Honeoye, New York
Encyclopedia
Honeoye is a hamlet
in the town of Richmond
, county of Ontario
, New York
, 33 miles (53 kilometers) south of downtown Rochester, New York
. The community is at the north end of Honeoye Lake
, one of the minor Finger Lakes
. It is primarily situated along U.S. Route 20A (New York)
between Ontario County Roads 33 and 37. The center of the hamlet can roughly be placed at the intersection of Route 20A and Ontario County Road 36 (West Lake Road).
Due to its location at the northerntip of Honeoye Lake
and seasonal recreational population, the hamlet contains several businesses, including gas stations and grocery, drug, liquor, hardware, auto-parts, and convenience stores. It also contains several restaurants, a doctor's office, dentist's office, and Honeoye Central School, which is K-12. There are also multiple churches, a fire station, library, beach, park, state boat launch, and hiking trail.
The area that is now the hamlet of Honeoye is thought to have first been inhabited by the Point Peninsula Indians more than 10,000 years ago. Following them came the Seneca
, who settled their village at the northeast part of Honeoye Lake, just north of the present-day community of Honeoye Lake Park.
During the American Revolution
, this Seneca village was destroyed by General John Sullivan
in September 1779 as part of his campaign to eliminate the threat from the Iroquois
, most of whose nations were allied with the British. At the site of the Indian village, Sullivan's troops built a small garrison known as Fort Cummings, named for the commanding officer left in charge. Here they left their "sick, lame and lazy" as well as a large portion of their supplies, so they could quickly enter the Genesee country to the west and drive the Seneca from the frontier.
After the War, some of these soldiers chose to return and resettle in western New York because of its fertile soil. Some land was paid as bounty to war veterans. Captain Peter Pitts was the first European-American to settle the area of present-day Honeoye, where he established Pittstown (now Richmond
) in 1789.
In the mid-19th century, this area had numerous abolitionists, feminists, and other progressive activists. Stations of the Underground Railroad
were founded in western New York to help convey escaped slaves to freedom in Canada. The Seneca Falls Convention
for women's rights took place in the nearby town.
Honeoye remained a largely agricultural community until the early part of the 20th century, when many wealthy people from Rochester, New York
took interest in Honeoye Lake as a resort area. Its relatively shallow depth gave it warmer temperatures than the Great Lakes. In the 1920s the City of Rochester
took interest in the lake as a source of municipal water and created some plans to flood Honeoye Valley behind a dam, but since the city already was getting water from Canadice and Hemlock lakes, this never took place. Since then, the area has remained popular for vacationers.
on Honeoye Creek
and lies at the bottom of Honeoye Valley. The climate of Honeoye is typical of the northeastern United States with four distinct seasons including warm, humid summers and cold snowy winters.
, Bristol
, South Bristol
, and Livonia
. Many of the businesses are members of the Honeoye Chamber of Commerce. Most of the businesses see their best business in the summer months, when population is increased by seasonal residents. Winter visitors also come to the area, for the exceptional ice fishing on Honeoye Lake and skiing and related activities at two local ski resorts: Bristol Mountain and Hunt Hollow. Cross-country skiers often visit Harriet Hollister-Spencer State Park
in the southern part of Canadice and Ontario County Park in South Bristol.
While once thriving in such a small community, industry in Honeoye has shrunk significantly from five manufacturing plants to two in the past 20 years or so, mainly due to the lack of rail access or a major highway. Industry is now almost strictly limited to agriculture provided by dozens of small farms in the area.
and the colors are blue and white, with red as an occasional accent color.
The French department maintains connections with Lycée Bréquigny in Rennes, France, which serves as a kind of sister school. The English Department in the French high school and the French department in Honeoye provide opportunities for students to travel and live in the opposite country, to experience the culture with a student and his or her family.
Section V. Currently sports are classified in the D to CC range, depending on the sport. The school also competes in the Finger Lakes
West League with strong traditional rivalries with neighboring schools Bloomfield
and Naples
.
In recent years Honeoye Sports have achieved success in girls volleyball
with a Section V championship in 2004 and several Sectional final appearances, girls Soccer with a Section V championship in 2005 and several Sectional final appearances, boys Soccer with nine consecutive sectional appearances, recent league titles in 2004, 2008, 2009, a #1 Class C State-Ranking in 2009, and a Section V Class CC championship in 2008, cross country
with several runners competing in sectional and state competitions, Golf, with several golfers competing in league and sectional competitions, and a streak of 56 straight team wins was snapped in early 2006, girls basketball with a section V championship in 2006, a NYSPHAA West Regional Championship in 2006 and a New York State Final Four appearance in 2006, indoor track
with several athletes competing in sectional and state competitions, boys baseball with three consecutive sectional final appearances, 2008 Section V class CCC Championship, 2008 NYSPHAA West Regional Championship, and a New York State Final 4 appearance and girls softball
with several sectional final appearances. Honeoye athletes have also been recognized by league, region and state committees as all-stars, players of the year and most valuable players.
