Montour Falls

Montour Falls. . , ...the valley of tumbling waters, where a waterfall cascades 156 feet into the heart of an historic village..., Just 20,000 years ago, a glacier , nearly a mile high , covered this entire area. As it receded, the glacier left in its wake the many gorges, lakes, streams, and waterfalls that define the local landscape. , Glacier free for the last 10,000 years, Montour Falls is the southern gateway to the Finger Lakes region. We invite you to enjoy the history and natural beauty of the countryside, including our seven gorges and more than 20 waterfalls. This side of the sign offers a quick walk through time, while the other provides a map to help orient yourself to the many sites and activities our village has to offer. , Early Inhabitants , When the last glaciers receded over 10,000 years ago, they left behind a landscape that looked much like it does today. By 2500 BC the region was inhabited by Lamoka Indians. These early residents took advantage of the abundant wildlife , fishing, hunting, and gathering their food. , If you were here in the 1300's you would have seen local Indians growing corn, beans, and squash near their settlements. , During the 1700's a large village of the Seneca Nation of Indians, stood on this site. "Queen" Catharine Montour led the village, known as Catharine's Town. , Revolutionary War General John Sullivan swept through the area in 1779, destroying the village in his wake. Sullivan drove the Indians northward to the safety of the British in Canada. Some returned after the war only to find little left of their homes, crops, orchards, and villages. , It wasn't long after the war had ended that the first American settlers began moving into the area. And by 1802 a post office had been established. , A Time of Tremendous Growth , The little settlement just south of Seneca Lake soon caught the eye of Charles Cook, a young entrepreneur and businessman. In 1829, armed with a contract to build the Chemung Canal, he set up his headquarters in the budding community. The canal opened in 1833, joining Seneca Lake to the Chemung River in Elmira. That same year, the area also welcomed tracks for the North Central Railroad. , It was less than fifty years after those first American settlers arrived, that the settlement was officially incorporated as the Village of Havana, in 1836., Charles Cook went on to fund much of the early development of the young village and is credited with building a number of assorted civic buildings and homes. , In 1845, in a small house on Genesee Street, David B. Hill, New York State's 29th Governor was born. The area continued to grow in size, and in 1854 Schuyler County was formed. , The Chemung canal closed in 1878 , for over 40 years it ran through the heart of the village. Today, little is left of this once important waterway. , Reflecting on its history, the village of Havana changed its name to Montour in 1894 in honor of Indian "Queen" Catharine Montour. And then, in 1895, the name was changed one last time to its current moniker of Montour Falls., Progress with a Nod to the Past , The Shepard-Niles Crane and Hoist Corporation (established in 1903) and Seneca Engineering Company (established in 1904) were the main drivers of the local economy through the 20th century. Many local residents worked for one of the companies. , Because Montour Falls is located at the base of a tremendous waterfall, spring rains have been a constant concern. In 1935 a devastating flood engulfed the town, roaring over Shequaga (Chequaga) falls and crashing down through the village, leaving damaged homes and businesses in its wake., In response to the frequent flooding, a flood management system was constructed in 1940, ending the threat of wide spread destruction. , Recognizing the unique character of the village , with its Greek Revival, Italianate, Queen Anne, and Victorian residential and public architecture , the National Register of Historical Places designated the Glorious T an historic district in 1978. The Glorious T is named for the T-shaped intersection of Genesee and Main Streets and is crowned by the cascading Shequaga (Chequaga) Falls. , Today, the Catherine Valley Trail runs through the heart of town. The scenic path follows the old North Central Railroad bed and the former Chemung Canal towpath. , (Images are courtesy of the Montour Falls Memorial Library.) , The village continues to take advantage of its natural beauty. We are indeed a little village with a big history and we welcome you to enjoy all we have to offer..