What’s in a name? Before Port Byron became Port Byron...
After the Revolutionary War, nearly two million acres of land in Central New York were set aside and divided into lots by the government. This land became known as the Military Tract.
In 1796, Philip King became the first white settler in Mentz and constructed a home on King Street. This settlement was first called “The Lick” because of the salt spring near where the upper dam is located. It later became known as “King’s Settlement” in King’s honor.
In the spring of 1798, Pennsylvania natives Aholiab and Elijah Buck moved from Big Flats (in Chemung County) and located on River Street in the Village of Port Byron. The first settlers in the village’s corporate limits, they offered land to anyone willing to establish an industry.
Their leadership was duly noted by changing the name of the settlement to “Bucksville” in 1819, a name by which it was known for many years. A historical marker in Triangle Park near the center of the village cites that the name was changed to “Port Byron” in 1825, perhaps to honor Lord Byron who died in 1824. According to Storke’s “History of Cayuga County,” the present name was assumed in 1832. The Village of Port Byron was incorporated on March 2, 1837 and reincorporated in 1855.
The completion of the Erie Canal on Oct. 26, 1825 gave a new impetus to the business of the village, rapidly increased its population and soon made it one of the principal grain markets in western New York. In 1828, John Beach moved to the village and utilized its waterpower. He built one of the largest and bestconstructed flouring mills in the State on the west side of the Outlet.
In 1851, the direct line of the New York Connecting Railroad (NYCRR) was built between Syracuse and Rochester and carried much of the trade activity to Syracuse and other towns. When the Erie Canal was enlarged in 1856 and the route changed, the state built a dam across the outlet and destroyed much of the waterpower capabilities previously enjoyed by the Port Byron businesses.