The September 7th meeting of the Honeoye Falls – Town of Mendon Historical Society will feature Preston Pierce, Ontario County Historian.
The topic of Preston’s talk will be “‘A Peanut of a Line:’ the Story of the Canandaigua & Niagara Falls Railroad – Later the Batavia Branch of the New York Central Railroad.” The program will provide an overview of the history of the Peanut Line starting with its first construction as the Canandaigua and Niagara Falls Railroad, built to take advantage of the new Roebling suspension bridge at Niagara Falls. Dr. Pierce will carry through the story of the Peanut to its piecemeal demise as sections of it were abandoned between 1939 and 1972 and beyond.
A long-time Social Studies teacher in Victor, NY, Dr. Pierce has been an adjunct professor of history at Finger Lakes Community College since 2005. He has been the Ontario County Historian since 1983. Growing up close to the Peanut Line tracks in Canandaigua, he has personal memories of the last year of the line. Its story has always fascinated him. He has been collecting images and information for many years and has written several articles about the Peanut for local newspapers and newsletters. Dr. Pierce is now finishing a book on the line. He is a member of the Rochester and Genesee Valley Railway Historical Society; the Central New York Railway Historical Society; the New York Central System Railway Historical Society; and the National Railway Historical Society.
The meeting will begin at 7:30 on Thursday, September 7, 2023 at the Mendon Community Center, 167 North Main Street in Honeoye Falls. This facility is handicapped accessible. The meeting is open to the public.
For information, call 624-5655.
The topic of Preston’s talk will be “‘A Peanut of a Line:’ the Story of the Canandaigua & Niagara Falls Railroad – Later the Batavia Branch of the New York Central Railroad.” The program will provide an overview of the history of the Peanut Line starting with its first construction as the Canandaigua and Niagara Falls Railroad, built to take advantage of the new Roebling suspension bridge at Niagara Falls. Dr. Pierce will carry through the story of the Peanut to its piecemeal demise as sections of it were abandoned between 1939 and 1972 and beyond.
A long-time Social Studies teacher in Victor, NY, Dr. Pierce has been an adjunct professor of history at Finger Lakes Community College since 2005. He has been the Ontario County Historian since 1983. Growing up close to the Peanut Line tracks in Canandaigua, he has personal memories of the last year of the line. Its story has always fascinated him. He has been collecting images and information for many years and has written several articles about the Peanut for local newspapers and newsletters. Dr. Pierce is now finishing a book on the line. He is a member of the Rochester and Genesee Valley Railway Historical Society; the Central New York Railway Historical Society; the New York Central System Railway Historical Society; and the National Railway Historical Society.
The meeting will begin at 7:30 on Thursday, September 7, 2023 at the Mendon Community Center, 167 North Main Street in Honeoye Falls. This facility is handicapped accessible. The meeting is open to the public.
For information, call 624-5655.
