Life in the Finger Lakes Winter 2007

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TT H A ZZ II N N EE HE E R R EE G G II O ON N ’’ S S P PR R EE M M II E ER R M MA AG GA

Winter 2007

Wild

Winter Photo Contest Winners Revealed Explore the Underground Railroad Hemlock and Canadice Lakes Stay Wild

$3.95 US/$4.95 CAN

www.LifeintheFingerLakes.com DISPLAY THROUGH MAR. ’08

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Volume 7, Number 4 • Winter 2007

F E A T U R E S

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THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD The author visits three Finger Lakes-area stops in Syracuse, Auburn and Elmira

By Cindy Ross

SOLID GROUND As rumors circulate about developing the watersheds surrounding Hemlock and Canadice Lakes, Rochester officials affirm their plans for preservation

By John Adamski

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PHOTO CONTEST WINNERS

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CLASSIC

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HARPS REACH THE MAINSTREAM

Excellent photos grace the pages of the sixth annual photo competition

Greek revival houses of the Finger Lakes

By Alta E. Boyer

Whether they are used for therapy or concerts, harps are becoming a popular musical instrument

By Kari Anderson

Below: An old tractor sits idle in a snowy vineyard.

D E P A R T M E N T S 2 2 3 6 10 12

MY OWN WORDS

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DOWNTOWN Clifton Springs

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MADE IN THE FINGER LAKES The family trees

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HUMAN INTEREST Getting to know your neighbors

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WILDLIFE PROFILE Finger Lakes hoots

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FRUIT OF THE VINE A toast to ice wine

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DAY TRIP The H. Lee White Marine Museum in Oswego CALENDAR: FESTIVALS & EVENTS

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FINGER LAKES MAP LETTERS NEWSBITS OFFBEAT BOOK LOOK 2008 Finger Lakes reads

INDEX OF ADVERTISERS OFF THE EASEL George Rhoads: the sculptor and toy inventor returns to painting

Photo by Roger Soule

Cover: A male cardinal braves the cold. Photo by Bill Banaszewski

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Harp Season

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round this time of year, my music listening preferences move toward classical and mellow tunes. Maybe it’s because it’s cold, there’s less daylight, and it’s human nature to build a cozy winter’s nest accompanied by soft, comforting music. Maybe it’s because of the coming holiday season; I’ve always enjoyed the classic carols and hymns that pay tribute. Whatever the reason, that’s what I’m listening to now.

We are lucky to have on our magazine staff a harpist. Writer and editor Kari Anderson also plays the piano, organ and banjo, but this is harp season. I don’t know much about harps, except that they sound heavenly, but Kari does and so she has written “Harps Reach the Mainstream” featured in this issue. Go to

were not preserved and few are marked. That is changing. New York State has provided grants to commemorate and preserve sites related to the Underground Railroad, and to open them to the public. Markers are being placed, old buildings are being rescued and researchers are scouring old archives and diaries to find more.

In this Winter Issue we are so happy to again present to readers the winners of our annual photo contest.

As usual, the winning entries are truly awe inspiring, and for every one that did make it onto these pages, there are at least three or four excellent photographs that we couldn’t show because of limited space. I want to thank every person who submitted entries to the magazine. Enjoy the Winter Issue.

LifeintheFingerlakes.com for a schedule of upcoming opportunities to hear the harp in the Finger Lakes region.

Changing the subject, I wanted to point out that local stops on the famous Underground Railroad are mentioned in three articles in this issue. One, by outdoor writer Cindy Ross, is a feature devoted to the routes through Syracuse, Auburn and Elmira that enabled slaves to get to freedom before and during the Civil War. Stories about Greek Revival houses in the area, and the H. Lee White Museum in Oswego, both reference places where slaves were hidden en route to freedom.

Underground Railroad sites in Central New York have not always been easy to identify. Until recently, communities did not realize their potential as historic treasures. Many

mark@lifeinthefingerlakes.com

The Finger Lakes regional map

MONROE

WAYNE

Areas of interest in this magazine issue • Auburn • Clifton Springs • Corning • Elmira • Geneva • Ithaca • Lodi

• Oswego • Ovid • Owego • Rochester • Seneca Falls • Syracuse • Waterloo

ONTARIO SENECA

ONONDAGA CAYUGA

Ovid

CORTLAND

YATES LIVINGSTON Lodi

NEW YORK S TAT E The Finger Lakes Region of New York State

TOMPKINS SCHUYLER STEUBEN CHEMUNG TIOGA

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L E T T E R S How About a Map? As a recent subscriber to your beautiful magazine, I often cannot find the location of communities mentioned in the advertising. It would be nice if every issue had a full page near the front with a map of the entire Finger Lakes region with all lakes and communities labeled.

Thomas E. Snyder, M.D. Dewitt We are addressing your request, as well as other readers’ requests, for a map of the Finger Lakes region. Across from this letter, on page 2, is a map that provides an idea of where major Finger Lakes communities are located. We will point out in red some of the cities and villages that are represented in the current issue.

Input from our readers helps to make the magazine better. Thanks for the good suggestion.

Mark Stash, Editor

Theater in Ithaca I am the marketing director at the Kitchen Theatre in downtown Ithaca.

Would you believe that I have gotten three e-mails from folks upset by reading the description of the article about the State Theatre in the table of contents available online (Fall 2007 Issue)?

I imagine the writer is probably referring to actual theatre buildings when she says that there is only one theatre left in Ithaca – the charming State. But as I am sure you are aware, Ithaca is home to five live theatres. The fact that Ithaca has so much theatre to offer is one of the wonderful things that make this area such a desirable place to live and to visit.

Megan Pugh Ithaca

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A READER ACTION NUMBER 130

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EDITORIAL & PRODUCTION EDITOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mark Stash mark@lifeinthefingerlakes.com ART DIRECTOR. . . . . . . . . . . . . Ryan Williamson GRAPHIC ARTIST. . . . . . . . . . . Jennifer Srmack ASSOCIATE EDITOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tina Manzer ASSISTANT EDITORS . . . . . . . . . . . Kari Anderson

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . J. Kevin Fahy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Evelyn Jansen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Carol C. Stash CONTRIBUTORS . . . . . . . . . . . . . John Adamski

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bill Banaszewski . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alta E. Boyer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Richard Frisbie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fred Gifford . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Peggy Haines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Katie Irish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rev. William F. Mugnolo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cindy Ross . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Laurel C. Wemett EDITORIAL OFFICE . . . . . . . . . . . . 315-789-0458 DIRECTOR

OF

ADVERTISING . . . . . . . Tim Braden tim@lifeinthefingerlakes.com

CUSTOMER RELATIONS . . . . . . . . . . Bob Sherman bob@lifeinthefingerlakes.com

FOR ADVERTISING INQUIRIES READER ACTION NUMBER 132

Same Location…

Different Name …New Philosophy

Jason Hagerman. . . . . . . . . . . . 800-344-0559 jason@lifeinthefingerlakes.com Rhonda Trainor . . . . . . . . . . . . 800-344-0559 rhonda@lifeinthefingerlakes.com

FOR SUBSCRIPTIONS Tricia McKenna. . . . . . . . . . . . 315-789-0458 subscribe@lifeinthefingerlakes.com BUSINESS OFFICE . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315-789-0458

800-344-0559 BUSINESS FAX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315-789-4263

Life in the Finger Lakes is published by Fahy-Williams Publishing, Inc. and owned by Eleven Lakes Publishing, Inc. Co-owners: Mark S. Stash; Timothy J. Braden. Copyright© 2007 by Eleven Lakes Publishing, Inc. No part of this publication may be reprinted or otherwise reproduced without written permission from the publisher.

TO SUBSCRIBE, RENEW OR CHANGE ADDRESS: write to Life in the Finger Lakes, P.O. Box 1080, Geneva, New York 14456, or call 315789-0458. Subscription rates: $12.95 for one year.

Canada add $15.00 per year. Outside North America, add $30.00 per year. For renewal or change of address, include the address label from your most recent issue of Life in the Finger Lakes.

For gift subscriptions, include your own name and address as well as those of gift recipients.

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Life in the Finger Lakes 171 Reed St. • P.O. Box 1080 Geneva, NY 14456 www.LifeintheFingerLakes.com

Serving the 14 counties of the Finger Lakes region

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READER ACTION NUMBER 134

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N E W S B I T S

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Get the latest news and plan for events by visiting the magazine’s website

LifeintheFingerLakes.com

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Watkins Glen Is Real Estate Hot Spot The Finger Lakes region was recently highlighted in the national press. In the October 12 issue of The New York Times, an article entitled, “Where Chardonnay and NASCAR Go Side by Side” featured the real estate market of Watkins Glen. Author Dave Caldwell pointed to the growing number of wineries as one of the reasons people are seeking out second homes in the Watkins Glen area. With 32 wineries on the Seneca Lake wine trail, there is plenty to keep wine lovers busy for a weekend.

Another draw is the village life, as older homes become more popular with handy folks looking for fixer-uppers. Mayor Judy Phillips even boasts that the climate in Watkins Glen is among the mildest in New York State, calling it a “little Florida.”

Whatever the reason for people seeking out cottages and second homes in the area, the real estate market is thriving. Realtor Kathy Romanos, owner of Cabins to Castles on Seneca Real Estate, says bidding wars have become common as prices have climbed. A cottage that sells for $175,000 today would have sold for half that just five years ago.

According to Vicki Schamel, an agent for Prudential Ambrose & Shoemaker Real Estate, there is even a 29-condominium development scheduled to break ground this fall. Called Seneca Harbor Place, the units will sell for $285,000 to $425,000.

Organic Trail Ahead The Tioga County Tourism Office has been awarded a $15,000 Explore New York grant to develop and promote “Natural Choices: An Organic and Ecofriendly Tourism Trail in the Eastern Finger Lakes Region.” Partnering with Tioga County on the project will be the Ithaca/Tompkins County Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Cortland County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The marketing campaign will include a dynamic website, a brochure, and (continued on page 8)

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ORTHOPEDIC CENTER OF THE FINGER LAKES

“My new knees got me

back to old friends.

Thank you, Geneva General Hospital.”

DOT WIXOM, WATERLOO, NY

[ DEVOTED TO CARING, ]

Dot Wixom has been a volunteer for 49 years. So when a bad knee made it difficult to help others, she went to the place that could help her most … the Orthopedic Center of the Finger Lakes.

Always on the go, it was important for Dot to regain her freedom of movement — fast. After her knee replacement, the Center’s personalized and comprehensive rehabilitation program was the perfect medicine.

With a staff that treated her like family and Helen Wong, a doctor that made her a priority, it wasn’t long before Dot was back with the people who needed her most.

CLINICAL EXCELLENCE AND CARING STAFF.

Welcome to the Orthopedic Center of the Finger Lakes.

Orthopedic Center TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ORTHOPEDIC CARE AT GENEVA GENERAL HOSPITAL, PLEASE CALL 315-787-4058.

WWW.FLHEALTH.ORG

READER ACTION NUMBER 155

of the Finger Lakes MY COMMUNITY. MY CHOICE.

EXCEPTIONAL ORTHOPEDIC SURGEONS • CARING NURSES • UNPARALLELED RADIOLOGY & ANESTHESIOLOGY SERVICES • EXPERIENCED REHABILITATION STAFF • SATISFIED PATIENTS

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N E W S B I T S

COME FOR A VISIT. STAY TO DO BUSINESS.

C 2006 Judy McAdoo

If you've fallen in love with Schuyler County, we can't blame you! The county's beauty, unique character and abundant natural resources have brought many talented, successful and creative people to this area.

Find out more. Contact us today! www.scoped.biz • 607-535-4341

SO WHY NOT JOIN US? Schuyler County Partnership for Economic Development (SCOPED) is ready to help you identify the financial and professional resources

advertising in national organic and nature magazines. It will also feature packages, things to do and places for people to shop, dine and experience our natural resources.

Call the Tioga County Tourism Office at 607-687-7440 or e-mail Director@VisitTioga.com for more information.

Keuka Wineries Featured The October issue of Better Homes and Gardens magazine included a write-up about the Finger Lakes wine country. The article, “Long Weekend: Tasting Tours” by wine experts Wini Moranville and Richard Swearinger, featured five wine trails around the country: the Hermann Wine Trail in

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Missouri, the central region of Virginia, Paso Robles in California, Woodinvile and Walla Walla in Washington, and the Finger Lakes.

“It’s the top region in the U.S. for Riesling, which is to the Finger Lakes as Cabernet Sauvignon is to Napa,” wrote the authors. Keuka Lake wineries were highlighted, with Moranville and Swearinger recommending Rieslings from Hermann J. Wiemer, Anthony Road, and Dr. Konstantin Frank’s Vinifera Wine Cellars.

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O F F B E A T O F F B E A T O F F B E A T

Italian Bistro in Niles If you feel like having a dinner in Italy, but don’t want to pay the airfare, take a drive over to the Skaneateles area and visit Niles Gourmet. Set in the hills overlooking Skaneateles Lake, Niles Gourmet is a cross between an Italian bistro and an organic market. Shop for organic coffees, teas, chocolates, oils, vinegars, and cheese. Or, sit down and let owner and chef Sandie Becker serve you some of her slow-cooked soups, smoked buffalo steaks or homemade raviolis, in flavors such as lobster, pumpkin or fiddlehead fern.

Niles Gourmet is set in a log cabin that Sandie’s husband, Eric, just finished building last year. “This was our second summer being open, and it’s just the two of us working here,” says Sandie. Eric serves as the maitre d’. “He keeps them all laughing,” she adds.

