Program

NYS Historic

Subject

Building, Industry & Commerce

Location

133 Albany St, Cazenovia, NY 13035, USA

Lat/Long

42.930596, -75.849713

Grant Recipient

Cazenovia Heritage, Inc

Cazenovia was established in 1794 by John Lincklaen, a land agent for the Holland Land Company, and the village was officially incorporated in 1810. In 1808, a wool factory began operating along Chittenango Creek in the budding community. This was among the first industries established in the area and was soon followed by sawmills, tanneries, carpentry, and other shops, providing goods and services that would be essential to the growth of the new village.

The wool factory on Chittenango Creek was established by Elisha Starr in partnership with Elisha Farnham and John Lincklaen. In 1817, Matthew Chandler took over the operation of the factory. Chandler sold the wool factory to John Williams in 1831, and Williams continued its operation until his death in July 1853.

Carding, fulling, and the finishing of cloth at the factory was powered by water from Chittenango Creek. Water from the creek was channeled to water wheels, which was then used to drive the machinery in the factory. Once no longer operating as a wool factory, the building was used as a carpentry and wagon shop, also utilizing the waterpower from the creek.

In the 1940s, the former factory building was turned into a store. The water wheels had been removed by that point, and the raceway from the creek was filled in. As of 2025, the building continues its long history of serving the Cazenovia community, having been repurposed into commercial and residential spaces.