sachem" Red Jacket is opposed. | Various Sources | |
| 1792 | January, 8 | Donald D. McKenzie, an early pioneer of the area now known as York was born in Inverness, Scotland. | Mr. McKenzie was an early pioneer of the York area who settled in the York area in 1804. His descendents in York were two sons and two daughters - Donald, William, Margaret and Mrs. Mary F. Clunas. From his graphic and interesting writings concerning the early settlement of the Genesee country, it was learned that they started for America abut the middle of July in 1803. | James H Smith, History of Livingston County., 1881 pg 411 |
| 1794 | July, 27 | French revolutionary leader Maximilien Robespierre was overthrown and placed under arrest; he was executed the following day. | Various - On File | |
| 1794 | August, 9 | David Piffard was born. | David Piffard, who was born in the village of Pentonville, pariash of Clerkenwell without,Middlesex county, England, came to America in December, 1822; remained a short time in New York city, and in 1824 cane to this part of the Genesee Valley and purchased of John Brinton a tract of land of about six hundred acres, a portion of which is now the site of the hamlet hearing his name. | James H Smith, History of Livingston County., 1881 |
| 1797 | September | In September, 1797, the tribes were gathered at Geneseo and a treaty was signed whereby the Indians transferred their lands to the State except certain selected spots which they reserved for their own use. | The Indians received rather shabby treatment by their allies after their defeat by the Colonies, for there was no provision in the treaty of the Revolution which protected the Iroquois. They received rather better treatment by the victors, and in September, 1797, the tribes were gathered at Geneseo and a treaty was signed whereby the Indians transferred their lands to the State except certain selected spots which they reserved for their own use | Early Livingston County History |
| 1797 | September, 15 | Treaty of Big Tree clears Seneca title to those lands west of the Genesee River | Treaty of Big Tree clears Seneca title to those lands west of the Genesee River to the Niagara Frontier. Now with clear title Morris was able to sell these lands for settlement. Seneca and Tuscarora Indians were directed to reservations. The bulk of the land was then sold to the Holland Land Company. Robert Morris did retain some 500,000 acres of prime land long the Genesee River. His large land tract is known as the Morris Reserve, Honorary Creditors Tract and / or the Tuscarora tract. ----- Treaty of Big Tree (near Geneseo) is signed with the Senecas. They sell their 1.3 million acres of land to Robert Morris for $100,000, and are restricted to five reservations on the Niagara frontier: Tonawanda, Allegany, Cattaraugus and Tuscarora Reservations as well as Buffalo Creek Reservation (a few blocks from what would be the Buffalo harbor; by 1850, Buffalo Creek Reservation will be abandoned and cleared for development.). Red Jacket is paid a $600 signing bonus and guaranteed $100 a year for life. Former Indian captive Horatio Jones (Handsome Boy) acts as one of the interpreters. Land around the area of the future Letchworth Park is ceded to Mary Jemison, over the protests of Red Jacket. Morris's sale to the Holland Land Co. is now completed | The History of York |
| 1800 | Among the early settlers of the York area were Donald and John McKenzie, Angus McBean, John and Alexander Frazer, Archibald Gillis, and John McCall. David Martz was an early settler. | At the time of the first settlement here the territory now known as York was embraced in the town of Caledonia, and the settlers, chiefly from Scotland, located first at "Big Springs," now the village of Caledonia, in 1799 and 1800, and then from there branched out into the section of wilderness then called "South Woods" and now known as the town of York | James H Smith, History of Livingston County., 1881 pg 411 | |
| 1802 | March, 30 | Leicester, New York was formed, as "Leister" | French's Gazetteer of New York State, 1860 | |
