New-York tribune., 1899-07-30
IN AN UPSTATE VILLAGE
PICTURES OF LIFE IN TYPICAL WEST
ERN NETWORK TOWN.

PICTURES OF LIFE IN A TYPICAL WEST
ERN NETWORK TOWN
A STRANGE MINGLING OF OLD FASHIONED AND
MODERN IDEAS AN EXCELLENT SCHOOL
ANpA wRETcHED SYSTEM OF DRAIN
AGE-PossIBTLrTIEs OF M
PRovEMENT.
OF the many small villages OF which travellers by
the New-York Central get a passing glimpse In
crossing the fair farm lands OF the Empire state
Appleville Is as likely to be pleasantly remembered
as any: In fact, more likely than most or the de-
cidedly unattractive farming villages OF western
New-York; typical canal town that II IL. or rather
was in the palmy days OF clrton's big ditch when
the embankment at Applevile. the spanning of the
deep ravne was to tourists by the Red BIRD pack
cts one of the sights OF most popular Inland tip
and scarcely second to the famous aaueduct across
the Genesee or the locks at Lockport But the Ia'-
ter day revision OF the Erie Canal. the curtailing
Of IT. ancient meanderngs has left the old docks
OF Applevlle a half mile or so from the main
waterway; the abandoned pocket being now
mainly utilized a mill stream and village sewer
Applevle unlike too many OF Its sister villages Is
a decidedly growing and prosperous town. and yet
none Of it's residents would be called rich In small
city; not even in Batavia. where a small income VIII
20 much further than in Buffalo Rochester. 1t
IA said that there are at least thirty widows and
spinsters In Appleville who live upon their interest
money and live entirely alore-n uncommon type
among village characters the country over. not only
in villages but on lonely roads, remote from neigh
bors: the sotares In such cases usually Delns
men, often aged.
Appleville is at the very heart Of the best farm
lands of the State, the centre OF a great fruit and
vegetable section Many OF the villagers are the
owners of broad acres, inherited farms largely
The rambling old houses are falling to decay. since
they have been rented to those who are more
likely TO be content In their isolation than their
owners ever can be again; the tenants are irish
more frequently than American, and likely 10
own the farms in time The village Is closely
related in all its industries to farming trut
and vegetable culture; Is within easy access OF But
falo and Rochester. is not too far from theatres
big drygoods stores and municipal attractions.
There Is A pronounced determination on the part or
the villagers 10 preserve its distinct Individuality;
as marked a feature its odorferous vinegar rae
tory It has bean houses. stone quarries. exports
many tranloads Of cabbages yearly, has an I'M
mense apple crop lone London house making
speciality of It's Selects aone) while thousands OF
barrels of apples are shipped annually to the chi
cago market
A brave record for the little village. to say
nothing Of those of Its sons and daughters VINO
have made some little noise in the world and that
only 10 the fair fame Of their native town. When
It comes 10 political weight and influence In shap-
ing State aud county affairs, aspirants for pubic
favors IT is admitted do well to give the voters of
Appleville deferential consideration.
NATURAL BEAUTIES
deep winding ravine In local parlance called the
Gull divides the village in about equal sections the
pretty modern houses with their wide decks
perched on the woody heights. plainly to be seen
from the car windows. There is a picturesque ola
mill besides a glimpse of waterfalls. church spires
and grand old trees along the avenue leading from
| the station; sign of the patronizing summer
board nor OF trolley not even hotel omhi-
| bus: dust enough in all conscience when there ~
| not superabundance Of mud snow-yes, a genuine
| inland country village, OF not more than tweVe
hundred inhabitants. delightfully."- lacking the dis
| nrited air with wnch many Overboomed SUBURBAN
| Edens seem be ever gazing after express trains
| that never stop at their stations.
On closer inspection of Appleville the picturesque
fades out into the prosac. Money invested IN real
estate is likely to prove permanent or losing IN
vestment and yet for those seeking 10 make LOT
| themselves a home afar from the fret and ousue
| OF town life where they may live comfortably on
A., a narrow income. bargains In real estate are as
plentiful blackberries. Here Is highly cultivated
| farm Of nearly fifty acres. a mile from the post
office less than that from the station; a spacious
| modern house with bay window and tower; large
| orchards model barns The price paic FOR the same
| only yesterday by a young city man aspiring 10 De
| A gentleman farme' was 5000 Good Doard ana
pleasant rooms with private 1aHllIes may oe Ha'
| for 81 30 a week while at the excellent hotel inc
highest rates do not exceed 81 day for rahsieh's'
! permanent boarders pay less.
| Appleville has electric lights and water WORKS
| the latter, just at present, in the hands or re-
ceiyer but nowhere IS better water to be had than
from the artesian supply of Appleville mo fish,
pond for us; that will do for Rochester" Its one
public school is second to none in the State. Buf-
| falo can't show a better schoohouse than ours
The public library OF this truly model school Is ex-
ceptionally we'll selected. including the best works
Of standard authors necessary to a liberal educa-
! tion rigidly excluding anything akin to trash In
fiction.
EDUCATIONAL ADVANTAGES.
What has been accomplished in educational mat
ters in Appleve through unity Of interest ana
endeavor, finds suggestive contrast IN religious
matters the one schoolhouse and one bell being
offset by five Protestant congregations, each with
n spacious house of worship, three bells summon
ing the little focks the differing bethels, any
one OF which might comfortably hold them all
each church herocally struggling under load OF
debt that Christian unity might speedily wipe
out altogether But then. only for the zeal that Is
the source OF an unending series OF church suppers
sales etc. fierce competition through all man
nnr Of devices for sweeping nckes and dimes into
empty treasures social life In Applevle would DC
far other than It is tenfold more uneventful. anC
so IL is quite as WELL perhaps, that there are nc
signs as yet OF anything like return to the unity
that buit the old cathedrals in little hamlets. and
| the one public school OF Applevile stands as the
| survival of the medeval idea of harmony for the
| public good.
Another Illustration Of what be dons IN