A History of Greenwood by Those Who Lived It

A friend to all and somewhat famous in Greenwood First let me share a bit of background about Waldo. Waldo James was born on the 23 rd  of April in 1904 in Greenwood. His parents were John Francis Updyke (1881-1909) who shows up for the first time in a Greenwood census with his parents, Huron T. and Almira Malvina (Glover) Updyke in 1850 and Flora Cheesman (1879-1925), daughter of James Monroe and Amanda (McMindes) Cheesman who show up for the first time in a Greenwood census

Step into Greenwood through the memories of the Murphy family and those who knew them best. From Alton and Margie York and the old store at the bottom of Andover Hill, to Jim and Jackie Murphy’s enduring love story, and the reflections of the “Murphy 7” growing up in the village, these stories capture family bonds, everyday life, and the small moments that shaped generations. Together, they paint a heartfelt portrait of Greenwood as it was—and as it’s remembered. The Yorks, A

Clockwise, starting at 12: Flora holding Bobby, Albert, James "Stub", Kathleen "Kappy", Evelyn "Ezzy", and Louise "Weezie" Together, these reflections trace Flora and Albert Lounsberry’s journey—before Greenwood, into farm life, and through decades of family, faith, and hard work that grew into 138 lives touched across generations. Through their own words and the memories they left behind, these stories capture how a chance moment, a shared commitment, and a Greenwood farm be

Front Row, Left to Right: Irene Wallace Chaffee, Lloyd Chaffee. Back Row, Left to Rigtht: Duane Chaffee, Gary Chaffee We’re excited to share a collection of heartfelt stories that capture the spirit, history, and personalities of the Chaffee family who helped shape our community. From cherished memories of country life to personal reflections on family journeys and a decades-old hometown business, these narratives offer a warm, nostalgic look at the Irene, Lloyd, Gary and Dua

It's Not Just a Song For many Western Christian denominations, the Twelve Days of Christmas, or Christmastide, are a 12-day festive religious season that celebrates the Nativity of Jesus. The 12 days represent the time that it took for the three wise men or kings to travel to Bethlehem to visit baby Jesus and offer him gifts.  The festival season, which begins on Christmas Day (December 25), ends on the evening of January 5 th  (called Twelfth Night); this marks the end of Ch

The Armstrongs in Greenwood: Jesse, Muriel (holding Jeff), Muriel's mother, Eva Darling, and Jay D; kneeling in front: Peg (holding Jay David), sorry no Jon, he was born after leaving Greenwood Good day, fellow citizens of Greenwood! Meet Jesse Earl Armstrong, but you can call him Jack. He's been a part of our community since 1933, sharing tales of his life and family, and their entrepreneurial journey. Read more about him here: https://wix.to/wgxMamL Dive into Muriel Lillian

William "Bill" Lippert came to Greenwood as a traveling photographer in the late 1910s. He married Blooma Cheesman, the daughter of James Monroe and Amanda (McMindes) Cheesman in 1919. They moved into the Sears kit house built by George Melvin Woodward on Main Street around 1921 after George passed away. Building on the left, built by Frank Young and Arthur Woodward around 1906. Later, Lipperts Grocery Bill purchased the building called the "business block" around 1927 and co

Photo taken in January 1960 Stanley and Margaret Murray were lifelong residents and dedicated community leaders in Greenwood, New York — a couple whose service, faith, and family helped shape the heart of their hometown. Married in Greenwood on September 28, 1938 , they built a legacy of hard work, civic involvement, and devotion to others that spanned generations. Stanley Murray (b. February 8, 1913; d. January 12, 1980) was recognized as an Outstanding Citizen of the Past  

In the green valleys of Steuben County, New York, the village of Greenwood  once thrived on the steady pulse of the railroad. The New York & Pennsylvania Railroad (NY&P)  came through in the 1890s, connecting the little farming and lumbering towns between Ceres  and Whitesville . It was a modest line — a string of depots, trestles, and sidings hugging Bennetts Creek — but for half a century, it was Greenwood’s lifeline. Freight cars carried milk, lumber, livestock, and slate