The cozy atmosphere of the place encourages camaraderie between the hosts and guests. Sandie invites visitors into her Italian kitchen (or cucina, as she calls it) to see her at work, making dinner and desserts on a cookstove.

During the summer time, guests wander out to the deck to drink in the view as they sip wine and beer from the Finger Lakes and abroad. “People get to be friends here,” says Sandie. “They sit out on the deck together and wind up exchanging phone numbers.”

The menu at Niles Gourmet changes weekly, depending on what is available from Sandie’s gardens and other local farmers that week. “Today I have lavender cheesecake because I just picked lavender from my garden,” she explains.

Seating is limited, so reservations are recommended. Call 315-784-5015 or go to NilesGourmet.com to learn more. The bistro is located at 4592 Grange Hall Road in Niles.

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“ISN’T IT ADORABLE, IT’S A TURTLENECK”

Minstrels Offer Christmas CD Christmas in the Finger Lakes by Rising Moon Ensemble takes traditional holiday favorites and reinvents them in haunting, magical instrumental sounds. Listeners have described it as “mystical,” “ethereal” and even “medieval” (as in lutes, flutes and wandering minstrels).

Those who contributed to the CD, including the music director, the musicians and the cover artist, are all from the Finger Lakes, and the CDs were manufactured by Spinergy in East Rochester. The CD is produced by Eric Moon, owner of The Quiet Place, a Bloomfield bed-and-breakfast inn.

To listen to samples, visit www.flmm.net/CD_Projects/Rising_Moon_ Ensemble.html, or to order, contact Eric at 585-657-4643. The CD is available at a variety of gift stores and wineries throughout the Finger Lakes.

Doggy Devotion If you want to see a one man’s extraordinary tribute to his dog, check out this statue, erected in memory of Fido, a dog that passed away in 1913. The four-foot cast-zinc monument is complete with the dog’s life-size likeness perched on top.

Cristina Diaz, a Geneva resident always on the lookout for the unusual, did a little digging into the history of the sculpture. She learned that long before Fido’s owner, Henry A. Zobrist, a wealthy real estate owner and capitalist, erected this monument, he had earmarked $10,000 in his will for the dog’s care, fearing that he would predecease his pet.

Photo by Cristina Diaz To view the monument, drive south on Route 96A from Geneva and take a right onto East Lake Road. Within a mile or so, you’ll see Fido’s marker on the right at the head of the Sunset Bay cottage road leading down toward Seneca Lake.

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Founded in 1974

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Gregory L. Schultz D.M.D., P.C. A Passion for the Profession.

A combination of excellence in skills and enthusiasm for patients’ care.

Finger Lakes Reads

by Laurel C. Wemett

T KEUKA FAMILY DENTISTRY 209 Liberty Street, Bath, NY 607-776-7656 E-Mail: gls@keukafamilydentistry.com Circle Reader Service Number 118

he authors of many of this year’s selection of Finger Lakes Reads’ titles focus on the individual and collective memories of life in the region during the 20th century. Filled with personal recollections and never-beforepublished images from family albums, these are not dry historical tomes to be approached with dread or trepidation, but insightful and often poignant new ways to understand the past.

We have also included several books that entice readers to explore the out-ofdoors to find pleasure and discovery in nature. All these books are available at area bookstores, independent retailers, online retailers, or through the publisher’s or author’s website, unless otherwise indicated.

Roseland: Playground of the Finger Lakes, 1925-1985

by Lynda McCurdy Hotra and Sherman Farnham Ontario County Historical Society, 2007 Hardcover: $59.95 585-394-4975 OCHS.org

T Photo by Tom Cooley

PLAYGROUND OF THE FINGER LAKES 1925-1985

The History of Canandaigua’s Amusement Park Nearly 400 images, memorabilia, and reminiscences capture the fun and excitement of the Roseland era.

Hardbound, 168 pp., 11"x14" $59.95 plus tax Proceeds benefit the Ontario County Historical Society

Order your copy today!

Call 585.394.4975 or visit www.ochs.org/Roseland

oday in Canandaigua, people live on Roseland Lane, shop at Roseland Center, and take the family to Roseland Waterpark, keeping the memory of Roseland Amusement Park alive. A major summertime attraction at the north shore of Canandaigua Lake for 60 years (from 1925 to 1985), the park was frequented and enjoyed by generations of residents from a wide geographical area.

This book distills 60 years of Roseland’s existence into a clearly written narrative, beginning with the conversion of 10 acres of farmland into a lakeside park by Rochester businessman, William Muar. Local history author Lynda Hotra, who sifted through archives and gathered personal anecdotes and recollections of

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the development of the park, was joined in the writing of the book by Sherman Farnham, a former Ontario County Historical Society trustee, retired banker, historian and writer.

Decades of amusement-park history are brought to life through photographs and postcards. The creative layout and large format make it especially appealing. Its 14-by-11-inch size recalls Life, the pictorial magazine that reigned during the same time period. Roseland is a page-turner even as the reader inevitably approaches the account of the park’s closure, with its rides and buildings auctioned off to the highest bidders.

Professional photographer Tom Cooley was on hand during Roseland’s

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last days to document the park’s contents before they were dispersed. Views of individual carousel horses lend a rich final chapter to the book.

The funds used to bring this longawaited publication to fruition were originally raised in an unsuccessful attempt to keep the Roseland Amusement Park’s carousel in the community.

Sadly, when the park closed 22 years ago, the carousel moved away, but its horses continue to delight their riders at its new Finger Lakes home at the Carousel Center, a mall located on Onondaga Lake in Syracuse.

Circle Reader Service Number 101

Nature’s Quiet Conversations

by John A. Weeks, edited by Janet J. Smith Syracuse University Press, 2006 Paperback: $19.95 315-443-5534 SyracuseUniversityPress.syr.edu

T

his collection of essays was originally published in newspapers and later aired for 24 years as The Nature of Things on WRVO, a regional public radio station. Weeks’ thoughtful comments on nature are combined with his beautiful black-andwhite illustrations. Whether depicting a loon or a bobcat, a monarch butterfly Circle Reader Service Number 142

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or a horned owl, Weeks’ line drawings are crafted with the same precision as his commentary, which is based on his life and work in central New York State.

His profiles of places and descriptions of plants and birds demonstrate the value of seeking out the beauty and variety of nature. “The only essential ingredient is desire to experience,� writes Weeks, a biologist, botanist, environmental educator, author, artist and commentator.

Part of the appeal of the essays is that they capture nature year-round.

Titles such as “The Little Creatures of Autumn� and “The Rewards of a Winter Walk� underscore the fact that each season has something special to offer. The index is enormously helpful.

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T Take a Hike: Family Walks in New York’s Finger Lakes Region Take Your Bike: Family Rides in New York’s Finger Lakes Region

by Rich and Sue Freeman Footprint Press, 2006 Paperback: $19.95 each.

941-474-8316 FootprintPress.com

hese titles are the latest guidebooks from outdoor enthusiasts Rich and Sue Freeman.

The couple has penned 14 books, which focus on hiking, biking, paddling and other recreational activities in western New York and the Finger Lakes.

The Freemans’ books are characterized by their well-organized presentation of information, a clear writing style, and an easy-to-read map of each suggested trail. Each title offers directions, parking locations, admission information, contact names, telephone numbers and websites. Each trail is GPS-mapped, its distance measured, and its difficulty ranked, along with an estimate of how long it would take to complete. Historical

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information adds extra value to the individual descriptions.

More than 100 trails are mapped and described in these two Footprint Press guidebooks. The hiking book divides its 68 trails into five groups, based on county boundaries. The biking book organizes 43 rides into three county groups. The authors say that almost all the trails in the bike book can also be used for hiking, jogging, running or snowshoeing; many are also good for cross-country skiing. All trails in the biking guide welcome dogs, as do 59 of the hiking trails.

The Freemans often omit state parks partly because they are welltraveled and usually charge admission.

“We like to promote the free advenI tures people can have,” says Sue.

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Doggin’ the Finger Lakes: The 50 Best Places to Hike With Your Dog

by Doug Gelbert Cruden Bay Books, 2007 Paperback: $12.95 610-917-1066 HikeWithYourDog.com

niffing out the best places to hike with your dog in the Finger Lakes is the aim of Doug Gelbert, who has authored several titles on hiking with your favorite canine companion. Gelbert covers many of the trails detailed in the Freemans’ books, but also offers other options. There are helpful tips related to outfitting dogs for the hike and practical advice on what a doggie first-aid kit should include.

The author highlights bits of local history, botany and architecture among other “bonuses.” The book gives directions and other trail operational information, but it lacks maps – that might be something to let “Fido” carry in his doggie pack.

Your Destination of Choice…

The Inn on the Lake is located in the heart of New York State’s fabled Wine Country along the north shore of scenic Canandaigua Lake. Whether you’re staying for the weekend, in town for a meeting or dining at Max on the Lake, The Inn on the Lake is ready to exceed your expectations.

Offering both casual and elegant dining, every meal at Max on the Lake is a tasteful celebration of local flavors and gourmet cuisine, perfectly complemented by a spectacular waterfront view and Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence for Outstanding Restaurant Wine List.

Call for info on our packages, corporate rates, and group rates or visit our website at www.visitinnonthelake.com

770 S. Main St. Canandaigua, NY 14424 • 585.394.7800 • www.visitinnonthelake.com Circle Reader Service Number 149

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Memories of the Heart: An Oral History of the Town of Canandaigua, 1900-1950

by Ray Henry Ontario County Historical Society, 2006 Paperback: $21.95 585-394-4975 • OCHS.org

Circle Reader Service Number 152

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Visit the Cinnamon Stick this Winter, and enjoy all we have to offer! We have the perfect gift for everyone on your list, as well as something special for you or your home! Be sure to check out our year-round Christmas and holiday shop on the second floor! It's magical! We have one of the largest displays of decorated trees in the area, and our Christmas Village is spectacular! We are open every day throughout the winter for all of your shopping needs!

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ay Henry, longtime trustee at the Ontario County Historical Society and historian for the Town of Canandaigua, presents recollections of some of the oldest families of Canandaigua. Building on earlier local histories, this new book documents the firsthand accounts of those who lived there through the first half of the 20th century. “Domestically, the Town of Canandaigua was primarily a laid-back, agricultural and summer cottage township, pleasantly sleeping in an era of hard yet sweet times, accentuated with a close family structure and warmth,” observes the author.

About 20 families participated in interviews for this project, which were begun by Ed Varno, director of the Ontario County Historical Society.

Varno preceded Ray Henry as Canandaigua town historian. Included among the town’s hamlets are Centerfield, Academy and Cheshire, where Henry has lived since the 1970s.

Participants recall work on the farms, living on Canandaigua Lake, local commerce, and early schools. Fully illustrated, the book features many neverbefore-published photographs. It is indexed by family names, making it a valuable resource for genealogists.

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his memoir takes the reader through a journey of an African-American woman’s life, from the segregated South of preWorld War I to the North during the civil rights era. It is a first-person account of life from the perspective of a black family, and the reader sees how the family deals with the inequalities then prevalent in society.

Author Parker Brown is an oral historian who lives in Syracuse. Peggy Wood is a product of a middle-class family that valued education highly.

She shares many of her family’s experiences at southern schools, including Tuskegee Institute in Alabama and the School of Social Work in Atlanta. Threatening encounters with the Ku Klux Klan, at a black college in Florida where her father taught, are riveting.

Some less dramatic encounters, but equally disturbing, reveal how the separation of the races had an impact on daily life. Wood recalls how a simple pastime like shopping for a dress relegated black women to segregated changing areas in department stores in the 1930s.

“Segregation was part of life, and

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you had to work around it the best you could,” said Wood. Once married, she and her husband Frank started a new life at a community center in Ohio, which was not without its segregated aspects.

The title of the book refers to the need to solve the problems facing black people, problems which Wood faced throughout her life. During the 1950s and 1960s civil rights struggles, the Woods lived in Syracuse where Frank became a community-center director and Peggy became a social worker, first for the Salvation Army and later for the city health department. The social inequities she encountered demonstrate how the determination of one woman made a difference.

Lima, part of the Images of America series, he came in contact with Corby’s photographs taken between 1910 and 1920.

The author augments Corby’s views with other period photographs and adds informative comments and captions about each. What is striking about Corby’s photographs is their wide-ranging subject matter, from family gatherings to farm laborers, from school chums at Lima’s Genesee Wesleyan Seminary or Cornell University to forays into the scenic countryside around the Finger Lakes.

The reader learns that Corby taught photography at Cornell during his time there and later returned to run the family farm.

The composition, variety, and attention to detail in the early images reveal an exceptionally capable photographer whose goal was to document his world and times. The photos he took of himself reveal a relaxed confidence and engaging manner. An author of eight books, Leavy brings to his writing a strong interest in history, historical preservation, and photography.

Finger Lakes Memories

by Michael Leavy Arcadia Publishing, 2007 Paperback: $19.99 888-313-2665 ArcadiaPublishing.com

Orphan Home: The Memories of Laurence K. & John H. Buchholz edited by Christine E. Buck and John A. Buchholz Clear Spring Publishing, 2007 Paperback: $12.00 607-656-5848 ClearSpringPublishing.com

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inger Lakes Memories showcases the early 20th-century photographs of Lima native, George Bentley Corby. The Corby family owned a large dairy farm, Meadow Brook, in Lima. While Michael Leavy was writing his first book, Around

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his short but moving memoir deals with the lives of two brothers who were separated from their family in 1910 due to their mother’s illness and other family difficulties. At ages 6 and 8 and with shipping tags tied to their clothes,

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the boys, John and Laurence Buchholz, boarded a Lehigh Valley passenger train in Geneva and set out on their long journey to an orphan home in Ohio.

