Vestal Heritage (2) - Vestal, NY - Signs of History on Waymarking.com

The first part of the sign is the same as the sign at Main Street and the second part is different.

"Vestal Heritage Large tracts of land in the area of North Main Street were owned by a few early pioneers who established small businesses near the Susquehanna. Earliest of these was Cranes's ferry at the end of Ferry Road, now Pumphouse Road, and a tavern owned by John Dunbar.

Alfred Rounds came to this area in 1797, purchasing land on the South bank of the river near the ferry and along Big Choconut Creek. His sons established themselves by running the ferry, and building Rounds Turnpike Tavern in 1844, later called Drover's Inn, where livestock drovers could stop for food and rest on their way to market.

Alfred's great grandson Fayette L. Rounds, Vestal's first station manager, built the large Queen Ann style home across from Drover's in 1895 adding the tower in 1912. Both Drovers and the home are excellent examples of the reuse and preservation of historic buildings."

"1901 Train Disaster At about 9:45 p.m. on June 8, 1901 train No. 61, a scheduled freight headed west, had just finished taking on water at the Vestal Depot when it was hit from behind by a fast-moving, two-engine wildcat train. Unable to stop, the wildcat hit No. 61 exploding tons of dynamite located in the box car just ahead of the caboose.

Spilled coal ignited, twisted metal from the wildcat train was hurled across the Susquehanna, and the remains of the box car looked like matchsticks. The explosion killed 5 trainmen and injured seven others and was said to be heard 30 miles away. Windows were broken, chimneys tumbled, and buildings damaged by the concussion."

Group that erected the marker: Two Rivers Greenway Project URL of a web site with more information about the history mentioned on the sign: [Web Link] Address of where the marker is located. Approximate if necessary: Stage Road Vestal, NY US 13850

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