Page:Historic highways of America (Volume 2).djvu/89

Rh aboriginal traveller plunged into the water and stemmed the strong current with his brawny arm. Before the white man obstructed its channel with dams the Genesee was one continuous rapid from Red creek to the south line of the present Erie canal aqueduct. An Indian ford existed at a shallow place near the immediate line of the present race-dam, between the jail and the weigh-lock, but was never in such general use as the upper ford below Red creek where the river could be more easily crossed by footmen.

"The great trail coming west from Canandaigua on the present route of the Pittsford road divided a few rods east of Allen's creek. The main trail turned to the north over a low ridge, across the present [1884] farm of the venerable Charles M. Barnes and down a gully to Allen's creek. The ford was exactly at the arch through which the waters now pass under the great embankment of the New York Central railroad. Following the west bank to a point where the creek turned directly to the right, the trail left the stream and curving gradually to the west along the base of a