Siblings Christine Buck and John Buchholz, the niece and nephew of John and Laurence Buchholz, recount their uncles’ lives over the six years before they returned home. Based on conversations they had with their uncles in their later years, this story brings to life the hardships of their stay.

The book documents the boys’ daily chores on the orphanage farm, their schooling, spare living conditions, occasional adventures, and often harsh discipline at the hands of their caretakers at the Ebenezer Orphan Home. There is also heartbreak when the boys receive news from their family. Orphan Home includes summaries of the boys’ lives after they returned home as well as their adult lives, which show that despite the wrenching predicament of their youth, their human spirit triumphed.

Laurel C. Wemett lives in Canandaigua where she owns a gift shop, Cats in the Kitchen. She is a correspondent for the Messenger Post Newspapers and a frequent contributor to Life in the Finger Lakes magazine.

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There are 90 wineries in Finger Lakes Wine Country

D O W N T O W N

Where do folks who live here take their friends for Tours & Tastings?

Clifton Springs

by Frederick L. Gifford, Historian Emeritus Photos by Ryan WIlliamson

I TASTING ROOM GALLERY & GIFT SHOP Mon. - Sat. 10 am - 5 pm Sun. noon - 5 pm 658 Lake Road, King Ferry, NY 800.439.5271 • 315.364.5100 n n n

www.treleavenwines.com Circle Reader Service Number 119

n the heart of the Finger Lakes lies Clifton Springs, nestled among rolling hills and gentle streams not far from the cities of Rochester and Syracuse. The village was first settled in 1802, but growth did not occur until 1850 when Dr. Henry Foster, a pioneer in hydrotherapy and homeopathic treatments, opened a “water cure” facility near the village’s natural, curative sulphur springs.

People from all over the eastern United States traveled for treatment at Dr. Foster’s grand sanitarium, thanks to Clifton Springs’ location on the New York Central and Hudson Railroad line. As the sanitarium grew, so did the community. Today’s downtown, with its turn-of-the-century

ake it a day in the country. From fine furniture, gifts and fresh flowers to casually elegant luncheon dining, our shops offer a unique shopping experience. Relax and enjoy the country.

The Loomis Barn - Fine home furnishings and accessories Corn House Cafe - Open for lunch specialty sandwiches, homemade soups Colonial Bouquets - Fresh flowers, dried arrangements, wreaths The Back Room - Unique accessories, gifts and accent items Store Hours Tues. - Sat. 10 - 5:30 • Sun. 12 - 4 Closed Mon. • Cafe open for lunch Just a 10-15 minute drive from Canandaigua, Penn Yan or Geneva. Call for directions.

4942 Loomis Road • Rushville

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800-716-2276 • 585-554-3154

The Foster Cottage Museum

Circle Reader Service Number 120

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buildings, is charming and vital.

Dr. Foster was an advocate of healing the mind as well as the body.

His progressive approach to wellness included a healthy diet and exercise, new ideas at the time in the developing field of medicine. His work inspired the growth of Clifton Springs Hospital & Clinic, a modern 262-bed, not-for-profit facility, and its newest wing, The Springs of Clifton. The Springs offers a wide range of services to maintain a healthy body, mind, and spirit, including acupuncture, massage, chiropractic and mineral springs treatment, as well as holistic spa services. Today, the original sanitarium building opened by Dr. Foster provides senior citizen housing.

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Population: 2,223 Special Events: On December 7, an annual pre-holiday event will be held, where festive lights will flood the business section and all kinds of entertainment and holiday fare will be offered to the visiting public.

Each year during the first weekend in June, the community holds the Sulphur Springs Festival. The Victorian-themed fair includes crafts, foods, activities and Victorian dress.

What to see: The Foster Cottage Museum, 9 East Main Street, is open weekly Thursday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Built in 1854, the cottage is the permanent home of the Clifton Springs Historical Society.

After many changes of location, the Clifton Springs Library found a permanent home in 1991 in the passenger station for the New York Central Railroad, 4 Railroad Avenue.

It’s open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday and Thursday from noon to 8 p.m. and on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

During July and August each year, the library is closed on Saturday.

Hidden Treasure: A Tiffany glass mosaic of the last supper was placed in the sanitarium chapel as a memorial to Dr. Foster after his death in 1901.

Created by Tiffany Studios designer Frederic Wilson, it’s made of favrile glass developed by Louis Comfort Tiffany.

Clifton Springs

The Peirce Block

St. John’s Episcopal Church

Clifton Springs Rotary Bandstand

Dr. Foster’s original spa and sanitarium is now a senior living facility attached to the new hospital.

Circle Reader Service Number 116

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L A K E S

The Family Trees

In addition to providing a variety of live fir, spruce and pine trees, Darlings’ hassle-free, you-cut-it Christmas Tree Farm gives families the chance to create happy holiday memories. Photo by Ryan Williamson

by Evelyn Jansen Photo by Ryan Williamson

W

hen Dick and Mary Ellen Darling planted some 400 evergreen trees as a windbreak on their property nearly 40 years ago, they never dreamed it would turn into the rewarding business that it is today. At present, thousands of trees cover 15 acres of their scenic, rolling lot near Clifton Springs.

“When the trees started to mature, people would stop and ask if we’d sell them one for a Christmas tree,” recalls Dick Darling. “Then word got out and more people began to stop. Over the years I kept planting more.”

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In the beginning, Dick planted all the trees himself using nothing more than a shovel. However, when annual planting grew to approximately 2,000 trees, he had to invest in some power equipment. A tractor with a tree planter is used for larger areas, and a three-wheel auger gets into the tight spots without disturbing remaining specimens.

Starting out with just Douglas Fir, Scotch Pine and Norway Spruce, the Darling’s added some new varieties about 10 years ago. New types include Frazer Fir, Balsam Fir, Grand Fir and

W W W. L I F E I N T H E F I N G E R L A K E S . C O M

Concolor Fir, a specialty hybrid that smells like citrus.

“You have to grow what people want, and these varieties are what they ask for,” says Dick.

More than selling trees Both Mary Ellen and Dick grew up in farm families, so agriculture is in their blood. Dick has spent his career working in agri-business and currently works part-time for a chemical and seed company. Mary Ellen has been a lifelong educator and is active with Literacy Volunteers. As a result of their

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Among the amenities at Darling’s is wrapping and securing your tree for transport.

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combined experience, customers get much more than just a tree. They get an education on how to care for it and make it last.

At the Darling Christmas Tree Farm, business is a real family affair. The kids and even the grandchildren, ages 1 to 5, pitch in. There is always plenty for each family member to do, no matter what their age. Everything has been planned to give customers, who are mostly families with young children, a “traditional family experience,” says Mary Ellen.

In the big, red barn behind the house, Mary Ellen has created a children’s library. There, her grandchildren help little visitors pick out books and stay warm and comfortable while the parents attend to the details of their purchase.

The experience begins the moment a customer arrives at the farm, with a personal greeting from Dick. Some would think it enough “just to sell a tree.” Not here at the Darling farm.

After they are greeted, customers are offered hot cider, apples and reindeer

Circle Reader Service Number 115

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food because, “Hey, you never know,” says Dick. Excellent customer service is the number-one goal here. If you’re not comfortable cutting your own, they’ll do it for you. After your tree is cut, it’s run through the baler where a netting material wraps it up for transport. They’ll even help secure it to your vehicle. All that’s left to do is take it home, decorate and enjoy!

Growing the business If you’re worried about finding just the right tree during the holiday season, you can select your tree ahead of time.

Customers can choose and tag a tree anytime after mid-September. The farm officially opens for cutting the weekend after Thanksgiving.

A few years ago the family began making wreaths to offer their customers. “It seemed like a good way to make use of misshapen trees or broken boughs, and it took off!” says Mary Ellen. “We now have two wreath-making machines, so we can produce more this year.”

In addition to standard round

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Confidence & Style

Customers are allowed to choose and mark their trees before the snow flies. submitted photo

wreaths, the Darlings offer heartshaped wreaths, kissing balls, swags and centerpieces.

When asked what the biggest challenge of this business was, Mary Ellen says, “The weather! Definitely. Last year was an especially hard year. We took a chance and planted 5,000 trees and lost nearly half because of the dry weather conditions. The greatest reward is getting to share Christmas with our customers.”

Mary Ellen believes the reason they’ve been so successful is because “people are getting back to a desire for a traditional Christmas. We help them achieve that by making their tree purchase a family affair, something they can do together. They take pictures, bring pets and have fun. Customers can look back on this all year.”

As for marketing, they advertise in the local newspapers occasionally, and run display ads to kick off the season.

For the most part however, word of mouth is what keeps them going, and growing. They plan to launch a website in the future.

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MADE

IN THE FINGER LAKES

A military mission The Darlings both admit they love what they do, but when an opportunity arose two years ago to participate in Trees for Troops, their

Photo by Ryan Williamson

Circle Reader Service Number 158

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passion turned into a mission. The program, sponsored by the Christmas Spirit Foundation, FedEx and the National Christmas Tree Association, was designed to provide real trees for U.S. military personnel and their families during the Christmas season.

When Trees for Troops began in 2005, the goal was to distribute 4,000 trees to military families around the world. This year the goal is to distribute approximately 17,000 trees. This is accomplished through a multi-stage process organized by volunteers.

The first step is to recruit growers to donate trees. Dick is in charge of procuring 800 trees to be sent to Fort Drum this year. He has successfully recruited several growers from all over the state to meet this goal.

Volunteers around the United States repeat this process to meet the overall goal.

Trees are then delivered to designated collection points. From there they must be sent to FedEx pickup points where they are shipped, at no charge, to bases worldwide. Finally, they are distributed to the families.

“This is a great program to be involved in,” Dick says. “It just

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makes you feel good.”

One of those feel-good moments happened over the summer, when a family who had heard about Trees for Troops stopped by.

The dad was about to be deployed to Iraq. The Darlings’ farm wouldn’t be officially open for tagging trees until September, but his wife didn’t want to pick out a tree without him.

She wanted her husband to take part in this tradition.

“We took them out among the rows of trees and let them tag one.

Everybody was happy knowing their tree was one that Dad helped pick out,” recalls Dick.

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Another particularly memorable occasion was when a mother called to see if her son, who wouldn’t be home from Iraq until Christmas Eve, could get his tree then. The Darlings agreed to stay open until the woman’s son got his tree.

“The mom came over before then and tagged a tree for her son and his family, to be picked up on Christmas Eve,” Mary Ellen said.

“The whole family showed up and we had a wonderful time sharing the moment with them. They cut the tree and took pictures and had a real celebration. Those are the times you never forget.”

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H U M A N

I N T E R E S T

Getting to Know Your Neighbors

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28 ~

kay, I admit it – I watch Oprah. I am not an Oprah addict. I do not subscribe to her magazine (although I do occasionally take a glance when I am at Barnes & Noble), nor do I receive updates from her website. I do watch her show, somewhat regularly, each day while working out. I enjoy her segments on what 30-something women in America are doing, or the importance of updating your dance moves as to not get in a rut like Gayle King, Oprah’s best friend. Recently Oprah had a segment on getting to know your neighbors. She decided she was going to walk over to her neighbor’s house, knock on the door, introduce herself, present a gift and get to know the people who live across from Harpo Studios.

In recent years I have not been as neighborly as Oprah. I have not taken the steps to knock on my neighbor’s door and say hello. Prior to living in Ithaca, when I lived in cities (Boston and San Francisco), I had been known to make cookies for the new couple moving in downstairs or bring a bottle of wine to the new woman next door. I guess the idea of saying hello to someone who is already living there doesn’t make much sense to me. I am all for welcoming the new, but to say hello when someone has been living in the same place feels a bit unusual.

I live 10 minutes from downtown Ithaca. The road I live on is rural and very quiet. Perhaps one, somewhat lame but true, reason I have not gotten the gusto to knock on my neighbor’s door with a cherry pie (or in Oprah’s situation, a case of Dom Perignon) could be because I am a bit apprehensive of the person who lives there. For instance, one Saturday morning while out for a run, I heard the heavy beat of several feet behind me. When I turned to see what on earth was chasing me, I saw several goats. I am originally from the suburbs and am familiar with farm animals, but only when they are on the farm – not when they are in my neighborhood. It was quite a scare. I was somewhat worried about running and whom I would run into – or who would run into me – for about a week. Thus, one may surmise that I am slightly afraid

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of the person who lives a few doors down from me.

With that being said, I have worked downtown for about two years. I now recognize so many Ithacans I feel as if they are my neighbors, even if they do not live next door. For example, I know the interesting duo that makes regular trips to Starbucks. The gentleman is rather dapper, but a bit strange – for some reason he reminds me of Pee Wee Herman. His coffee date is a blonde, typically in floral prints, often with a dog. I see them at least weekly.

Just this morning I saw my buddy “the pseudo-homeless man.” I refer to him as such because I am not 100-percent sure he is homeless. He’s always dressed decently, typically with a bag of some kind of recent purchase (today it looked like goods from True Value), yet he always asks for change.

I regularly see the woman who works on the Commons, tall and slender with a short pixie cut who uses an umbrella in all kinds of weather – rain OR sun. On occasion I see my baristas and restaurant servers out and about at the Bookery or on the #10 bus. Just yesterday I saw the guy who works at the post office riding his bike as I walked to my car.

