Massena Center, New York
Encyclopedia
Massena Center is a small hamlet
in Town of Massena
, St. Lawrence County
, New York
, United States
. It is made up of 89 homes and several small businesses.
was incorporated with the county in 1802 but was reduced in size several times with the removal of land for the towns of Hopkinton
in 1805, Louisville
in 1810 and Brasher
in 1825.
Massena Center is located two and half miles east of the Village of Massena
on the north side of the Grasse River
. This area is also known as the Grasse River Meadowlands which surrounds the last five miles of the Grasse River
to its mouth with the St. Lawrence River. The St. Lawrence Seaway is located along its northern border with the only two American Locks in the Seaway System. Eisenhower Lock with its visitor center is located in its northwest corner and accessible by New York State Route 131
(which makes up the western border), while Snell Lock is located in the northeast corner at the mouth of the Grasse River
and is accessed by the Massena Center / Fregoe Road, but is not open to the public. Also located at the mouth of the Grasse River
is the secondary emergency repair doors for the locks. Within this small bay floats a massive floating crane and the Tugboat Robinson Bay.
"The Center" as it has been dubbed by the locals was founded by Nathaniel Kezar, Arad Smith, P. Smith, Ephraim Hyde, Samuel Dana, Thomas Dodge, Israel Rickard, Ira Goodrich, Peabody Kinney, Willard Seaton, Hiram Anderson, Hiram Fish and Moses Russell. The first Public House was opened by Ephrairn Hyde and Samson Wheeler in 1835. The first post official was opened in 1851 with Chloe Atwood as acting postal official. The first handsome school house was erected in 1871 next to the Massena Center Baptist Church and was operated until 1958. Its students at the time were transferred to the old Harrowgate School in downtown Massena, and then to the newly built (now closed) Twin Rivers Elementary School located across the river.
The area was primarily agriculture with its fertile meadowlands allowing for several large farms to operate in the area. The Rickard Farm located in the community was the first in the town of Massena to operate with a steam powered milking machine. By the 1970s there was 7 major farms operating in the area and the last one to operate closed in the late 1990s. Very few of the original barns exist.
Agriculture was the primary industry of Massena Center due to the fertile soils of the Grasse River Meadowlands allowing for large farms to form. With the creation of the St. Lawrence Seaway many of these farms disappeared. It can be noted by the 1960s there were seven major farms operating in the area, all who have ceased operations. The last farm operated until the late 1990s. Some farm activity still takes place.
The second bridge built across the Grasse River
in the Town of Massena
is located in Massena Center and was built in 1832, but was soon swept away in the ice flows of spring thaw. In 1862 at the cost of $4,000 a covered bridge was built across the river but was also destroyed. In 1873 an iron bridge was erected for $10,000 dollars.
Holton Duncan Robinson was born in 1863 in Massena Center and came to be a well known engineer. With David Steinmen they formed the Engineering Firm of Robinson and Steinmen who worked and designed bridges. Their firm designed such bridges as the Deer Isle Bridge
in Maine, the Hercilio Luz Bridge
in Florianopolis
, Santa Catarina
, Brazil
, and the Thousand Island Bridge System on the St. Lawrence River. In 1910 Holton returned to Massena Center to design and construct the still existing suspension cable bridge across the Grasse River
(bridge is closed to all traffic).
On September 5th 1944 a magnitude 5.6 earthquake shook northern New York and was felt from Maine to Maryland. The epicenter of this earthquake is located in Rickard's Field just north of the hamlet. Despite its size it caused considerable damage estimated around 2 million dollars. Several thousand chimneys collapsed.
The Old Community Center is located .34 miles from NY State Highway 131 and was in use for many years. The block building stood unused for many years but like many other buildings has been converted into a home.
The Massena Center Drive-In was located on the south side of the Grasse River on the opposite side of the hamlet and is now the site of the Massena International Kampground.
