Picnics once popular on Tonawanda Island, Clarence O. Lewis (Lockport Union-Sun and Journal, 1965-03-24).jpg
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Title
Picnics once popular on Tonawanda Island, Clarence O. Lewis (Lockport Union-Sun and Journal, 1965-03-24).jpg
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LOCKPORT, N. Y., UNION-SUN & JOURNAL, Wednesday, March 24, 1965
Picnics Once Popular On Tonawanda Island
By CLARENCE O. LEWIS
Niagara County Historian
In last week’s article we related in part the early and rather interesting story of Tonawanda Island. It was called White’s Island at that time. After Mr. White’s death around 1841 the title to the island seems to have reverted to the original owner, Samuel Leggate.
In the Sept. 29, 1841 issue of the Lockport Democrat and Balance the Island was offered for sale or lease by Mr. Leggate. During the period between 1841 and 1859 the island or parts of it changed owners frequently. David F. Bacon, Charles Bartlett and George Robinson were separate owners during that period. Just what year it became a picnic resort is not apparent in our records. For a number of years between 1841 and 1859 the White mansion was said to have been haunted.
By 1859 it was a popular picnic resort. On August 18, 1859 the Second Ward Presbyterian Church of Lockport held its annual picnic on White’s Island. The newspaper account of that picnic is interesting. It reads as follows:
“Mr. Editor, Dear Sir: Permit me to make a few statements re Pic-Nic of the Second Ward Presbyterian Church which took place at White’s Island last Tuesday.
Excursionists assembled at church ½ past 7 o’clock a.m. marched to the boats, headed by Papworth’s Brass Band about 8 o’clock. The boats engaged for the occasion were Capt. Crosby’s packet boat “Express” and the line boat W. H. Priest, towed by the steam tug “Jenney - Bell” of Tonawanda. They left the dock here soon after 8 o’clock but by the time they got above the locks and fairly started it was after 9 a.m.
“On their first starting they glided over the water at a lively rate — the band playing a beautiful air, and all appearing to be as “merry as a marriage bell.”
They had not proceeded but a few miles, however, before a sudden jolting was observed in the tug, and the slackening of their speed. Upon inquiry it was ascertained that she had struck a sunken log and broke one of her paddles, thus rendering it impossible for her to make the trip as quick as she would have done.
In this condition she proceeded to the island, not arriving there until after 2 o’clock. During this tedious journey the passengers were engaged in various pastimes — the band occasionally playing; the school children singing, and the “young couples” passing jokes upon each other &c. (the married ones having a hand in — as is generally the case upon such occasions.)
“As they passed through Tonawanda the streets were thronged with spectators heartily welcoming them to their beautiful village and island: Soon after arriving at the island, a sumptuous dinner was prepared by the young ladies on committee and the party partook of all the luxuries it afforded, appearing to be highly satisfied at the abundance of almost everything which is not generally the case on such occasions as this — after which they dispersed to different parts of the grove, enjoying themselves with amusements of various descriptions until between 6 and 7 o’clock when the small steamer “Defiance” came and towed them to Tonawanda, where they were delayed some time waiting for a team to tow the packet to Lockport, the steamer not having sufficient capacity to tow more than one boat.
As the last boat left Tonawanda, the band struck up Home Sweet Home which was highly appreciated by all those on board notwithstanding they had a pleasant time. They came to Lockport slower than when they went up not reaching here until 1 o’clock Wednesday morning. They were not however all asleep coming down, for “cupid” was busily engaged in sending arrows of love in every direction, some of them taking effect as I should judge by appearances.
Thus ended one of the best, and I believe the largest, Pic-Nics that ever left here; there being between five and six hundred present.”
THE SAME COLUMN has another item which reads:
“On Monday last an excursion was had to White’s Island opposite Tonawanda under auspices of the members of St. John’s Church of this village.
“The two boats were loaded to capacity — 400 souls — were towed up by Capt. Hensler’s Steam Tug “Jennie Bell” in about 3 hours and returned in the same time.
All the visitors to White’s Island speak in terms of praise of the arrangements there for reception of visitors. Mr. Edwards, the lessee, has fitted up the house and island to accommodate pleasure parties and has boats, fishing tackle, swings, etc.,....”
In 1860 the Universalist Church of Lockport held its picnic. Two boats were filled. Other Lockport churches also journeyed via canal to White’s Island for their annual picnics.
About 1890 the Tonawanda & Wheatfield Electric Co. occupied part of the island. The Indian mound was leveled off some years prior to 1890. Before our next article we hope to learn more about Tonawanda Island.
Returning to the mainland we find that the first mention of the name Tonawanda instead of the “Village of Niagara” was Nov. 29, 1825 when Palmer Cleveland was appointed Postmaster of “Tonawanda.”
In 1840 two companies of militia were organized there, one of artillery and one of infantry. There was a movement started to have a military camp on White Island. We have found no record that this project was consummated.