Honeoye was previously famous for its annual winter carnival, but the carnival was discontinued because the small community could not support the large number of patrons. In recent years, Honeoye has tried to bring back an annual event including another winter carnival and the annual Captain Red Beard's Feast in early September.
Honeoye is often viewed as more of a community rather than just a hamlet. Many residents of the area often identify themselves with Honeoye before identifying with their own town.
, Syracuse
, and Buffalo
television and radio stations. It is also included in the coverage area of the Canandaigua
Daily Messenger, Rochester's Democrat & Chronicle, as well as the local weekly newspaper, The Honeoye Herald.
Hamlet (place)
A hamlet is usually a rural settlement which is too small to be considered a village, though sometimes the word is used for a different sort of community. Historically, when a hamlet became large enough to justify building a church, it was then classified as a village...
in the town of Richmond
Richmond, New York
Richmond is a town in Ontario County, New York, United States. The population was 3,452 at the 2000 census. The town is on the western border of the county, south of Rochester.- History :...
, county of Ontario
Ontario County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 100,224 people, 38,370 households, and 26,360 families residing in the county. The population density was 156 people per square mile . There were 42,647 housing units at an average density of 66 per square mile...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, 33 miles (53 kilometers) south of downtown Rochester, New York
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
. The community is at the north end of Honeoye Lake
Honeoye Lake
Honeoye Lake is one of the Finger Lakes of New York State in the USA. The lake is in Ontario County. Honeoye is an Iroquois word translated as "a lying finger," or "where the finger lies." Most of the lake is within the town of Richmond but a smaller southwestern part is in the town of Canadice...
, one of the minor Finger Lakes
Finger Lakes
The Finger Lakes are a pattern of lakes in the west-central section of Upstate New York in the United States. They are a popular tourist destination. The lakes are long and thin , each oriented roughly on a north-south axis. The two longest, Cayuga Lake and Seneca Lake, are among the deepest in...
. It is primarily situated along U.S. Route 20A (New York)
U.S. Route 20A (New York)
U.S. Route 20A is an east–west alternate route of US 20 that extends for across the western portion of New York in the United States. It leaves US 20 in Hamburg, a suburb of Buffalo, and rejoins it in East Bloomfield about five miles west of Canandaigua, the county seat of...
between Ontario County Roads 33 and 37. The center of the hamlet can roughly be placed at the intersection of Route 20A and Ontario County Road 36 (West Lake Road).
Due to its location at the northerntip of Honeoye Lake
Honeoye Lake
Honeoye Lake is one of the Finger Lakes of New York State in the USA. The lake is in Ontario County. Honeoye is an Iroquois word translated as "a lying finger," or "where the finger lies." Most of the lake is within the town of Richmond but a smaller southwestern part is in the town of Canadice...
and seasonal recreational population, the hamlet contains several businesses, including gas stations and grocery, drug, liquor, hardware, auto-parts, and convenience stores. It also contains several restaurants, a doctor's office, dentist's office, and Honeoye Central School, which is K-12. There are also multiple churches, a fire station, library, beach, park, state boat launch, and hiking trail.
History
The name "Honeoye" is believed to have originated from the Iroquois word "Ha-ne-a-yeh" or "lying finger" which described the lake that now shares the same name as the hamlet.The area that is now the hamlet of Honeoye is thought to have first been inhabited by the Point Peninsula Indians more than 10,000 years ago. Following them came the Seneca
Seneca nation
The Seneca are a group of indigenous people native to North America. They were the nation located farthest to the west within the Six Nations or Iroquois League in New York before the American Revolution. While exact population figures are unknown, approximately 15,000 to 25,000 Seneca live in...
, who settled their village at the northeast part of Honeoye Lake, just north of the present-day community of Honeoye Lake Park.
During the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
, this Seneca village was destroyed by General John Sullivan
John Sullivan
John Sullivan was the third son of Irish immigrants, a United States general in the Revolutionary War, a delegate in the Continental Congress and a United States federal judge....
in September 1779 as part of his campaign to eliminate the threat from the Iroquois
Iroquois
The Iroquois , also known as the Haudenosaunee or the "People of the Longhouse", are an association of several tribes of indigenous people of North America...
, most of whose nations were allied with the British. At the site of the Indian village, Sullivan's troops built a small garrison known as Fort Cummings, named for the commanding officer left in charge. Here they left their "sick, lame and lazy" as well as a large portion of their supplies, so they could quickly enter the Genesee country to the west and drive the Seneca from the frontier.