| 1803 | Phineas Bates and Bela Elderkin arrive in Nunda. Squatters - headed west after new settlers came. | Nunda Timeline | ||
| 1804 | In 1804 land east of the river sold for $2.00 to $4.00 per acre, while west of the River prices were from $1.50 to $2.50. | In 1804 land east of the river sold for $2.00 to $4.00 per acre, while west of the River prices were from $1.50 to $2.50. Everything west of the river was Genesee County, the county having been established in 1802. Donald McKenzie had built on the road, or lane, which extends from the Inverness School south to the Wm. Sullivan farm. John Fraser took the farm now occupied by Kenneth McVean. An Ontario paper of 1805 advertises: “For Sale—At most reduced prices, Forty Thousand Acres of land in the town of Caledonia, formerly Southampton. Joseph Ellicott.” | History of York, N.Y. Mary Root Pg.13 | |
| 1804 | The first child born was in York, New York, a son to Donald Clunas. | French says the first child born here was Angus McKenzie | James H Smith, History of Livingston County., 1881 pg 413 | |
| 1804 | March, 26 | The second child born in York, New York was Angus McKenzie a son to Donald McKenzie. | James H Smith, History of Livingston County., 1881 pg 413 | |
| 1805 | February, 9 | The town of Leister, New York had a name change to Leicester. | French's Gazetteer of New York State, 1860 | |
| 1806 | Donald McDonald settled near Fowlerville in 1806. | James H Smith, History of Livingston County., 1881 pg 413 | ||
| 1806 | In 1806 the first postoffice was established at Geneseo. Mail went once in two weeks to Canandaigua, the carrier receiving the yearly salary of $26.00. | History of York, N.Y. Mary Root Pg.13 | ||
| 1807 | John Russ, from Vt., settled at the York Center. | French's Gazetteer of New York State, 1860 | ||
| 1807 | The first saw-mill, known as the Morley Mill was built by Ezekiel Morley and Joseph his son. | James H Smith, History of Livingston County., 1881 pg 413 | ||
| 1807 | In 1807 Ezekiel Morley and son Joseph built the first sawmill in our town, at Toggletown, on what is a part of the Homer McVean farm. | In 1807 Ezekiel Morley and son Joseph built the first sawmill in our town, at Toggletown, on what is a part of the Homer McVean farm. His sons Joseph and Ezekiel died in January, 1813, and his wife died in 1826. These three are buried in the little cemetery at the entrance of the McVean farm. There are no other markers, but in the census of 1825 it states that there were five males and five females in the family and that he owned 105 acres of land. I cannot trace what became of them. | History of York, N.Y. Mary Root Pg.13 | |
| 1808 | In 1808 Ralph Brown, a native of Darlington, Yorkshire, England, took a farm at what is now the north side of York Center, built a Log cabin on the north side of what we call Trimble’s lane. | In 1808 Ralph Brown, a native of Darlington, Yorkshire, England, took a farm at what is now the north side of York Center, built a Log cabin on the north side of what we call Trimble’s lane. This tract did not include the south side of the village as that was taken by Dr. Theodore Beardsley who came from Vermont in 1814 and purchased from the Willinks Brothers two hundred and two acres of land, which I will describe later. After completing his log cabin, which he soon converted into a tavern for accommodation of travelers and new settlers, Mr. Brown built a sawmill at the foot of the lane and about 1816 he built a gristmill. The millrace to furnish power began a short distance vest of the Leicester road, at what we used to call the “old clay - bottom swimming hole,’’ and crossed the road between the two little houses on the vest side, through the Agnew lot and around the hill to the foot of Brown’s lane. This lane became a public highway extending south to meet the River Road just west of John Hackett’s home. After the passing of the mill this road was closed. | History of York, N.Y. Mary Root Pg.13 | |
| 1808 | Duncan Grant from Inverness, Scotland settled in 1808 on Lot 5l with five sons and two daughters. | James H Smith, History of Livingston County., 1881 pg 413 | ||
| 1810 | Capt. Aaron Russ settled near Fowlerville, New York. | James H Smith, History of Livingston County., 1881 pg 413 | ||
