A History of Greenwood by Those Who Lived It

In the winter of 1882, the quiet town of Greenwood, New York—a farming community of roughly 1,400 souls—found itself at the center of a crisis so severe that the governor of New York would declare it an insurrection. The trouble had begun more than a decade earlier, with hope. In 1871, the Rochester, Hornellsville, and Pine Creek Railroad filed its articles of association, promising a rail line from Hornellsville south to the New York–Pennsylvania border. Like many rural comm

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

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

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

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

[updated 11/18/2025] First, let me share what Sears and Palmer had to say about kits and these rusticated or rock faced blocks being used as building materials around the turn of the century until 1940. Then I will fill you in on the homes in Greenwood. Sears Roebuck & company began selling buildings or components of buildings in 1895. Some early experiments by Sears included selling a kit to build a complete school or office building. The first complete Sears Kit homes, tha

There have been many mentions of the salt spring located in Greenwood in historical offerings through time. I will attempt to take what I have learned and give you a glimpse from the earliest known until today. In the late 1700s and into the early 1800s before Levi Davis came and settled Greenwood, the local Native American tribes of the Iroqouis Confederacy used a secret path which was part of the Forbidden Trail to reach the spring. It is thought that these Indians were not

Say that 10 times fast. It's April 1955 and the Greenwood Volunteer Fire Company presented their Funnybone Follies with a number of local "thespians". I put that in quotes and I think you may agree when you see the photographic evidence. While I do not have pictures of all the players, I have enough to prove my point. Let's start with the program. Can you find your family, friends or neighbors? A lot of names that have crossed our pages before, yes? Who knows Miss Sunny Schar

I have shared about the Greenwood News, its reporters from the early 1900s right up through the 1960s. With a couple of gaps which I hope to fill. The happenings of Greenwood during the 1950s is coming soon. A sneak peek at 1955... The news of the citizens of Greenwood has bounced around over the years. in the late 1800s, Greenwood had a column in the Whitesville News. In the 1900s into 1911 at least, it was included in the Canisteo paper. Looks like it hopped to Hornell/Horn

Here's what's Cookin', Recipes from the Kitchens of Greenwood. Check out the image. Under that pile of recipes shared by the women of...

News was full of visits and visitors, official and unofficial, for shopping or to share a dinner with friend and family. This little cutie was hanging out in town during the mid 40s. Find out more about his story at https://kmreynolds2.wixsite.com/greenwood/post/john-charles-murray-you-can-t-take-greenwood-out-of-the-boy Tidbits about town in 1945... The Oddfellows hosted a social after their meeting to honor Greenwood's returning veterans. Also, at the Oddfellows Hall, the

From a 1935 newspaper article (not sure, but probably Hornell) Levis Davis cut his way through the forest from Canisteo to Greenwood in 1824, three years after the first settlers began to clear the ground. The journey was something of a tragedy, for on arrival long after nightfall, Davis discovered one of his sons was missing. Investigation revealed the boy, who had fallen asleep on a pile of goods in one of the wagons, had fallen off and been crushed to death under the wheel

My older sister Catherine and me Born January 27, 1911 to Charles Dewitt Toombs and Ella White. Died April 1, 1994 Teacher at Greenwood Union School, Woodhull, Jasper and Greenwood Central School. Business owner, member of the US Air Force Civil Air Command Ground Observation Corp and The Home Bureau; member of the Altar and Rosary Society at St. Mary’s Church in Rexville, and charter member of the Greenwood Historical Society. Married Stanley George Murray (son of John Flo

Outstanding Citizen of the Past awardee; farmer, business owner, Justice of the Peace for 35 years which meant he was a member of the Town Board and managed the Summer Recreation Program and the Boy’s Baseball League along with the Pool. Member of the US Air Force Civil Air Command Ground Observation Corp. He also served as a Scout Master of Troop 62 and a Neighborhood Commissioner for Greenwood and Jasper as well as an assistant and then the Chief of the Fire Department and