The Town of Gerry was formed on June 1, 1812. The Town of Gerry consisted of the present towns of Cherry Creek, Charlotte, and Ellington. Ellington including Cherry Creek, was removed from Gerry in 1824. Charlotte was separated from Gerry in 1829.
Major Samuel Sinclair was chosen as Gerry's first Supervisor in 1813.
The Town of Gerry was named after Elbridge Gerry who was elected Vice President of the United States in 1812 and was a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Gerry went through many name changes starting with Vermont Settlement (1815) Vermont (1818), Bucklin's Corners (1820), Summerville and Gerry (1812).
Amos Atkins, a surveyor, came from Vermont in 1809 and selected two lots in Gerry, one for himself and the other for his brother-in-aw, Stephen Jones. In 1810, Jones journeyed from Vermont to Gerry by ox cart. After some difficulties he arrived in Lot 47, the land selected for him by Atkins. This is now the location of the intersection of Old Chautauqua Road and Route 60. He built a log house, the first habitation in the town. The same year Atkins built a log house a few roads from Jones.
In 1813 the first town meeting in Gerry was held at the house of Major Samuel Sinclair.
In 1814 the Common School System of New York went into effect when money was made available to pay teachers. They were paid small amounts of cash and were often paid with corn and other produce. Not much is known about the first schoolhouse except that it was a log building built on the same site that the Gerry Elementary School was located on Gerry Levant Road.
The first settlement upon the site of the village of Vermont (later Gerry) was made by James Bucklin in 1917. In 1820 he opened a tavern here and the settlement was know as Bucklin's Corners. Most of the pioneers came principally from Vermont.
In 1821, Caleb Matthews settle on Lot 28 - this was the first house in Gerry. he was an early potter in the county. In 1822 he commenced manufacturing stoneware on his farm. This home is still standing and is located on Gerry Ellington Road.
Stagecoaches were first run through the town in 1827 by Obed Edson and Reuben Scott. At Walkup Hill (later Kimball Stand) it was necessary for the passengers on the stage to disembark and trudge up the hill behind the coach and then climb aboard again and ride into Jamestown.
On May 2, 1826 the first post office was established, call Vermont the Dexter Hatch as Postmaster. The location was called "Sears Hill" on Gerry Ellington Road about .08 of miles from the four corners. The Hatches lived in this area at that time. In 1828 the Post Office was located in the Blodgett's General Store with Howard Blodgett as Postmaster. In 1876 the Post Office name was officially named Gerry.
In 1829 there was a Methodist Church, a school, the Heminger Cemetery, and several log houses at the "Huddle". This was located at the intersection of Route 60 and Terry Road.
In 1832 James Bucklin's Tavern was located on the four corners in Gerry, the Miller Halfway House on Route 380, the Cutting Stand on Route 60, and the Love Stand were flourishing hostelries in Gerry and were stage coach stops.
In 1838-39 a flurry of manufacturing developed in the northern portion of the town and three factories were built for the production of wooden pails and wooden bowls and veneering. Gerry was called the "New Pittsburgh" for a number of years. Most of the enterprises were met with failure with the exception of the veneer business which grew from this small beginning to one of great importance.
In 1838 Sidney Palmer bought the hall and house built by Roland Cobb on the Northwest "corner" at Gerry. The building contained a meat market, shoe repair, general store, post office, and large hall on the second floor where dances and meetings were held. This is located where Julie's Style Station is. That building was destroyed by fire in 1918. The Palmer House still stands on this corner, home of the Scott Brown Legal Office.
In 1852 the Plank road was built from Fredonia to Kimball Stand. This was very active and part of the economy and development of the area. Four passenger trains ran daily. For a time, Gerry students took the train to Falconer High School courses. This Gerry Depot was built in 1870.
The Town of Gerry was named after Elbridge Gerry who was elected Vice President of the United States in 1812 and was a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Gerry went through many name changes starting with Vermont Settlement (1815) Vermont (1818), Bucklin's Corners (1820), Summerville and Gerry (1812).
Amos Atkins, a surveyor, came from Vermont in 1809 and selected two lots in Gerry, one for himself and the other for his brother-in-aw, Stephen Jones. In 1810, Jones journeyed from Vermont to Gerry by ox cart. After some difficulties he arrived in Lot 47, the land selected for him by Atkins. This is now the location of the intersection of Old Chautauqua Road and Route 60. He built a log house, the first habitation in the town. The same year Atkins built a log house a few roads from Jones.