I think Oprah has a point: How nice it is to not only recognize the people in your neighborhood, but to know their names (think of the television show “Cheers”). In Oprah’s case, she met a very classy couple with a super trendy loft apartment suitable for all kinds of lavish events. One may never know whom they are meeting when they knock on their neighbor’s door to say hello. I am certain they are not all goats.

And with some time, I am sure even I will be able to say hello to my furry neighbors.

Katie Irish makes her home in Ithaca.

She is taking the necessary steps to be friendlier to all her neighbors, including those with four legs.

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I

n the early days of the Underground Railroad slaves were hunted and tracked as far as Columbia, Lancaster County [Pennsylvania]. There, pursuers lost all trace of them. The most scrutinizing inquiries, the most vigorous searches, failed to educe any knowledge of them. These pursuers seemed to have reached an abyss, beyond which they could not see, the depths of which they could not fathom, and in their bewilderment and discomfiture they declared that, ‘There must be an underground railroad somewhere.’”

Historian Robert C. Smedley enlightens us to the origin of the term “Underground Railroad,” to which Finger Lakes towns made a monumental contribution.

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BELOW: The Harriet Tubman house in Auburn

Story and Photographs by Cindy Ross

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T

he Underground Railroad wasn’t a locomotive with train cars and track at all, but a 500-mile network of secret passages that took slaves from bondage to freedom before and during the Civil War. Escape routes stretched from the southern slave states into the North and on to Canada. Fugitives usually traveled secretly at night, and were hidden by thousands of “conductors” during the day, many of whom were right here in the Finger Lakes.

My two teenagers and I recently visited three Finger Lakes-area stops on the former Underground Railroad: Syracuse, Auburn and Elmira, each time digging deeper into the rich and inspirational history that graces this part of New York.

Syracuse, a radical city Down the narrow, dingy basement stairs we cautiously step, following our leader with flashlight in hand.

She unlocks an old furnace door and casts the beam on a tunnel deep beneath the structure of the building. A dugout dirt bench, carved out of the clay subsoil is clearly visible. On quick inspection, it appears as if the tunnel ends. But what isn’t obvious is that it also wraps behind the furnace. Shielded by light and sound, there’s a jog in the crude bench. Fugitive slaves once sat here for hours, even days, awaiting their transport north. They lit small candles, whispered, and were warmed by the furnace.

Some artistic slaves gouged out the clay and carved faces to pass the time. They stand as a record of the souls who passed this way.

From the outside, the building looks like any other wood-frame church dating back to the 1840s. Red brick with white trim, a steeple pierces the azure sky. But this former Methodist Church was once the gathering place of the great “Underground Railroad King” Reverend Jermain Wesley Loguen. Originally from Tennessee, Reverend Loguen was born into slavery. His mother was a slave, and his father owned her.

In Syracuse, Loguen established two Underground Railroad terminals, one in his home and one in the church and helped some 1,500 fugitive slaves escape to Canada. Loguen was a close friend of Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass; Douglass’ son married Loguen’s daughter.

Today, the church is The Mission Restaurant, specializing in Mexican food. It’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places. When we enter, we immediately notice a large, ornate cast-iron grate in the wood floor. It was the air vent for the fugitives who hid directly below. As the evening light streamed through the stained

The Mission Restaurant

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glass windows, manager Kathy Westlake was happy to share the building’s history.

Syracuse received the largest number of fugitive slaves of any town in New York. It was well-positioned geographically – from there, it was a relatively straight shot to Canada. The city was openly abolitionist, and anti-slavery conventions were often held there.

In 1850, the mayor of Syracuse declared the town an “open city” for fugitive slaves. To the federal government, this was considered treason.

Around the corner from The Mission is the Onondaga Historical Association Museum & Research Center, the regional interpretation center for the Underground Railroad.

The award-winning exhibit captivated us. Five life-sized, cutout figures of those who played important roles in Syracuse’s Underground Railroad “speak” to us and tell us their story.

My kids and I settled onto the carpeted floor in the darkened room and were transported by a computerized light-and-sound show to a time few Americans are proud of.

Afterward, we wandered over to the permanent exhibit that is the showcase of the museum. The carved clay faces from Reverend Loguen’s church, which were carefully extracted by archeologists, are displayed for all to see. The haunting sculptures show the artists’ fingerprints as they captured African features and hair, along with the struggle that weighed heavy on their hearts.

From there, we made our way to Clinton Square where a remarkable larger-than-life sculpture depicts the “Jerry Rescue.” On October 1, 1851, black and white Syracusans forcibly rose up against the federal government to free runaway slave William “Jerry” Henry from the Clinton Square jail, where he was held captive by federal marshals. Henry had been at work as a cooper making barrels when he was seized and thrown into prison. An

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anti-slavery convention was being held in the city, and when those in attendance heard what had befallen one of their citizens, a crowd of over 2,000 rushed the jailhouse with a battering ram. Miller was rescued and spirited away to Canada.

Harriet Tubman died in 1913 and was buried at Fort Hill Cemetery in Auburn.

The “Freedom Bound” exhibit at the Onondaga Historical Association Museum recreates the story of fugitive slaves seeking freedom via Syracuse.

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Abolitionists in Auburn From Syracuse, we traveled to Auburn, on the westward and northern route of the Underground Railroad.

Before and during the Civil War, it boasted an active and free black population. Many homes in this picturesque town sheltered fugitives, including the Victorian mansion of William Seward, the famed Governor of New York who had the extraordinary vision to purchase Alaska from Russia in 1867.

Seward and his wife, Francis, were devoted abolitionists. On the tour of their home, we see where the walk-in hearth kitchen in the basement provided freedom seekers with a warm place to hide and rest.

The 17-room mansion was continuously the home of three generations of Sewards, from 1816 until 1951. Among the 100,000 pieces of manuscript material, there are “the Seward papers,” which documents the fugitive slaves he helped. William “Jerry” Henry was one of them.

Seward’s family and home suffered because of the noble stand he took. A number of his pets were poisoned and his carriage house was set on fire by “Copperheads” – northerners who were southern sympathizers.

While perusing Seward’s home and museum displays, we learned about the unusual connection he had with Abraham Lincoln. We didn’t know Seward ran for president against Lincoln, that he worked to convince Lincoln to abolish slavery, and that his assassination was scheduled for the same night as President Lincoln’s. (Seward was stabbed but not killed.)

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Invest in the Best For More Information on the Underground Railroad in the Finger Lakes Syracuse Convention & Visitors Bureau 572 S. Salina St. Syracuse, NY 13202 (315) 470-1910 VisitSyracuse.org The Mission 304 E. Onondaga St. Syracuse, NY 13202 (315) 475-7344 Onondaga Historical Association Museum & Research Center 321 Montgomery St. Syracuse, NY 13202 (315) 428-1864 CNYhistory.org Cayuga County Office of Tourism 131 Genesee St. Auburn, NY 13201-3617 (315) 255-1658 TourCayuga.com

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Seward House 33 South St. Auburn, NY 13021 (315) 252-1283 SewardHouse.org Harriet Tubman Home 180 South Street Auburn, NY 13021 (315) 252-2081 HarrietTubmanHome.org The Springside Inn 6141 West Lake Road Auburn, NY 13021 (315) 252-7247 SpringsideInn.com Chemung County Chamber of Commerce 400 East Church St. Elmira, NY 14901 (607) 734-5137 ChemungChamber.org The John Jones Museum 1250 Davis St. Elmira, NY 14901 JohnWJonesMuseum.org The Elmiran Trolley Elmira (607) 734-4211 Circle Reader Service Number 113

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Other threads connecting great Americans become evident as we traveled the path of the Underground Railroad. Frederick Douglass was a frequent visitor to the Seward residence, as was Harriet Tubman, arguably the most famous conductor on the Underground Railroad. Seward became her dear friend and provided her with a two-story home on the outskirts of Auburn, later selling her the property for a modest sum.

Our visit to the Tubman House and Museum proves to be one of the most moving experiences we have on our travels.

When Tubman was 15, her master flung a 2-pound lead weight at her head causing an injury that would result in uncontrollable and unexpected sleeping spells for the rest of her life. Four years later, when she feared

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A bronze statue in Seward’s honor was erected in 1888 in Seward Park near his home in Auburn.

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she would be sold, the 19-year-old set off for freedom. Her father taught her how to read the night sky; it served as her road map and helped her successfully conduct hundreds of others like her to freedom.

Tubman carried a six shooter strapped to her leg to ward off pursuers, and opium to quiet crying babies. She made 19 trips from south to north, rescuing more than 300 slaves.

As I stood at the threshold of Harriet Tubman’s bedroom, I stared off at the quilt on her carved oak bed, her personal Bible on a small table and her rocking chair. If she sat still for more than 15 minutes, she would fall into an exhausted slumber.

Our last stop in Auburn is the Springside Inn, where owner Sean Lattimore took us behind the historic

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The 1851 rescue of fugitive slave William “Jerry” Henry is memorialized in Syracuse’s Clinton Square.

building to the woodlands of Galpin Hill. We walked the same trail as the slaves who were conducted on through the dark, tense nights.

Nearly every church in Elmira was active as an Underground Railroad station. The most famous conductor there, however, operated from his house behind Elmira’s First Baptist Church.

John Jones personally assisted 800 slaves to freedom. A former slave himself, Jones settled in Elmira after he won his freedom in 1844.

Jones used an actual railroad in his conducting, hiding fugitives in the 4 p.m. “Freedom Baggage Car” that traveled to Niagara Falls, a stone’s throw from free Canada. Railroad employees were sympathetic to Jones’s cause and charged him nothing for his “freight.”

Jones is known for other heroics.

During the Civil War, the most infamous prison camp for captured Confederate soldiers was in Elmira.

The harsh conditions at Camp

From Elmira to everywhere Elmira, in Chemung County, close to the Pennsylvania border, had become a transportation center by the mid-1800s. Real railroads came into the city, and the use of the Chemung Canal increased, making the city a valuable stop on the Underground Railroad. From Elmira, there were a variety of major transportation routes that led to much of New York and Pennsylvania. The same valleys that attracted railroad and canal construction also attracted slaves running toward freedom; the new routes were the easiest and fastest to travel.

(continued on page 87)

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Canadice Lake, pictured here, and Hemlock Lake are protected by 7,000 acres of undeveloped watersheds owned by the city of Rochester.

Photo by Bill Banaszewski

solid GROUND As rumors circulate about developing the watersheds surrounding Hemlock and Canadice Lakes, Rochester officials affirm their plans for preservation.

by John Adamski

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uring the1970s, the last remaining pair of bald eagles in New York State nested on a forested ridge high above the south end of Hemlock Lake in the Livingston County town of Springwater. They did so because of the lake’s isolation and abundance of fish, their two principal needs. Since 1876, the crystal clear waters of Hemlock Lake have served as the primary water supply for the city of Rochester, southern Monroe County and some of northern Livingston County. In 1917, water from the outlet of neighboring Canadice Lake was diverted into Hemlock, enhancing the total supply by 25 percent. Both lakes are protected by 7,000 acres of wild and undeveloped watersheds, owned by the city of Rochester. Now there is concern that these watersheds may not be sufficiently insulated from future development as the cash-strapped city pursues new sources of revenue, and the demand for resort property skyrockets.

D

Two unique Finger Lakes In the 1880s, Hemlock Lake was a recreational hotspot, even more so than Conesus Lake. Its shores were lined with 80 cottages and summer homes, and several resort hotels. A railroad ferried tourists the 30 miles between Rochester and Hemlock Park at the north end of the lake, and a steamdriven tour boat cruised its 7-mile length. But not long after Rochester began drawing tap water, the booming shoreline development threatened to jeopardize its purity.

Of the 11 Finger Lakes, Canadice is the smallest at 3 miles long and the highest in elevation at 1,100 feet.

Hemlock is 200 feet lower. Both lakes are nearly 100

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Hemlock Lake (left) and Canadice Lake are the only Finger Lakes still to exist in a wild state. Photo by Bill Banaszewski

feet deep. They are the only Finger Lakes to exist in a wild state and, as this is written, Canadice alone is free from zebra mussels, a now-too-common invasive species. Altitude was the deciding factor in tapping these lakes because water could be delivered to Rochester, nearly 500 feet lower than Hemlock Lake, by gravity flow.

Considering 1870s’ technology when everything was dug by hand, the water system even by today’s standards is an engineering marvel. It was built to last: Most of the original conduits, piping and tunnels are still in use. The gravity advantage, which provides excellent water pressure, is especially beneficial in view of today’s energy costs.

By 1896, human activities along Hemlock’s lakefront were degrading its water quality, so the city began acquiring shoreline properties to control their use, a process that took 55 years. Homes and cottages were demolished or moved.

Agricultural land and logged hillsides were replanted with trees until all of the land bordering both lakes, which the city now owns, eventually became wild

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again. Land owned by Rochester, however, represents only 25 percent of the total watersheds of the two lakes; the rest is private. In 1931, the state legislature adopted Rochester’s Watershed Rules and Regulations, which gave the city some control over privately owned property within the watershed limits as well.

Rochester has the right idea Rochester has always been an outstanding steward of the land. Donald Root has been the city’s watershed conservationist for over 20 years and oversees a complex land-management plan.

