Arch Merrill (1894–1974)

Once again, Mr. Merrill takes us on a jaunt through Western New York - this time looking at the history and towns of the Erie Canal. As towns and cities grew up along the canal, they provided the country with some essential products. Cyrus McCormick went to Brockport to order the first 100 harvesters in the world. In Brockport also lived Mary Jane Homes who authored some of the romance novels of the 19th century - " Tempest and Sunshine", "Lena Rivers", and "Meadowbrook" to name a few. The village of Palmyra is home to Joseph Smith of the Mormon faith as well as the ancestral home of Winston Churchill's mother. Newark provided the beautiful Jackson-Perkins roses and a glassworks in Clyde gave us the Mason type canning jar. There are many more interesting facts and stories in this little book for the reader to enjoy and makes me more appreciative of the Western New York history and its many gifts to the world.… (mere)

Living in Western New York, I have always seen the Arch Merrill books on my local bookshelves and have FINALLY started to read them. "The Lakes Country" is a delightful read about the Finger Lakes region of New York. Mr. Merrill takes one on a journey through the various lakes and towns, commenting on the geography, Native American history and development of the towns and vineyards. With a smattering of local legends and interviews with the local town residents, the reader learns about the commerce on the lakes as well as the impact of men such as Glen Curtiss on the aviation industry. Published in 1944, there are also notations of the effects of World War II on the people of the region. I look forward to returning to the lake country with renewed interest.… (mere)