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Great Genesee Road: Difference between revisions
Mohawk Trail
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=== Historical Background === | === Historical Background === | ||
As westward expansion began after the American Revolution, the only central New York pathways west of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Schuyler Fort Schuyler] ([[Utica, New York]]) were rivers and a footpath | As westward expansion began after the American Revolution, the only central New York pathways west of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Schuyler Fort Schuyler] ([[Utica, New York]]) were rivers and a footpath which was a western fork of the [[Mohawk Trail]] or Iroquois Trail that went to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Niagara Fort Niagara]. The land companies which began developing large tracts of land for settlement started clamoring for the state to make better roads for their customers.<ref name="Rte5" /> | ||
In 1794 the state legislature authorized the Great Genesee Road from Fort Schuyler to Canawaugus to help settlers reach the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Military_Tract New Military Tract]. This eight county tract was set aside to allow 500 acres of bounty land to pay each New York Revolutionary War veteran for his service. The new state road followed the route of a fork of the old Mohawk Trail. A state road extension to Buffalo was authorized four years later.<ref name="Rte5" /> | In 1794 the state legislature authorized the Great Genesee Road from Fort Schuyler to Canawaugus to help settlers reach the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Military_Tract New Military Tract]. This eight county tract was set aside to allow 500 acres of bounty land to pay each New York Revolutionary War veteran for his service. The new state road followed the route of a fork of the old Mohawk Trail. A state road extension to Buffalo was authorized four years later.<ref name="Rte5" /> | ||