This month’s Bicentennial Hike is celebrating the one room school houses in Springwater. Our hike will start at the Punky Hollow School #17, located on Pardee Hollow, just down the hill from the Springwater Music Fair which is running both Saturday and Sunday. This hike will be approximately one hour and is open to everyone – admission to the fair is not required.

Hikers are invited to come to the Music Fair and enjoy the bands, check out the crafts and enjoy some good food. In addition, the East Springwater Historical Museum will be open Sunday afternoon, so you can view some of the history of School #17.

We will all meet at 2:00 in front of the school house. We will start the hike by exploring the property around the school itself, and then will travel on the Springwater Trail around the edge of the Punky Hollow Farm and return to the school house at about 3:00.  For hikers attending the Fair, we will continue the hike up to the Fair grounds and explore the trails “up top” if time permits.

In 1872, there were 17 school houses in Springwater. There are two other school houses in East Springwater, one at Tabors Corners and Wetmore roads, and another on Schribner Rd.  Both are now private residences.

Directions:

Parking for the hike and for the fair is available at the Pardee Hollow and Dutch Hollow intersection.  There will be a bus to the fair – ask the driver to let you off at the school house. Or if you don’t mind a short walk, it is less than a quarter mile from the parking entrance to the school house.

These directions avoid the Tabors Corners/Pardee Hollow corner where foot traffic from the fair may make driving difficult.

From Rochester: Follow Rt 15A south through Lima and Hemlock. From the intersection with Rt20A south of Hemlock, continue on Rt 15A for 9.9 miles and take a sharp left turn on Wheaton Hill Rd (CR 16). At the tee, at the top of the hill, turn left onto Wetmore Rd and take the first right onto Tabors Corner Rd. After 0.4 miles, take a slight left onto Dutch Hollow Rd. After 3.6 miles, the parking area is on the left at the intersection with Pardee Hollow Rd.

From Springwater: go North on 15A for .8mi from the light. Turn right on Wheaton Hill Rd. At the tee, at the top of the hill, turn left onto Wetmore Rd and take the first right onto Tabors Corner Rd. After 0.4 miles, take a slight left onto Dutch Hollow Rd. After 3.6 miles, the parking area is on the left at the intersection with Pardee Hollow Rd.

From Wayland: take Rt 21N for 5.6 miles. Turn left on Co Rd 38 (Garling House Rd AKA Rowe Rd). Take the first left onto Pardee Hollow Rd and continue for 3.8 miles. The parking area is on the right at the intersection with Dutch Hollow Rd.

From Honeoye: take W Lake Rd south. Turn right onto French Hill Rd. At the tee (at Dug Rd) turn right to stay on French Hill Rd. Take the first left on Garlinghouse/Atlanta Rd. Go Right on Pardee Hollow Rd and continue for 3.8 miles. The parking area is on the right at the intersection with Dutch Hollow Rd.

Our first Bicentennial Hike explored the Hamlet of Springwater back in April.  This month we are going to explore Webster Crossing, the other hamlet in the Town of Springwater.

We will be meeting at Webster Crossing United Methodist Church, (Route 15, Webster Crossing Road, Springwater, NY  14560) at 4 p.m, The hike will start with a walking tour of Webster Crossing then break up into groups, depending on the distance comfortable for those who are attending.  Suggested map routes for the Climbers, Tourists, and Naturalists will be provided.

We will be walking the Morris Road, Story Road, and the All Western Evergreen Tree Farms and other farm and homeowner’s properties depending on permission obtained.  More details day of the hike.

The dish-to- pass social will be at the Webster Crossing Church where Gladys Weed, hamlet historian and retired postmaster, will have the history of the hamlet in photos and will be on hand to answer any questions.

Directions:

From Springwater and Wayland: Follow NY 15 north from Wayland to the flashing light in Springwater.  Turn left to stay on NY 15. In 3.6 miles, the church is on the left.

From Rochester: Take I-390 South to Exit 9 – Lakeville. Turn left onto NY 15 south. Stay on NY 15 for 16.1 miles to Webster Crossing.  The church is on the right.

Please note: For this hike, other routes recommended by your favorite routing tool are also available, and will get you to the church (42.669608, -77.635264) on time. Just enter the GPS coordinates and drive with confidence.