Murray is a largely rural area intersected by the Erie Canal
Located 25 miles west of Rochester, the town of Murray was first settled in 1808 as a farming community. In the decades that followed, the introduction of the Erie Canal and the railroad attracted more people, helping to establish the village of Holley. Today, the town's activity is still centered around Holley, with most of Murray remaining rural. Bob Paulus , associate broker at Re/Max Titanium in Brockport, emphasizes that buyers like the area because of its peaceful setting: "I have people I sold to in Murray, and they remark, 'Boy this is great. Look at my yard. There's nothing here.'"
Older homes in the village and secluded properties on the outskirts
In the village, homes built from the mid-1800s to early 1900s line shaded, residential streets. These older properties often include Colonial Revival and National architectural styles. The rest of town has more ranch-style homes and cottages along country roads and surrounded by farmland. Houses usually range between $100,000 and $370,000.
Businesses in the village of Holley and more in Brockport
Holley is home to the Community Free Library, St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, the Holley Fire Department, and casual restaurants like Sam's Diner and Dustin's Pizzeria. The village also holds events, like the Fall "Hallow" Fest in October, which includes a costume parade for families, a chili cookoff, vendors and trunk-or-treat at the police station. The village kicks off each summer with JuneFest, featuring bouncy houses, a petting zoo and live music on the town square. To the east, Brockport has major retailers like Aldi, Wegmans and Walmart Supercenter. "Brockport's the center hub for Murray," Paulus says.
There's recreation along the Erie Canal and at local parks
Holley Canal Park has waterside trails, a playground and a boat dock. Visitors can picnic at the scenic Holley Canal Falls, a 35-foot waterfall fed by the canal and surrounded by trees. The Orleans Youth Baseball League has practices and games at the Holley Central School District's facilities and Fireman's Field, just across the street from the elementary school. Also nearby, the Hickory Ridge Golf Resort has a public 18-hole course and an RV resort, and several parks along Lake Ontario are about 10 miles north.
Extracurricular activities in the Holley Central School District
Students in the northern side of town are typically zoned for the Kendall Central School District, which has an overall B-plus Niche score. Students in the southern part of town attend the Holley Central School District, which has an overall C-plus rating. Holley Elementary School has a B-minus rating, and Holley Junior/Senior High School has a C-plus. Students here can choose from over 20 extracurricular activities, including Library Club, Technology Club, Jazz Band and Esports. Athletics include football, tennis, bowling and volleyball.
Driving east to Rochester from Murray
State Routes 104 and 31 go through Murray, taking drivers 25 miles east to Rochester. The city is home to the Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport, universities like the Rochester Institute of Technology and medical facilities like the Rochester General Hospital. The Strong West location of the Strong Memorial Hospital has an emergency room in Brockport, about 5 miles east. State University of New York at Brockport is also there. "People like Murray because it gets them away from Brockport, which is a college town. The traffic is unbelievable in Brockport. Murray's just a nice, quiet place to live," Paulus says.
Cleanup underway at a Superfund site in Holley
An Environmental Protection Agency Superfund site is located in Holley, at the former Diaz Chemical Corporation location on Jackson Street. The project is treating soil and groundwater contaminated with chemicals from the corporation's operations between 1975 and 2002. EPA studies, though, have determined the pollution no longer impacts the surrounding residential areas.
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Faith Wakefield
