Barker
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Town Of Somerset
The town of Somerset was founded by Jacob and Elizabeth Fitts, who arrived here in 1810. They left Mansfield, New Jersey and settled in the wilderness near Lake Ontario about 3/4 of a mile west of what is now Quaker Road. In 1810 there were approximately 247 households in Niagara County, which was, at the time, called Cambria. As population continued to grow, new towns began to form. Hartland was formed in 1812. In 1823, Somerset was separated from Hartland. Newfane was formed from part of Hartland and Somerset in 1824.
Somerset is believed to have gotten its name from a settler, John Adam Pease, who left Somerset County, New Jersey, in 1817. The first road was marked out about 1813. It ran east and west through the village of Somerset. It is now known as Lake Road, or Route 18.
In 1817 the first school was organized in a small log school house that stood 1-1/2 miles west of Somerset Corners. The first teacher was Masten Sherwood. One teacher taught all the different grades and subjects, tended the fire and kept the school as clean as possible.
The settlers felt a need for religious services, so in 1817 they gathered at Silas Mead's log house and organized the Methodist Class. The membership decided to build a place of worship in 1831. The first brick building in the town was the Baptist Church of Somerset, built in 1833. This is not to be confused with the present West Somerset Baptist Church at the corner of Hosmer and West Somerset roads.
The first baby born in Somerset was a girl. Delilah was born in 1811 to Jacob and Elizabeth Fitts.
Sherwood and Rebecca Mead were the first to be wed in Somerset in 1817.
On April 1, 1823, the first town meeting was held at the home of Silas Mead. The first supervisor elected was James Wisner. At this meeting it was ordered that a tax of $150 be raised for roads and bridges. In the early days of navigation on Lake Ontario, the Town of Somerset was notorious for the shallow water and shoals around Thirty Mile Point. The point is the northernmost point on the southern shore of the lake and got its name from its distance from the Niagara River. The Thirty Mile Point lighthouse was built by the U.S. Lighthouse Service in 1875 near the mouth of Golden Hill Creek to warn approaching vessels of the dangerous shoals and a sandbar.
The town's village, Barker, was started with property donated by David Barker to the railroad company in exchange for a rail line into the area.
The first installation of electric lights and water service happened in 1915.
The town has maintained its rural character.
The Thirty Mile Point Lighthouse was chosen from among all of the lighthouses on Lake Ontario to be featured on a United States Postal Service stamp in 1995.
Somerset is believed to have gotten its name from a settler, John Adam Pease, who left Somerset County, New Jersey, in 1817. The first road was marked out about 1813. It ran east and west through the village of Somerset. It is now known as Lake Road, or Route 18.
In 1817 the first school was organized in a small log school house that stood 1-1/2 miles west of Somerset Corners. The first teacher was Masten Sherwood. One teacher taught all the different grades and subjects, tended the fire and kept the school as clean as possible.
The settlers felt a need for religious services, so in 1817 they gathered at Silas Mead's log house and organized the Methodist Class. The membership decided to build a place of worship in 1831. The first brick building in the town was the Baptist Church of Somerset, built in 1833. This is not to be confused with the present West Somerset Baptist Church at the corner of Hosmer and West Somerset roads.
The first baby born in Somerset was a girl. Delilah was born in 1811 to Jacob and Elizabeth Fitts.
Sherwood and Rebecca Mead were the first to be wed in Somerset in 1817.
On April 1, 1823, the first town meeting was held at the home of Silas Mead. The first supervisor elected was James Wisner. At this meeting it was ordered that a tax of $150 be raised for roads and bridges. In the early days of navigation on Lake Ontario, the Town of Somerset was notorious for the shallow water and shoals around Thirty Mile Point. The point is the northernmost point on the southern shore of the lake and got its name from its distance from the Niagara River. The Thirty Mile Point lighthouse was built by the U.S. Lighthouse Service in 1875 near the mouth of Golden Hill Creek to warn approaching vessels of the dangerous shoals and a sandbar.
The town's village, Barker, was started with property donated by David Barker to the railroad company in exchange for a rail line into the area.
The first installation of electric lights and water service happened in 1915.
The town has maintained its rural character.
The Thirty Mile Point Lighthouse was chosen from among all of the lighthouses on Lake Ontario to be featured on a United States Postal Service stamp in 1995.