Waterburg History

Waterburg is in the southwest corner of Ulysses Township, and is located on Taughannock Creek. In her notes about Waterburg, Mrs. Viola Tompkins calls the old Indian Fort in Harts Woods, West of Waterburg, the second defensive works of the Cayugas after they separated from the Iroquois.

Capt. Jonathan Owen rode into this region in 1800. He had been a Revolutionary War soldier. He built a saw mill and a grist mill. He later gave his son Jonathan a farm near Waterburg. Elisha Trowbridge had come in 1798 and settled a little nearer Perry City. John McLallen had a cabin near Harts Woods in 1795. He hired Mr. Harriman as his assistant. Soon after 1800 the Bower, Van Liew and Updike families came to Waterburg. The rich farmland and abundant water power attracted the early settlers to this place. Henry McLallen stayed on the farm and later bought Waterburg mills. He lived on the east side of the road, overlooking the mill pond. His wife was Amelia Updike. Abner Treman, Jr., came to Waterburg in 1845 to run a mill.

The Waterburg Road was cut through virgin timber in 1820. Once known as Middleburg, Waterburg became the new post office in 1833 when D. B. Wheeler was postmaster. The Postmaster General knew mail would be confused with Middleburg in Schoharie County, thus Waterburg.

In his 1938 STATE and TIOGA, Romeyn Berry notes that in the time of the Civil War, Waterburg had 22 houses, a Methodist Church, school, mill, stores, blacksmith shop, a wagon factory, sorghum mill and a cooperage. A cider mill was the last Waterburg mill.

The Methodist Church and its sheds still stand in 1976 as reminders of services and classes held years ago. No religious services have been held in the church for many years. The Grange Hall was torn down recently. The Hall was a busy place. During the 1930s and 1940s scarcely a week passed that a meeting, dance, or social event was not scheduled. Up on Waterburg Heights the school house no longer readies children for busy lives, but is easily recognizable as a knowledge box.

Few new homes have been added to Waterburg since earlier times. Most of the older homes are in good repair and house busy families. Waterburg has become a quiet settlement where the neighbors work, shop and seek entertainment in nearby towns.

Other Ulysses communities: