The present Morris Run road did not appear on an 1850 map but appeared on an 1860 map (above, left) extending southward from present Bacon Hill Road. Morris Run passed the residence of U. Morris, probably the gentleman who is recalled by the road's present name. The dirt lane led at that time, as it now does, to the house at end, then the home of G.W. Lyon. The Lyon place is the only building remaining on the road.
By 1889 (Clark map, and as shown in the 1897 map, center above) the road was lengthened to give access to the new settlement of Spafford Landing at the foot of Randall Gulf. The route was precipitous, following the south side of a small creek straight town the slope (shown in red) but turning before arriving at the lakeshore cliffs. The road then descended southward, cut into the steep slope. arriving at the point where the present Spafford Landing Road terminates.
In 1955, as shown in the map at the right, Morris Run was indicated by the double dotted line as an unpaved dirt road, while the link down to Spafford Landing was shown as a single dotted line, indicating an abandoned route. Only the Lyon house remained at the end of Morris Run.
What was the origin of the road's odd name, "Morris Run"? According to local lore, for milk, eggs and probably butter, residents down at Spafford Landing on the lake used to "run up" to the Morris Farm at the top of the hills--quite a "run."
[Select image to enlarge].
Visitors are advised today, as shown at left, that Morris Run no longer leads to Spafford Landing. It ends at the only building remaining on the road, the Lyon house. The building is concealed in the foliage beyond the turn-around place in the center photograph. The Lyon house today, seen somewhat more fully at right, is practically invisible from the road when the Sumac is in full foliage.
Paul Malo recalls visiting the Lyon house about 1955, when it was abandoned, its nineteenth-century character unchanged. He considered purchasing the property, not merely for its historic building, built between 1850 and 1860, but for the magnificent view it afforded up and down the length of Skaneateles Lake. A half century later he revisited the place and was disappointed to see the house modernized, with a new "picture window" installed. New casement windows with large, simple panes of glass replaced original double-hung windows. Even more dismaying than loss of historic character was loss of the stupendous views. The place was completely swallowed up by second-growth woodland. Gone was the vast panorama:
This old postcard scene apparently was photographed from the point shown on the map where the road (lower left in the photo) turned south to continue down to Spafford landing. This elevation at the turn was two-hundred feet lower than the Lyon house, suggesting the grandeur of its outlook, not merely in this direction, but northward as well, taking in the whole length of the lake.
