Yates County Genealogical Society and History Center
107 Chapel St, Penn Yan, NY 14527
www.yatespast.org/
The first time I visited Penn Yan that I can remember is
also the first time that I visited the History Center. It seems strange, having
grown up in the midst of the Finger Lakes that I had never been there before,
but I could not recall being there before that spring day when my husband and I
drove down to a New York State Council of Genealogy Organizations (NYSCOGO)
meeting. Rich had not been there before either, but by the time we had driven
down between the lakes and were pulling into the village, he was exclaiming not
only how beautiful it is, but his desire to retire to the area.
The Finger Lakes region really is that beautiful. The area
surrounding Penn Yan is even more picturesque then some of the other areas
because of a group that ha settled there during the last thirty or forty years.
Families of Mennonites, a religious group known for their plainness and
adherence to older ways, have bought many farms in this area. They are
restoring these farms and maintaining them in such a way that you could almost
imagine yourself back in the 1800s. Adding to the illusion is the fact that
they don’t drive automobiles, but rather, rely on horse and buggy for most of
their transportation.
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| This is actually from Lancaster, Pennsylvania but typical of what you might see in Yates |
The History Center consists of different parts. Besides the
research rooms, there is also a carriage museum and a Victorian home. The
research center has extensive cemetery records for Yates county as well as
deeds (1792 - 1949), mortgages (1862 - 1915), diaries, almanacs, certificates,
personal correspondence, etc., newspapers on microfilm and other items
pertaining to Yates County history.
Hours: Tuesday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Non-members are charged a $5.00 per hour fee for use of the
Catharine Spencer Research Center; Student use is without a fee; photocopying
is additional.
Because I was there for the meeting, I did not have time to
properly explore this repository. Although I don’t have any personal research
in the area, I look forward to getting back there and doing a thorough job of
seeing what is in all of these records. Also, the next time I get there, I need to remember my camera to capture the unique beauty of the area.
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