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:

The following artifact is located in the northeast area of the Village (not shown on map):

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

(See close up on side-bar)

Location Map:

Look for the "horse" icon to find the locations


 

 

 

Search

The Structure Committee has located over 25 properties that have either a hitching post or mounting block and sometimes multiple examples.

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


Medina sandstone mounting block at 98 Roselawn Avenue

 

53 Roselawn Avenue mounting
block "SILVER" is inscribed

 

Hitching post at
1 East Church Street

 

Hitching post made of medina
sandstone located at
54 West Church Street on
the West Street side


Preserving History Today for Tomorrow

PHS Logo
© Copyright 2004-2010