A Brief History of the Jordan-Elbridge Area Submitted by John G. Horner, Town Historian

The Town of Elbridge was first settled in 1793 by English American settlers Josiah Buck and Captain William Stevens.  Buck originally surveyed the land for the State of New York in 1791.  Stevens was a soldier in the Revolutionary War.

Many areas of what is now the Town of Elbridge had long been occupied by Native Americans.  In 1793 a large settlement still existed on the Seneca River near what is now Jack’s Reef.   Interestingly, legend has it that the shores of Cross Lake, in the northern part of the town, were home to the great Chief Hiawatha.   

Early settlement was made possible because Buck and Stevens were able to follow a trail which had been used by the Native Americans for centuries.  The trail is now New York State Route 5.  In addition, the Skaneateles Creek, which flows north from Skaneateles Lake, provided an excellent source of waterpower, which in turn allowed the creation of mills and further settlement in the area.  Gristmills and sawmills came first, along with a tavern.  Later stores and doctors arrived.  In 1800-1801 the first church and school were established.

The Town of Elbridge was created on March 26, 1829.   37 lots from the Town of Camillus were added to the Town of Elbridge. 

The Town of Elbridge was named after the famous American Elbridge Gerry.  Elbridge Gerry took part in the Boston Tea Party with Captain Stevens.  He signed the Declaration of Independence.  And, he served as Vice-President of the United States from 1813 to 1814.  He died in office on the way to the Senate in 1814.  The Elbridge Post Office was formed in 1810 with the name Elbridge.

The Town of Elbridge has two villages—the Village of Elbridge and the Village of Jordan.  The Village of Elbridge was incorporated April 1, 1848.  The Village of Jordan was incorporated on May 2, 1835. 

The geographic makeup of the town gave rise to the formation of the two villages.  There is a large ridge that runs east-west through the center of the town.  The Village of Jordan is on the north side of the ridge and the Village of Elbridge is on the south side of the ridge.  The Skaneateles Creek flows north through the ridge and the two villages to Cross Lake and the Seneca River. 

The famous Erie Canal went through the Village of Jordan starting in 1825.  Immediately the village began to grow and prosper.  Later, the main line of the railroad that traversed New York State was built in Jordan.  Jordan soon became the center of trade and manufacturing in the town, outgrowing the Village of Elbridge.  Today Jordan remains the larger of the two villages.  Walls of the Erie Canal and the aqueduct bridge where the Skaneateles Creek intersected the canal still stand in a park-like setting in Jordan as a testimony to the historical importance of the Erie Canal to New York State and the country.

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