The town of Arkwright sits atop rolling hills that provide a wide vista of rural landscapes and unbroken views of Lake Erie. It was named for Sir Richard Arkwright, the inventor of a spinning machine known as the water frame. The town was founded in 1849, incorporated in 1861 and contains more than 2,000 tax-free state-owned acres that are accessed by town-maintained roads. Arkwright is known for an impressive set of falls on Canadaway Creek and for Chicken Tavern, an establishment operated by the Aaron Towne family for more than 100 years. The tavern, once a stage coach stop over between Silver Creek and Jamestown, was considered a popular center for dining and dancing. According to a family history on the Route 83 business, it was originally known as Summit House. It was believed to be built around 1822 and after the turn of the century, became a private home. It later became vacant and fell into a haunted house category. The building collapsed around 1955 with nothing left to signify its former existence. It is said it became known as Chicken Tavern after a pillow fight brawl among patrons that resulted in feathers being scattered around the establishment. Dairying was once synonymous with Arkwright and Ashel Burnham founded the first cooperative cheese factory in the town. Today, the rural nature still exists but dairying isn’t as prevalent and the township is considered more of a bedroom community.
TOWN OF ARKWRIGHT
Janice Rundell, Clerk 965-4845 9784 Walnut Creek Rd., Forestville, NY
Lawrence J. Ball, Council 679-1085 2897 Ball Rd., Cassadaga, NY
Jeff Dietrich, Council 673-9076 9281 Center Rd., Cassadaga, NY
Linda Fairbanks, Council 965-4208
Roger Cardot, Council 672-9529
Highway Department 679-8515
Stephen L. Mead, Highway Superintendent 965-2950 9088 Putnam Rd., Forestville, NY
John R. Potter, Justice 672-8672 2265 Weaver Rd., Forestville, NY
Fredric Norton, Supervisor 679-4775 8743 Center Rd., Cassadaga
Michael Nordlund, Zoning Officer 679-4445