In 1813 the first town meeting in Gerry was held at the house of Major Samuel Sinclair.
In 1814 the Common School System of New York went into effect when money was made available to pay teachers. They were paid small amounts of cash and were often paid with corn and other produce. Not much is known about the first schoolhouse except that it was a log building built on the same site that the Gerry Elementary School was located on Gerry Levant Road.
The first settlement upon the site of the village of Vermont (later Gerry) was made by James Bucklin in 1917. In 1820 he opened a tavern here and the settlement was know as Bucklin's Corners. Most of the pioneers came principally from Vermont.
In 1821, Caleb Matthews settle on Lot 28 - this was the first house in Gerry. he was an early potter in the county. In 1822 he commenced manufacturing stoneware on his farm. This home is still standing and is located on Gerry Ellington Road.
Stagecoaches were first run through the town in 1827 by Obed Edson and Reuben Scott. At Walkup Hill (later Kimball Stand) it was necessary for the passengers on the stage to disembark and trudge up the hill behind the coach and then climb aboard again and ride into Jamestown.
On May 2, 1826 the first post office was established, call Vermont the Dexter Hatch as Postmaster. The location was called "Sears Hill" on Gerry Ellington Road about .08 of miles from the four corners. The Hatches lived in this area at that time. In 1828 the Post Office was located in the Blodgett's General Store with Howard Blodgett as Postmaster. In 1876 the Post Office name was officially named Gerry.
In 1829 there was a Methodist Church, a school, the Heminger Cemetery, and several log houses at the "Huddle". This was located at the intersection of Route 60 and Terry Road.
In 1832 James Bucklin's Tavern was located on the four corners in Gerry, the Miller Halfway House on Route 380, the Cutting Stand on Route 60, and the Love Stand were flourishing hostelries in Gerry and were stage coach stops.
In 1838-39 a flurry of manufacturing developed in the northern portion of the town and three factories were built for the production of wooden pails and wooden bowls and veneering. Gerry was called the "New Pittsburgh" for a number of years. Most of the enterprises were met with failure with the exception of the veneer business which grew from this small beginning to one of great importance.
In 1838 Sidney Palmer bought the hall and house built by Roland Cobb on the Northwest "corner" at Gerry. The building contained a meat market, shoe repair, general store, post office, and large hall on the second floor where dances and meetings were held. This is located where Julie's Style Station is. That building was destroyed by fire in 1918. The Palmer House still stands on this corner, home of the Scott Brown Legal Office.
In 1852 the Plank road was built from Fredonia to Kimball Stand. This was very active and part of the economy and development of the area. Four passenger trains ran daily. For a time, Gerry students took the train to Falconer High School courses. This Gerry Depot was built in 1870.
In 1872 the Town contained eight school districts employing eight teachers.
In February of 1876 the Gerry Grange 412 was organized by E.L. McCullough with a total membership of 164. The first meetings were held in Palmer's Hall. On February 1, 1912 it was voted to build a hall costing $2500. This Hall was used for many community affairs. On December 13, 1972 the Grange was turned over to the Gerry Town Board to be used as our Town Hall.
In 1881 the Gerry Cash Store was built to JK Wilson on the four corners of Gerry (which is presently an apartment building).
In 1884 the Gerry Seminary was founded. The land was donated by Gerry citizens. The building was built by and owned by R. Walter Sellew. For four years the building was used as a seminary. In 1888 Walter Sellew offered to donate the property to the Free Methodist Church to be used as a home for the aged and children. The first children were received in June 1889. In 1899 a new building was erected to be used to house the elderly and the original building was housing children. There was also a school building built for the children. In 1965 the Children's Home was closed. A total of 1,848 children were cared for in the children's home. The institution is now call Heritage Village, which is home for many senior citizens. There are no original structures standing.
The largest and most productive veneer mill around was owned by John Strong of Gerry. He and his son Burdette opened their first mill, which was located on the north side of Mill Street, which is now Strong Street. The machinery was driven by horsepower, with Burdette riding the horse, which furnished the horsepower. A veneer cutting machine was invented by Riley Greenleaf who was a genius in mechanics and put in successful operation. This was the first machine for cutting of veneers in a continuous sheet from the surface of a slowly revolving log. These machines are now universally used wherever this business is carried on.