THE VILLAGE OF TONAWANDA was incorporated Dec. 29, 1853. It had three wards, two on the Erie County side of the creek and one on the Niagara County side. Soon after jealousy was aroused between the two divisions of Tonawanda regarding village expenditures for improvements. This was especially true on highway expenditures. Finally the friction culminated in 1857 when a load of gravel supposedly intended for the north side was spread on a street in the Erie County side. This precipitated the withdrawal of North Tonawanda by authority of the State Legislature. In 1865 it became a duly incorporated village.
In the early 1820’s when the canal construction between Buffalo and the Tonawanda Creek was about completed a dam 4½ feet high was built in the creek between the river and the junction of the canal from Buffalo. Being just west of the mouth of Ellicott Creek this raised the level of the two creeks to nearly the same level as Lake Erie. A lock was built into the dam so that log rafts or boats could pass from the creek into the river or vice versa.
It is worth noting that Stephen Jacobs, a veteran of the Battle of Bunker Hill and a settler on eight dollar an acre land in 1817 on the North Tonawanda site, supplied the lumber for this dam and lock. When completed it served every purpose for which it was designed but it had serious consequences during spring thaws or prolonged heavy rains.
Floods became a yearly occurrence not only in the two communities but for miles up both creeks. To remedy this situation a “State Ditch” was dug from Tonawanda Creek to Mill Creek and by way of that creek the flood waters reached the river near Seymour Street. This state ditch was entirely inadequate to take care of flood waters of both creeks and nearly every spring low parts of both the Tonawandas were flooded as were farm lands on both creeks. Some years the state paid more than $100,000 in damages.
MORE DITCHES were dug along the creek in the Town of Pendleton to draw off flood waters but the problem was not solved until the dam was removed when the Erie Canal was converted into the Barge Canal in 1908-1918 period. After that the greater part of the canal to Buffalo was abandoned and a 12-foot channel in the Niagara River to Buffalo was dredged.
James Sweeney, one of the original proprietors of the “Village of Niagara,” later North Tonawanda, deserves special mention here. He purchased a large acreage and began at once to cut the trees. Lumber from these trees was used in building a pier in Buffalo. Wildcats and wolves were still to be found in the forest and a bounty was paid by the then Town of Niagara for scalps of either animal. Mr. Sweeney built the first frame house in North Tonawanda in 1828. He donated the land on which in 1837 was built the first church and the first schoolhouse.
In closing I should like to correct an error in my article of March 5. A block house on the river near the mouth of Tonawanda Creek was built by our War Department in 1812 instead of by the English in 1764 as I stated. This 1812 blockhouse was garrisoned by 16 soldiers. In December 1813 it was burned by the English.
Picnics Once Popular On Tonawanda Island
By CLARENCE O. LEWIS
Niagara County Historian
In last week’s article we related in part the early and rather interesting story of Tonawanda Island. It was called White’s Island at that time. After Mr. White’s death around 1841 the title to the island seems to have reverted to the original owner, Samuel Leggate.
In the Sept. 29, 1841 issue of the Lockport Democrat and Balance the Island was offered for sale or lease by Mr. Leggate. During the period between 1841 and 1859 the island or parts of it changed owners frequently. David F. Bacon, Charles Bartlett and George Robinson were separate owners during that period. Just what year it became a picnic resort is not apparent in our records. For a number of years between 1841 and 1859 the White mansion was said to have been haunted.
By 1859 it was a popular picnic resort. On August 18, 1859 the Second Ward Presbyterian Church of Lockport held its annual picnic on White’s Island. The newspaper account of that picnic is interesting. It reads as follows:
“Mr. Editor, Dear Sir: Permit me to make a few statements re Pic-Nic of the Second Ward Presbyterian Church which took place at White’s Island last Tuesday.
Excursionists assembled at church ½ past 7 o’clock a.m. marched to the boats, headed by Papworth’s Brass Band about 8 o’clock. The boats engaged for the occasion were Capt. Crosby’s packet boat “Express” and the line boat W. H. Priest, towed by the steam tug “Jenney - Bell” of Tonawanda. They left the dock here soon after 8 o’clock but by the time they got above the locks and fairly started it was after 9 a.m.
“On their first starting they glided over the water at a lively rate — the band playing a beautiful air, and all appearing to be as “merry as a marriage bell.”
They had not proceeded but a few miles, however, before a sudden jolting was observed in the tug, and the slackening of their speed. Upon inquiry it was ascertained that she had struck a sunken log and broke one of her paddles, thus rendering it impossible for her to make the trip as quick as she would have done.
In this condition she proceeded to the island, not arriving there until after 2 o’clock. During this tedious journey the passengers were engaged in various pastimes — the band occasionally playing; the school children singing, and the “young couples” passing jokes upon each other &c. (the married ones having a hand in — as is generally the case upon such occasions.)
