Day 78 of our 2025 RVing Adventure with Historical & Musical Interludes

It's Friday July 18th, day 78 of our 2025 summer adventure. Each morning when I walk, I pass this historical marker. So, I did some research about Solomon Woodruff. Solomon and other Woodruffs came from Litchfield, South Farms, Connecticut. Solomon, Orange, Oliver and Andrew Woodruff were brothers who came at different times. Oliver was among the early settlers in 1804. He lived in Livonia until ninety years old and died in 1845. Solomon Woodruff has the distinction of being the first settler in the Livonia - Hemlock Lake area. He arrived, alone, in 1789 with a rifle and knapsack on his back. Next he proceeded to purchase lot number 32 (a total of one hundred fifty acres for $.50 per acre). Solomon wisely planted potatoes with the seed he brought from Connecticut. In the fall and with his potato harvest, Solomon trekked to Canandaigua and sold his crop. With the proceeds from the sale, he paid for the farm. During the growing season Solomon had constructed a log house for shelter. 

February is a cold month, and a wretched month to travel by sleigh. Solomon was determined to relocate at his newly purchased farm in Pittstown overlooking Hemlock Lake. After twenty-six days of bitter weather on a crude sled drawn by a pair of two year old oxen, an infant son died. The son was buried near a bleak hillside in Bristol. Finally, upon reaching the cabin, they were shocked to discover the cabin had been burned by Indians. They had no recourse but to go to the nearest neighbor, Peter Pitts, seven miles away at the foot of Honeoye Lake. Mrs. Woodruff and her son remained there until their own cabin could be erected. On February 19, 1794 the first child was born to the Solomon Woodruff family, a son named Philip. This was to be a good year for the Woodruffs, for they enlarged their home into a tavern to accommodate the stream of travelers coming into the region. Frank Woodruff later farmed his great-grandfather’s (Sol’s) land. Many Woodruffs held political office as supervisors, or school commissioner, and helped form the Town of Livonia as we know it. There are still Woodruff descendants in the Livonia area.

We went to the auto parts store and West Shurfine in Livonia. Charlie needed to return some parts for the motorhome and I was looking for ripe bananas. When you want ripe bananas, you can't find them! But, when you don't want them... it is all you can find! So, we needed to go to ESL (our credit union in NY) in Geneseo, so I went into Walmart to see if I could find ripe bananas. I found some that were close... but I will have to use the "oven method" to ripen them up. I am starting to make my payment to Jimmy for staying here. I fill his freezer with sweet bread! 

Only one trip to the fairgrounds today. We delivered the Corn Hole boards and the water. Today's boards were donated by an anonymous donor for Catholic Charities Steuben/Livingston. They build communities that care for all people. They serve all people seeking help in a safe, welcoming and comforting environment that feels like being home. Their services empower people to enrich their quality of life from the foundations of: access to resources and opportunities; healthy family functioning; healthy child development, and freedom from substance dependency. A member of the fair board, Mary Jo, works for Catholic Charities.

I treated Charlie to 2 cheeseburgers and salt potatoes from the Rotary Stand. "Service Above Self" is the Rotary motto nationwide. No where is that statement more appropriate than here with the Livonia club. They run two food stands during the fair and offer many community programs throughout the year.

We had a quiet evening at the camper. We could hear the roar of the Truck and Tractor Pulls at the fairgrounds. We used to love to be there, but now there are just too many people there for me! Stay tuned for more Two Lane Adventures.