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| 17 Maple Avenue Portville, NY 14770 www.portvillehistory.org |
History of Bedford Corners
Bedford Corners is located in a rural agricultural area less than 2 miles northeast of the Village of
Portville, New York, on State Route 305 (formerly known as Dodge Creek Road) where it intersects
Deer Creek Road. The Deer Creek flows through Bedford Corners, crossing under Route 305. Deer
Creek is a tributary of Dodge Creek, which then flows south through the Village of Portville where it
meets the Allegheny River.
The land that comprises the four corners of the area known as Bedford Corners in the Town of
Portville was originally part of Lot 6, Town 1, Range 3 of the Holland Land Company's Survey. In
1856, Geils' Map of Cattaraugus County showed several structures at the corners, including a saw mill
and grist mill as well as the residences of William Livingston and Israel P. Roberts. None of these older
structures remain today. The house originally owned by William Livingston was located on or near the
northeast corner but there is no physical evidence that it ever existed and remains an undeveloped field.
Jacob Bedford became the owner of the corners when he acquired land from Henry Dusenbury in 1856
and 1858 and land from William Livingston in 1860. Bedford built his home at Bedford Corners for his
family on the northwest corner soon after the acquisition in 1856. As early as 1845, the area's
education needs were served by Joint District Number 7 for the Towns of Little Genesee and Portville
in a small school situated a short distance further north on Route 305 on the border of Cattaraugus and
Allegany Counties. In 1864, Jacob Bedford deeded land on the southeast corner to the Joint School
District Number 7 for a new school house and it came to be called The Bedford Corners School House.
The southwest corner was deeded to Jason Hopkins in 1886 for the purpose of erecting a cheese
factory. The Cheese Factory continued to operate until the early 1920s. In 1927, the property was
conveyed to Portville Grange No. 842.
Today, these three structures still remain in good condition at Bedford Corners. The original Jacob
Bedford home is owned by Col. Charles O. Eshelman, in which he has resided since 1981. Col.
Eshelman also acquired the other buildings, the Bedford Corners School House in 1965 and the Portville
Grange in 1971. In 2001, Col. Eshelman deeded them to The Portville Historical and Preservation
Society in the hope that these properties will be preserved and developed into a community resource for
educational and heritage tourism purposes. On May 20, 2003, the New York State Office of Parks,
Recreation and Historic Preservation designated the property as the Bedford Corners Historic District
and listed it on the State Register of Historic Places. A ceremony was held on August 28, 2004,
commemorating the event and dedicating a cornerstone on the Bedford Corners School House. The
Society has since begun restoration of the School House in order to open the facility to the public.
Portville, New York, on State Route 305 (formerly known as Dodge Creek Road) where it intersects
Deer Creek Road. The Deer Creek flows through Bedford Corners, crossing under Route 305. Deer
Creek is a tributary of Dodge Creek, which then flows south through the Village of Portville where it
meets the Allegheny River.
The land that comprises the four corners of the area known as Bedford Corners in the Town of
Portville was originally part of Lot 6, Town 1, Range 3 of the Holland Land Company's Survey. In
1856, Geils' Map of Cattaraugus County showed several structures at the corners, including a saw mill
and grist mill as well as the residences of William Livingston and Israel P. Roberts. None of these older
structures remain today. The house originally owned by William Livingston was located on or near the
northeast corner but there is no physical evidence that it ever existed and remains an undeveloped field.
Jacob Bedford became the owner of the corners when he acquired land from Henry Dusenbury in 1856
and 1858 and land from William Livingston in 1860. Bedford built his home at Bedford Corners for his
family on the northwest corner soon after the acquisition in 1856. As early as 1845, the area's
education needs were served by Joint District Number 7 for the Towns of Little Genesee and Portville
in a small school situated a short distance further north on Route 305 on the border of Cattaraugus and
Allegany Counties. In 1864, Jacob Bedford deeded land on the southeast corner to the Joint School
District Number 7 for a new school house and it came to be called The Bedford Corners School House.
The southwest corner was deeded to Jason Hopkins in 1886 for the purpose of erecting a cheese
factory. The Cheese Factory continued to operate until the early 1920s. In 1927, the property was
conveyed to Portville Grange No. 842.
Today, these three structures still remain in good condition at Bedford Corners. The original Jacob
Bedford home is owned by Col. Charles O. Eshelman, in which he has resided since 1981. Col.
Eshelman also acquired the other buildings, the Bedford Corners School House in 1965 and the Portville
Grange in 1971. In 2001, Col. Eshelman deeded them to The Portville Historical and Preservation
Society in the hope that these properties will be preserved and developed into a community resource for
educational and heritage tourism purposes. On May 20, 2003, the New York State Office of Parks,
Recreation and Historic Preservation designated the property as the Bedford Corners Historic District
and listed it on the State Register of Historic Places. A ceremony was held on August 28, 2004,
commemorating the event and dedicating a cornerstone on the Bedford Corners School House. The
Society has since begun restoration of the School House in order to open the facility to the public.
Portville, New York