The Seaway Motel (formally the Park Inn Mortal) located on the corner of New York State Highway 131 and Massena Center Road was formerly the site of a children's amusement park. The motel burned in January 2005 and has ceased to operate.
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 Town of Massena
Massena (town), New York
Massena is a town in St. Lawrence County, New York, United States. The town is on the northern border of the county and is nicknamed "The Gateway to the Fourth Coast". The population was 13,121 at the 2000 census. The town of Massena contains a village also called Massena...
, St. Lawrence County
St. Lawrence County, New York
St. Lawrence County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 111,944. The county seat is Canton. The county is named for the Saint Lawrence River, which in turn was named for the Catholic saint on whose Feast day the river was discovered by...
, 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...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is made up of 89 homes and several small businesses.
History
During the formation and founding of the towns of northern New York and the Macomb Purchase, it has become common practice for a settlement to be erected in the center of the town. The Town of MassenaMassena (town), New York
Massena is a town in St. Lawrence County, New York, United States. The town is on the northern border of the county and is nicknamed "The Gateway to the Fourth Coast". The population was 13,121 at the 2000 census. The town of Massena contains a village also called Massena...
was incorporated with the county in 1802 but was reduced in size several times with the removal of land for the towns of Hopkinton
Hopkinton, New York
Hopkinton is a town in St. Lawrence County, New York in the United States. The population was 1,020 at the 2000 census. The name is derived from early settlers with the name Hopkins....
in 1805, Louisville
Louisville, New York
Louisville is a town in St. Lawrence County, New York, United States. The population was 3,195 at the 2000 census. The town is reportedly named after a French king, but it is pronounced as "Lewis-ville."...
in 1810 and Brasher
Brasher, New York
Brasher is a town in St. Lawrence County, New York, USA. The population was 2,337 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Philip Brasher, an original landowner....
in 1825.
Massena Center is located two and half miles east of the Village of Massena
Massena (village), New York
Massena is a village in St. Lawrence County, New York, United States. The population was 13,589 at the 2000 census. The village is named after Andre Massena, one of Napoleon's generals....
on the north side of the Grasse River
Grasse River
The Grasse River or Grass River is a river in northern New York, in the United States...
. This area is also known as the Grasse River Meadowlands which surrounds the last five miles of the Grasse River
Grasse River
The Grasse River or Grass River is a river in northern New York, in the United States...
to its mouth with the St. Lawrence River. The St. Lawrence Seaway is located along its northern border with the only two American Locks in the Seaway System. Eisenhower Lock with its visitor center is located in its northwest corner and accessible by New York State Route 131
New York State Route 131
New York State Route 131 is a long state highway in St. Lawrence County, New York, United States. It serves as a coastal alternate route to NY 37, going around the village of Massena instead of through it. NY 131 leaves NY 37 in the town of Louisville and rejoins it in the...
(which makes up the western border), while Snell Lock is located in the northeast corner at the mouth of the Grasse River
Grasse River
The Grasse River or Grass River is a river in northern New York, in the United States...
and is accessed by the Massena Center / Fregoe Road, but is not open to the public. Also located at the mouth of the Grasse River
Grasse River
The Grasse River or Grass River is a river in northern New York, in the United States...
is the secondary emergency repair doors for the locks. Within this small bay floats a massive floating crane and the Tugboat Robinson Bay.
"The Center" as it has been dubbed by the locals was founded by Nathaniel Kezar, Arad Smith, P. Smith, Ephraim Hyde, Samuel Dana, Thomas Dodge, Israel Rickard, Ira Goodrich, Peabody Kinney, Willard Seaton, Hiram Anderson, Hiram Fish and Moses Russell. The first Public House was opened by Ephrairn Hyde and Samson Wheeler in 1835. The first post official was opened in 1851 with Chloe Atwood as acting postal official. The first handsome school house was erected in 1871 next to the Massena Center Baptist Church and was operated until 1958. Its students at the time were transferred to the old Harrowgate School in downtown Massena, and then to the newly built (now closed) Twin Rivers Elementary School located across the river.