After the War, some of these soldiers chose to return and resettle in western New York because of its fertile soil. Some land was paid as bounty to war veterans. Captain Peter Pitts was the first European-American to settle the area of present-day Honeoye, where he established Pittstown (now Richmond
Richmond, New York
Richmond is a town in Ontario County, New York, United States. The population was 3,452 at the 2000 census. The town is on the western border of the county, south of Rochester.- History :...
) in 1789.
In the mid-19th century, this area had numerous abolitionists, feminists, and other progressive activists. Stations of the Underground Railroad
Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was an informal network of secret routes and safe houses used by 19th-century black slaves in the United States to escape to free states and Canada with the aid of abolitionists and allies who were sympathetic to their cause. The term is also applied to the abolitionists,...
were founded in western New York to help convey escaped slaves to freedom in Canada. The Seneca Falls Convention
Seneca Falls Convention
The Seneca Falls Convention was an early and influential women's rights convention held in Seneca Falls, New York, July 19–20, 1848. It was organized by local New York women upon the occasion of a visit by Boston-based Lucretia Mott, a Quaker famous for her speaking ability, a skill rarely...
for women's rights took place in the nearby town.
Honeoye remained a largely agricultural community until the early part of the 20th century, when many wealthy people from Rochester, New York
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
took interest in Honeoye Lake as a resort area. Its relatively shallow depth gave it warmer temperatures than the Great Lakes. In the 1920s the City of Rochester
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
took interest in the lake as a source of municipal water and created some plans to flood Honeoye Valley behind a dam, but since the city already was getting water from Canadice and Hemlock lakes, this never took place. Since then, the area has remained popular for vacationers.
Geography
The Hamlet of Honeoye lies just north of Honeoye LakeHoneoye Lake
Honeoye Lake is one of the Finger Lakes of New York State in the USA. The lake is in Ontario County. Honeoye is an Iroquois word translated as "a lying finger," or "where the finger lies." Most of the lake is within the town of Richmond but a smaller southwestern part is in the town of Canadice...
on Honeoye Creek
Honeoye Creek
Honeoye Creek is a tributary of the Genesee River in western New York in the United States.Honeoye Creek emerges from the north end of Honeoye Lake, one of the Finger Lakes, in Richmond, Ontario County...
and lies at the bottom of Honeoye Valley. The climate of Honeoye is typical of the northeastern United States with four distinct seasons including warm, humid summers and cold snowy winters.
Demographics
As an unincorporated hamlet with no legally defined boundaries, there are no US Census Bureau demographic data specific to Honeoye. Generally, residents of the encompassing town of Richmond identify themselves with Honeoye, and so one could refer to the demographic data for the Town of Richmond. Richmond, NY Demographic DataEconomy
The hamlet of Honeoye is home to several dozen small businesses that provide services to many surrounding towns and communities, including all or parts of CanadiceCanadice, New York
Canadice is a town in Ontario County, New York, USA. The population was 1,846 at the 2000 census.The Town of Canadice is in the Finger Lake district of New York and is in the southwest part of its county.- History :...
, Bristol
Bristol, New York
Bristol is a town in Ontario County, New York, USA. The population was 2,421 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Bristol County, Massachusetts by settlers from New England....
, South Bristol
South Bristol, New York
South Bristol is a town in Ontario County, New York, USA. The population was 1,645 at the 2000 census. The name is derived from its separation from the Town of Bristol.The Town of South Bristol is in the southwest part of the county...
, and Livonia
Livonia, New York
Livonia, New York refers to two locations in Livingston County, New York:*Livonia , New York*Livonia , New York, within the Town of Livonia...
. Many of the businesses are members of the Honeoye Chamber of Commerce. Most of the businesses see their best business in the summer months, when population is increased by seasonal residents. Winter visitors also come to the area, for the exceptional ice fishing on Honeoye Lake and skiing and related activities at two local ski resorts: Bristol Mountain and Hunt Hollow. Cross-country skiers often visit Harriet Hollister-Spencer State Park
Harriet Hollister Spencer State Recreation Area
Harriet Hollister Spencer State Recreation Area, part of the New York state park system, is located six miles south of Honeoye, New York, off Canadice Hill Rd. in Ontario County, New York...
in the southern part of Canadice and Ontario County Park in South Bristol.
While once thriving in such a small community, industry in Honeoye has shrunk significantly from five manufacturing plants to two in the past 20 years or so, mainly due to the lack of rail access or a major highway. Industry is now almost strictly limited to agriculture provided by dozens of small farms in the area.
Public school
Honeoye and the surrounding area are included in the Honeoye Central School District. The district is served by one building providing schooling for all of the district's K-12 students. Enrollment at Honeoye Central is about 750 students. The school mascot is the bulldogBulldog
Bulldog is the name for a breed of dog commonly referred to as the English Bulldog. Other Bulldog breeds include the American Bulldog, Olde English Bulldogge and the French Bulldog. The Bulldog is a muscular heavy dog with a wrinkled face and a distinctive pushed-in nose...
and the colors are blue and white, with red as an occasional accent color.
