Town Historian
  Irene Meyers
  196 County Route 33
  Central Square, NY 13036
  (315) 668-2178
 

HASTINGS-----was formed from Constantia, April 20, 1825.  It lies upon the N. shore of Oneida River, in the S. part of the co.  It's surface is level or gently undulating, its northern boundary being about 75 feet above Oneida Lake.  The soil is clay, sand, and gravelly loam.  In some parts of the town it is difficult to find fresh water by digging.  Brine springs are found in several parts in the red Medina sandstone formation.  In the N.E. part is a tamarack swamp, of about 5 acres, in the center of which is an immense spring 10 feet in diameter.  This spring is on a level with the surrounding summit;  and it is surrounded by a deep, loose muck which extends downward to an unknown depth.  There are 18 sawmills, several gristmills, and 2 tanneries in town.  CENTRAL SQUARE  (p.v.,) contains about 50 houses; HASTINGS, (p.v.,)in the N. part, 30;  CAUGHDENOY, (Cod-e-noy) (p.v.,) on Oneida River, in the S.W.part, 30; and HASTINGS CENTER (p.v.)15. SMITH MILLS and FORT BREWERTON are villages of about 20 houses each.  The latter is situated at the foot of Oneida Lake, on the site of old Fort Brewerton. 

The first settlement was made at Fort Brewerton, by Oliver STEVENS, in 1789.

There are 4 churches in town.

A little E. of the fort ground is a sandbank, in which bones are found belonging to men over 7 feet high.  A mound at the E. extremity of the bank is full of human bones, indicating the place of sepulture for thousands.--Clark's Onondaga, vol. 2, p.182

Among the early settlers were Timothy VICKERY.  Chester LOOMIS, Solomon ALLEN, and Jacob RICE. 

The first birth was that of John L. STEVENS, in 1802.

The first marriage, that of of Silas BELLOWS and Betsey VICKERY, in 1808.

The first death, that of Horatio STEVENS, in 1792.

Chester LOOMIS kept the first inn, in 1815; and Hastings CURTIS, the first store, in 1820.

The first school was taught by Patrick VICKERY, at  Caughdenoy.

   A saw-mill was built here by Mr. Blunt, in 1822.  It is owned by Daniel MITCHELL.  The second saw-mill was built by PEARCE and CORNELL, IN 1838.  It is now owned by Levi HAMLIN.
   There has been a post-office here for the past twenty-eight years.  Jonathan PARKHURST was the first postmaster, and Martha HOLMES is the present one.
   Harvey DEVENDORF opened the first store, and kept it some twelve years, when Mr. PARKHURST occupied it for a short time.  M. M. SALSBURY has been the blacksmith here for twenty years.
   A little west of the centre there is a cemetery, containing an acre of land, which the heirs of Governor John JAY deeded to Gibson DIKEMAN, as supervisor of Hastings, for the use of the public, on the 12th of November, 1869.

Hastings-In 1821 there was one log house, occupied by Mr. Widger, near where the water-trough now is, and a small frame one, occupied by William FORD, on the site of the cheese-factory.
   The first post-office and stores were kept by Willard HUNT soon afterwards.  the first blacksmith in this election district was George STORER, who had a shop a mile south of Hastings, in 1822.
   The Widger house was turned into a grocery as early as 1830, for the old settlers remember how, in that year, the teacher of district No. 5 took his scholars there for a treat of candy, on their return from a spelling-school, where they had been successful.
   The first tavern was built by W. HUNT.  It's present proprietor is Willard JOHNSON.  The merchant and postmaster is Lewis TOUROT; the cabinet-maker is Nicholas CLUTE.  There was also a blacksmith-shop and a cheese-factory at this point.
   Mr. CORNING built a steam saw-mill a little south of Hastings, in 1854.  It was bought by Aaron BENSON in 1863, and has been operated by him ever since.  Mr. B., with his brother, invented the "Benson water-wheel," which was the principal one in use in this section for many years.