He knows the watersheds like the back of his hand and can recite biological, historical and hydrological data on any aspect of the city’s operation. According to Root, forest and recreation management are the two primary watershed protection efforts administered by the water bureau. Limited timber harvests, directed by a consulting forester, are a minor but important component of the plan, which specifically addresses the thinning of aging plantations. The agency also monitors activities on private properties to

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ensure that they are compliant with the watershed rules and regulations.

Rochester has been generous in allowing the public access to its lakes and forests, and even encourages activities such as canoeing, fishing, hunting, hiking, and bird watching. Twenty miles of logging roads have been converted into a system of hiking trails. The watersheds have been designated an “Important Bird Area” by the National Audubon Society, and host songbirds, waterfowl, and birds of prey. The uplands are home to black bears, coyotes, red and gray foxes, whitetail deer, ruffed grouse and wild turkeys. Both lakes offer good fishing for brown trout, lake trout, rainbow trout, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, pickerel and panfish. Rare and delicate plant life can be found in a number of isolated locations throughout the watershed area.

A Watershed Visitor Permit, which details the use, restrictions, and prohibitions in effect, is available free of charge online or at the kiosk at the north end of Hemlock Lake. “It must be carried by at least one party member while using city

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property,” Root advises. A uniformed patrolman is on duty to check permits, enforce the rules, and answer questions.

Recreation on the city’s property is playing an important role in gaining public support for preserving these wild resources, an issue that has become a hot topic lately.

Rumors circulate For almost 100 years, tap water drawn from Hemlock Lake was so pure it didn’t need filtering, but a 1980s storm caused enough turbidity that the city issued a boil-water advisory. New federal regulations kicked in, which required that all public water drawn from surface sources be filtered to remove the microscopic suspended particles that cause cloudiness in the water. Such turbidity interferes with proper disinfection.

Construction of a multimillion-dollar water filtration plant at the north end of Hemlock Lake began in 1991. It became operational in 1993.

The construction of the plant ignited speculation that Rochester might consider selling some of its watershed property. State health regulations require that municipalities own a minimum of 200 feet of protective shoreline bordering any public water supply. In places, Rochester owns 10 times that much. It seemed logical that because the city was filtering its water, the need for so much watershed property became unnecessary.

While the city claims that it has not considered subdividing any of its land, there have been rumors of sweetheart deals between the city and unnamed developers to do exactly that. To dispel those concerns, Rochester City Council passed a resolution in 1993 to maintain the watersheds in a natural and undeveloped state. Council President Lois Giess recently reaffirmed that the current city council’s position remains the same.

Bob Morrison is the director of the City of Rochester Bureau of Water and is responsible for its entire operation, including water production, treatment, distribution and engineering. He said that the city is in discussion with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to

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see if a transfer of holdings, or even just development rights are options that could preserve the watersheds while transferring the annual $600,000 tax burden to another agency. He stated that so far, the parties have “agreed to agree to continue the status quo” concerning the watershed management plan, and he is hopeful that serious discussions are pending.

TNC’s Executive Director Jim Howe concurs. “The Nature Conservancy has spent the last 11 years working to facilitate dialog between the city and the state,” he said. Both he and Morrison see the state as the preferred buyer because of its strong conservation priority. In addition, TNC has acquired 1,100 acres of watershed property from private owners in the last five years and is working on deals for 1,400 more.

Those lands will be turned over to the state if and when a disposition is reached on the city property.

Paul D’Amato, director for DEC’s Region 8, is confident that development is not a threat. He said the current state administration is hoping to make a deal with the city, and the governor and DEC commissioner are both onboard with the idea. He explained, “DEC is excited and prepared to do everything in our power to preserve this unique and special resource.” He then referred to a stack of letters his office had received from members of the TNC, Sierra Club, Adirondack Mountain Club, Coalition for Hemlock and Canadice Lakes, and the surrounding towns and counties, all of which favor DEC ownership of the watersheds. “It’s as universal a one-sided view as I have seen, a classic win-win situation,” he said.

D’Amato pointed out that an outright purchase of the watersheds would not be cheap. The city and state have each undertaken independent appraisals to determine the value of the property and the state’s revenue sources are under study. However he said, “Funding would not be an impediment.” Although details of a DEC management plan have not been finalized, the two lakes would remain a water supply.

“Over the past 130 years,

Today there are two pairs of nesting bald eagles near Hemlock Lake. Photo by Bill Banaszewski

Rochester has provided pure and wholesome water from Hemlock and Canadice lakes for our city’s residents and businesses. Our water bureau has been a tremendous steward for our watershed,” said Rochester Mayor Robert Duffy. “Moving forward, our top priority will be the continued preservation of our natural resources.”

“The Hemlock-Canadice lakes have been listed as a priority project for the state since the beginning of the State’s Open Space Conservation Plan in 1992,” stated DEC Commissioner Pete Grannis. “The unique resources of the two lakes, the only two undeveloped Finger Lakes, help define the natural character of the Finger Lakes Region of New York State. We are committed, along with the city of Rochester and all the stakeholders, to the long-term conservation of this magnificent ecosystem.”

That should be good news for the nesting bald eagles. Both pairs.

John Adamski, who lives in Dansville, is passionate about outdoor activities including fishing, hunting, hiking and wilderness camping. Visit his wildlife photography website at JBAdamsGallery.com.

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P R O F I L E

Finger Lakes Hoots Story and photos by Bill Banaszewski

T Barred owls are nocturnal birds. They spend their days in the thick, dark portions of forests.

Screech owls are found in a range of colors, from gray to reddish brown. These tiny owls are fearless at defending their nests and have been known to attack humans who come too close.

Snowy owls fly south to the Finger Lakes region when lemming populations are scarce.

Strictly a bird of open country, they are rarely seen in trees.

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hroughout history, owls have been revered, feared and misunderstood. The behavior of the “wise old” owl was observed by military leaders to help them determine war strategies. Native Americans carried owls’ feet for good luck and, at times, considered the calls of owls as a harbinger of misfortune or death. To this day, barn owls are associated with haunted houses.

Owls are effective predators, engaging in natural acts of killing and eating to sustain life. They are equipped with strong feet and talons, and large hooked beaks for capturing and feeding on prey, mostly rodents.

They are indeed a “better mouse trap.”

All owls have acute sensory abilities. They have large eyes that are fixed in their sockets, so they must turn their heads to change their view. Because their hearing is extremely acute, they can hunt and capture prey at night without seeing them.

Saw-whet owls and screech owls are the smallest, and among the most common in the Finger Lakes region.

Although a secretive bird of the forest, the tiny saw-whet tolerates a close approach once it is located. Screech owls are found in small woodlots and orchards. They are easy to call in by imitating their tremulous and descending whistling call.

The barn owl, also called “the monkey-faced owl,” frequents farmlands and city environs. They hunt and nest in churches, barns and abandoned buildings, and often consume their weight in mice daily.

The most vocal and one of the largest owls of our region is the barred owl. They prefer large forested areas near water, but can be brought in by imitating their eight-hoot call, whoo cooks for you – whoo cooks for you. Be forewarned: If you are camping and

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want some sleep, they’re difficult to stop once they get started.

The largest and most powerful owl common to our region is the great horned owl. It nests earlier than any other bird in New York, laying its eggs in January or February. Great horned owls prey upon just about anything imaginable, including rabbits, game birds, snakes, frogs, other owls, cats and even skunks.

One of the easiest ways to locate

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The largest of the “eared” owls, Great Horned Owls often lay their eggs when the ground is snow-covered.

great horned owls during the day is to listen for a flock of cawing crows.

They love to harass owls while they’re sleeping. Great horned owls are four hooters – hoo ho ho hoo – and can be heard on calm nights when the love bug gets them.

Snowy owls and short-eared owls are less common in the Finger Lakes, but fairly regular visitors in the winter.

Both migrate from Canada and can be seen hunting mice over fields that are

not buried in snow. This past winter I regularly watched short-eared owls and one snowy owl hunting during the day on the bluff over Keuka Lake.

Award-winning wildlife illustrator and naturalist Ernest Seton, a contemporary of Mark Twain, considered owls “winged tigers – who are the most pronounced and savage of birds of prey.”

Pioneer farmers called them “cats with wings” because they preyed on chickens and songbirds. Because of their

predatory lifestyle, owls were hunted freely, unprotected by law. Today, all of the owls in New York are protected as we have come to realize the important role of predators.

Photographer Bill Banaszewski is owner of Finger Lakes Images and professor emeritus of environmental conservation at Finger Lakes Community College. A sample of his photographs can be viewed at TheFingerLakesImages.com.

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THE SIXTH ANNUAL

PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST

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he entries in the photo contest have gotten better each year, and the photographs for this issue’s competition are no exception. Choosing the best continues to be a long, gruelling process, since there are so many worthy images. We want to thank all the people who entered the contest this year, for their love of trying to capture that perfect Finger Lakes photograph.

Grand Prize Sunflower Sunrise – Panoramic • MICHAEL KANE • Binghamton

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First Place Canandaigua Winter Scene KATE ZACHAREWSKI • Syracuse

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Second Place Letchworth State Park – Waterfall by Glen Iris Inn GEORGE MARTIN • Stephens, Pennsylvania

Third Place Sugar Creek DEBBIE FIENO • Elmira

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First Place She-Qua-Ga Falls in the village of Montour Falls STEPHEN COOPER • Horseheads

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Second Place View from Poplar Lodge, Canandaigua c. 1928 DORIS M. BUCHHOLZ (SUBMITTED BY JOHN A. BUCHHOLZ) Greene, New York

Third Place Waterfall at Robert Treman State Park Kory Yerkes • Canandaigua

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State Fair BOB GATES • Jamesville

Summer Wind DAVE FOLTS • Victor

Framed clock tower at Cornell Campus SUSAN VERBERG • Ithaca

Canada Geese NANCY PEEK • Penn Yan

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The Village of

Honeoye Falls H

oneoye Falls, located about 13 miles from Rochester, was founded in 1791 by Zebulon Norton who purchased 1820 acres of land for 12-1/2 cents per acre. From the time of the Seneca Indians residing in this vicinity through the pioneer days and into the present, Honeoye Falls, originally known as Norton Mills, has maintained a particularly familyoriented atmosphere in spite of the changing times.

The shopping area of the village boasts a variety of shopping, from drug stores and dry-cleaning establishments to gift shops and furniture stores.

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Background photo courtesy Dick Haviland

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CLASSIC.

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Greeks in the Finger Lakes

by Alta E. Boyer

G

reek Revival architecture was used for a variety of buildings throughout the Finger Lakes, from churches to farmhouses. They’re easy to spot, thanks to typical elements that include a temple form in the main façade, complete with a portico fronted by four massive white Doric or Ionic columns.

The columns support a wide entablature and heavy triangular pediment. A classic recessed entry door with side and transom panel lights is often distinguished by slender columns or pilasters that match the main columns.

Several of the buildings here are made of brick, but most are wood framed using handhewn timbers felled from nearby forests and seasoned properly for building.

From 1820 to 1860, the Greek Revival style flourished in its many variations. Truly distinctive mansions were built in the early and mid-1800s, and survive today as memorials to building with local materials and relying on hand-held tools. Greek Revival homes were made to last.

The builders who needed guidance could refer to books by Minard LeFever, Asher Benjamin and Alexander Davis. LeFever, in particular, was noted for his influence on Greek Revival buildings. His series of manuals included Young Builder’s Guide, Modern Builder’s Guide, and his masterpiece, The Beauties of Modern Architecture.

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Early carpenters could assemble building components and use basic skills to produce harmonious and satisfying structures.

The mansions I write about here were selected first for their architectural significance. All of them are similar, but each one has its own unique features. In addition, they all have historical importance, defining events and conditions of the 1800s. Having survived for 175 years or more, they are landmarks to be cherished for the future.

Rose Hill Mansion East Lake Road, Geneva Located on the high ridge of land dividing Seneca and Cayuga Lakes, Rose Hill has commanding views of Seneca Lake, the surrounding countryside and the City of Geneva in the distance. The mansion has 26 rooms.

Twenty-one are furnished in the Empire style, and many furnishings are original to the house. The property also includes a carriage house (the original Rose family home), several outbuildings, extensive surrounding grounds and a formal boxwood garden.

Rose Hill is outstanding among the many noteworthy Greek Revival structures built in the 1820s and ’30s in Geneva. Was one particular architect responsible for the multitude of exacting, opulent and classic details? No record exists, but we can guess that there was.

Skilled local builders had the manuals that provided specific directions, techniques, scale drawings, proportions and mathematical formulas for construction.

Research has established an interesting similarity – within a few inches – between the center pavilion of Rose Hill and the ancient East Porch of the Erechtum temple to Diana in the Acropolis in Athens, Greece. Rose Hill’s center temple form measures 50 feet wide and 45 feet deep, with a wide porch with six massive Ionic columns 22 feet-7 inches high; and 2 feet-6 inches in diameter. The wide entablature over the columns and the (continued on page 56)

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Photo by Mark Stash

Rose Hill Mansion

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ose Hill Farm was named for its original owner, Robert Selden Rose, a wealthy planter and lawyer from Stafford County, Virginia. He and his brother-in-law, Judge John Nicholas, bought the 900 acres known as Fairhill in 1801. He arrived two years later, along with 17 members of his family and 75 slaves, forming a grand caravan of splendid stagecoaches, each drawn by four horses and driven by coachmen.

Rose built a simple farmhouse in 1809 on the site of the present mansion.

He died in 1835 after serving in the state assembly for many years, and in the 18th and 19th Congresses.

