Seneca Crossing Marker. Photo submitted.

Pieces of the Past: The Seneca Crossing

May 24, 2023

There are 35 Blue and Yellow historical markers in Warren County. Some are in plain sight in central locations. Others are not. On the way to Scandia from Cobham Park Road is a rather curious spot for one of these markers.

It signifies the area that was once a heavily traveled shortcut. It got the name: the Seneca Crossing.

It was this path that cut a good day’s trip from over 20 miles to about 8. It was used by Native Americans, French explorers, and soldiers fighting the Revolutionary War. It was a route taken by Warriors that kidnapped a red-haired little girl and took her deep into Seneca Nation Territory.

The little girl’s family was brutally tortured and killed when captured about 50 miles North of Fort Pitt. The women of the tribe took her shoes off her feet and gave her moccasins to wear. Over many years she assimilated into Native American Society. She became friends with Chief Cornplanter who granted her a tract of land in Western New York.

Her name was Mary Jemison. Today her statue greets visitors to the land awarded to her. We call it Letchworth State Park.

Mary’s story is better than a James Fenimore Cooper novel! I wish I could include her saga in this Piece of the Past. The marker was erected rather recently and is located at the halfway point along the 8-mile trail. Historians calculated the location using various resources like journals and diaries.

You can find this one at the intersection of Scandia Road and the road to the site of Wigwam Family picnic grounds, Remember the Wigwam? The peacocks, fresh grilled hot dogs, and ice-cold birch beer that came out of a big barrel?

There are 34 more markers in the county. Some have stories nearly as incredible as the Seneca Crossing. I’ll try to take you to them!

         

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