William G. Andrews Livres

The book explores the historical development of the Brockport area, highlighting its growth from the early 1800s through the impact of the Erie Canal and the Industrial Revolution. It showcases over 230 images, including rare glass negatives, that capture farm life, architecture, industry, and educational activities. The narrative emphasizes Brockport's evolution into a well-preserved Victorian village and the surrounding towns as agricultural and commuting hubs, alongside the establishment of a prominent college within the State University of New York system.

Portraits of Brockport's Past presents essays on nearly ninety topics on the history of "the Victorian Village on the Erie Canal." They include forty-five profiles of notable Brockport families, and individual men and women. Ten of the essays concern the participation in America's wars by Brockporters. Other topics are the economy, entertainment and events, education, the infrastructure, utilities, transportation, services, politics, and organizations and groups. Brought together in one short book, they provide a very comprehensive view of life in one of America's small towns over a period of a century and a half.

During the twentieth century Brockport, NY was transformed from a village whose economy relied heavily on manufacturing to a college town. The Erie Canal that had given the town its birth, growth, and prosperity faded as a means to ship freight, and rose as a recreational area. An educational hub grew out of a "Normal School" with a few hundred two-year students to a four-year comprehensive college and graduate school with 8,600 students. The types of retail businesses in the historic commercial district of Main Street changed dramatically. Streets transformed from dirt to cobblestone to bricks to asphalt. Transportation shifted from trolleys and trains, horses and buggies, to automobiles. Yet, much remained the same. The Victorian homes and commercial structures on Main Street survived a near brush with Urban Renewal. With the canal continuing to be the heart of the village, the college and many schools serve to enrich Brockport's mind. This short book attempts to document the most visible--and vivid--aspects of that transformation.

The narrative highlights Brockport, New York, and its significant contributions during the Civil War, detailing the bravery of local regiments like the Old 13th and their pivotal roles in battles such as Gettysburg. It also explores the community's active involvement on the homefront, emphasizing recruitment efforts and support for soldiers and their families. Historian William G. Andrews captures the essence of courage and resilience in Brockport, illustrating how the war shaped both the soldiers and the town's residents.