Palmyra, New York
Canal Town
The first settler in Palmyra was John Swift in 1789. John Swift built the first grist mill in the town, held the first militia training, organized and donated land for the first church, the first schoolhouse and the first burial ground. His son, Asa, was the first white male child born in the town. Originally known as Swift or Swift's Landing, the town became the District of Tolland soon after settlement began. However, a meeting was held in January 1796 for the purpose of deciding upon an official name for the town. The historic name "Palmyra" was proposed and adopted without dissent. The town of Palmyra was created in January 1789. Palmyra originally included the present day town of Macedon, which was separated in 1823.
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Palmyra is known as the birthplace of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a faith that started with events occurring in this area and now numbering more than 17 million worldwide. Several important sites for the Church are located around the area and draw thousands of visitors to the area every year.
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Palmyra also has ties to the renowned British statesman, Winston Churchill. Leonard Jerome, Churchill's maternal grandfather and his uncle Hiram Jerome, worked in a law office here.
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Palmyra was also home to many well-known citizens, such as Henry Wells of Wells Fargo fame, which later became part of the American Express Company. Admiral William Sampson was born in Palmyra in 1840. He graduated from Annapolis and served in the Civil War and the Spanish-American War. Palmyra was also the home of Olin J. Garlock who invented the rubber packing gaskets which revolutionized the steam industry.
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Yet the most obvious attribute of the town is the Erie Canal which runs through it. Once called the "Queen of Canal Towns," much of the history of area runs together with the history of this important travel and trade corridor.
Cradle of the Restoration - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Map Legend:
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1. Joseph Smith Sr. Log Home: The angel Moroni appeared to Joseph Smith in an upper room of this home on September 21–22, 1823 (see JS—H 1:29–47).
2. Joseph Smith Sr. Farm: This 100-acre (40-hectare) farm was developed by the Smith family from 1820 to 1829.
3. Sacred Grove: Joseph Smith Jr.’s First Vision occurred in a woodland on the Smith farm in the early spring of 1820 (see JS—H 1:11–20).
4. Joseph Smith Sr. Frame Home: This home was begun in 1822 by Alvin Smith and occupied by the Smith family from 1825 to 1829.
5. Hill Cumorah: Here the angel Moroni gave the Prophet Joseph Smith the gold plates of the Book of Mormon on September 22, 1827 (see JS—H 1:50–54, 59).
6. Martin Harris Farm: This farm was mortgaged and part of its acreage sold to pay for the printing of the Book of Mormon.
7. E. B. Grandin Print Shop: 5,000 copies of the Book of Mormon were printed here 1829–30.
8. Hathaway Brook: In this brook, often called Crooked Creek by early residents, some early Church baptisms were performed.
The Events of 1820 - 1831
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The Erie Canal was under construction in the area during this time, completed around 1825.
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The completion of this major public work was intertwined with the events that led to the restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
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Known by many members of the Church as the "Cradle of the Restoration," this area was home to many of the formative revelations and experiences that shaped this now global religious movement.
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For almost 80 years, the church held a large pageant on the Hill Cumorah every summer, telling the story of the Book of Mormon and attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors to the area over that time.
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The Restoration Run is held around some of the historic sites each year and commemorates these events.