In the 1870s, dreams of iron rails swept through western New York. The Rochester, Hornellsville, and Pine Creek Railroad—grandly abbreviated RH&PC—was supposed to connect Hornellsville to the Pennsylvania border, promising prosperity for the small towns along its path. Greenwood, Hornellsville, and West Union all pitched in, borrowing thousands of dollars to finance the venture. Greenwood alone raised $30,000—nearly $800,000 in today’s money—hoping to see trains full of passe

The first permanent white settlements in what is now in Steuben County were made along the Canisteo River about 1788, well before the county was formed from Ontario in 1796. Settlement began in what would become the Town of Greenwood in 1821; the town was formed from Canisteo and Troupsburg on January 24th 1827. The Town of West Union was not set off from Greenwood until twenty years later in 1847 and Greenwood regained some territory from Jasper in 1848. The Town of Greenwoo

Kathleen Lounsberry Murray was special. I don’t take that term lightly. Just ask anyone. She was a positive light to all she knew. Sadly, we only got to keep her here on earth for 45 years. Not long enough. However, we keep her alive in our hearts and through our memories. When I picture my mother, it is in glimpses throughout time and strangely or maybe not so strangely, she is standing at a sink washing dishes. I guess coming from a family with five children, marrying into

Okay, you got me, it really isn't Grace, it is the essence of Grace. In 2026, this blog will bring back those funny articles about what...

Can you guess who this one is about? Come on...give it a try. You are right, Lou (Lewis Ross) Cornell! I don't remember him personally although I was in close proximity. You see, my dad, worked for Lou at times, was friends with Clair, his son, and my mother's sister Evelyn Lounsberry married Clair. We grew up calling Janette Streeter Cornell, Grandma Cornell. I don't remember ever calling Lou, Grandpa. I am going to start with content that came directly from a handwritten

On the corner of Andover and Main, sits the Greenwood Community Memorial to honor their Veterans and Firemen. Check out the FB page at...

I am definitely more about the cake or cookie than the icing. Less is more for me. But, my frosting of choice is buttercream. While working with Mike Holt, Town Historian, on a new project...a Greenwood Recipe Book, as a start, I have been going through my mother's recipe box, unearthing all those yummy recipes shared with her from others in Greenwood. What I noticed was she has a lot of buttercream recipes. But, the one card that looks the most "loved" was Mary Mullins. I kn

If you are old enough to have frequented the Murray Atlantic Station's luncheonette or heard stories, you may remember a deer head mount on the wall there. No, it was not a trophy from any of the Murray boys or even the girls. It was not a leftover from JD or Jesse Armstrong either. There is a story behind this "treasure". John Murray here. The mount belonged to me...however, I did not earn the trophy. I was not the hunter who "bagged that buck". And, to be honest, I don't ev

Russian Lullaby— Do the Russian leaders really want peace or to lull us into a sense of false security? We Americans want to believe that the Kremlin peace overtures are sincere. We hope that the Soviet government genuinely desires to settle the differences between East and West in a peaceful manner over the conference table. But, while we listen willingly to any of their peace proposals, we must not let ourselves be lulled into a sense of false security. Not while the Kremli

How did I get here? A blogger, really? And, why Greenwood? It all began on a porch. My grandparents, now Aunt Sally’s porch. Well, maybe it began long before that. My Grandpa Lounsberry was an avid storyteller. My Grandpa Murray was the Greenwood Historian for many years. My Grandma Murray was a founding member of the Historical Society. Was I destined? Maybe. I used to think that researching family history was dry, boring work. Just a bunch of names and dates…birth dates, ma

Long time no see! The pandemic of 2020 and a number of other projects have wrecked havoc on our getting together to chat about Greenwood...