Today, nestled in a quiet idyllic setting on eight acres along Spring Creek in Mumford is the Genesee Country Inn Bed and Breakfast. But she wasn’t always a bed and breakfast.
In 1799, many Scotsmen came to this area to settle, names such as McKenzie, McKay, McNaughton, McPherson and others. One of the early settlers was Donald McKenzie and Mumford began her history as McKenzie’s Corners. The name was later changed to Slab City after the material used for some of the early building, then Mumfordville after a prominent businessman named E.H.S. Mumford. Eventually the name was shortened to Mumford at the recommendation of the Post Office.
Because of the available water, this area had power for grist mills, woolen mills, plaster mills, paper mills, breweries, and distilleries. Mumford really seemed to be growing from 1830-1850.
In 1835, John W. Watkins built the Exchange Hotel where the Fire Hall now stands today. Here he had the first hotel business in Mumford.
On one of the Four Corners in Mumford, was John B Neid’s Store from 1885 to 1926. On the other, the General Store run by Otis Comstock in 1850 and by John Frey in 1907 with the McCabe Brothers Meat Market next door.
Originally, the Donnelly House was John McKenzie’s home in 1870. He opened the Temperance Hotel and Boarding House when he was unable to acquire a liquor license from the town board. William Donnelly purchased the hotel and ran it as the Donnelly House from 1876-1904.
The United Presbyterian Church was organized in 1869. The construction of this church began 1870 but was not completed until 1883. The marl (earthy, crumbling deposit consisting chiefly of clay mixed with calcium carbonate) that is used in building this structure came from Mr. Oliver Allen, who a prominent member of the congregation.
Stephen Salisbury came to Mumford in 1826 and built a saw mill back of the Old Garbutt Plaster Mill. It operated until 1881 when Mr. Salisbury died. This mill was sold and used as a woolen mill and later as a pipe factory. The pipe factory operated until 1903 when it as sold to L.H. Gardner of Rochester. The L.H. Gardner Paper Company produced paper until 1939. In its heyday it produced around 7000 pounds of paper a day.
In 1833, Philip Garbutt bought several acres on George Street and built a small stone building to be used as a plaster mill. The Garbutt Plaster Mill was a thriving business for grinding gypsum into plaster to be used as fertilizer by local farmers.
In the 1880s, George Stewart used the mill as a shop for manufacturing wheel spokes and hubs and handles for hammers. He used the water power to run a saw mill on the side of the building.
In the early 1900s, he sold the mill to the Gardner Paper Company. The building was remodeled and used as a resident for their superintendent.
Later the house was made into a 2-family. It was purchased by the DeFazio’s in 1963, where Rudolph DeFazio had his law office located downstairs and his family lived upstairs. It was sold to Glenda and Greg Barcklow in 1982 and converted the building into a 10-bedroom bed and breakfast. They named it the Genesee Country Inn.
Genesee Country Inn overlooking Spring Creek
