As you explore Letchworth's History it is important to go right to the "source", the primary and secondary resources which document the Park's past. We have included some which should be both helpful and interesting!
You can either browse through the titles or use the topical index below!
Click on the following links to find "Pieces of the Past relating to these topics. You will also find more information on these topics in the Glimpses of the Past
Descriptions of Glen Iris & Letchworth Park
Development of Letchworth State Park
Special Events and Dedications
Tourism & Glen Iris/Letchworth Park
Here is a look at the family tree of the Park's benefactor, William Pryor Letchworth. The page will take you to a genealogy website created and maintained by a member of the Letchworth family.
Works of William Pryor Letchworth
Larned provided an list of the writings of Mr. Letchworth in the appendix of his biography. The list, with a few additions, is shown. It provides an important look at the man who gave us Letchworth Park.
A Description of the Pratt &
Letchworth Firm, 1872
Excerpts from an 1872 New York Times articles provides an interesting look at the Mr. Letchworth's business.
Advertising Envelope for Pratt
and Letchworth
Images of a late 19th century advertising envelope sent by the Company.
Mr. Letchworth's Rules of Conduct
Mr. Letchworth's long and memorable life was based upon his "Rules of Conduct" which he set down to paper as a young man. The set of rules listed here comes from 1842.
Those who seek the resting place of William Pryor Letchworth will be taken to his gravesite - not in Letchworth Park, but in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Buffalo NY. Photos and the story of his unusual marker is found here.
Here is the full text of the obituary for Mr. Letchworth which appeared in the New York Times on Dec 3, 1910.
This gift from Mr. Letchworth and his brother Josiah still can be found in nearby Wyoming, NY.
Identifies the main events in the early life of Mary Jemison from 1740's to 1779.
Basic information on each of Mary Jemison's children as found in the footnotes of Seaver's work.
"Contemporary Accounts of Mary Jemison"
Memories of Mary Jemison by the people who knew her.
A brief account of the Nancy Jemison Cabin on the Council Ground including a interior photograph and a 1907 description.
"The Reburial of Mary Jemison"
This is an account of the re-interment of Mary Jemison written by Mr. Letchworth and included in his 1877 edition of the Seaver book.
Ellicott's Description of the Gardeau
Reservation
A description of "Gardo" written by Joseph Ellicott around 1800.
Survey Map of the Gardeau Reservation
After the Big Tree Treaty was signed surveyors made maps of the reservation lands. Here is the 1798 survey map done by Augustus Porter.
Minard's Map of Eastern Half of the
Gardeau Reservation
In 1897 John Minard drew a map of the eastern half of the old reservation lands at the request of M. W Brooks.
Copies of the inscriptions found both on the original tombstone of Mary Jemison and the granite marker erected by Mr. Letchworth.
A Description of the Mary Jemison Statue
A detailed discussion of the famous Mary Jemison Statue on the Council Grounds.
Photos and a brief history of the Jemison Statue found near her home in Pennsylvania
Ceremonies commemorating the 250th anniversary
of her capture
Photos and information on the special ceremonies held in the Buchanan Valley near Gettysburg on April 5, 2008.
Letchworth Letters: The Mary Jemison
Statue
This 1910 letter was written by Mr. Letchworth concerning his efforts in honoring the memory of Mary Jemison with a statue at her gravesite on the Council Grounds.
Jemison Family Tragedy, Second Night
as Captive Remembered
A look at a little known historical marker remembering a tragic episode in the life of Mary Jemison.
This is the complete text of the grant of land given by the Senecas to Mary Jemison at the Treaty of Big Tree in 1797.
This is the complete text of the 1826 treaty document from the Buffalo Creek Council which sold the remaining Genesee Valley reservations.
Painting of Hornby Lodge and Middle Falls
by Cole
A copy of the famous Thomas Cole painting of Portage Falls which captures the landscape near the end of the Pioneer period.
A list of the names and dates found in the old Pioneer Cemetery in Letchworth Park.
The story of the "Ghost Town's" burial ground that was moved to Castile in the 1950's.
This interesting document describes an early plan to develop the Portage Falls area into a tourist attraction.
This description taken from the work of Barber and Howe includes illustrations and descriptions of the Portage Gorge, the Middle Falls, The Tunnel Section of the Genesee Valley Canal, and Hornby Lodge.
A Newspaper Account of a visit to Portage,
1852
An interesting account of the Portage Wooden Bridge and the area around the three Portage Falls which once appeared in the New York Times Daily.
A Brief History of the Town of Portage
A short but detailed account of the early formation of the Town of Portage, taken from the 1872 Atlas of Livingston County.
