The small village of Jamesville is a hamlet of the town of DeWitt. DeWitt’s history dates back to the Revolutionary War when soldiers were offered 500 acres of virgin land in exchange for three years of military service. The town of DeWitt was originally part of Manlius but became a separate town in 1835 named in honor of Moses DeWitt who was a Major of the Militia and Judge of the County Courts. Moses DeWitt was among the first Jamesville settlers who arrived between 1790 to 1800. Jeremiah Jackson erected the first frame dwelling house in 1797; Joseph Purdy opened the first blacksmith shop about the same time. In 1798 Mathew Dumfrie built a distillery, malt house and brewery, and manufactured the first beer and whisky made in the county. Oliver Owen erected a saw mill in 1795. Mr. Trowbridge kept the first tavern at Jamesville, in 1804; Daniel Olmstead kept it in 1806, when it was considered the best tavern west of Utica. In 1804, Benjamin Sanford built mills, and Mr. Hungerford started clothing works about the same time. The name of Jamesville was incorporated in 1809. The name was given by the Legislature in the act of incorporation, and was first published and proclaimed in a great Fourth-of-July celebration held here in 1810.
A history written in 1878 described the area this way: “Butternut Creek, flowing north, divides the highlands into two nearly equal ridges. Upon this stream are several fine mill sites. The falls below Jamesville are somewhat interesting as a curiosity. The water falls about thirty feet perpendicularly, and the breadth of the creek is about forty feet. Its rocky chasm and sublime scenery, connected with the immense beds of gypsum and water-lime, and the extensive works for their manufacture, render this a very desirable place for the rambles of the tourist and the researches of the geologist.”
It also spoke of a tragic fire which occurred on October 14, 1877, destroying all the business portion of the village: “The loss by the fire was estimated to be about fifty thousand dollars, an amount certainly sufficient to make the hearts of the citizens of the unfortunate place sink with despair. Rebuilding has commenced with vigor and one block is already up and occupied by Daniel Quinlan, who keeps a general stock such as is found in country stores. The Kortright House is being rebuilt, and will be ready for occupancy about June 1, 1878. It is to be a large structure, two stories in height with Mansard roof, and will be, probably, the finest hotel in the county outside of Syracuse.”
We never heard if the Kortright House ended up being the finest hotel outside of Syracuse. But we found a picture of another hotel in Jamesville, the Hamilton Hotel, that was operating quite successfully in 1905. It was also not too far from where the Bringing Jamesville History to Light Cache is located. The picture below can help you find the exact location of this cache. There is quite a contrast between then and now. Please BYOP.
Congratulations to HoggleA10 for being the FTF, and for Bringing Jamesville History to Light!
