Greene
Founded: 1792
Hamlets within the town: Brisben, Crestmont, Fickles Corner, Genegantslet, Lower Genegantslet Corner, Quinneville and Page Brook.
Named after: Gen. Nathanael Greene (1742-1786), sometimes misspelled “Nathaniel,” was a major general of the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War.
Current population: 5,604 (U.S. 2010 census)
Notable people: Francis Joseph Flynn (aka “General Mite”) (1864-1898) was a famous “dwarf” who performed as a showman at various competitions across the world. Born Carolina Mohawk, “Go-Won-Go” was an athlete and sports woman with masterful horsemanship skills. She was one of the first Native American actresses to perform on stages across Europe and in America. Her father, Dr. Alan Mohawk, was a Seneca Native American who practiced medicine in Greene.
Interesting fact: A.B. Robinson built a stone structure, believed to be the first refrigeration unit in the United States, and continued in business (1875-1900). It was used to preserve eggs and fowl. It also housed a turkey for President Grover Cleveland, later dished up for Thanksgiving dinner.
Industry past: The Lyon Iron Works was founded in 1840 by George R. Lyon. The Lyon Iron Works made cannonballs for the Civil War. In 1876, it was making an “always cool stove-lid lifter,” invented by George Langdon and sold at the time for 25 cents. In 1922, George Raymond, Sr. purchased controlling interest in the Lyon Iron Works and it was later renamed the Raymond Corporation, which in 2010 integrated with Toyota to form the leading forklift company in North America.
Industry present: The Page Seed Company, founded in 1896, packages seeds from flowers to vegetables sold and grown across the nation.
The Raymond Corporation, the successor to Lyon and St. John Iron Works, is one of Chenango County’s largest employers.
