The History of Jamestown, New York
Modern Jamestown is a very different place from the undeveloped plot of land James Prendergast first bought in 1808. The early settler saw great potential in his 1,000 acres and by 1815 it had grown into a thriving hamlet named in his honor.
Other People Are Reading
-
Development
-
The first house ever built in Jamestown was a log cabin by the side of the river in 1810, the second a bigger structure to accommodate the Prendergast family. A saw mill followed and a water dam for power. The land was rich in timber and well supplied with water, perfect for factories of the time, and Prendergast brought skilled settlers and craftsmen to boost the fledgling town.
Industry
-
An abundance of timber meant the area was ripe for agriculture and small industry, but Prendergast believed that lumber would provide only short-lived success. To counter this, he encouraged other industries to manufacture there, and the city's survival has relied on its enduring manufacturing base. The first recorded manufacturing industry was cabinet-making and the town went on to be known as the "Furniture Capital of the World."
-
Survival
-
Despite a downturn during the Depression years, 1930 to 1935, Jamestown's economy survived, and by 1945 furniture remained its biggest industry. Prendergast's vision of smaller industries paid off. Needing little capital investment and expensive technology, these smaller enterprises relied on the enduring skills and craftsmen already in place. Today the city is still an "economically sound and vibrant community" of Southwestern New York.
-
References
- Photo Credit New York state contour against blurred USA flag image by Stasys Eidiejus from Fotolia.com