| 1810 | William Fraser settled in 1810. (at Inverness ??) | James H Smith, History of Livingston County., 1881 pg 413 | ||
| 1810 | Livingston County Population - 13,390 | Livingston County Population - 13,390 * This is not exact but a close approximation to exactness. This is designed to give the at that period for the towns composing Livingston County; as nearly as that can be ascertained. It does not, however, include that of North Dansville, which then formed a part of Dansville, Stuben County which had a population of 666. | James H Smith, History of Livingston County., 1881 pg 99 | |
| 1811 | Archibald Kennedy from Scotland settled in the spring of 1811 (at Inverness ??) | James H Smith, History of Livingston County., 1881 pg 413 | ||
| 1811 | William Ferrin settled near Fowlerville, New York in 1811. | James H Smith, History of Livingston County., 1881 pg 413 | ||
| 1814 | Elijah Heath built a saw-mill and hand-rake factory, as well as making many other farm tools, neckyokes, axe-handles, etc., on the creek east of the Inverness school which gave the place the name of Toggletown, which it still holds. | History of York, N.Y. Mary Root Pg.22 | ||
| 1815 | March, 21 | On Mar. 21, 1815, in a cabin on the shore of Cayuga Lake, a girl was born, called Matilda Watkins. | On Mar. 21, 1815, in a cabin on the shore of Cayuga Lake, a girl was born, called Matilda Watkins. Her father, John Watkins, had a ferry there for the accommodation of travelers. When Matilda was a year old her father was drowned in trying to pilot a boat across Lake Ontario to Toronto. The mother sold the ferry and cabin and with her baby came to live with her father, Riverus Russell who had come from Connecticut and taken a farm at what is now Linwood, the northeast section at the four corners. After a time the mother married a man from Stone Church but only lived a short time and the little girl again came to live with her grandparents. She attended the school near Wm. Stewart’s where Peter McNab, son of Daniel; Charlotte Walker, daughter of James; Catherine Stewart, daughter of James P.; and Mary Kennedy, daughter of Archibald, were her schoolmates. | History of York, N.Y. Mary Root Pg.22 |
| 1816 | Fowlerville is first permanently settled by Wells Fowler and William Taylor in 1816, and William and Henry Janes, Ira Torrey and Eliakim Weller at or about the same time, all of whom came from and near Pittsfield, Mass. | James H Smith, History of Livingston County., 1881 pg 417 | ||
| 1816 | The first store was run by Chandler Piersons. | French's Gazetteer of New York State, 1860 | ||
| 1816 | In 1816 the Leicester Road was surveyed by James Hill under the direction of Donald McKenzie and Theodore Beardsley. | History of York, N.Y. Mary Root Pg.23 | ||
| 1816 | The census reports 9 churches in town; 2 Presb., 2 M.E., Bap., Cong., Asso.Presb., Asso.Ref.Presb., and Ref.Presb. | French's Gazetteer of New York State, 1860 | ||
| 1817 | Dudley Newton settled in 1817.(at Inverness ??) | James H Smith, History of Livingston County., 1881 pg 413 | ||
| 1817 | The first inn in York, New York area was kept by Nathan Russ. | French's Gazetteer of New York State, 1860 | ||
| 1817 | July, 4 | Construction is started on the Erie Canal. | Construction is started on the Erie Canal when the first spadeful of earth was raised at Rome, NY. | James H Smith, History of Livingston County., 1881 pg 104 |
| 1818 | Ralph Brown built the first gristmill. | French's Gazetteer of New York State, 1860 | ||
| 1819 | March, 26 | The Town of York is formed from Caledonia and Leicester. | The name of the town was derived from Hon. Joseph York, Member of Assembly from St. Lawrence county, who , as chairman of the committee, had favorably reported the bill for the formation of the town. | James H Smith, History of Livingston County., 1881 pg 411 |
