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Pictures provided by Robert Holland
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The Town of Arkwright encompasses 36 square miles of hills, gorges, creeks and streams. It began as an agricultural area and remains rural to this day. Early settlers began populating this wilderness around 1800. In 1829 the town was formed from parts of two neighboring towns, Pomfret and Villenova. In 1929 a centennial monument was placed at the site of the first town meeting, Simen Clinton ‘s home. He was instrumental in forming the town and became the first Town Clerk. Settlers came, seeing the possibilities the land provided for farming and that the water provided to power mills.
One of the first industries was cheese making. In 1862, Ashel Burnham built what would become the first cooperative cheese factory in Chautauqua County. It could produce 60 cheese wheels weighing 60 pounds each in a day. Records show that cheese was shipped to New York City and possibly to Europe. There is a historical marker at that site today. When the business was no longer profitable, the building was torn down and the lumber used to build new buildings, one of them being the Grange Hall.
The Arkwright Grange #1249 was formed in 1911 and the Hall was constructed in 1919. The organization allowed their building to be used for Town Board meetings, court cases, and as a voting site. There were also dinners, dances, and club meetings, including a Boy Scout Troop, until 1974. In 1962, State Highway Department plans to reconstruct an intersection included razing the Grange Hall. Rather than lose their building, the Grange bought nearby land and had the building moved across the road to the east. The move was successful and all activities continued until 1974 when the Grange disbanded. Over the years the building has been neglected and it is now in the hands of Chautauqua County Land Bank.
The Town’s seven cemeteries, two maintained by the Town and the others private, serve as the final resting site for veterans going back to the American Revolution. Arkwright was particularly active during the Civil War time period. Many residents signed a petition against adding any new slave states. The Town’s proximity to Lake Erie as well as the courage of some early residents led to Arkwright’s involvement in the underground railroad. Two locations in the town are designated Underground Railroad Stations. Town’s Tavern employed a free black man who transported many runaway slaves to this site where they were housed in the barn until it was safe to move on. The other site was the Huyck family home. Arkwright has always supported the military, contributing thirty-one soldiers to the Civil War, including one free black man. During WWI, the Town sent 17 men, and one Red Cross Army nurse, Maud Rhode. Fifty men from Arkwright served in WWII. During this time many of the residents that were too old or deferred from the military went to work at the steel plants nearby, leaving their wives and children to run the family farms.
In the years 1937 to 1939, the federal government bought about 2,000 acres of Arkwright’s land for conservation and wildlife preservation. The CCC and Job Corps were employed to manage forestation of that land. The title to this land was transferred from the Federal Government to New York State in 1963. Previously the land was used primarily as hunting grounds. Today the land is used for many recreational activities, with maintained trails for hiking, horseback riding, snowmobiling and cross-country skiing. Shelters have been built for hikers to rest and enjoy the great beauty of the area.
As family dairy farming phased out, farmers found new uses for their property, with some changing to beef or crop farming and others choosing to lease to large, out of town farmers, who valued Arkwright farmland. In recent years, some Arkwright land has been developed to provide electrical power. Arkwright hosts 32 wind turbines that provide revenue to the Town, landowners and neighbors. Payments are also made to the three school districts serving the Town. Windfarm funds have allowed Arkwright to make much needed improvements to roadways, buildings and highway equipment. The Town expects to build a new Town Hall in 2026 that can serve as a community center as well as a hub for centralized administration of government services with neighboring towns. Many nearby citizens as well as recreational travelers appreciate snowmobile, hiking, cross country skiing and horseback riding trails all being easily accessible in Arkwright. Small businesses, focused on agriculture, artisan offerings and recreational travel are flourishing. Arkwright hosts two campgrounds, two Airbnb’s, and three cabin rental businesses. Other businesses include a cabinet shop, veterinarian service, garden shop, saw mill, and a facility producing maple products.
The land in Arkwright has always been its greatest asset. Over the years the use of the land has changed but the Town still retains its rural character. People continue to enjoy the beauty of the hills, valleys, and the forests.
Submitted by Ruth Nichols, Town of Arkwright Historian
One of the first industries was cheese making. In 1862, Ashel Burnham built what would become the first cooperative cheese factory in Chautauqua County. It could produce 60 cheese wheels weighing 60 pounds each in a day. Records show that cheese was shipped to New York City and possibly to Europe. There is a historical marker at that site today. When the business was no longer profitable, the building was torn down and the lumber used to build new buildings, one of them being the Grange Hall.
The Arkwright Grange #1249 was formed in 1911 and the Hall was constructed in 1919. The organization allowed their building to be used for Town Board meetings, court cases, and as a voting site. There were also dinners, dances, and club meetings, including a Boy Scout Troop, until 1974. In 1962, State Highway Department plans to reconstruct an intersection included razing the Grange Hall. Rather than lose their building, the Grange bought nearby land and had the building moved across the road to the east. The move was successful and all activities continued until 1974 when the Grange disbanded. Over the years the building has been neglected and it is now in the hands of Chautauqua County Land Bank.
The Town’s seven cemeteries, two maintained by the Town and the others private, serve as the final resting site for veterans going back to the American Revolution. Arkwright was particularly active during the Civil War time period. Many residents signed a petition against adding any new slave states. The Town’s proximity to Lake Erie as well as the courage of some early residents led to Arkwright’s involvement in the underground railroad. Two locations in the town are designated Underground Railroad Stations. Town’s Tavern employed a free black man who transported many runaway slaves to this site where they were housed in the barn until it was safe to move on. The other site was the Huyck family home. Arkwright has always supported the military, contributing thirty-one soldiers to the Civil War, including one free black man. During WWI, the Town sent 17 men, and one Red Cross Army nurse, Maud Rhode. Fifty men from Arkwright served in WWII. During this time many of the residents that were too old or deferred from the military went to work at the steel plants nearby, leaving their wives and children to run the family farms.
In the years 1937 to 1939, the federal government bought about 2,000 acres of Arkwright’s land for conservation and wildlife preservation. The CCC and Job Corps were employed to manage forestation of that land. The title to this land was transferred from the Federal Government to New York State in 1963. Previously the land was used primarily as hunting grounds. Today the land is used for many recreational activities, with maintained trails for hiking, horseback riding, snowmobiling and cross-country skiing. Shelters have been built for hikers to rest and enjoy the great beauty of the area.
As family dairy farming phased out, farmers found new uses for their property, with some changing to beef or crop farming and others choosing to lease to large, out of town farmers, who valued Arkwright farmland. In recent years, some Arkwright land has been developed to provide electrical power. Arkwright hosts 32 wind turbines that provide revenue to the Town, landowners and neighbors. Payments are also made to the three school districts serving the Town. Windfarm funds have allowed Arkwright to make much needed improvements to roadways, buildings and highway equipment. The Town expects to build a new Town Hall in 2026 that can serve as a community center as well as a hub for centralized administration of government services with neighboring towns. Many nearby citizens as well as recreational travelers appreciate snowmobile, hiking, cross country skiing and horseback riding trails all being easily accessible in Arkwright. Small businesses, focused on agriculture, artisan offerings and recreational travel are flourishing. Arkwright hosts two campgrounds, two Airbnb’s, and three cabin rental businesses. Other businesses include a cabinet shop, veterinarian service, garden shop, saw mill, and a facility producing maple products.
The land in Arkwright has always been its greatest asset. Over the years the use of the land has changed but the Town still retains its rural character. People continue to enjoy the beauty of the hills, valleys, and the forests.
Submitted by Ruth Nichols, Town of Arkwright Historian