Victor in Ontario County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Ganondagan
Town of White
— Ganondagon State Historic Site —
Photographed By Don Morfe, October 15, 2009
1. Ganondagan-Town of White Marker
In the Seneca language, Ganodagen means White Town. In Seneca tradition the color white is linked to the ideas of peace purity and truth. The translation preferred by Seneca today is Town of Peace. Seneca Traditionalists connect this town with the life of Jikonhsaseh, the Peace Mother, one of the founders of the Haudenosaunee, or League of the Iroquois.
The Frenchmen who attacked this town in 1687 called it variously Gannagaro, Ganaguia, Gaensara, and Gazeroare. A Christian Mohawk referred to it as Kohoseraghe. The names are probably Mohawk in origin.
In the 1840s, the Tonawanda Seneca knew this site as Gaosaehgaaah, The basswood bark lies there, or Gaosagao in the basswood country.
Under whatever name, this is the site of one of the four principal towns of the Seneca in 1687. As they were known to the French, Totikton and Gannondata were in the west and Gannagaro and Gannongarae in the east of the Seneca homeland.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Native Americans. A significant historical year for this entry is 1687.
Location. 42° 57.684′ N, 77° 24.756′ W. Marker is in Victor, New York, in Ontario County. Marker is at the intersection of Broughton Hill Road and New York State Route 444 on Broughton Hill Road
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Deohako (a few steps from this marker); Jikonhsaseh (within shouting distance of this marker); Ezra Wilmarth (within shouting distance of this marker); Gannagaro (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Onenodaji:h (about 300 feet away); Seneca Women as Horticulturalists (about 300 feet away); Haudenosaunee (about 300 feet away); Gayanessha'gowa (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Victor.
Also see . . . Ganondagan State Historic Site. NYS Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation website entry (Submitted on December 23, 2013, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland.)
Photographed By Don Morfe, October 15, 2009
2. Ganondagan-Town of White Marker
Photographed By Don Morfe, October 15, 2009
3. Ganondagan-Town of White Marker
Photographed By Don Morfe, October 15, 2009
4. Ganondagan-Town of White Marker
Photographed By Anton Schwarzmueller, October 26, 2018
5. Ganondagan Marker
Visitor center in background
Credits. This page was last revised on December 29, 2021. It was originally submitted on December 21, 2013, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 685 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on December 21, 2013, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. 5. submitted on November 9, 2018, by Anton Schwarzmueller of Wilson, New York. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