The French department maintains connections with Lycée Bréquigny in Rennes, France, which serves as a kind of sister school. The English Department in the French high school and the French department in Honeoye provide opportunities for students to travel and live in the opposite country, to experience the culture with a student and his or her family.
Local sports
Honeoye Central School competes within the NYSPHAANew York State Public High School Athletic Association
The New York State Public High School Athletic Association is the governing body of interscholastic sports for many schools in New York. It consists of 768 member high schools from the state divided into 11 numbered sections...
Section V. Currently sports are classified in the D to CC range, depending on the sport. The school also competes in the Finger Lakes
Finger Lakes
The Finger Lakes are a pattern of lakes in the west-central section of Upstate New York in the United States. They are a popular tourist destination. The lakes are long and thin , each oriented roughly on a north-south axis. The two longest, Cayuga Lake and Seneca Lake, are among the deepest in...
West League with strong traditional rivalries with neighboring schools Bloomfield
Bloomfield, New York
Bloomfield is a village in Ontario County, New York, United States. The population was 1,267 at the 2000 census.The Village of Bloomfield is in the Town of East Bloomfield and is west of Canandaigua, NY.- History :...
and Naples
Naples, New York
Naples may refer to two municipalities in Ontario County, New York in the United States:*Naples , New York*Naples , New York, located entirely within the town...
.
In recent years Honeoye Sports have achieved success in girls volleyball
Volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
with a Section V championship in 2004 and several Sectional final appearances, girls Soccer with a Section V championship in 2005 and several Sectional final appearances, boys Soccer with nine consecutive sectional appearances, recent league titles in 2004, 2008, 2009, a #1 Class C State-Ranking in 2009, and a Section V Class CC championship in 2008, cross country
Cross country running
Cross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...
with several runners competing in sectional and state competitions, Golf, with several golfers competing in league and sectional competitions, and a streak of 56 straight team wins was snapped in early 2006, girls basketball with a section V championship in 2006, a NYSPHAA West Regional Championship in 2006 and a New York State Final Four appearance in 2006, indoor track
Athletics (track and field)
Athletics is an exclusive collection of sporting events that involve competitive running, jumping, throwing, and walking. The most common types of athletics competitions are track and field, road running, cross country running, and race walking...
with several athletes competing in sectional and state competitions, boys baseball with three consecutive sectional final appearances, 2008 Section V class CCC Championship, 2008 NYSPHAA West Regional Championship, and a New York State Final 4 appearance and girls softball
Softball
Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
with several sectional final appearances. Honeoye athletes have also been recognized by league, region and state committees as all-stars, players of the year and most valuable players.
Culture and recreation
Honeoye and the surrounding community are recognized mainly for the lake and its recreational value including water sports, fishing, and ice fishing. The steep valleys of the area also provide excellent snow skiing in the winter at two primary resorts: Bristol Mountain and Hunt Hollow. Honeoye is also located near the Finger Lakes wine viticultural area. Several parks also surround the area including: Sandy Bottom Beach and Nature Trail, Harriet Hollister-Spencer State Recreation Area, and Ontario County Park.Honeoye was previously famous for its annual winter carnival, but the carnival was discontinued because the small community could not support the large number of patrons. In recent years, Honeoye has tried to bring back an annual event including another winter carnival and the annual Captain Red Beard's Feast in early September.
Honeoye is often viewed as more of a community rather than just a hamlet. Many residents of the area often identify themselves with Honeoye before identifying with their own town.
Media
Honeoye is served by RochesterRochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
, Syracuse
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
, and Buffalo
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
television and radio stations. It is also included in the coverage area of the Canandaigua
Canandaigua (city), New York
Canandaigua is a city in Ontario County, New York, USA, of which it is the county seat. The population was 11,264 at the 2000 census...
Daily Messenger, Rochester's Democrat & Chronicle, as well as the local weekly newspaper, The Honeoye Herald.
Notable residents
- Helen Pitts, abolitionist, feminist and second wife of Frederick DouglassFrederick DouglassFrederick Douglass was an American social reformer, orator, writer and statesman. After escaping from slavery, he became a leader of the abolitionist movement, gaining note for his dazzling oratory and incisive antislavery writing...
- Brian KolbBrian KolbBrian M. Kolb is the New York State assemblyman from the 129th District, and is the minority leader of the Assembly. He was unanimously chosen as minority leader in April 2009, following the resignation of Jim Tedisco....
(RRepublican Party (United States)The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
) - representative to the New York State AssemblyNew York State AssemblyThe New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
, 129th District - Ralph Angelo Jr.- Section V Athletic Hall of Fame- Basketball
- Scott Harris Jr.- NCAA Div. III Mens Golf National Champion (St. John Fisher College)