| 1819 | April, 6 | The first town meeting was held on the first Tuesday in April, 1819 at the inn of Nathan Russ. | This place of meeting was designated by the Special Act of Legislature for the formation of the town. The offices chosen by the people at the meeting were:- William Jones, Supervisor; Peres P. Peck, Town Clerk; John Darling, John Dodge, Henry Janes, Assessors; Joseph R Ramsdell, Collector; Moses Allen, Thomas Blake, Overseers of the Poor; John Russ, William Taylor, Newcomb Mead, Commissioners of Highways; Jonathan Tainter, Joseph R Ramsdell, Constables; Wells Fowler, Philander Sexton, N. Sacket, Commissioner of Schools. | James H Smith, History of Livingston County., 1881 pg 413 |
| 1820 | Livingston County Population - 21,305 | Livingston County Population - 21,305 * Does not include the town of North Dansville which had a popluation of 1565 at that time. | James H Smith, History of Livingston County., 1881 pg 99 | |
| 1820 | There were 7609 acres in the Town of York | James H Smith, History of Livingston County., 1881 pg 78 | ||
| 1821 | February, 23 | Livingston County was formed from Genesee February 23, 1821 | Livingston County was formed from Genesee February 23, 1821, to which were added in 1846 and 1856 parts of Allegany County. It is located in the central part of the western half of the State, being bounded on the north by Monroe; on the east by Steuben and Ontario; on the south by Allegany and Steuben counties; and on the west by Allegany, Genesee and Wyoming counties. The Genesee River flows ,through the district; there are several beautiful lakes, Hemlock and Conesus, being the most noted (Conesus was called by the Indians "Ganeasost," meaning where the "heavens rest upon the earth"). There are many streams which furnished water power to the pioneers, and some of these when canalized were the means of transportation in the early days. The whole county is an upland, with hills that in a few places reach an elevation of 2,000 feet; but the slopes are gentle, the terrain rolling rather than hilly, and the vast majority of its 380,665 acres are arable. | Early Livingston County History |
| 1823 | A part of Covington was annexed to the Town of York. | French's Gazetteer of New York State, 1860 | ||
| 1825 | Livingston County Population - 23,860 | Livingston County Population - 23,860 | James H Smith, History of Livingston County., 1881 pg 99 | |
| 1825 | October, 26 | The Erie Canal is completed. | The Erie Canal is completed. The length is 363 miles at a total cost of $7,143,789 | James H Smith, History of Livingston County., 1881 pg 104 |
| 1826 | May, 6 | The construction of the Genesee Valley Canal is authorized and the contract awarded. | The construction of the Genesee Valley Canal is authorized and the contract awarded. | James H Smith, History of Livingston County., 1881 pg 105 |
| 1827 | Post-office established at Fowlerville. Fowlerville derived its name from Wells Fowlerville and was chosen by the unanimous resolution of the inhabitants who resided there. | For a number of years Fowlerville was known as Inverness post-office. | James H Smith, History of Livingston County., 1881 pg 417 | |
| 1830 | Livingston County Population - 27,729 | Livingston County Population - 27,729 | James H Smith, History of Livingston County., 1881 pg 99 | |
| 1832 | The first wine in the county was made by Samuel Warren in 1832 | James H Smith, History of Livingston County., 1881 pg XXIV | ||
| 1835 | Livingston County Population - 31,092 | Livingston County Population - 31,092 | James H Smith, History of Livingston County., 1881 pg 99 | |
| 1836 | April, 25 | CHURCHES - in Western New York are informed that Mr. SAMUEL WARREN of York, Livingston county has on hand five barrels of pure wine, from grapes of his own vineyard April 25, 1836 | New York Evangelist | |
| 1837 | November, 14 | On the fourteenth of November, 1837, proposals were received for constructing twenty-eight miles of this canal from the rapids in Rochester to Piffard in the county of Livingston. | The Genesee Valley Canal; Chapter 19 | |
| 1840 | Livingston County Population - 35,140 | Livingston County Population - 35,140 | James H Smith, History of Livingston County., 1881 pg 99 | |
| 1842 | November, 1 | The Genesee Valley Canal is completed to Dansville. | The Genesee Valley Canal is completed to Dansville. | James H Smith, History of Livingston County., 1881 pg 106 |
