Irondequoit

Irondequoit portrays the rich past of a Lake Ontario town with a name that comes from the Iroquois word meaning where land and waters meet." Originally part of the Phelps Gorham purchase of 1788, Irondequoit was established in 1839. The area, once marred by swamps and marshes, eventually became "the Garden Spot of Western New York," known far and wide for its peaches, melons, and vegetables. Later the town developed as a resort area, with attractions like Sea Breeze Amusement Park, Glen Haven Park, the Newport House, and White City, a 300-family tent colony. Irondequoit's tree-lined streets, excellent schools, and access to prime recreational areas, including Sea Breeze, Durand-Eastman Park, and Irondequoit Bay Park, continue to draw people who make it the thriving community it is today."

Thomas Cole Richens is a descendant of the Coles, who were one of the town's key pioneer families. Patricia S. Wayne, Irondequoit town historian since 1991, has helped bring about the preservation of several local landmarks. The photographs in Irondequoit are from the town historian's collection and the Mason and Lily Cole collection.