The village of Phoenix, NY is a sleepy little village located just 20 minutes north of Syracuse.  Today it is mostly a residential community with a few small farms scattered around the outskirts of the village.  Most of the residents travel to nearby cities (Fulton, Oswego, Syracuse) or suburban areas (Liverpool, North Syracuse) to work.  A few businesses line Main Street and State Street, but they are small and scattered about.

But, once upon a time, not so long ago
Phoenix was a boom town.

Located on the edge of the Oswego River, a short boat ride south of Lake Ontario, and located just a stone's throw from the confluence of three rivers (Oswego, Oneida and Seneca), Phoenix was at the hub of commerce along the Erie Canal.   With water power and transportation so readily available, industry and commerce flourished.  By 1915 AD, Phoenix was one of the larger industrial villages in central New York.