| 1845 | Livingston County Population - 33,193 | Livingston County Population - 33,193 | James H Smith, History of Livingston County., 1881 pg 99 | |
| 1850 | Livingston County Population - 40,873 | Livingston County Population - 40,873 | James H Smith, History of Livingston County., 1881 pg 99 | |
| 1855 | Livingston County Population - 37,943 | Livingston County Population - 37,943 | James H Smith, History of Livingston County., 1881 pg 99 | |
| 1860 | Livingston County Population - 39,549 | Livingston County Population - 39,549 | James H Smith, History of Livingston County., 1881 pg 99 | |
| 1861 | February, 9 | The Confederate States of America is formed with Jefferson Davis as president. | The Confederate States of America is formed with Jefferson Davis as president. | http://www.civilwar.com |
| 1861 | April, 12 | At 4:30 AM Confederates under General Pierre Beauregard open fire with 50 cannons upon Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina. The Civil War begins | At 4:30 AM Confederates under General Pierre Beauregard open fire with 50 cannons upon Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina. The Civil War begins | http://www.civilwar.com |
| 1861 | July, 27 | Union General George B. McClellan was put in command of the Army of the Potomac. | Various - On File | |
| 1865 | Livingston County Population - 37,555 | Livingston County Population - 37,555 | James H Smith, History of Livingston County., 1881 pg 99 | |
| 1865 | April, 14 | The Stars and Stripes is ceremoniously raised over Fort Sumter. | The Stars and Stripes is ceremoniously raised over Fort Sumter. That night, Lincoln and his wife Mary see the play "Our American Cousin" at Ford's Theater. At 10:13 p.m., during the third act of the play, John Wilkes Booth shoots the president in the head. Doctors attend to the president in the theater then move him to a house across the street. He never regains consciousness. | http://www.civilwar.com |
| 1866 | July, 25 | Ulysses S. Grant was named General of the Army, the first officer to hold the rank | Ulysses S. Grant was named General of the Army, the first officer to hold the rank | Various - On File |
| 1868 | July, 25 | Congress passed an act creating the Wyoming Territory. | Congress passed an act creating the Wyoming Territory. | Various - On File |
| 1870 | Livingston County Population - 38,309 | Livingston County Population - 38,309 | James H Smith, History of Livingston County., 1881 pg 99 | |
| 1870 | York had a population of 2564 | James H Smith, History of Livingston County., 1881 pg 414 | ||
| 1875 | Livingston County Population - 38,518 | Livingston County Population - 38,518 | James H Smith, History of Livingston County., 1881 pg 99 | |
| 1875 | York had a population of 2475 | James H Smith, History of Livingston County., 1881 pg 414 | ||
| 1875 | There were 25377 acres in the Town of York | James H Smith, History of Livingston County., 1881 pg 78 | ||
| 1877 | Dr. George H. Jones, born in Manchester, NY, Graduated from Michigan University in 1877 and came to Fowlerville in 1877. | James H Smith, History of Livingston County., 1881 pg 418 | ||
| 1879 | There were 29693 acres in the Town of York (29458 Farm, 235 Village, 0 Railroad) | James H Smith, History of Livingston County., 1881 pg 78 | ||
| 1880 | Livingston County Population - 39,261 | Livingston County Population - 39,261 | James H Smith, History of Livingston County., 1881 pg 99 | |
| 1880 | The town of York contains fourteen school districts, employing 15 teachers at a total amount of $3,431.07 | James H Smith, History of Livingston County., 1881 pg 414 | ||
| 1882 | Greigsville, New York - An amateur geologist, Carroll Coker, predicted salt could be found on his land. Despite skepticism on the part of State geologists, Mr. Coker was able to convince six men to finance a search. | Genesee County Express Electronic Edition Vol. 1 No. 45 Thursday, February 20, 1997 | ||
| 1883 | Starting at a depth of 1012 feet, the search team struck a 137 foot deep vain of rock salt. An interested New York City group of capitalists formed the New York Rock Salt Company, including William Foster, Jr. and Abraham Quackenbush | Genesee County Express Electronic Edition Vol. 1 No. 45 Thursday, February 20, 1997 | ||
