Around the area. Bits of history from nearby

Yesterday My wife and I had some free time, and we stopped off with some friends at a quaint little cafe in the nearby town of Montour Falls. Montour used to be known as Havana, and it sprang up on the banks of the Chemung Canal that was opened in 1833 to connect Seneca Lake with the Chemung river (more on that later). The building that the cafe is in is called  the Montour House, and was built by Charles Cook, pretty much the father of Schuyler County, as a hostelry for travellers along the canal. It also housed his bank, and his personal residence for a time. It took 4 years to build at a cost of $30,000! it was comlpeted in 1854.  Follow the link in the text for a great article about the house.
The cafe is very nice, as is the owner who accommodated us  warmly with local cheese, salsa, snacks and tasty coffee and tea. not to mention the grand view of Chequaga Falls  from outside the front door. Thanks to the photographer who posted that nice pic of the falls on flikr I was able to use.