The next owner, Brigadier General William Kerley Strong, came to Geneva from New York City in 1837. He was determined to have the finest dwelling around, and no elegant detail was left

out. In the process, the original Rose farmhouse was moved a short distance to the north, but the kitchen was kept as one of the attached wings.

Rose Hill was purchased in 1848 by Benjamin Swan, a wealthy New York City real estate broker and merchant.

His son, Robert, turned Rose Hill into an award-winning farm, and was instrumental in bringing the New York State Experiment Station to Geneva. He died suddenly from a heart attack in 1890.

Over the next 70 years, Rose Hill fell into decline as eight different owners found it impossible to cover the cost of maintenance. A descendent of Brigadier General Strong bought the property in 1960. His commendable efforts at restoration prevented further deterioration, but much greater financial resources were needed.

Its rescue came as a miracle in 1965, when Waldo Hutchins, grandson of Robert Swan, bought it and deeded it to the Geneva Historical Society. His philanthropy included the restoration of the house and outbuildings in memory of his mother, Agnes Swan Hutchins, who was born and raised in the house.

Hutchins continued his financial support for many years.

The Geneva Historical Society undertook the tremendous restoration effort under the excellent direction and supervision of H. Merrill Roenke. Three years later, the mansion began to receive visitors, and today it’s a destination for thousands of tourists each year. In 1974, Rose Hill was recognized with a Citation and Award from the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

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Ionic Columns

Hunt House

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Photo by Mark Stash

Photo by Walter Gable, Seneca County Historian

heavy triangular pediment measures 33 feet-22 inches to the peak. The roof is capped with a square cupola observatory. Classic one-story recessed wings extend from each side, making for a majestic, symmetrical façade looking across the sweeping grounds to Seneca Lake.

The mansion’s entrance is at the center of the porch, balancing four tall windows with three sashes of six panes each on the first floor, and five windows upstairs, all fitted with shutters.

The door features a glass transom panel and narrow side panels, and is recessed between two freestanding Ionic columns, flanked by two fluted pilasters decorated top and bottom with stylized palmettos. Behind the columns is a surround with egg-anddart molding (see glossary on page 58).

Inside, a curving, open, mahogany stairway in the front hall extends three stories to the cupola. Formal double parlors are separated by archways containing sliding pocket doors, all with intricate ornamentation. The tall west windows open onto the west portico.

The music room and breakfast room are across the hall, and the magnificent Empire dining room is in the north wing.

Large, airy bedrooms on the second floor have descriptive names and décor fitting to the period. A courtyard is formed to the east by the kitchen wing, part of the original house, and the south wing, former farm offices.

Two-story verandahs with sheaf-ofwheat motif spindles connect the two wings and provide access without having to enter the main house.

Rose Hill not only showcases the finest architectural features of the Greek Revival period, but also presents a glimpse at a way of life when our state and nation were changing from early Colonial days to emerging expansion and rapid growth.

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In a word:

QUALIT Y

Mynderse Mount House

Hunt House Routes 5 & 20, Waterloo Richard Hunt was the richest man in Waterloo when his house was built in 1940. His wealth included several farms; as a land speculator, he made 43 land purchases in Waterloo and Seneca Falls between 1823 and his death in 1856. He was also a prime investor and secretary of the Waterloo Woolen Factory.

Hunt House was constructed of bricks fired in nearby kilns. Originally, it was a rectangular structure with east and west gable ends. A handsome portico with four fluted Doric columns, supporting the entablature and pediment, was added later to the center of the south-facing façade. The front door has freestanding side and transom lights, a feature special to this house.

On July 13, 1848, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia Mott, Martha Wright, Mary Ann M’Clintock and the hostess, Jane Hunt, met in the house for tea and to discuss the many facets of American society, including the status of women. They drew up the Declaration of Sentiments, which was presented during the history-making First Women’s Rights Convention in Seneca Falls the following week.

The Hunt House is being readied to become the Women’s Rights

Photo by Walter Gable, Seneca County Historian

National Historic Park. When restoration is completed, the house will be open to the public, a significant addition to the existing sites important to the Women’s Rights Movement in southern Seneca County.

The Mynderse Mount House River Road, Seneca Falls The first owner of this elegant Greek Revival landmark was Wilhelmus Mynderse, land agent for the Bayard Company and a wealthy early settler of the town. It was built in the 1860s along the Seneca River/ Cayuga-Seneca Canal when the Greek Revival period was at its peak.

The house combines many classic elements, including the wide portico with four massive Doric columns supporting the frieze band and pediment on the north façade. The one-story west wing has a porch with slender columns supporting a slanting roof.

After several years of neglect, it was bought in 1960 by local attorney Victor Mount, who restored it in fine fashion.

The Kinne Getman House Route 96A, Ovid In 1804, Elisha Kinne acquired a large farm in Ovid. Until he had accumulated enough money to build his handsome Greek Revival home, Elisha

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14 The Kinne Getman House

How to Spot a Classic To help you better understand the different elements of Greek Revival architecture, here is a short list of terms and definitions from the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. For a more complete list, visit www.nyc.gov.

1

Capital: The topmost member, usually decorated, of a column or pilaster.

Cupola: A small dome on a base crowning a roof.

Doric Column: Recognizable by its simple capital. The Greek Doric column has a fluted shaft and no base.

Egg and Dart: An ornamental band molding of egg forms alternating with dart forms.

2

Entablature: In classical architecture, a major horizontal member carried by columns or pilasters.

Façade: The main exterior face of a building, sometimes distinguished from the other faces by elaboration of architectural or ornamental details.

Gable: The upper portion of an end wall formed by the slope of a roof.

Eyebrow window: A roof dormer having low sides; formed by raising small section of roof Ionic Column: Characterized by capitals with spiral elements called “volutes,” a fasciated entablature, continuous frieze, dentils in its cornice and elegant detailing.

3

Pediment: 1. In classical architecture, the triangular space forming the gable end of a roof above the horizontal cornice. 2. An ornamental gable, usually triangular, above a door or window.

14 Pilaster: An engaged pier or pillar, often with capital and base.

4 Portico: A small porch composed of a roof supported by columns, often found in front of a doorway.

Surround: The ornamental frame of a door or window.

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and his wife lived in a cave-like structure under a north hill on the property, later the site of a set of big yellow barns.

A small building was constructed first, in an area that later became the garage. Next came the kitchen addition, then a larger kitchen with a bedroom over it. A washroom was built that included an access door to a roomy outhouse. The large stone basin there was convenient for farm workers.

A one-story porch with slender pillars came later.

In 1830 the grand main section was completed, bringing the total to 14 rooms, many with 10-foot ceilings.

The center hallway is distinguished by a semi-circular open stairway with large parlors adjoining.

The front porch features three massive square pillars that support a substantial entablature and triangular pediment.

According to the house history, one of the pillars was removed in order to improve the view of Seneca Lake. It was never replaced, giving the façade an unusual identity. A charming frame playhouse is located in the side yard, enjoyed by many grandchildren and their friends.

South of the house is an artesian spring with a well that was dug 15 feet deep and 8 feet wide. It provides a constant, plentiful supply of water for household use, and for watering the extensive showplace gardens. It flows into a brook bordering the grounds.

Colonel Ralph Smith House Route 96A, Lodi Ralph Smith was born September 20, 1801, in Ovid to early settlers who survived the Wyoming Valley Massacre, a military battle of the American Revolutionary War. More than 300 Americans died at the hands of Loyalist and Iroquois raiders in Pennsylvania’s Wyoming Valley.

Ralph Smith married Eliza Hawkins in 1829, and they had three children. In 1845 Smith purchased 440 acres of prime farmland on Military Lot 26 where he built a handsome Greek Revival

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Col. Ralph Smith House

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Photo courtesy the author

Circle Reader Service Number 144

Photo by Walter Gable, Seneca County Historian

Kime House

house. It was a time of rapid growth and prosperity in the small towns of the Finger Lakes, and many older houses date back to this era.

The gable end of the house facing the street has four Doric fluted columns on a stone porch, with wide surround and pediment. The recessed doorway has side and transom lights, with slender side pilasters and heavy top support. The simple, framed single story to the south has two large windows rather than a porch with smaller columns.

A latticed well house no longer sits in the front yard, but otherwise, the Ralph Smith mansion looks much the same as it appeared in The 1876 History of Seneca County.

Kime Farm House Kime Road, Fayette The majestic Kime Farm is one of several properties owned by the Kime family in Seneca County. The brick house has a wide porch with four Ionic columns on the north-facing faรงade, supporting the triangular pediment over the enclosing entablature. A welcoming recessed front entryway has classic sidelights with freestanding columns and pilasters at the sides.

Large windows complete the first story.

An unusual feature is an elliptical window placed vertically rather than horizontally in the high-gable end. The south end of the house has two smaller attached wings.

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Cole-McDaniel House

Sniffen Ferrand House

Steele House

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Photo courtesy the author

Photo by Walter Gable, Seneca County Historian

The Cole-McDaniel House Route 96, Covert The stately Greek Revival mansion known for years as “The Pillars� is a memorable landmark on Route 96 in the tiny hamlet of Covert. It was built by Minor Thomas Coburn; construction began in 1851 and was completed in 1854. It cost the remarkable amount of $1,000. The wood used came from trees harvested on the Coburn farm.

The house displays the finest Greek Revival details: fluted columns across the wide front porch and a handsome front door opening into a spacious hallway outfitted with heavy plank floors. An elegant railing graces the sweeping, curved staircase.

The glass in the tall windows is original and wavy. Detailed moldings above doors, fireplaces and windows are found in the large, airy rooms.

The wing to the west has a distinctive side porch sheltered by lattice panels. Shutters are attached to all the windows. Century-old pine trees grace the roadside, and numerous colorful flowerbeds and mature plantings surround the grounds.

The property remained in the family until 1949. After that, it changed hands many times and fell into disrepair. A major restoration has been taking place, thanks to the efforts of Rich and Gretchen McDaniel, who purchased the mansion in 1986. The rotting front porch and pillars have been restored, along with numerous structural elements.

The original parts of the house have been put back faithfully, and again the structure is sound and majestic.

The Sniffen Ferrand House Route 96A, Interlaken Joseph H. Sniffen purchased farmland on parts of Military Lots 40 and 49 in Interlaken in 1854. There

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is some question today as to what features of the house were built by the previous owner Isaac Brokaw, and which ones were added by Sniffen. He may have added the second story and its eyebrow windows, which duplicate the classic high-style main section.

Among the home’s typical Greek Revival features on the exterior are massive fluted Doric columns on the porch. Inside, the basement has its own fireplace with a Dutch oven and dumb waiter. The basement extends under the entire house.

The Steele House Seneca Street, Romulus The main section of this stately Greek Revival mansion has a twostory, three-bay façade with a wide portico supported by four fluted Ionic columns. The classic front door is at the left side of two windows that reach down to the floor, and below three windows with shutters that face the street. A massive triangular pediment tops the wide entablature over the distinctive pillars.

To the left of the main part of the building is a one-and-one-half story wing, thought to be the original house built by Robert Steele in 1822. Steele was a member of the New York State Assembly and president of the Geneva, Ithaca and Sayre Railroad Company. The house was known as an important stop on the Underground Railroad during the Civil War. Warmth from fireplaces and a Dutch oven in the kitchen traveled up the chimney to the attic, where fleeing slaves took refuge.

For years, Alta Boyer has written feature articles and had a weekly column for the local Free Press in Trumansburg.

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Harps

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REACH THE MAINSTREAM

The Harmony of Harps group, based in Syracuse, performed at the Central New York Scottish Games this past summer.

by Kari Anderson

W

hen the invitation to attend a “Harp Tasting” in Owego came across my desk in October, I knew I had to go. Being a harpist myself, I was surprised and delighted to hear about a harp function in the Finger Lakes. (I would soon find out that there are several harp-related groups and businesses in our region.) I didn’t know quite what to expect at the Harp Tasting, but the invitation promised exposure to several styles of harps plus gastronomical goodies afterwards. How could I refuse?

After enjoying a color-filled fall drive from Victor, I arrived at the Tioga County Arts Council building, where I found eight harps on display. The Harp Tasting would be an opportunity to “taste” the different harps with our ears, explained Meredith Kohn Bocek of The Harp Studio in Owego. Meredith has played the harp professionally since the ’70s; she also sells harps and gives lessons.

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The author, Kari Anderson, plays her lever harp.

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At 30 pounds, this lever harp is lighter than its pedal counterparts and therefore more portable for playing outdoors.

She explained that every harp produces a slightly different quality of sound, from soft and mellow to bold and bright. This variance in sound can be due to the harp’s size, shape, type of wood, type of strings and even the player.

To demonstrate, Meredith briefly dabbled on a couple of harps to show how different they can be. She also pointed out what we should be listening for in the low, middle and high ranges of pitch. Then she began to play. She rattled off about two songs on each harp, and the other attendees and I were lulled into a trance.

Lever or pedal?

When you think of the harp, the usual image that comes to mind is a

large, ornate, concert pedal harp.

However, none of the eight harps that we tasted that day fit this description.

Meredith had brought along four lever harps (each standing just under 5 feet tall) and four lap harps (measuring 30 to 36 inches long). In case you don’t already know, pedal harps get their name from the pedals at the harp’s base, which are used to raise and lower the pitch of the strings. Lever harps have switches, called levers, at the top of the strings, which are used to raise the pitch.

The fact that Meredith chose to show lever harps rather than pedal harps reflects a trend among harpists in the area. Smaller harps have grown in popularity in the Finger Lakes because of their portability and lower cost.