| 1884 | The Hamlet of Retsof was established when workers began arriving with their families. | J Marilyn Hannett Yasso, History of Retsof, New York, 1987 | ||
| 1884 | August, 14 | The Empire Salt Company made an excavation 26 by 16 feet, down to rock at the well on the Lewis farm. | The Empire Salt Company made an excavation 26 by 16 feet, down to rock at the well on the Lewis farm, over which will be erected the building to contain the shafting equipment. The building will be erected as soon as possible. | J Marilyn Hannett Yasso, History of Retsof, New York, 1987, pg 19 |
| 1884 | September, 11 | The Empire Salt Company is not fully underway although a very good beginning has been made. The shaft is down about 20 feet. | J Marilyn Hannett Yasso, History of Retsof, New York, 1987, pg 19 | |
| 1884 | September, 21 | Empire Salt Company of New York begins work on a shaft twelve by eighteen feet. | J Marilyn Hannett Yasso, History of Retsof, New York, 1987 | |
| 1884 | September, 25 | The Empire Salt Company is fast completing the necessary buildings and arrangements, while at the same time mining goes on favorably. The shaft is down between forty and fifty feet. | The Empire Salt Company is fast completing the necessary buildings and arrangements, while at the same time mining goes on favorably. The shaft is down between forty and fifty feet. There are forty miners now at work on the shaft, twenty men at a time working ten hour shifts. | J Marilyn Hannett Yasso, History of Retsof, New York, 1987, pg 19 |
| 1885 | March, 11 | The Retsof salt and mining company filed a certificate in the county clerk's office, the effect of which is to increase the number of trustees from five to seven. | The Retsof salt and mining company filed a certificate in the county clerk's office, the effect of which is to increase the number of trustees from five to seven. The new trustees are Edwin H. Westerbee and Holcomb G. Foster of New York. | J Marilyn Hannett Yasso, History of Retsof, New York, 1987, pg 19 |
| 1885 | May, 7 | The Empire Salt Company is now working in a stratum of gypsum twenty-eight feet thick, light in color and in parts pure white. The shaft is now down between 590 and 600 feet. | The Empire Salt Company is now working in a stratum of gypsum twenty-eight feet thick, light in color and in parts pure white. It is considered an excellent quality of that material. It mines easily and the shaft goes down rapidly. The shaft is now down between 590 and 600 feet. | J Marilyn Hannett Yasso, History of Retsof, New York, 1987, pg 19 |
| 1885 | August, 15 | The Empire Salt Company salt shaft is now down 901 feet 7 inches. | J Marilyn Hannett Yasso, History of Retsof, New York, 1987, pg 20 | |
| 1885 | October, 16 | The first mine shaft in Retsof, called the Eureka Shaft, was completed. | Livingston Republican, January 24, 1889 | |
| 1885 | October, 16 | The salt shaft was completed. | Genesee County Express Electronic Edition Vol. 1 No. 45 Thursday, February 20, 1997 | |
| 1885 | November, 7 | First Shipment of salt from the new salt mine. | Genesee County Express Electronic Edition Vol. 1 No. 45 Thursday, February 20, 1997 | |
| 1887 | December, 8 | The original St. Raphael's Catholic Church located between Piffard and Retsof was formally dedicated by Bishop McQuaid. | J Marilyn Hannett Yasso, History of Retsof, New York, 1987, pg 80 | |
| 1889 | The salt company opens a company store in Retsof. William Gallagher is the manager of that store. | J Marilyn Hannett Yasso, History of Retsof, New York, 1987 pg 18 | ||
