Alton, New York facts for kids

Alton is a small community called a hamlet in Wayne County, New York, United States. It's part of the Town of Sodus. Alton is about 6 miles (10 km) southeast of the Village of Sodus. It's also 5 miles (8 km) south of the Village of Sodus Point. The land here is about 377 feet (115 m) above sea level. The main roads meeting in Alton are N.Y. Route 14 and Ridge Road. Another important road, N.Y. Route 104, passes just south of Alton.

Alton has its own United States Post Office. Its special code for mail is 14413.

Discovering Shaker Heights

Shaker Heights is a small area located just northeast of Alton. It's actually inside the Town of Huron. You can find it near the beautiful southwestern shore of Sodus Bay.

The Shaker Community

This area was first settled as farmland in 1826 by a group called the Shakers. The Shakers were a unique religious group. They were known for their simple lifestyle and hard work. The Shaker community here started with 72 members. Over time, it grew to more than 150 people. Their village had several farmhouses and barns. There was also a grist mill, which grinds grain. They had a special meeting house and a dwelling house for living.

A New Path and a Move

In 1836, the state of New York had a plan. They wanted to build a canal from Sodus Bay. This canal would help improve travel and trade in the area. However, the canal's path might have gone through the Shaker village. The state could have taken their land for public use. Because of this, the Shakers decided to sell their land that same year. All the members moved their community. They relocated to Groveland in nearby Livingston County. The Shaker community stayed there until 1892. After that, the community was no longer active.

Alasa Farms: A Historic Place

Alasa Farms is a very old farm and dwelling house. The Shakers built it in 1833. It was once known as the Sodus Bay Shaker Tract. You can find it on Shaker Road. It's about 2 miles (3 km) north-northeast of Alton. This property is very important. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2009. This means it's recognized for its historical value.

See Also

• List of hamlets in New York