Brockport in the Age of Modernization 1866-1916

by William Andrews

Overview

Explores how one American village rapidly transformed between 1866 and 1916 through advancements in technology, infrastructure, and public services.

Brockport in the Age of Modernization is a case study of the transformation of an American village between 1866, the first year after the Civil War, and 1916, the last year before American entry in World War I.
Fifteen activities are studied to show the process through which that transformation took place. They include the arrival of bicycles, automobiles, electricity, telephones, higher education, a consolidated school, concrete sidewalks, hard-surfaced streets, a municipal sewer system, municipal water, the rebuilt Erie Canal, home mail delivery, a fire department, and an intercity trolley.
Some came about easily, but others required long, difficult struggles. In no other period was the village so significantly transformed. Many other small towns in America likely underwent much the same process during that period.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781634990547
Publisher:	Fonthill Media
Publication date:	07/30/2018
Series:	America Through Time
Pages:	160
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.10(h) x (d)

About the Author

William Andrews received a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering degree from the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC). He subsequently completed a master’s degree and doctorate in nuclear engineering, also at RMC. After graduation, he served in the Canadian Army in the armor and the Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Branches. His regimental duty included tours with the 12ème Régiment Blindé du Canada, the Royal Canadian Dragoons and the 8th Canadian Hussars and at the armor School. After completion of his doctorate, he retired from the army and joined the faculty of RMC, where he taught chemical engineering and military science topics at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The military science courses included ammunition and weapon design and ballistics. He is now fully retired and is a Professor Emeritus of RMC.

Table of Contents

Preface 5

List of Abbreviations 6

1 1865 Brockport 9

Introduction 9

Physical Appearance 10

Who They Were 15

Government and Politics 20

Economy 28

Social Institutions 31

Cultural Life 33

Amusements 35

Fires 38

Accidents 38

Crime 39

2 Leaders 41

Dayton S. Morgan 41

The Gordons 42

William H. Seymour 44

Henry Seymour 45

Wilson Moore 46

George Barnett 47

Huntley and Johnston 48

Horatio N. Beach 49

Merritt and Milo Cleveland 50

Thomas Cornes 51

3 Infrastructure 53

Municipal Water 53

Municipal Sewers 57

Modernized Streets 60

Cement Sidewalks 65

4 Utilities 69

Telephones 69

Electricity 70

Home Delivery of Mail 71

5 Transportation 73

A Modern Canal 73

Bicycles 79

Automobiles 81

Trolley 86

6 Institutions 91

State Normal School 91

Union Elementary School 95

Elections 99

Fire Department 103

7 Conclusion 105

Endnotes 107

Bibliography 112