This general view of the St. Helena area along with a more detailed map of Letchworth Park's Ghost Town was taken from an 1866 Atlas of Wyoming and Genesee Counties.
This map of this important community just south of the present day Park was taken from an 1866 Atlas of Wyoming and Genesee Counties.
A close up of the 1872 map of Gibsonville, one of Letchworth's "Vanished Villages.
1872 Map of the Town of Portage, Livingston
County
An image of the 1872 map of Portage which show the land east of the Genesee River which would later become part of Letchworth Park.
Map of Falls Area in Town of Portage,
1872
A close up of the portion of the Town of Portage that included the three falls now in Letchworth Park.
Map of the Big Bend Area of the Town of
Portage, 1872
A close up of the part of the Town of Portage still known as "Big Bend"
Map of Squawkie Hill Reservation,
1872
Map showing the boundaries of one of the Seneca Reservations once found with the present Park borders.
This important map shows Mr. Letchworth's Glen Iris Estate shortly before it was given to New York State. It is taken from the 1902 atlas of Wyoming County. Be patient, it make take a little longer to download!
Map showing the boundaries of one of the Seneca Reservations once found with the present Park borders.
The Story of Camp Portage (Williams)
by M.Frost
This account by a local historian describes the origins and brief history of the Civil War Training Camp in Letchworth Park
"Photo Souvenir of the Dragoon Monument"
This turn of the century photographic souvenir shows the Dragoon monument in its original location and includes the labeling from the original mount.
Parade Ground Monument to the 1st New York
Dragoons
A photograph of the tablet found on the memorial boulder on the Parade Grounds provides the complete text of the marker honoring the Civil War Soldiers that trained at that place.
Parade Ground Monument 136th NY Infantry
A photograph of the tablet found on the memorial boulder on the Parade Grounds provides the complete text of the marker honoring the Civil War Regiment that trained at that place.
Pic Nic Excursions to Portage Falls 1866
A short newspaper article talks about the popularity of the Glen Iris area and the nearby Cascade House.
"Pennsylvania Railroad Broadside for
Labor Day Excursion Train to Portage Falls, September 3, 1900"
An image and the text of an original broadside posted in Rochester NY illustrates the turn of the century tourism to the Glen Iris Estate
Spring Day at Letchworth for Geneseo State
Normal School Students, 1928
A look at a "Nottingham Fair" held in Letchworth Park in 1928 by local college students.
"Posing on the Porch" circa 1938
Some
unidentified photographs provide a glimpse of tourists on the
porch of the Glen Iris in the 1930's.
The Letchworth Plaque at the Glen Iris
Placed in honor of the 60th anniversary of the Park, this special plaque was designed by Park employee Fred Short in 1967.
New York State Historical Markers
Photographs of some of the State Historical Markers found in or near Letchworth Park.
Hall's Sketches of the Portage Falls, 1843
Some significant changes are documented in what may be the earliest drawings of the falls in Letchworth Park.
1860 Federal Census for the Glen Iris Area
Data collected for the Federal Census in the summer of 1860 on the Glen Iris and neighboring households.
An 1861 description of the Glen Iris Estate as designed and described by Letchworth's landscape architect, William Webster.
A Study of Daily Life at the Glen Iris:
The Crozer Diary
Selections from the diary of Mr. Letchworth's oldest sister provide a look at life at the Glen Iris in the 1870's
Further Notes on Daily Life at the Glen
Iris: The Crozer Diary II.
The second part of our look at the diary kept by Mary Anne Crozer at the Glen Iris.
This is the text from the 1874 work Picturesque America which includes a description of the present day area of Letchworth Park.
"Drawings from the 'Valley of the Genesee'"
These pages include the sketches which accompanied the Picturesque America article.
Visit to Portage and the Glen Iris,
1876
A letter to the editor of a local newspaper provides and interesting account of a visit to the Portage area and the grounds of the Glen Iris.
1930's Brochure for the Glen Iris Inn and
Letchworth Park
This early Park brochure provides an interesting look at the Glen Iris Inn and Letchworth Park.
Announcement of the Gift of the Glen
Iris to the State.
This article from the New York Times in 1907 documents the Mr. Letchworth's gift of the Glen Iris to New York.
Best Automobile Routes to the Glen Iris circa
1915
An advertising postcard for the Park and the Glen Iris has a map and an unusual image of the Glen Iris.
Development Plans for the Park, 1947
Newspaper article outlining the post WWI development plans for the Park.
Map showing the development of Letchworth Park up to the 1950's.
Development of the North End, 1963
This program from a 1963 State Council of Parks meeting held at Letchworth documents the developments underway at that time at the North end of the Park.
