Valentown
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Valentown is the name of an abandoned shopping center located in Victor, New York. The structure was built in 1879 by Levi Valentine and is operated today as a museum. It is included on the National Register of Historic Places.[1]
[edit] History
The three-story structure was built in 1879 by Levi Valentine as the central commercial and community building of a new town to be created by Valentine and named "Valentown". Valentine's motive was a forthcoming railroad line that was to travel past the building. However, Mr. Valentine's forward-thinking plan yielded an unfortunate result when the railroad company went bankrupt and did not complete the line. With no demand for a commercial center in the location, Valentown quickly failed as an enterprise and was abandoned.[2]
In 1940, local historian J. Sheldon Fisher purchased the property and opened Valentown as a museum. The property is owned and operated today by the Victor Historical Society.
