Branchport, New York
Encyclopedia
Branchport is a hamlet in the town of Jerusalem
in Yates County
, New York
, United States
. It is a "crossroads community" which contains about 85 dwellings, six stores, two churches, a library and a firehouse.
The name "Branchport" comes from its location at the north end of the west branch of the Y shaped Keuka Lake
. Keuka is one of the Finger Lakes
, a series of long slender lakes located in Western Central New York State.
. The area immediately north of Branchport was first settled around 1791 by followers of Jemima Wilkinson
, a charismatic American evangelist, who called the area "The New Jerusalem".
In 1831, the first store was built at the crossroads, and the community of Branchport (Originally called Esperanza, meaning "hope") grew around this store. In 1867, Branchport became an incorporated
village, but has since dissolved the village government, relinquishing its incorporated status.
Branchport became an important port for steamboats which plied the waters of Keuka Lake carrying both passengers and produce from 1835 to 1922. It was also the western terminus of the Penn Yan
, Keuka Park
and Branchport railway, an 8½ mile electric trolley
which provided passenger and freight car service from 1913 to 1928. The line connected with the Northern Central Railroad at Penn Yan.
In the past, Branchport was the seat of small industry including a basket factory, foundry, spoke factory, planing mill
, and harness shop. As transportation became more available and industry became concentrated in larger towns, Branchport became largely a residential community, but continues to serve an area of summer lake residents and tourists, as well as farmers who are mainly involved in the growing of grapes.
Jerusalem, New York
Jerusalem is a town in Yates County, New York in the United States. The population was 4,525 at the 2000 census. The town is named after the ancient city of Jerusalem in the Middle East....
in Yates County
Yates County, New York
Yates County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 25,348. The county seat is Penn Yan. The name is in honor of Joseph C. Yates, who as Governor of New York signed the act establishing the county....
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is a "crossroads community" which contains about 85 dwellings, six stores, two churches, a library and a firehouse.
The name "Branchport" comes from its location at the north end of the west branch of the Y shaped Keuka Lake
Keuka Lake
Keuka Lake is an unusual member of New York's Finger Lakes because it is Y-shaped, instead of long and narrow. Because of its shape, it was referred to in the past as Crooked Lake...
. Keuka is one of the Finger Lakes
Finger Lakes
The Finger Lakes are a pattern of lakes in the west-central section of Upstate New York in the United States. They are a popular tourist destination. The lakes are long and thin , each oriented roughly on a north-south axis. The two longest, Cayuga Lake and Seneca Lake, are among the deepest in...
, a series of long slender lakes located in Western Central New York State.
History
Branchport lies within the Beddoe Tract of the Phelps and Gorham PurchasePhelps and Gorham Purchase
The Phelps and Gorham Purchase was the purchase in 1788 of the pre-emptive right to some 6,000,000 acres of land in western New York State for $1,000,000 . This was all land in western New York west of Seneca Lake between Lake Ontario and the Pennsylvania border...
. The area immediately north of Branchport was first settled around 1791 by followers of Jemima Wilkinson
Jemima Wilkinson
Jemima Wilkinson was a charismatic American evangelist who preached total sexual abstinence and the Ten Commandments to her congregation of "Universal Friends." Her family were strict Quakers, most of her views were from her upbringing in the Quaker religion.As a young woman, she was plagued by a...
, a charismatic American evangelist, who called the area "The New Jerusalem".
In 1831, the first store was built at the crossroads, and the community of Branchport (Originally called Esperanza, meaning "hope") grew around this store. In 1867, Branchport became an incorporated
Municipal corporation
A municipal corporation is the legal term for a local governing body, including cities, counties, towns, townships, charter townships, villages, and boroughs. Municipal incorporation occurs when such municipalities become self-governing entities under the laws of the state or province in which...
village, but has since dissolved the village government, relinquishing its incorporated status.
Branchport became an important port for steamboats which plied the waters of Keuka Lake carrying both passengers and produce from 1835 to 1922. It was also the western terminus of the Penn Yan
Penn Yan, New York
Penn Yan is a village in Yates County, New York, USA. The population was 5,219 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Yates County and lies at the north end of the east branch of Keuka Lake, one of the Finger Lakes....
, Keuka Park
Keuka Park
Keuka Park is a hamlet in Yates County, New York, United States. The hamlet is on the shore of the east branch of Keuka Lake in the Finger Lakes region.Keuka College is located in Keuka Park next to the lake.- References :...
and Branchport railway, an 8½ mile electric trolley
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
which provided passenger and freight car service from 1913 to 1928. The line connected with the Northern Central Railroad at Penn Yan.
In the past, Branchport was the seat of small industry including a basket factory, foundry, spoke factory, planing mill
Planing mill
A planing mill is a facility that takes cut and seasoned boards from a sawmill and turns them into finished dimensional lumber. Machines used in the mill include the planer and matcher, the molding machines, and varieties of saws...
, and harness shop. As transportation became more available and industry became concentrated in larger towns, Branchport became largely a residential community, but continues to serve an area of summer lake residents and tourists, as well as farmers who are mainly involved in the growing of grapes.
Area points of interest
- Camp Good Days and Special Times — at the Southern edge of Branchport. A summer camp dedicated to serving children, adults and families who are touched by cancer or other life challenges.
- Keuka CollegeKeuka CollegeFounded in 1890 and located on the shores of Keuka Lake in New York State’s Finger Lakes region, Keuka College is an independent, four-year, residential, coeducational college that places emphasis on career and pre-professional education....
— three miles east of Branchport. An independent, four-year, residential, coeducational college. - Keuka Lake State ParkKeuka Lake State ParkKeuka Lake State Park is a state park located on the north end of the west branch of Keuka Lake in Yates County, New York. Keuka Lake is one of the Finger Lakes...
— one mile east of Branchport. A full feature park, offering swimming, picnic tables with pavilions, a playground, hiking, hunting and fishing, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling, a boat launch and a campground with tent and trailer sites. - The Keuka Lake Winery Tour — a self conducted tour of Keuka Lake area wineries goes through Branchport. Hunt Country VineyardsHunt Country VineyardsHunt Country Vineyards is a vineyard and winery located near Keuka Lake in the Finger Lakes region of New York State, USA.-History:Hunt Country Vineyards was founded in 1981 by Arthur C. Hunt and Joyce H. Hunt...
is a stop along the tour. - Stone Schoolhouse — built in 1868 as a two room school for the Branchport area. It now houses the offices of the town of Jerusalem and contains historical displays and records which are open to the public.
- Verdi Burtch Bird Refuge — at the Eastern edge of Branchport along Sugar Creek. A marshland with an observation platform overlooking the marsh and Keuka Lake. Also available is a public fishing area and a boat launch.