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peppermint oil

Wayne County Fun Facts

May 18, 2022 by Olivia

Did you know that Wayne county is a key place for two religions? Read on for more fun facts about the Finger Lakes region.

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Contents

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  • Wayne County Basic Facts
  • Arcadia
    • Spiritualism movement
  • Butler
    • Antoinette Brown
  • Lyons
    • Peppermint Capital of the World
  • Palmyra
    • Joseph Smith

The Finger Lakes region is chock-full of rich history and culture.

In this series I’m sharing with you all the firsts, important historical events, notable individuals, world records, and occasional quirky roadside attractions I come across in my explorations, organized by county.

Here are some fun facts about Wayne County. For random facts about the other 13 Finger Lakes counties, check here: Cayuga, Chemung, Cortland, Livingston, Monroe, Onondaga, Ontario, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Tioga, Tompkins, Yates.

I know I’m only scratching the surface of all the cool things to know, so please tell me interesting facts to add! You can comment below or send me a message.

And make sure you subscribe to the Finger Lakes Family Fun email list or follow on Instagram, where I’ll be sharing my latest discoveries.

Wayne County Basic Facts

Population: 91,283

County seat: Lyons

Origin of name: Anthony Wayne, general in the American Revolutionary War

Tourism site: waynecountytourism.com

Arcadia

Spiritualism movement

Fox sisters
(Image: Emma Hardinge Britten, via Wikimedia Commons)

In the mid-19th century, the Fox Sisters of Hydesville (which no longer exists) became famous for being able to communicate with spirits through “rappings.” They later confessed to it being a hoax, but by that point, their public seances had already started the Spiritualism movement that has adherents to this day.

Finger Lakes-based author Jeanne Mackin explored the Fox Sisters’ story in a novel, The Sweet By and By.

book cover The Sweet By and By

Butler

Antoinette Brown

Antoinette Brown
(Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

In 1853, Antoinette Brown became the first woman in the U.S. to be ordained as a minister (in the Congregational church of Butler). She married Samuel Blackwell, a brother of Elizabeth Blackwell (see Geneva, Ontario county).

Lyons

Peppermint Capital of the World

peppermint oil
(Photo: silviarita, via Pixabay)

Lyons was for many years the Peppermint Capital of the World, thanks to the Hotchkiss Essential Oil Company, founded by Hiram Gilbert Hotchkiss in 1839 (in Phelps, then moved to Lyons). The oil made from wild peppermint plants was considered the purest in the world by experts in Hamburg, Germany. Find out more at the Peppermint Museum and celebrate with the Lyons Peppermint Days.

Palmyra

Joseph Smith

Joseph Smith
(Image: Wikimedia Commons)

Founder of the Latter Day Saint movement Joseph Smith was born in Vermont in 1805 but grew up on the Smith Family Farm, which is in Wayne and Ontario counties. Key events of the religion took place in this area, including at Sacred Grove and on the Hill Cumorah. (Also check out the events at Peter Whitmer farm in Waterloo, Seneca County.)

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Previous Post:Fun facts Yates CountyYates County Fun Facts
Next Post:Hiking, Art, and Birds at Lime Hollow Nature Center in Cortland, NYEric Kroot Art Trail at Lime Hollow Cortland

About Olivia

Olivia is a writer, anthropologist, and accidental Ithacan. After years of living in three different countries and visiting more than 30, she came to the Finger Lakes and ended up staying a little longer than planned. Now she’s sharing her family’s adventures and discoveries in this lovely part of New York State on Finger Lakes Family Fun.

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