| 1889 | June, 3 | York and vicinity was visited on the night of the 31st inst. by an unprecedented rainfall and the morning of Saturday the 1st | York and vicinity was visited on the night of the 31st inst. by an unprecedented rainfall and the morning of Saturday the 1st inst., found the streams in every direction overflowing their banks, taking with them everything movable in their course. The approaches to the iron bridge near the Retsof salt shaft were washed out to such an extent as to make it dangerous to cross. The dam in process of erection by the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railway Company at Whitney's crossing, and upon which some $500 worth of labor had been expended was washed out. Scarcely a bridge or sluice in the town escaped without more or less damage. Trains have been delayed on the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western and on the Buffalo, New York & Western railroads, the express train due at Craigs Station from the east at 6 a.m. not arriving on Saturday until 3:30 p.m | Rochester, Monroe, NY Union & Advertiser - 06/03/1889 |
| 1889 | June, 11 | The Methodist Episcopal Church at Greigsville is being thoroughly renovated and repaired at a cost of $1,100. In the meantime the society holds its services in the school house. | Rochester, Monroe, NY Democrat & Chronicle 06/11/1889 | |
| 1889 | June, 11 | The Retsof Salt Company at its works at Greigsville, is sinking another shaft and building five new tenements | Rochester, Monroe, NY Democrat & Chronicle 06/11/1889 | |
| 1892 | Since there were so many children of school age in Retsof, the mining company built a school, which is now St. Lucy's Church. | The History of York, pg 134-135 | ||
| 1898 | November, 18 | The Genesee & Wyoming Valley Railroad passed into the receiver David Hyman and was sold at a bankruptcy sale. | The Genesee & Wyoming Railroad Company, Retsof NY | |
| 1899 | March, 22 | Through reorganization, the Genesee & Wyoming Railroad Company was established. | The Genesee & Wyoming Railroad Company, Retsof NY | |
| 1901 | The International Salt Company was formed, absorbing Retsof and several mines in other areas. | Genesee County Express Electronic Edition Vol. 1 No. 45 Thursday, February 20, 1997 | ||
| 1902 | Retsof has approximately 40 dwellings, a boarding house and a 1,000,000 gallon reservoir in the area referred to as "Little Italy" | J Marilyn Hannett Yasso, History of Retsof, New York, 1987 | ||
| 1904 | Greigsville Union Free School was built on the site of the present York Central School. | J Marilyn Hannett Yasso, History of Retsof, New York, 1987. pg 16 | ||
| 1908 | July, 26 | US Attorney General Charles J. Bonaparte issued an order creating an investigative agency that was a forerunner of the FBI. | US Attorney General Charles J. Bonaparte issued an order creating an investigative agency that was a forerunner of the FBI. | Various - On File |
| 1911 | St. Lucy's Church formed when the mining company turned over the old public school in Retsof to the Bishop at a cost of $50 per year. | J Marilyn Hannett Yasso, History of Retsof, New York, 1987, pg 80 | ||
| 1912 | July, 12 | Genesee & Wyoming leased the Halite & Northern Railroad. | Genesee & Wyoming History | |
| 1913 | Because of increasing enrollment, an addition was added to the Greigsville Union Free School. | J Marilyn Hannett Yasso, History of Retsof, New York, 1987, pg 15 | ||
| 1920 | August, 26 | The 19th amendment to the US Constitution, guaranteeing American women the right to vote, was declared in effect. | Various - On File | |
| 1921 | July, 6 | Ground is broken for a new salt mine called the Fuller Shaft. | J Marilyn Hannett Yasso, History of Retsof, New York, 1987, pg 34 | |
| 1929 | Genesee & Wyoming Railroad discontinues passenger service. | Genesee & Wyoming History | ||
| 1934 | Genesee & Wyoming abandons the Halite & Northern Railroad. | Genesee & Wyoming History | ||
| 1941 | The Eagle Inn in Retsof was purchased by Joe and Jennie Troisi and renamed the Green Shingle Inn. | Previous owners were Joseph, Guiseppe, Angelo and Adelina Cecere. The building was then purchased by the Michael and Theresa Lariton. | J Marilyn Hannett Yasso, History of Retsof, New York, 1987, pg 123 | |
| 1941 | The Town of York erects a water town in the Hamlet of York to provide water to the Hamlet. The tank is capable of holding 100,000 gallons of water. | Genesee Valley Water News - Volume IX, Issue II, Pg. 2 | ||
