Day 74 of our 2025 RVing Adventure with Historical & Musical Interludes

It's Monday July 14th, day 74 of our 2025 summer adventure.

This was the first morning that I got to walk my 4-mile square around Cadyville Road, Federal Road, Big Tree Street and Shelly Road. Ohhhh, that walk felt good! I love the farm setting sun rises!

When we lived here we drove past this cemetery thousands of times. But, I never explored its origins. On my four-mile loop, I pass this cemetery around my halfway point. 

The Union Cemetery was established in 1826. It is located near the intersection of Big Tree Street and Woodruff Road. The cemetery is notable for its historical significance as one of the oldest burial grounds in the area. 

Records from Union Cemetery in Livonia indicate that one of the earliest recorded burial dates is David Benton, who died on September 30, 1803. Another early burial is Solomon Woodruff, who died on January 18, 1811. However, the earliest survey of cemeteries in Livingston County included legible gravestones dating back to the 1790s. 

I like how the graves of Veterans are adorned with flags for the important holidays to Veterans. They have also placed stickers with the branch of service and an American Flag.

This recently replaced historic marker indicates that at least ten Revolutionary War Veterans are buried here.

We spent the rest of the day picking up the parts for the maintenance we need on the motorhome while we are here in New York. 

We also did some deliveries of Hemlock Fair tickets for our camping host, Jimmy Wingate. He is always juggling many tasks between the farm, the fair and anyone else who needs help. We are glad that we can help him! 

Speaking of the Hemlock Fair. For more than 20-years Charlie and I were very active with the Fair. We even used to camp on the fairgrounds all summer long, when we came up from Florida. We used sweat equity to cover the cost of our camping! The Hemlock Fair is a caretaker of agricultural history. It maintains historically significant documents, artifacts, traditions, buildings and grounds. 

Fair history was influenced dramatically by the horse, upon which local farmers depended to plow, plant, harvest, market and pull wagons for work and pleasure. Horses brought the doctor and the mail. Horses pulled "stone boats", sleds onto which farmers tossed rocks to clear farmland. Competitions were held to see which teams could haul the heaviest loads and these horse pulls continue today as a feature fair event. The Hemlock “Little World’s” Fair originated from horse races or meets. The meets evolved into exhibits of fine breeding of stallions, trotters, teams and carriages, machinery displays, sheep exhibits and agricultural equipment displays. In the mid 1840’s the Town of Livonia hosted a fair. Other fairs started in Honeoye, Richmond and surrounding towns. 

Hemlock's first fair in 1857 was on Clay Street and was then moved to the Hemlock Lake Park before being established at its present location on Water Street. In 1857, Railroad conductor Joe St. Denis gave his famous call to Rochester passengers, "All aboard for the Slab City World's Fair". Slab City was in reference to the plank roads and sawmills, and World's Fair was coined on the basis of no-geographic restrictions for exhibitors. By 1859, Hemlock Fair began including animals, produce, domestics and carpentry and within two years held the record of having the biggest livestock fair in the state. 

Consolidating as The Hemlock Lake Union Agricultural Society, in 1868, were the fairs of Hemlock, Livonia, Richmond and Honeoye. This was the beginning of what later became known as "The Slab City Fair", "The Little World's Fair", and just plain "Hemlock Fair", an event which has been held every year, except for the period during World War II. In 1871, The Hemlock Lake Union Agricultural Society was incorporated. In 1963, the fair began on July 17th, the third Tuesday in the month of July, it still begins on that same day each year. The Hemlock Fair started off the new century with a very prestigious award; the Hemlock Fairgrounds was placed on The National Register of Historic Places in July, 2000. The fair is now nationally recognized as contributing to, and preserving the nation's history and heritage. Since 1857, the Hemlock "Little World's" Fair has been educating and entertaining people of all ages, from all walks of life, and from literally all parts of the world. When you think about all the global changes the “Little World" Fair has seen since 1857, it is quite amazing the organization is not only still in existence, but has actually kept growing. Considering it, like most county fairs, consists mainly of volunteers, this is indeed, quite a feat. If you are in the area, check out the Hemlock Fair, July 15 - 19, 2025.

Stay tuned for more Two Lane Adventures!