Starkey’s local history is reflected in its varied names and dates: houses, churches, a Memorial Hall, and scenic places all form part of the picture of the Town of Starkey. Anyone interested in the history of a destination can start by placing the listed sites in context by location and age. There is also a historical rhyme that once pointed travelers toward Dundee. Nearby offerings centered on bread and wine add another perspective on the area.
Historic Places and Their Locations
Scenic and historic places within the Town of Starkey include the Starkey Methodist Church and Cemetery, the Dr. Henry Spence Cobblestone House, and the Enos Allen House. The Church and Cemetery, dating to 1882, is on Lakemont-Himrod Road. The Dr. Henry Spence Cobblestone House, dating to 1848, is on the same road; today it is the Cobblestone Springs Retreat Center. The Enos Allen House, dating to 1815, is on Old Lake Road.
Other names can also be matched to specific roads. The Simeon Royce House, dating to 1825, is on Lakemont-Himrod Road near Hayes Road. The Timothy Hurd House, dating to 1810, has been altered and is also on Lakemont-Himrod Road. The Daniel Shannon House and Millsite, dating to 1825, is there as well. The Pierce-Mitchell Houses date from 1820 to 1840 and are on Route 14A. These road references help distinguish the historic names without combining them into a single route.
The Town’s scenic and historic sites also include the Rock Stream Presbyterian Church and Memorial Hall, associated with the years 1865 and 1931, as well as The Rock and Big Stream Falls. The Peleg Briggs Wildlife Sanctuary is on Log City Road. Together, these names extend the view beyond homes and churches to other scenic and community landmarks.
A Span of Time Rather Than a Single Era
The dates range from the Timothy Hurd House of 1810 to the Starkey Methodist Church and Cemetery of 1882. In between are the Enos Allen House of 1815, several place names associated with 1825, and the Dr. Henry Spence Cobblestone House of 1848. The Pierce-Mitchell Houses are dated to an entire period, from 1820 to 1840. Starkey’s local history can thus be read as a sequence of different construction and commemorative dates, rather than the history of just one house or decade.
The additional dates 1865 and 1931 associated with the Rock Stream Presbyterian Church and Memorial Hall extend this timeline. The named places also vary in type: along with houses and church buildings, there is a millsite, a Memorial Hall, and the two falls. Anyone exploring Starkey can use both the timeline and the different kinds of historic and scenic places as points of reference.
Distinguishing the Town from the Hamlet
It is important to distinguish the geographic levels when considering these place names. The houses, churches, and scenic sites mentioned are located within the Town of Starkey. The rhyme referring to Dundee, however, is associated with the New York Central (“N.Y.C.”) station in the Hamlet of Starkey. In the past, it directed many travelers to the nearby village of Dundee. Its described function was therefore to guide people to Dundee; the location refers to the Hamlet, not the entire Town.
A Bakery and Winery in Nearby Dundee
Nearby, in Dundee, the bakery at Tabora Farm & Winery offers fresh bread, cookies, and pies. The winery produces wines exclusively from its own grapes grown on more than 200 acres of vineyards and has a tasting room. The bakery and winery offer a distinct way to enjoy the area, while the historic place names turn the focus to Starkey’s history and landscape.
Discover more destinations: Branchport, Himrod, Penn Yan, Dundee
For the broader travel overview: Yates County.