"Rangers Patrol Letchworth State
Park"
A 1963 Democrat and Chronicle article describing Letchworth's Park Police.
This collection of Glen Iris poetry was first published by Mr. Letchworth in 1876. A new edition was published in 1911.
The Poetry of Josiah Letchworth
Two poems written by the youngest brother of William P Letchworth.
A small collection of poetry related to the Park written by Mary Clclland.
" The Dedication of Mr. Letchworth's
Rock"
Images and description from the 1917 dedication of the Letchworth Memorial Boulder near Inspiration Point.
Letchworth Park Annual Dinner 1963
The program and photographs from the Park Annual dinner held at the Lower Falls highlights some of the important people in the 20th century development of the Park.
CCC Work Projects in Letchworth State Park
The accomplishments of the CCC in the Park is summarized in the lists of completed work projects for each of the camps.
A Tribute to the "Boys" of the
CCC
A photograph of the statue recently dedicated to the men of the CCC who helped to build the Park.
Historical Momentoes - The Old Indian Council
House
John Minard published as series of historical items in the late 1800's. This one shows the Council House at Caneadea and tells the story of how it came to be in Letchworth Park.
The painting, as well as the description found in the 1906 Guide book to the Genesee Valley Museum gives insight into the story of this remarkable man.
The story of one of the Museum's most popular exhibits.
A brief description of this unique works of art still found today in the Glen Iris Inn.
An Old Souvenir from the Council Grounds
An image of one of the earliest souvenirs sold in what is now Letchworth Park.
A Souvenir Booklet of Snap Shots of the Park
Images from a little book called "Snap Shots of Letchworth Park" from about 1920
Examples of some popular souvenirs from the Mr. Letchworth's time to today.
Artifacts from the Lower Falls POW Camp
Some interesting memories from a little known era in Park History.
Landmarks of the Genesee Valley Canal
in Letchworth Park
This information comes from the notebooks of Mr and Mrs J. Hayward Madden, experts on the Genesee Valley Canal.
"Fall of the Pinnacle or Monument at
Portage Falls" 1851
This newspaper account document the spectacular blasting of part of the cliff near the Middle Falls during the construction of the Genesee Valley Canal.
Drawings of the Portage Tunnel
Drawings by P Emslie of the Portage Tunnel area of the Genesee Valley Canal including the location of Hornby Lodge.
"The New Iron Bridge" as drawn in
1875
A hand colored sketch of the Portage Bridge and the Genesee Valley Canal which appeared in Gleason's Home Companion in 1875.
"High Bridge" Portage New York
1853
This is a interesting article published in a British engineering journal only a few months after the completion of the Bridge.
The Burning of the Portage Bridge
This is Mr. Letchworth's eyewitness account of the 1875 fire which destroyed the famous Portage Wooden High Bridge.
Three diary entries from a local farmer document the destruction and rebuilding of the Portage Bridge.
Recollections of James O'Donnell
This oral history, preserved by the O'Donnell family, provides important information on the area found on the east end of the Bridge.
A Walker Stereoview Label circa 1875
A look at the back of a stereocard which provides a interesting description of the Iron Bridge and a list of Walker Stereoviews of the Bridge.
Fatality on the Portage Bridge,
1865
This is a short newspaper account of a workman's tragic accident on the Wooden Bridge.
An Account of the Centennial Tornado at Portageville
This account, taken from the Nunda News in 1876, documents a terrible storm which struck near the Glen Iris on the Fourth of July.
Train Wreck on the Pennsy RR 1904
A contemporary newspaper account of a head on collision near the Portage Bridge.
First Automobile Fatality at Letchworth Park
1917
This is the newspaper account of what we believe to be the first major car accident in the Park which resulted in the deaths of two young women.
Two newspaper clippings document the destruction of this famous hotel at the Portage Bridge
A photo essay on the effects of Hurricane Agnes on Letchworth Park in June of 1972
Drawings of the Portageville Dam Project
Drawings of the proposed dam that was to be built just south of the Portage High Bridge.
Maps of the Portageville Dam Projects
Maps of the proposed dam that was to be built just south of the Portage High Bridge.
Back label of stereoview of L E Walker,
1875
A list of some Portage area stereoviews by LE Walker of Warsaw.
Back label of stereoview of George
L Washburn
A list of some Portage area stereoviews by George L Washburn of Warsaw.
The painting, as well as the description found in the 1906 Guide book to the Genesee Valley Museum gives insight into the story of this remarkable man.
The Moses Van Campen Commissions
Images of these two Revolutionary War documents help document the life of this remarkable frontiersman.