“As they passed through Tonawanda the streets were thronged with spectators heartily welcoming them to their beautiful village and island: Soon after arriving at the island, a sumptuous dinner was prepared by the young ladies on committee and the party partook of all the luxuries it afforded, appearing to be highly satisfied at the abundance of almost everything which is not generally the case on such occasions as this — after which they dispersed to different parts of the grove, enjoying themselves with amusements of various descriptions until between 6 and 7 o’clock when the small steamer “Defiance” came and towed them to Tonawanda, where they were delayed some time waiting for a team to tow the packet to Lockport, the steamer not having sufficient capacity to tow more than one boat.
As the last boat left Tonawanda, the band struck up Home Sweet Home which was highly appreciated by all those on board notwithstanding they had a pleasant time. They came to Lockport slower than when they went up not reaching here until 1 o’clock Wednesday morning. They were not however all asleep coming down, for “cupid” was busily engaged in sending arrows of love in every direction, some of them taking effect as I should judge by appearances.
Thus ended one of the best, and I believe the largest, Pic-Nics that ever left here; there being between five and six hundred present.”
THE SAME COLUMN has another item which reads:
“On Monday last an excursion was had to White’s Island opposite Tonawanda under auspices of the members of St. John’s Church of this village.
“The two boats were loaded to capacity — 400 souls — were towed up by Capt. Hensler’s Steam Tug “Jennie Bell” in about 3 hours and returned in the same time.
All the visitors to White’s Island speak in terms of praise of the arrangements there for reception of visitors. Mr. Edwards, the lessee, has fitted up the house and island to accommodate pleasure parties and has boats, fishing tackle, swings, etc.,....”
In 1860 the Universalist Church of Lockport held its picnic. Two boats were filled. Other Lockport churches also journeyed via canal to White’s Island for their annual picnics.
About 1890 the Tonawanda & Wheatfield Electric Co. occupied part of the island. The Indian mound was leveled off some years prior to 1890. Before our next article we hope to learn more about Tonawanda Island.
Returning to the mainland we find that the first mention of the name Tonawanda instead of the “Village of Niagara” was Nov. 29, 1825 when Palmer Cleveland was appointed Postmaster of “Tonawanda.”
In 1840 two companies of militia were organized there, one of artillery and one of infantry. There was a movement started to have a military camp on White Island. We have found no record that this project was consummated.
THE VILLAGE OF TONAWANDA was incorporated Dec. 29, 1853. It had three wards, two on the Erie County side of the creek and one on the Niagara County side. Soon after jealousy was aroused between the two divisions of Tonawanda regarding village expenditures for improvements. This was especially true on highway expenditures. Finally the friction culminated in 1857 when a load of gravel supposedly intended for the north side was spread on a street in the Erie County side. This precipitated the withdrawal of North Tonawanda by authority of the State Legislature. In 1865 it became a duly incorporated village.
In the early 1820’s when the canal construction between Buffalo and the Tonawanda Creek was about completed a dam 4½ feet high was built in the creek between the river and the junction of the canal from Buffalo. Being just west of the mouth of Ellicott Creek this raised the level of the two creeks to nearly the same level as Lake Erie. A lock was built into the dam so that log rafts or boats could pass from the creek into the river or vice versa.
It is worth noting that Stephen Jacobs, a veteran of the Battle of Bunker Hill and a settler on eight dollar an acre land in 1817 on the North Tonawanda site, supplied the lumber for this dam and lock. When completed it served every purpose for which it was designed but it had serious consequences during spring thaws or prolonged heavy rains.
Floods became a yearly occurrence not only in the two communities but for miles up both creeks. To remedy this situation a “State Ditch” was dug from Tonawanda Creek to Mill Creek and by way of that creek the flood waters reached the river near Seymour Street. This state ditch was entirely inadequate to take care of flood waters of both creeks and nearly every spring low parts of both the Tonawandas were flooded as were farm lands on both creeks. Some years the state paid more than $100,000 in damages.
MORE DITCHES were dug along the creek in the Town of Pendleton to draw off flood waters but the problem was not solved until the dam was removed when the Erie Canal was converted into the Barge Canal in 1908-1918 period. After that the greater part of the canal to Buffalo was abandoned and a 12-foot channel in the Niagara River to Buffalo was dredged.
James Sweeney, one of the original proprietors of the “Village of Niagara,” later North Tonawanda, deserves special mention here. He purchased a large acreage and began at once to cut the trees. Lumber from these trees was used in building a pier in Buffalo. Wildcats and wolves were still to be found in the forest and a bounty was paid by the then Town of Niagara for scalps of either animal. Mr. Sweeney built the first frame house in North Tonawanda in 1828. He donated the land on which in 1837 was built the first church and the first schoolhouse.
In closing I should like to correct an error in my article of March 5. A block house on the river near the mouth of Tonawanda Creek was built by our War Department in 1812 instead of by the English in 1764 as I stated. This 1812 blockhouse was garrisoned by 16 soldiers. In December 1813 it was burned by the English.
Date
1965-03-24
Collection
Citation
“Picnics once popular on Tonawanda Island, Clarence O. Lewis (Lockport Union-Sun and Journal, 1965-03-24).jpg,” North Tonawanda History, accessed July 11, 2026, https://nthistory.com/items/show/4940.