The original Town of Coldspring, consisted of the present Towns of Napoli,
Coldspring and a small portion of South Valley, and was renamed Napoli in 1828.
In 1837, the Town then named Napoli was divided forming the current Towns of
Napoli and Coldspring. (In 1837, the Town of Coldspring still contained a small
portion of the Town of South Valley)
The Town was o r igina lly covered with fine forests. Once the forests were
cleared, pastures and cultivated fields appeared. Dairying was carried on extensively.
Cheese manufactring (i.e. Napoli Creamery - 1870, South Napoli Creamery - 1875),
and maple syrup production were the chief sources of revenue.
General drainage was provided mainly by Cold Spring Creek, which had its source
in the northern part of the Town and flowed south through Coldspring to the
Allegany River. This stream was utilized by several sawmills (1st - 1826) which
were established along its banks.
The first settlement was made near Napoli Corners in 1818. The first highway
surveyed in 1823, appears to be a portion of today's County Road 10 between
Manley Hill Road and Jamestown Road.
In the 1890's, the hamlet of Napoli Corners consisted of a goods store, a grocery,
a hotel (Bushnell), several shops (i . e. wagon), school house (18 19),
public hall, 3 churches, and a post office (1827). There was also established a
tavern (1823), a shoemaker (1822), a blacksmith s hop (1826), a tannery ( 1821),
and a inn (1824).
Owensburgh was a post office established in the northern part of the Town in
1825. The post office was moved in 1827 to Seelysburg and later discontinued.
Both hamlets are no longer in existence.
Between 1918/19 and 1952/53, existed a County Prison Farm ( "Old Jail Farm") where
prisoners lived in barrack style sleeping quarters, and raised garden produce.
In 1818, "there was raised on the jail farm, two hundred and seventy bushels of
potatoes and from ten to twelve bushels of beans, as well as considerable garden
produce." In addition to providing food for the prison population, being able to
do some work, added to the self - respect of the prisoners. There still exists on
the site (Milk's farm on Allegany Road) a double bricked structure (possibly the
barracks ) which is currently utilized as a garage.
Source: Cattaraugus County Book 1808-1995/96