The area was primarily agriculture with its fertile meadowlands allowing for several large farms to operate in the area. The Rickard Farm located in the community was the first in the town of Massena to operate with a steam powered milking machine. By the 1970s there was 7 major farms operating in the area and the last one to operate closed in the late 1990s. Very few of the original barns exist.
Agriculture was the primary industry of Massena Center due to the fertile soils of the Grasse River Meadowlands allowing for large farms to form. With the creation of the St. Lawrence Seaway many of these farms disappeared. It can be noted by the 1960s there were seven major farms operating in the area, all who have ceased operations. The last farm operated until the late 1990s. Some farm activity still takes place.
The second bridge built across the Grasse River
Grasse River
The Grasse River or Grass River is a river in northern New York, in the United States...
in the Town of Massena
Massena (town), New York
Massena is a town in St. Lawrence County, New York, United States. The town is on the northern border of the county and is nicknamed "The Gateway to the Fourth Coast". The population was 13,121 at the 2000 census. The town of Massena contains a village also called Massena...
is located in Massena Center and was built in 1832, but was soon swept away in the ice flows of spring thaw. In 1862 at the cost of $4,000 a covered bridge was built across the river but was also destroyed. In 1873 an iron bridge was erected for $10,000 dollars.
Holton Duncan Robinson was born in 1863 in Massena Center and came to be a well known engineer. With David Steinmen they formed the Engineering Firm of Robinson and Steinmen who worked and designed bridges. Their firm designed such bridges as the Deer Isle Bridge
Deer Isle Bridge
The Deer Isle Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning Eggemoggin Reach in the state of Maine. The bridge is the only vehicular connection from the Maine mainland to Little Deer Isle, one of the segments that make up the island. The span was completed in March 1939 with a main span of 329 meters ....
in Maine, the Hercilio Luz Bridge
Hercilio Luz Bridge
Located in Florianopolis, the capital city of Santa Catarina State in southern Brazil, the Hercilio Luz Bridge is the first bridge constructed to link the Island of Santa Catarina to the mainland.It is the longest suspension bridge in Brazil...
in Florianopolis
Florianópolis
-Climate:Florianópolis experiences a warm humid subtropical climate, falling just short of a true tropical climate. The seasons of the year are distinct, with a well-defined summer and winter, and characteristic weather for autumn and spring. Frost is infrequent, but occurs occasionally in the winter...
, Santa Catarina
Santa Catarina (state)
Santa Catarina is a state in southern Brazil with one of the highest standards of living in Latin America. Its capital is Florianópolis, which mostly lies on the Santa Catarina Island. Neighbouring states are Rio Grande do Sul to the south and Paraná to the north. It is bounded on the east by...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, and the Thousand Island Bridge System on the St. Lawrence River. In 1910 Holton returned to Massena Center to design and construct the still existing suspension cable bridge across the Grasse River
Grasse River
The Grasse River or Grass River is a river in northern New York, in the United States...
(bridge is closed to all traffic).
On September 5th 1944 a magnitude 5.6 earthquake shook northern New York and was felt from Maine to Maryland. The epicenter of this earthquake is located in Rickard's Field just north of the hamlet. Despite its size it caused considerable damage estimated around 2 million dollars. Several thousand chimneys collapsed.
Landmarks
Union Hall is a building located .87 miles from NY State Highway 131 and was used for community meetings. It is unknown how long this building was in use and is now a residential home.The Old Community Center is located .34 miles from NY State Highway 131 and was in use for many years. The block building stood unused for many years but like many other buildings has been converted into a home.
The Massena Center Drive-In was located on the south side of the Grasse River on the opposite side of the hamlet and is now the site of the Massena International Kampground.
The Seaway Motel (formally the Park Inn Mortal) located on the corner of New York State Highway 131 and Massena Center Road was formerly the site of a children's amusement park. The motel burned in January 2005 and has ceased to operate.