| 1942 | The size of the original St. Lucy's Church was doubled and the entrance was moved from the East to the West side of the church. | J Marilyn Hannett Yasso, History of Retsof, New York, 1987, pg 82 | ||
| 1945 | The original St. Raphael's Catholic Church located between Piffard and Retsof is torn down. | J Marilyn Hannett Yasso, History of Retsof, New York, 1987, pg 80 | ||
| 1947 | July, 26 | President Truman signed the National Security Act, creating the Department of Defense, the National Security Council, the Central Intelligence Agency and the Joint Chiefs of Staff. | President Truman signed the National Security Act, creating the Department of Defense, the National Security Council, the Central Intelligence Agency and the Joint Chiefs of Staff. | Various - On File |
| 1952 | July, 25 | Puerto Rico became a self-governing commonwealth of the United States. | Puerto Rico became a self-governing commonwealth of the United States. | Various - On File |
| 1952 | July, 26 | Adlai E. Stevenson was nominated for president by the Democratic national convention in Chicago; John J. Sparkman was nominated for vice president. | Adlai E. Stevenson was nominated for president by the Democratic national convention in Chicago; John J. Sparkman was nominated for vice president. | Various - On File |
| 1953 | July, 27 | The Korean War armistice was signed at Panmunjom, ending three years of fighting. | Various - On File | |
| 1956 | July, 25 | 51 people died when the Italian liner Andrea Doria sank after colliding with the Swedish ship Stockholm off the New England coast. | 51 people died when the Italian liner Andrea Doria sank after colliding with the Swedish ship Stockholm off the New England coast. | Various - On File |
| 1957 | October | Retsof Mining Company water tower is taken down after the Company homes in Retsof are sold and Retsof becomes part of the York Water District. | J Marilyn Hannett Yasso, History of Retsof, New York, 1987, pg 109 | |
| 1971 | July, 26 | Apollo XV was launched from Cape Kennedy | Apollo XV was launched from Cape Kennedy | Various - On File |
| 1992 | June | Genesee & Wyoming acquires Conrail's ex-Lackawanna line from Groveland to Greigsville. | Genesee & Wyoming History | |
| 1996 | July, 27 | A pipe bomb exploded at Centennial Olympic Park during the Atlanta Olympics, killing one person and injuring more than 100. | Various - On File | |
| 1999 | July, 25 | The Woodstock '99 music festival in Rome, New York, ended in fires and looting. Lance Armstrong rode to victory in the Tour de France. Morocco held a funeral for King Hassan II. | The Woodstock '99 music festival in Rome, New York, ended in fires and looting. Lance Armstrong rode to victory in the Tour de France. Morocco held a funeral for King Hassan II. | Various - On File |
| 2003 | September, 15 | York Water Tower comes down after over 60 years of service. The tower has been a important component of the York Water System and a landmark for the Hamlet of York. | Work begins on taking down the water tower in York | |
| 2003 | October, 01 | Town of York Historical Society Web site goes online. | ||
| 2003 | October, 19 | Town of York Historical Society holds a reunion for the past residents of Little Italy & their friends at the Capa Lounge in Retsof, NY | The event was attended by about 45 people, 10 that lived there at one time. We started out at 10:00 AM with coffee and cookies then either took a trip by car or foot to see what was left of the area. | Mark Occhioni who attended |
| 2003 | December, 13 | Rededication of a headstone for Ransom Clark who fought in the Seminole Uprising in Florida in the early 1800's. | Rededication of a headstone for Ransom Clark, a gentlemen who participated in the Seminole Uprising in Florida in the early 1800's. He was wounded in 1835, and died from those wounds in 1840. He was then interred in Greigsville Cemetery, as he was originally from this area. About 40 people from the surrounding area attended the dedication and had a chance to listen to Frank Laumer, who as been researching Ransom Clark for over forty years, speak on the subject. | Mark Occhioni who attended |
| 2004 | February, 24 | Dollar General store opens in the Retsof Plaza | Mark Occhioni |