Montezuma Town Historian
Cheryl Longyear
Phone: 315.776.4656
Email: cml115@tds.net
Hours by Appointment
Montezuma Town History
The Town of Montezuma is located at the great bend in the Seneca River in Cayuga County, New York. It is believed that Montezuma was named for the Aztec chieftain. The area was first settled by Dr. Peter Clarke, Comfort Tyler and Abram Morgan. They were attracted to the area for the abundant salt springs first discovered by the Indians. Later, they became the early promoters for canal development and building roads and bridges.
Montezuma is not only rich in history, but also culture connected to the historic trade route that shaped New York State. It became the western terminal when the first section of the Erie Canal opened in 1820. Work on the “middle section” of the canal between Utica and Montezuma began after ground breaking at Rome in 1817. The Cayuga/Seneca Canal was connected to the Erie Canal, and in 1828 it opened up 80 miles of lakes to navigation on our two largest Finger Lakes. Montezuma was a bustling village becoming the head of navigation while the building of the Erie Canal proceeded westward. The first passage boat was built and launched here by Comfort Tyler. Seventy-six feet long and 14 feet wide, The Montezuma contained an elegant dining room, kitchen and two cabins.
When the original Erie Canal was constructed, no one anticipated the heavy boat traffic it would accommodate. Clinton’s Ditch – a mere 40′ wide and 4′ deep soon proved to be insufficient in size, and no sooner had it opened when plans began to enlarge it. Because crossing the Seneca River at Montezuma was so difficult, the State decided to relocate the canal to higher ground, and to build an aqueduct to carry boats across the shallow river The magnificent Richmond Aqueduct, built in 1849, carried the Erie Canal waters over the Seneca River.
The Richmond Aqueduct replaced the hazards of crossing through the river by lifting the canal up over the river, speeding up transit time. The Canal Commissioner reported to the State Legislature when it was completed in 1856, that this was “one of the largest and most important structures on the Erie Canal.” 110,000 linear feet of wood pilings were driven into the soft ground with 31 stones arches, 11 feet high and 22 feet wide. It was the second largest built on the Enlarged Erie and cost $125,000 to build.
In 1965, the town was awarded funding through the Outdoor Recreation Development Bond Act and the Land and Water Conservation Act to acquire 136 acres of land that contains rich natural and historic canal resources. The Town of Montezuma received funding from New York State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation in 2010, to develop a plan for Heritage Park where these cultural and natural resources come together as a monument to where the past meets the present. Through its interpretation, the site tells the dynamic story of four separate canals built in Montezuma that have evolved into today’s present-day Canal System. Visit the Montezuma Heritage Park site here.
If you are looking for further information, call to set up an appointment. The Mentz Heritage Center can also help you with your genealogical or historical interests in the Montezuma, Mentz and Throop areas, whether you are a beginner or an experienced researcher. Located at 73 Pine Street in Port Byron there is an extensive collection of local history and an Erie Canal artwork exhibit. We can also refer you to online digital resources that can fill in the gaps of your family history. Visit the website at: https://old-mentz.org/