Traveling Through History Webster, NY: A Place Worth Visiting

By Karen Boughton Siegelman

A visit to Webster New York is a treat for those who love history, architecture, quaint village neighborhoods, open space and a lakeside view. The Webster Museum, located in the heart of the village of Webster, is a great place to start your tour of this growing town, which started out as an agricultural community in the late 1800’s. The ever-changing collections in this museum feature treasured items from Webster’s early settlers, as well as photographs, costumes and memorabilia from school, community and church groups that reflect the town’s heritage. Individual rooms furnished in the decor of the early 1900’s, as well as an old-fashioned drugstore, lawyer’s office and general store are set up on the main floor of this interesting museum to give visitors an idea of what daily life was like back when Webster was a shipping center for the area’s dried apple industry. It also had the world’s largest basket factory and was the center of the canning industry in the Rochester area.

It is possible to soak up even more of the historic flavor of this town, which was named for the famous senator and statesmen Daniel Webster, by taking a walk or drive around the charming neighborhoods that surround the Webster Museum. There are a number of homes located in this area that date back more than 100 years ago. In fact a dedicated group of residents recently prepared a directory of Webster’s historic homes cataloging each house’s unique characteristics and inhabitants. This valuable resource book can be found in both the Webster Museum and the town’s library for those who want more in-depth information on these houses with a history.

There are some other fascinating historic structures to check out in Webster. For example there are over 400 barns and carriage houses still standing, which serve as reminders of Webster’s agricultural roots. A directory of these buildings is also available for review at the Webster Museum.

Other interesting structures include the Webster Baptist Church on South Avenue, which is one of the few remaining cobblestone buildings in this area. The cobblestones were actually gathered by members of the church’s congregation from the shores of Lake Ontario and hauled to the site back in 1856. A stunning pipe organ and ornate stained glass windows that document the church’s history make this church another special spot to visit in Webster.

The stately-looking Harmony House, located on East Main Street, is another notable building that dates back more than 100 years. It once housed one of the largest Granges in the country. This building is still used by a number of community groups and its interior woodwork is a delight to behold.

In addition to these historic sites, downtown Webster is also a great place for shopping and dining. There are many unique antique, gift and craft shops to browse through and when you need to rest your feet you have your pick of a wide variety of restaurants that offer everything from Mexican to Italian food. If the weather’s nice you may want to have a picnic lunch in the center of town at the Veteran’s Memorial Park, which has an old-fashioned gazebo as its centerpiece. This park is also the community gathering place so on many weekends you may discover there is a festival or concert to enjoy here.

Nature lovers can take advantage of the many walking trails that are scattered throughout the town of Webster, and for those who want to take a break can stop at Webster Park to get some breathtaking views of Lake Ontario. Another spot where visitors can-enjoy some natural views is the Webster Arboretum on Schlegel Road, which features many rose and herb gardens, as well as a large collection of trees that are native to this region. Because of the luscious beauty of the Arboretum it serves as a backdrop for many wedding parties who choose to pose for pictures here, and this beautiful park is also the site of a number of festivals throughout the year.

Webster is indeed a great place to take time out to smell the roses, step back in time and breathe is some fresh lake breezes.