The History of Egypt


Because the earliest settlers in the Town of Perinton were farmers, they settled in the flat areas of the town that were easily cleared, specifically in Egypt and Perinton Center (the intersection of Turk Hill and Ayrault Roads).

Other settlers located near the area's streams, where they built mills. Early commercial ventures also included blacksmith shops, taverns, and inns. On April 6, 1813, the first town meeting was held in Cyrus Packard's tavern in Egypt, a thriving Perinton hamlet on the stagecoach road between Canandaigua and Rochester. Many of the current and future leaders of the town lived and farmed in Egypt. Packard, for example, was Perinton's first elected supervisor.

The Palmyra and Rochester Stage Road (Route #31) was established in 1805, with Egypt as a major stop for the stage line, where horses were changed for the trip to Rochester.

In 1806, the state improved this road (previously known by the Indians and fur trappers as “Mud Creek Road”) by the laying of logs across it, creating one of the early “corduroy roads”. Toll charges were then created (6 cents for a horse, 25 cents for a stagecoach). It later became known as “Egypt Road”, Main Street”, and still later as “Pittsford-Palmyra Road”, remaining a simple dirt road well into the early 1900’s.

Just off the Palmyra and Rochester Stage Road to the north lies Mason Road (formerly North Road). At the same inter section lies Loud Road (formerly Cherry avenue), which was laid in 1817.

The fertile farmland and the major stage depot caused the build-up of early businesses and Egypt became Perinton’s first important business center.

The first store in Perinton was established in 1815 in Egypt and was operated by Gregory and Co. when most of the present Village of Fairport was still a swamp. Perinton’s second store was located on the southeast corner of Route 31 and Loud Road. This business was established by Cyrus Packard and his son-in-law Watson, around 1817, and is shown on the 1852 area map. This house and store at 7467 Pittsford-Palmyra Road, more recently known as “Nelson’s Store”, burned in 1895 and was immediately rebuilt.

The Egypt Post Office was situated in this general store when operated by Cullen Loud, Postmaster, from 1869-1870. The Post Office counter top window is on display in the Fairport Historical Museum. When operated by Willis T. Andrews, 1908-14, the store included a portable gas filling station.

The recent widening of Route 31 and the re-alignment of the Loud/Mason Road intersection necessitated the store’s removal. This general store provided a service to the early development of the Hamlet of Egypt and the Perinton community, as well as other businesses and properties, including:

 

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Farm on Arault Road

South Perinton Methodist Church and
carriage sheds in the early 20th century.

 

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