Letchworth State Park was established in 1907 when William Pryor Letchworth donated 1000 acres around the Middle and Upper Falls area to the state of New York. He had first seen the area when traveling by train over the great wooden railroad trestle in 1859. He most likely fell in love with the area immediately. A business man from Buffalo, NY, he refurbished the Glen Iris Inn and made it his country home. Prior to Mr. Letchworth’s purchase, the building was called the Cataract House and was an Inn and drinking establishment. Unfortunately, the area had been nearly denuded of trees for the lumber industry and for farmlands. Mills were erected on the various falls and one would barely recognize the area in those days. But through William Letchworths foresight, trees were replanted, including many specimen trees still standing today as well as blocks of trees planted in the teens, twenties and thirties. ************************************ **************************************** ********** A view of the Mt. Morris dam on the Genesee River at the northern end of Letchworth State Park near Mt. Morris, NY. September 22, 2004. The dam's construction was begun in 1950 and completed in 1954. The Genesee River became wider and deeper upstream for a way as a result, but areas downstream were spared yearly flooding which destroyed valuable farmland.