The Great Age of Horse-Drawn Transportation

The 19th century was the great age of horse-drawn transportation. Americans were on the move in wagons, coaches, shays, sleighs, and on horseback.

During the last century hitching posts and mounting steps were a common visual item in American and European cities, towns and villages and a common feature of inns, churches, farms and country houses where they were once almost an obligatory feature.

Fairport is very fortunate to have over 25 locations with these artifacts still standing. You will find several locations with multiple examples.

Most of the village hitching posts are rather simple pillar style structures cast from concrete. There is one example of a more elaborate cast iron model. Molten iron can be molded into almost any form and this allowed a wide range of decorative patterns to be made available to the American public. An entire industry rose around the decorative cast iron hitching post.

The village also has a number of posts and steps carved from Medina sandstone, a locally quarried stone used the world over for decorative stonework. With that influence comes a whole history of immigrant stonecutters who worked the stone, and the Erie Canal where it was ferried to ports along its route.

Over time simple horse mounting blocks evolved into more elaborate carriage steps. Blocks consisting of two steps, sometimes with a hand rail or a recessed area for an engraving of the owners name are seen in front of several of our Village homes. Many of these belonged to prominent Village residents, the Seeleys, Delands and Potters, to name just a few.

The Structure Committee has located over 25 locations that have Either Hitching Posts or Mounting Blocks

Locations of Artifacts:

The following artifacts are located in the southwest area of the Village:

• 1 East Church St. - mounting block (medina sandstone), 2 hitching posts (medina sandstone on concrete)
• 10 East Church St. - mounting block (medina sandstone)
• 25 George St. - mounting block, hitching post (sandstone)
• 68 Hulburt Ave. - mounting block (granite), hitching post (granite and cast iron)
• 106 Hulburt Ave. - mounting block (medina sandstone) not visible from walkway
• 6 Perrin St. - hitching post (limestone)
• 53 Roselawn Ave. - mounting block inscribed Silver, 2 hitching posts (concrete)
• 98 Roselawn Ave. -2 step mounting block (medina sandstone)
• 76 South Main St. - hitching post (concrete)
• 138 South Main St. - hitching post (medina sandstone)
• 200 South Main St. - mounting block - not visible from walkway
• 249 South Main St. - mounting block, part of porch foundation
• 61- 63 West Ave. - mounting block (limestone)
• 68 West Ave. - mounting block (medina sandstone) on Beardsley side
• 83 West Ave. - 2 step mounting block, 2 hitching posts (limestone)
• 111 West Ave. - mounting block (marble) inscribed Hitchcock
• 120 West Ave. - hitching post (marble)
• 144 West Ave. - mounting block (medina sandstone)
• 155 West Ave. - mounting block (marble)
• 53 West Church St. - mounting block (limestone)
• 54 West Church St. - hitching post (medina sandstone) on West St. side of property
• 106 West Church St. - hitching post (concrete)
• 184 West Church St. - hitching post (cast iron)
• 36 West St. - mounting block (marble) inscribed J. Duncan
• 42 West St. - mounting block (stone)
• 22 West St. - hitching post (concrete)
• 30 West St. - mounting block (concrete)
• 31 West St. - curb ring (iron)
• The following artifact is located in the northeast area of the Village (not shown):
• 26 East St.-mounting block (concrete)

To find these artifacts view the map below with locations indicated with a "horse" icon...

For a printer friendly version of the locations and a map download Hitching Posts & Mounting Block Tour Guide in PDF format.

These hitching posts and mounting block are located at 83 West Avenue in the Village of Faiport.

         Hitching post located at 106 West Church

This property at 53 Roselawn Avenue has a mounting block with the name "SILVER" inscribed as well as 2 cement hitching posts

Location Map of Mounts & Blocks