Lever harps, also called folk or

Celtic harps, are a more reasonably priced option than their pedal counterparts, which start at $10,500 and go up to – well, as much as you want to spend.

A pedal harp from Lyon & Healy, a popular harp manufacturer based in Chicago, can cost as much $179,000, depending on how ornate the carving is and how much gold leaf is used. Yes, your harp could cost more than your house. Lever harps, on the other hand, start at around $2,500.

The size and weight of a pedal harp also makes it prohibitive for many harpists. If you can figure out how to get your 75-pound pedal harp out to your car, the next hurdle is getting it into your car. Most cars, and even trucks, would be hard-pressed to accommodate a harp that is over 6

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OWEGO TREADWAY INN & SUITES HAMPTON INN WELCOMES YOU TO TIOGA COUNTY

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1100 State Route 17C Owego, New York 13827

Phone: (607) 687-4500 Fax: (607) 687-2456

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Beautiful hotel rooms overlooking the Susquehanna River.

Fine dining in a comfortable atmosphere.

Near to many attractions: * Tioga Downs Racino * Links at Hiawatha Golfing * Historic Owego Marketplace

Where the only thing we overlook is the River! www.owegotreadway.com For Tioga County events, & attractions go to www. visittioga.com or 800-671-7772.

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Nile s Gourmet Co untry Market & Bi st ro An exciting European-style shop specializing in natural and organic foods and Mediterranean delights nestled between Skaneateles and Owasco Lake

The finest organic cheese imported from Italy.

Finger Lakes and imported organic wine and beer.

Slow woodstove cooked seasonal regional foods

Gourmet gifts & ingredients to inspire all the chefs on your holiday gift list!

Wed-Sun, Noon-7pm 4588 Grange Hall Road, Niles, NY 13118 315-784-5015 • www.nilesgourmet.com “All foods are handmade in our cucina!”

Roxanne Ziegler says she feels “called” to play therapeutic music on the harp in medical settings.

Photo by David Boyer

feet tall. Unless you want to buy a vehicle based on your harp transportation needs, you’d need to choose a harp that fits in the car you’ve got.

More interest in smaller harps While some people still perceive lever harps as merely a pit-stop on a harpist’s journey to getting a “real” harp, others believe that the smaller harps have become an end in and of themselves. “Interest in lever harps has been growing steadily nationwide for some years,” says Paul Knoke, principal harpist for the Brighton Symphony Orchestra and a member of the Rochester Harp Network, a group of about 10 harpists, both lever and pedal. “Originally viewed as a less-expensive alternative to the pedal harp, they’re now seen as a distinct and separate instrument with their own resources and repertoire.”

My former harp teacher, Roxanne Ziegler of Rochester, agrees. “Traditionally, the smaller harps had been associated mainly with folk music, but styles have evolved to include not only folk and Celtic but religious, classical, popular, and jazz.

Circle Reader Service Number 159

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I now use my lever harps on about 50 percent of the jobs I play.”

Harps as therapy In addition to playing for concerts, weddings and parties, Roxanne also uses her lever harp in medical settings.

“Harp is growing in popularity as the instrument of choice in therapeutic settings,” she says. “The music is not played as a performance or entertainment; rather it is music that serves to benefit the wholeness and wellness of the person with whom I work.”

During her training to become a certified music practitioner, Roxanne interned at Clifton Springs Hospital.

She says she chose this facility because the “philosophy of the hospital is open and welcoming to complimentary therapies.” She continues to play her harp there on a weekly basis, working with patients in pre- and post-op, emergency, intensive care, hospice, the cancer center and in private rooms. She also plays regularly at the Jewish Home of Rochester, the Edna Tina Wilson Living Center in Greece and at St. Anne’s Home, also in Rochester.

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See more snapshots from readers by visiting the magazine’s website

Anne Habermehl sells harps of all shapes and sizes at The Harp and Dragon in Cortland.

Photo courtesy HarpAndDragon.com

Multi-harp concerts Given the soothing nature of harp music, it could be argued that all good harp music is therapeutic. And if one harp is enjoyable, how much more enjoyable would a whole group of harps be?

Jennifer Byrne, president of Harmony of Harps in Syracuse, says that her group’s mission is to get harp music out to the public and to educate them about harps, their history and music.

While they play concerts at libraries, the Central New York Scottish Games, historical sites and nursing homes, Jennifer says they recently put on the biggest concert the group has ever done.

“It was called Harpa Galora and featured 36 harp players from upstate New York and Pennsylvania,” Jennifer says. “In 1932, there was a concert in Syracuse that was put on by a national harp society and included 71 harpists, some of whom were preeminent players of the time. For the 75th anniversary, we recreated that concert with 36 players, including one lady, Mary Lauver, who played at the original concert! It was a wonderful time.” My harp-tasting host, Meredith Kohn Bocek, was a guest soloist at that concert.

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Our gift shop is filled with many great gift ideas for everyone on your Christmas list Our Deli is open for your Holiday Entertaining needs.

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Baked Goods; Christmas Cookies, Pies, Quick Breads and more.

We close 1pm Christmas Eve and re-open again in April.

Have a wonderful winter and look for us in the Spring Issue of Life in the Finger Lakes. Merry Christmas to all.

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Meredith Kohn Bocek demonstrates a lap harp at her Harp Tasting.

If you feel frustrated about having missed such a grand event, you will have an opportunity to hear another group of harpists play in the spring. On March 30, 2008, some of Roxanne Ziegler’s current and former students will be playing at St. Andrew’s Church in Rochester. The concert, called “Making a Joyful Sound” will begin at 3 p.m. and will feature a harp ensemble, comprised of 12 to 15 harps, as well as a flute choir and the Sampler Trio, made up of a harp, flute and dulcimer.

Local harp shops You may be wondering where in the world anyone would purchase a harp in the Finger Lakes area. Sales of harps are going on in places you might never suspect. For example, Meredith sells lever harps and lap harps at The Harp Studio in Owego. Go north to Cortland and you’ll find The Harp and Dragon. Anne Habermehl runs her business out of her house, and customers come to her by appointment.

She currently has 16 harps in stock (yes, 16 harps in her house, not counting her personal instruments).

If you’re thinking of dabbling in the harp yourself, both Roxanne and Meredith recommend renting first. “It is usually best to rent for awhile before purchasing, and when you’re ready to buy, get advice from a teacher or another harpist,” says Roxanne. “There are a lot

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THE CHESHIRE UNION Gift Shop & Antique Center

Located along the

Canandaigua Wine Trail.

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Our Classrooms are filled with the finest for your holiday gift giving and decorating needs.

Roxanne Ziegler’s students prepare for an ensemble performance.

of harps out there these days and many are fine instruments, but some are not.”

Whether you’re contemplating learning the instrument or just enjoy listening to it, rest assured that harp music is alive in the Finger Lakes. “Sometimes when I am out with my harp, people will say something to me about the harp being a lost art, but I tell them it is definitely not the case because the harp is really gaining in popularity,” adds Roxanne. “It is an instrument that has reached the mainstream.”

For more information • Meredith Kohn Bocek of The Harp Studio in Owego TheHarpStudio.net, 607-687-3410 • Roxanne Ziegler of Rochester RochesterHarpist.com, 585-288-3101 • Anne Habermehl of The Harp and Dragon in Cortland HarpAndDragon.com, 607-756-7372

• Lang Center • Ganz/ Webkinz • Jewelry • Candles • Books

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Marc E. Kreuser, MBA, CFP® Senior Financial Advisor 506 West Union St. Newark, NY 14513 (315)331-1177 (800)793-9484 marc.e.kreuser@ampf.com

Call (315)331-1177 today.

Financial advisory services and advisements available through Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc., Member NASD and SIPC. RiverSourceSM Insurance and annuities issued by IDS Life Insurance Company, and in New York, IDS Life Insurance Company of New York, Albany, NY.© 2006 Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Circle Reader Service Number 143

• Jennifer Byrne of Harmony of Harps in Syracuse, harpy@twcny.rr.com • Donna Beneir of the Rochester Harp Network, beneir_d@hotmail.com • Kari Anderson of Victor kanderson@fwpi.com A list of upcoming events featuring the harp can be found on LifeInTheFingerLakes.com.

Kari Anderson plays the harp, piano and organ professionally and is learning the banjo.

Circle Reader Service Number 100

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Meet Chuck Masterpaul, owner and head chef of

Meet Matt Belknap, outdoor enthusiast and owner of

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Gilda’s at 60 Main Street. Chuck delights in tantalizing

Action Sports at 85 Main Street. Action Sports is the

o

the palate with cuisine and wines from around the

place to get equipment for winter and summer sports.

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world. Gilda’s comfortable and extensive menu

When Matt’s not at the shop with his wife Lisa, he’s

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features house-aged and hand-cut steaks, several

out riding, paddling and skiing. He’s a true sport

s

seafood selections and a wine list to pair with any palate.

enthusiast at heart.

For information on other events and attractions in Cortland County call 1-800-859-2227 or visit www.cortlandtourism.com.

f

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Meet Karina Murphy, owner and barista extraordinaire of the Blue Frog Coffee House at 64 Main Street.

MEET THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE OUR DOWNTOWN A GREAT PLACE TO SHOP AND DINE.

The Blue Frog is downtown’s center for culture, Visit historic downtown Cortland, one mile off of creativity and, of course coffee. Locals and visitors alike stop at the Blue Frog for the art, music and camaraderie.

Interstate 81 at Exit 11. Our downtown is home to amazing boutique retailers, restaurants and specialty shops. We invite you to meet some of the people who make downtown Cortland a great place to shop, dine and visit. For more information on the great things happening in Cortland visit www.cortlandtourism.com.

PO Box 224 • Cortland, NY 13045

www.cortlanddowntown.com

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A Toast to Ice Wine Story and photos by Richard Frisbie

L

ast fall I attended the Hudson Valley Wine and Food Fest in the oldest wine-making region of the country: New York’s Hudson Valley. Before you wonder what a Hudson Valley event is doing in a Finger Lakes publication, the festival, now in its sixth year, draws wineries from throughout the Northeast. I went to taste the wines of more than 20 Finger Lakes vintners collected together under one roof, and to learn about ice wine.

With all those wonderful wines available, I was only tasting the ice wines. One vintner told me: “Don’t start with this sweet wine, start with the dry wines and work up. This will only blow your palate.” Well, my palate was blown with the first sip! And what an expensive sip it was.

Chilled ice wine is sweet enough to pass for dessert itself, but if you serve it as an accompaniment, pair it with something simple and not too sweet, such as fruit- or cheese-based tart.

A slow process

True ice wine is made of grapes frozen on the vine and is labeled “ice wine” on the bottle. Some growers harvest the grapes before the weather and the wildlife take their toll, then slowly chill and freeze the grapes. For some it is a yearly routine, for others this practice is reserved for the years the weather just doesn’t cooperate. These wines may simply say “ice” on the label rather than “ice wine,” and are referred to as “made in the ice wine style.” For the true purists, when the weather doesn’t cooperate they just don’t make ice wine!

Ice wine is a highly prized and sought-after dessert wine.

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The late harvest begins several weeks after frost, which can be from late fall through early into the next year, depending on the local weather conditions. In the Finger Lakes, the harvest traditionally occurs in November through January. It is a labor-intensive process, as workers hand pick what grapes haven’t fallen off the vine or been eaten in the months after they’ve ripened. Harvesting is done at night or early in the morning, before the sun can thaw the fruit. The hand pressing is done in unheated rooms because the grapes must be pressed while frozen.

Making ice wine has more to do with technique than the variety of grape used. The water, as ice, is removed, leaving a highly concentrated juice, called “must,” which is very high in acids, sugars and aromatics. It is the balance of the high acid with the high sugar that keeps the wine from being cloyingly sweet.

The high sugar level of the “must” also causes a slower fermentation than most wines. That, plus the hand labor, leads to a higher cost per bottle. Traditionally ice wines will be in half bottles (375 ml) or smaller, and will sell for $25 to $150 each. In November 2006, a Royal DeMaria 2000 Chardonnay was the most expensive ice wine ever sold at $30,000 (Canadian).

The Vidal grape, with a skin that resists bursting when frozen, and the ability to hang on the vine after ripening, is the traditional grape used to make ice wine, but virtually any grape that can be grown in a region of freezing winters can be used. Here in the Finger Lakes vintners also use Riesling, Chardonnay, Vignoles and Cabernet Franc grapes, so the color of the ice wine could be pale yellow, tawny, or a shade of rose. Whatever the color, it is sure to be redolent of both stone and tropical fruit, and it will be sweet.

Where the taste comes from

Dave Breeden, the winemaker at Sheldrake Point Vineyards, kindly explained about molds, and how a wine can taste of fruit that isn’t in it. “The mold which grows on grapes is called Botrytis cinerea, which produces beneficial effects like peach and apricot flavors. Ice-wine grapes may have this mold, but the process that gives such lovely flavors to ice wines is concentration by freezing.”

John Merrill of Lamoreaux Landing Wine Cellars in Lodi told me, “The first frost on the east side of Seneca Lake is around the 14th to the 17th of October. Usually by late November we hand pick and hand press between two and three tons of fruit, producing about 75 cases of wine.” He poured me a Reserve 2006 Riesling Ice Wine with 11.1-percent alcohol content that sells for $47 a half-bottle. It was

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Offered by the Spa Apartments aromatic and sweet, with spiced apple and apricot, and a clean finish. In layman’s terms, delicious! Their Vidal Ice Wine, which sells for $24 a half-bottle, wasn’t available to taste that day. I declined their Chardonnay Reserve and Chardonnay, which won Double Gold Medals and Best of Class Awards at the recent San Francisco Wine Competition, simply because my palate was ruined by the sweet wines. Too bad!

