Do you enjoy scavenger hunts, mysteries, word puzzles, detective television programs? Then you could be a perfect candidate to become a "History Detective" at the Arcade Historical Society. We get inquiries of all kinds - regarding ancestors, property, murders, and objects - and we can always use volunteers to help find the answers.
For ALL TYPES of RESEARCH REQUESTS, there is a fee of $10 per hour plus $0.50 per copy of documents. It is helpful if you call or email about your inquiry first so we can pull things or let you know if that information is not in our archives. The archive of documents, photographs, maps, microfilm and books is at the Old Fire Hall where you are welcome to come research on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 1-6pm.
The AHS research library has microfilm of early issues of the local newspaper - known at various times as The Leader, The Arcade Herald, The Tri-County Times and other names. See two mysteries we have researched on this page.
If you would like to volunteer, we can always use a few good detectives. Come by or call during our normal office hours.
For ALL TYPES of RESEARCH REQUESTS, there is a fee of $10 per hour plus $0.50 per copy of documents. It is helpful if you call or email about your inquiry first so we can pull things or let you know if that information is not in our archives. The archive of documents, photographs, maps, microfilm and books is at the Old Fire Hall where you are welcome to come research on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 1-6pm.
The AHS research library has microfilm of early issues of the local newspaper - known at various times as The Leader, The Arcade Herald, The Tri-County Times and other names. See two mysteries we have researched on this page.
If you would like to volunteer, we can always use a few good detectives. Come by or call during our normal office hours.
The Town of Arcade
A Short Summary
Silas Meech came from Vermont in 1807 and became the first settler in what is now the Town of Arcade. He was soon followed by several other families, and in 1818 the Town of China was created out of the Town of Sheldon. The Town of China was re-named Arcade in 1866, and by 1871 the settlement at the juncture of Cattaraugus and Clear creeks had grown enough to be incorporated as a village. The town was named "China" after a popular hymn tune of the period.
The early settlers were predominantly from western New England and eastern New York. Today the village includes over 2,000 people while the entire town is over 4,000.
Arcade's industrial and agricultural development was facilitated by two rail lines that still serve the area: Norfolk (Pennsylvania Railroad) in 1871 and the Arcade and Attica Railroad in 1881. The Arcade area still retains a number of dairy farms and agriculture-related industries.
Why the name "Arcade?"
Around 1828, an important early businessman of the community, Horatio Waldo, owner of the woolen mill, took a trip to Rochester. At the time, Rochester was a boomtown after the completion of the Erie Canal (1825) and had an impressive new building called Reynolds Arcade, which was a covered passage of shops. Horatio Waldo returned from his trip and suggested "Arcade" as a name for the growing village, instead of taking on the name of the township, "China," or "Hinckley's Station," after a local tavern. In 1866 the village and town names both became Arcade.
Silas Meech came from Vermont in 1807 and became the first settler in what is now the Town of Arcade. He was soon followed by several other families, and in 1818 the Town of China was created out of the Town of Sheldon. The Town of China was re-named Arcade in 1866, and by 1871 the settlement at the juncture of Cattaraugus and Clear creeks had grown enough to be incorporated as a village. The town was named "China" after a popular hymn tune of the period.
The early settlers were predominantly from western New England and eastern New York. Today the village includes over 2,000 people while the entire town is over 4,000.
Arcade's industrial and agricultural development was facilitated by two rail lines that still serve the area: Norfolk (Pennsylvania Railroad) in 1871 and the Arcade and Attica Railroad in 1881. The Arcade area still retains a number of dairy farms and agriculture-related industries.
Why the name "Arcade?"
Around 1828, an important early businessman of the community, Horatio Waldo, owner of the woolen mill, took a trip to Rochester. At the time, Rochester was a boomtown after the completion of the Erie Canal (1825) and had an impressive new building called Reynolds Arcade, which was a covered passage of shops. Horatio Waldo returned from his trip and suggested "Arcade" as a name for the growing village, instead of taking on the name of the township, "China," or "Hinckley's Station," after a local tavern. In 1866 the village and town names both became Arcade.
331 West Main Street & 15 Liberty Street, Arcade, New York 14009 | Mailing address: P.O. Box 236, Arcade, NY 14009
(585) 492-4466 (Main St.) / (585) 492-0748 (Liberty St.) | [email protected]
(585) 492-4466 (Main St.) / (585) 492-0748 (Liberty St.) | [email protected]