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Photo: The Boulder of Le Roy

By Howard B. Owens

Driving around Le Roy this afternoon, I came across this interesting bit of local history on Summit Road -- a boulder with a historical plaque set in it in 1930.

The plaque reads: "This boulder marks the southern apex of the Triangle Tract, purchased from the Morris Reserve in 1783 by Herman Le Roy and William Bayard."

C. M. Barons

In addition to the steam shovel (years ago) there was a steam locomotive and coal tender. The bucket of the steam shovel used to rest in the tender. My recollection: the equipment was originally used to excavate the Panama Canal, after-which it was used in the quarry. When I was very young, our family used to purchase ice cream cones at the former Elm Dairy and drive down to the Gulf Road quarry so we-kids could play on the steam engine and shovel- neither were fenced in at the time. ...Lots of levers, valves, gauges and controls to operate (until the vandals arrived on the scene).

Jun 17, 2011, 12:46am Permalink
Doug Yeomans

Morris, who was a signer of the Declaration of Independence, financier of the Revolution and the richest man in the United States, also reserved for himself about 500,000 acres (2,000 km²) in a twelve mile (19 km) wide strip along the east side of the Holland Purchase, from the Pennsylvania border to Lake Ontario, known as The Morris Reserve.

Very interesting! I don't remember any of this being mentioned in history class 35 years ago.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morris_Reserve

Jun 17, 2011, 11:51am Permalink
Gabor Deutsch

Really great links Doug. I figured he went bankrupt due to taxes. I really had to chuckle about debtors prison. Imagine that in America, you go to prison for being in debt.

Jun 17, 2011, 1:19pm Permalink
bud prevost

Gabor said " Imagine that in America, you go to prison for being in debt. "

If this were still the case, every politician in D.C. would be there.

Jun 17, 2011, 3:22pm Permalink
Dave Olsen

I was very surprised to learn that Robert Morris and 1 other man were the only 2 people to sign the Declaration, The Articles and The Constitution. I always just assumed there was a cadre of guys for all 3. (from the wiki page)

Jun 17, 2011, 4:08pm Permalink

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