County InfoHistory | Demographics | Government Info Waterloo | Seneca Falls | Ovid | Seneca Lake | Cayuga Lake WATERLOOWaterloo, New York, at the crossroads of New York State (Rt. 5 & 20 and Rt. 96) has a fascinating history of perseverance and foresight. Sam Bear founded the village, then called Skoi-Yase, in 1792. In his quest for the finest rapids to run his Grist Mills, he selected this site on the Seneca River. He made friends with the Indians and with their help cleared the land and dug the races for the Mill. His successful Mill brought other inhabitants to the area and soon he built a general store and designed the layout for the south side of the village. Elisha Williams purchased the 640 acres of land just north of Seneca River in 1808 and with his business partner Rueben Swift, planned the north side of the thriving village. Even as early as 1816 they had the foresight to have a business district at the 4 corners, an industrial section where they built the Waterloo Woolen Mills and a village park in the center of the residential area. These 3 areas on routes 5 & 20 still remain today. Expansion of the village was rapid. Williams and Swift sold village lots on credit, which was unheard of that day. Businesses thrived. There were potters, tinsmiths, tile works, wagon works, graineries, woolen mills, cigar parlors, rope works, piano factories, dairies, yeast factories and many more. With the completion of the canal on the Seneca River in 1823, transportation between the lakes increased. The Lehigh Railroad and road improvements brought new business and new residents to the area. Waterloo was known by many names: Skoi-Yase, Jefferson, and New Hudson. A public meeting was called in 1828 to select an appropriate name for the growing village. Napoleon's defeat was the topic of the day and the group chose Waterloo for the name of the village. Waterloo women were very progressive and championed Women's rights. On July 13, 1848, Mrs. Jane Hunt, Mrs. Mary Ann McClintock of Waterloo and 4 other women met at the McClintock house and wrote the "Declaration of Sentiments." They called for a Women's Rights Convention and had it published in a local newspaper. The mahogany table the declaration was written on that day is in the Smithsonian. After the Civil War, Waterloo held the first Memorial Day, then called Decoration Day, as a village observance and continued annually. In 1966, Congress recognized Waterloo as the birthplace of Memorial Day. You can learn more about the history of Waterloo at the Terwilliger Museum, 31 East William Street. At the Memorial Day Museum (35 East Main Street), you can learn about the origin and history of Memorial Day. Call the Director (315) 539-0533 for museum information and hours or tour appointments. By: Beatrice Contant, Historian - Village of Waterloo |
