click on map for detail 
Editoral Note:
This narrative was found June 18, 1996 in the Finger Lake Trail Log
near Braley Hill Road. In ballpoint pen on brown paper, it describes
a personal history of old roads and foundations around Shindagin
Hollow, particularily Braley Hill Road. The author, "H. the Woodsman"
is otherwise unknown.
The map and text describes "what was" with regards to the many remaining old foundations of a rural community that was dismantled by state land buy-outs during the Depression. Though this process created the many State Forests in the area, it also destroyed these communities trapped in bad economic times, marginal/depleted farmland, and the general trend of de-ruralization. The text contains glimpses of the history and "mythology" of the community and the scattering of the individuals afterwards.
Pardon my license in extending to the Web from the original media/intent: background for hikers and bikers about the immediate vicinity. I've more information about Shindagin Hollow State Forest and other Tomkins County Areas
click on map for detail
What is now Braily Rd was named Brearley Rd for 8 yr. old Hattie C. Brearley who was dragged to death by a runaway horse. In the 40's it was changed to Central Chaple Rd. as to go with the Central Chaple Rd. witch now is a black top rd. Then it was changed to Brailey Hill Rd witch originally started at Rocking R Ranch and ended at Shindagin Rd. & Prospect Valley Rd.
I knew these people personaly.
Walker & Pauline Smith, Walker passsed away in April 96.
Irma & Walter Howarth, has 3 daugthers Gladays & Ersula Ewal Troudy (check this name for a girl). The last time I saw Gladays was in 1956 - she worked for N.C.R.
Alec May & Trieda moved to Moravia, N.Y.
When I was 8 yrs old I helped Philip & Norman Symonds cut wood with my father. This wood was used to heat the school house where I went to school till the Forth Grade. Both my sisters allso went there so did Dan Stein & David Delmadge. Dan killed in WWII.
Old Clint Delmadge was a bootleger & counterfit money handler. He had 4 sons Herbert, Lester, Lee & David. Lester more or less killed Herb by sawing the axel of a car. Lester himself was killed in a accident. Lee married Bertha Cleveland and last I knew live on Grove School Rd. David lived on Shindagin Hollow Rd. He passed away in the 70s or there about not sure, his wife still lives there she has now remarried.
(7) Old Philips Symond House was tore down and built in a house on 76 Rd. by Dick Wittaker
Norman & Mable moved to the first house on Chestnut Ridge Rd. The daughter Blanch moved just across from Norman on Central Chapel Rd. Blanch was teacher at the #3 District School. She never married.
Norman had two daughters Constance & Charlote. Where they are now I do not know. Norman passed away, Mabel still lives on Chestnut Ridge Rd. She must be in her 90s or there about.
Irma Howarth put her husband in the nut house. She drove him crazy. She moved after the State bought her out to Berkshire N.Y. Then to Candor and worked in Candor Glove Company. Where or what happened to her after 1944 I do not know.
When the Saymor Barn got struck by lightning in 1935 my Dad bought a red & white cow who was burned on her left side. He paid $5.00 for her.
Old man Bush who lived below us (the Rocking R Ranch (now)) stole all the boards from the side of the school after the school was sold. My Dad bought the stove. it still in the old homestead.
Where all the pine and spruce are now these were hay field till 1943
as we cut the hay from the State land that was not yet planted in
trees.