OverviewThe town of LeRoy, which includes the village of LeRoy, is on the eastern edge of Genesee County, bordering Monroe and Livingston counties to the east. LeRoy is best known as “The birthplace of Jell-O,” and a museum devoted to the jiggly dessert is here. Oatka Creek flows northward through the town and was a source of water power for early mills and is now popular for trout fishing. A man-made dam and LeRoy Falls, a natural waterfall, are the centerpieces of LeRoy. The village has tree-lined streets and Victorian architecture and is just minutes away from the Genesee Country Village and Museum, a 19th century “living history museum.” LeRoy’s Barn Quilt Trail includes more than 100 painted barn quilts that adorn barns, houses, sheds and garages in LeRoy. The bustling city of Batavia is only 10 miles west. The Thruway runs through the north part of LeRoy, where the western terminus of Interstate 490 is located. LeRoy also includes the hamlets of Fort Hill – the site of a prehistoric Indian village – in the northwest part of town, and Lime Rock, near the eastern town line.
Local Museums/Landmarks
The Jell-O Museum, operated by the LeRoy Historical Society, includes an exhibit dedicated to Bill Cosby’s influence over the years as well as old advertisements featuring entertainers like Lucille Ball and Jack Benny. The museum is housed in a former 19th century school building. The historical society also oversees the LeRoy House, which originally was a land office. Both buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. |