In 1893 this mill was destroyed by fire. The mill was rebuilt immediately even though it was underinsured. The new mill was three stories high. The new mill was located at the foot of Strong Street on the west side of the railroad tracks. The mill has its own switching station on the railroad. TD Copp was the first salesman to sell veneer made in Gerry to London England. The company was a leading producer of veneer in the United States for years. The second mill remained in operation until February 16, 1918 when it burned. Many believe the cause to be arson by a German spy who had ridden the freight car and was seen around the mill after the employees left. Today, partial crumbling cement outline of the building can be seen. The mill did rebuild in Portville, NY.
In February of 1876 the Gerry Grange 412 was organized by E.L. McCullough with a total membership of 164. The first meetings were held in Palmer's Hall. On February 1, 1912 it was voted to build a hall costing $2500. This Hall was used for many community affairs. On December 13, 1972 the Grange was turned over to the Gerry Town Board to be used as our Town Hall.
In 1881 the Gerry Cash Store was built to JK Wilson on the four corners of Gerry (which is presently an apartment building).
In 1884 the Gerry Seminary was founded. The land was donated by Gerry citizens. The building was built by and owned by R. Walter Sellew. For four years the building was used as a seminary. In 1888 Walter Sellew offered to donate the property to the Free Methodist Church to be used as a home for the aged and children. The first children were received in June 1889. In 1899 a new building was erected to be used to house the elderly and the original building was housing children. There was also a school building built for the children. In 1965 the Children's Home was closed. A total of 1,848 children were cared for in the children's home. The institution is now call Heritage Village, which is home for many senior citizens. There are no original structures standing.
The largest and most productive veneer mill around was owned by John Strong of Gerry. He and his son Burdette opened their first mill, which was located on the north side of Mill Street, which is now Strong Street. The machinery was driven by horsepower, with Burdette riding the horse, which furnished the horsepower. A veneer cutting machine was invented by Riley Greenleaf who was a genius in mechanics and put in successful operation. This was the first machine for cutting of veneers in a continuous sheet from the surface of a slowly revolving log. These machines are now universally used wherever this business is carried on.
In 1893 this mill was destroyed by fire. The mill was rebuilt immediately even though it was underinsured. The new mill was three stories high. The new mill was located at the foot of Strong Street on the west side of the railroad tracks. The mill has its own switching station on the railroad. TD Copp was the first salesman to sell veneer made in Gerry to London England. The company was a leading producer of veneer in the United States for years. The second mill remained in operation until February 16, 1918 when it burned. Many believe the cause to be arson by a German spy who had ridden the freight car and was seen around the mill after the employees left. Today, partial crumbling cement outline of the building can be seen. The mill did rebuild in Portville, NY.
Gerry has had a few churches with two remaining today. The Gerry United Methodist Church was founded by Rev. James Covall in Bucklin's corners April 15, 1840. The first preacher was Rev. Joseph Parkyn and Rev. Elias Wheat, assistant. They held services in the Free Church until 1867 when the church building was demolished and a new building was erected on this site. This church was built as a community church. During the course of the next few years, different dominations merged then in 1968 the Methodist denomination merged with the United Brethren denomination and was given the name of the United Methodist Church. This church is located in the corner of Route 60 and Church Street.
A minister by the name of John Harmon held services in private homes and the school house on Gerry Hill. Some of the people that attended there moved to the village and in 1880 a society was organized consisting of five members. In 1882 John Harmond was appointed pastor at Gerry. The Society held meeting in the community church and in Palmers Hall until a church was built in 1882 on a lot donated by Newell J. Wilson on Church Street. Mr. Wilson also donated the bell, which came from Baltimore. This church has been remodeled and has had additions, but it sill is located on Church Street.
A minister by the name of John Harmon held services in private homes and the school house on Gerry Hill. Some of the people that attended there moved to the village and in 1880 a society was organized consisting of five members. In 1882 John Harmond was appointed pastor at Gerry. The Society held meeting in the community church and in Palmers Hall until a church was built in 1882 on a lot donated by Newell J. Wilson on Church Street. Mr. Wilson also donated the bell, which came from Baltimore. This church has been remodeled and has had additions, but it sill is located on Church Street.