Robert Ward Bitz

The History of Manufacturing in Baldwinsville and the Towns of Lysander and Van Buren Robert Ward Bitz

The book describes the development of manufacturing in two towns and village located in central NY from the early 1800s to 2011. It describes the kinds of manufacturing typical of not only this specific area but also of most developing communities throughout the northeastern United States during the 18th and 19th centuries. These include the blacksmith, sawmill, ashery, gristmill, tannery, cooper and many others. The book lists the name and location of a large portion of the manufacturing businesses that have existed at this location. The Seneca River with rifts at Baldwinsville divides the village and separates the two towns. The rifts made a good location for a dam across the river and thereby a source of power that spawned many manufacturing businesses. The book is specifically directed toward the Baldwinsville area but could be of interest to anyone who enjoys history and the evolution of manufacturing in small communities.