Use what you’ve got

I’ve always been partial to Atwater Estate Vineyards in Hector, not just because of the great wines they produce, but because proprietor Ted Marks once owned a bookstore. Since that’s what I’ve been doing for over 20 years, I feel we share a bond only purveyors of the written word can know. His affable nature encourages this feeling, so I was sorry he didn’t attend the Hudson Valley Wine & Food Fest. That is, until I met his daughter, Katie. She’s a highenergy bundle of laughter and good humor, and thoroughly knowledgeable when it comes to wines. It was delightful meeting her.

Katie told me that Atwater Vineyards produces an ice wine-style of wine called Celsius. “We normally use a Vidal grape, but Vidal was in short supply in 2005 and the Chardonnay grape was not, so Chardonnay it was!” Their Celsius 2005 is $29 a half-bottle with 12.5percent alcohol content. This honeysweet elixir is reminiscent of orange blossoms and tangerines, a perfect dessert wine. It won a Double Gold Best of New York State at the State Fair this year.

Wagner Vineyards in Lodi, on Seneca Lake, makes three ice wine-style wines called Riesling Ice, Vidal Ice and Vignoles Ice. I remember the Riesling well. It was awarded the Best of Class

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Dessert Wine and Double Gold Medals at the Golden Nose Awards Wine Judging weekend I participated in last May (see the Autumn 2007 issue of Life in the Finger Lakes). It wasn’t one of the wines our panel judged, but I was able to taste a few drops at the awards banquet afterwards. It was a pineapple and stone-fruit explosion in my mouth, incredibly sweet and wellbalanced – wonderful! Wine Spectator gave it an 89, which is a very high rating, indeed.

Laura Wagner-Lee of Wagner Vineyards told me, “Our grapes are harvested mechanically and slowly chilled to freezing each year. This way we can produce consistent wines and sell them reasonably. This Riesling Ice is $23 a half bottle – much less than the ice wines of some of the other vineyards.” Riesling Ice has an alcohol content of 13.7 percent. I didn’t taste the other two. Wagner Vineyards produces between 500 to 1,000 cases of ice wines each year.

The color of ice wines from white varieties can darken to a deep amber color as the wine ages. Red ice wines tend to be light burgundy or even pink.

A red ice wine?

Sheldrake Point Vineyard is on the west shore of Cayuga Lake. They produced both Cabernet Franc and Riesling ice wines in 2004, but their 2007 ice wines weren’t available to taste at the Hudson Valley Wine and Food Fest because they were still being bottled. I tasted what was the only Cabernet Franc ice wine made in the U.S. in 2004; technically it was a 2003 grape harvested in January 2004. The fact that it was a Cab Franc grape so long on the vine made it really different from the traditional Vidals and Rieslings I’d been tasting. It was smooth and sweet, and made me think of baked apples with a hint of strawberry in a long finish. I probably should have confessed earlier that I rarely drink sweet wine, but this

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one could convert me. And it wasn’t just me. When I had five bottles of ice wine in one place for a photograph, Sheldrake Point’s 2004 Cabernet Franc was the one everyone walking past wanted to try.

Their 2007 ice wine is a Riesling. When the temperature reached 14 degrees Fahrenheit one night last January, two tons of frozen grapes were hand-harvested and pressed, producing 157 cases of ice wine with an alcohol content of 11.8 percent. At $69.99 a bottle, I can’t wait for a taste!

A frosty winter ahead

Fulkerson Winery, located in Dundee on the west side of Seneca Lake, is a sixth-generation family farm. Their wine sales director, John Iszard, told me, “We’ve produced true ice wine since 1998, picking the frozen grapes mechanically and by hand each year the weather permitted.” Their 2004 ice wine, made with the Vidal grape, is their most recent. “In 2005 the weather was too wet, and in ’06 the birds got most of the grapes. The forecast looks good for this year, though, with a cold snap predicted for late November to early December.” He was positively gleeful when he told me that!

Fulkerson Winery produced about 600 cases of the 2004 Vidal Blanc ice wine with a 13.8-percent alcohol content. “Of the 28 types of wine we bottle, our ice wine is consistently in the top 10 in sales.” Their Vidal Blanc ice wine has an orange and vanilla bouquet, with a peachy, orange marmalade taste that lingers on the palate like a pure bit of heaven. It is a bargain at $24 a half-bottle.

Just as I was leaving the festival, I bumped into Art Hunt of Hunt Country Vineyards in Branchport, on the western shore of Keuka Lake. What good fortune that was!

With over 20 years of ice wine production, he is known as the “King of Ice Wine.” He told me, “When the nighttime temperature hits 10 degrees, my crew begins picking before dawn, rushing the frozen grapes to the press.” Art’s 2006 Vidal Blanc ice wine has a 10-percent alcohol content and “bursts with honey, apricot and exotic fruit flavors.” It is never aged in barrels, as he believes in “letting the freshfruit flavors come through.” Whatever they’re doing at Hunt Country Vineyards certainly works. The Vidal Blanc is luscious and sweet, distinctively packaged in a blue bottle, and sells for $39.99.

So, now you know all about ice wine and where to buy some good examples of the vintner’s art. This winter, when you are sipping ice wine beside the fire, remember your friends and neighbors, the winemakers. They will be out in the cold, picking and pressing the frozen grapes so that we can all enjoy next season’s ice wines. Take a moment to raise your glass to toast their success!

Richard Frisbie is a Hudson Valley bookseller and publisher, who writes culinary travel articles.

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Visit

NAPLES

Theaters, Wineries, Artists and More

M

Monier Manor Bed & Breakfast

Your link to New York’s lake country.

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154 N. Main Street, Naples 585-374-6719 Come visit our first class B&B and enjoy our luxury accommodations and amenities.

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Naples & Finger Lakes souvenirs available here!

Phone: (585)374-2080

Buttercups Bakery

103-107 South Main St., Naples, NY 14512

Sweets

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Cookies, Muffins, Scones, Cheesecake, Carrot Cake, Chocolate Decadent, Cookie Bars, Coffee, Juices & Seasonal Specials

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Monica’s Pies Pies, Pies, Pies Our Famous Grape Pies Available Year Round Several Varieties Available Daily

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Brown Hound Bistro

Unique, tasty, fresh cooked fare in a cozy, casual atmosphere tucked into the gorgeous hills of South Bristol!

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WINERIES V

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Lamoreaux Landing WINE CELLARS

Taste our European style awardwinning wines while enjoying the beauty of Seneca Lake Tours, tasting, sales and receptions Mon. - Sat. 10-5, Sun. noon-5 Route 414 on the east side of Seneca Lake, 3 miles south of Lodi 607-582-6011 www.lamoreauxwine.com

The Perfect Gift!

A Subscription to Life in the Finger Lakes,the region’s premier magazine

GIFT Subscriptions

1st Gift ......................................$12.95 2nd Gift......................................$10.95 Each Addʼl ..................................$8.95

st A Subscription Be Deal for YOURSELF

3 Years (12 issues) ..................$25.95 2 Years (8 issues) ....................$19.95 1 Year (4 issues) ......................$12.95

Canada, add $15. Overseas, add $30.00 postage per year. U.S. funds only.

Four GREAT issues a year!

Call Today! 800-344-0559 subscribe@lifeinthefingerlakes.com www.lifeinthefingerlakes.com

Order by December 14 and recipient will receive a Gift Card in the mail, just in time for the holidays!

Join us for a tasting of our premium wines and enjoy the spectacular view of Cayuga Lake.

Winter Hours Open: Nov, Dec, Feb, March Mon-Thurs 11-5pm Fri & Sat 10-6pm Sunday 11-5pm Order Wine Online www.LongPointWinery.com 1485 Lake Road • Aurora, NY (315) 364-6990

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The H. Lee White Marine Museum Where Waters and History Come Together

by Reverend William F. Mugnolo

T

he City of Oswego is not often thought of as being part of the Finger Lakes region, but it is here that the waters from seven of the Finger Lakes flow swiftly through the Oswego River, and then empty into Lake Ontario. The Port of Oswego has been home to over three centuries of Great Lakes maritime history.

As it runs along the river’s west bank, West First Street takes you north from Oswego’s bustling downtown through the blue arch gateway of the Oswego Historic Maritime District.

There you will find, hidden behind some of the port’s industrial sites, the simple blue-and-white, two-story building that is home to the H. Lee White

Marine Museum. Founded in 1982, this small museum is jam-packed with sea-going treasures as well as some from dry land.

After paying a nominal admission fee at the museum’s attractive gift shop, you head upstairs past the replica of the jib from Columbus’ ship, the Santa Maria, which is touted as being America’s first sail. In the hallway at the top, a unique rope script sign spells out what some may say is the museum’s theme. It reads: “This museum is dedicated to the ordinary people of Oswego, who for 300 years have risen to extraordinary circumstances.”

Several feet away, a lengthy scroll lists the names of some of the not-so-

Exhibits are on display in the main white and blue building, as well is in the harbor. Pictured here is the Eleanor D, the last commercial fishing boat on Lake Ontario; and the LT-5 tugboat. In the back, left, is a modern cargo vessel making a delivery. Photo by Dan Distler

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ordinary people who have passed through Oswego’s port since the 1600s.

Among these names are the Native American Chiefs Pontiac and Red Jacket; Presidents Taylor, Grant, and Franklin D. Roosevelt; and a certain actor who, as FDR might have put it, lives on in infamy: John Wilkes Booth.

In the hallway hangs a portrait of an ordinary Oswegan who went on to live an extraordinary life. Born in 1912, H. Lee White founded Marine Transport Lines, a merchant ship fleet.

He went on to serve in the Eisenhower and Johnson administrations before his untimely death in 1969.

Pieces of maritime history

Just past this tribute to Mr. White are three rooms, which trace successive periods in Oswego’s maritime history. The first features displays from the late 1700s up to the Civil War. In one corner, there are shipbuilding and sail-making tools from that time, and along the walls are numerous prints depicting 18th-century port scenes. In the middle of the room, a large case shows off 31 authentic artifacts, including pipes, keys, utensils and musket balls.

A sizable ship propeller greets you in the next room, which has displays dating from the Civil War until the early 1900s. Here, large items grab your attention: the propeller, a ship’s rudder and a huge wrench once used for repairs. Another rope-script sign lets you know that these and other

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ACCOMMODATIONS

A Victorian Bed and Breakfast

20 years of hosting domestic & foreign visitors to the Finger Lakes 9404 State Rt. 414 • Lodi, NY 14860

(607) 582-6248

290 North Main St. • Canandaigua 585-393-9937 • 800-508-2134 www.bellarosebb.com Your hosts: Renee Scorsone & Chris Miller Affordable luxury at its finest!

Premier Attraction of the Finger Lakes 2 Exceptional Restaurants 3 Luxurious Hotels Wine & Gift Shop 2 Magnificent Ballrooms

Rte 14 South, Geneva 315-781-0201 www.belhurst.com

e ce im en e t ell r re xc ne Th ty E Win li d ua ar Q Aw

Visit Beautiful Belhurst Auburn

THE QUIET PLACE Spend a night or two in peaceful rustic luxury.

With a maximum occupancy of two, The Quiet Place offers complete privacy. One bedroom, living room, fireplace, kitchen, jacuzzi & bath.

(585) 657-4643 www.thequietplace.com

Located in the Bristol Hills

Featuring the finest meeting and banquet facilities for 6-600 people.

Close to Owasco, Skaneateles and Cayuga Lakes

75 North Street • Route 34 • Auburn (315)253-4531 • www.hiauburn.com

The Hound & Hare Bed and Breakfast Recapture the Romance A unique bed and breakfast located in the wooded hills of Canandaigua.

Choose from three luxurious suites with fireplaces and private baths.

Your Chalet B&B experience...

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3770 State Route 21 (585) 394-9080

www.chaletbandb.com

Jacuzzi • AC Fireplace Antiques Romantic Breakfast by Candlelight

(607) 257-2821 1031 Hanshaw Road, Ithaca, NY 14850 AAA Approved

www.HoundandHare.com

The Glenmary Inn

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Spectacularly renovated 1840’s Italianate Inn. Seven beautifully appointed guest rooms, each with private bath, television, telephone and high speed Internet access.

Jacuzzi baths in our Bridal Suite and Groom’s Room. Elegant breakfast.

5 Star Service. Children welcome.

537 Glenmary Drive Owego, NY 13827 607-687-8819 www.glenmaryinn.com

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items in the room are from the Van Clewe Collection.

The third room highlights the port’s more recent history, including the role it played during World War II. From the window, you can gaze across the river to the hilltop site of Fort Ontario. This fort, which is open to the public, is preserved to its 1870 appearance.

A glimpse of daily life

On the second floor are four other exhibit rooms, including the Captain’s Quarters. It recreates the private room of a ship’s captain in the year 1817. In this tight space, you’ll find the captain’s bunk, desk, cast-iron stove, and personal navigation instruments.

The scene shifts to a much more primitive setting in the next room, which features two Native American

T R I P

Brittany and Breanne Jackowski of Fulton admire one of many ship models on display.

Photo courtesy of the HLWMM

canoes: one a dugout, the other made of birch bark. Pelts made of beaver, rabbit and raccoon adorn the room’s walls along with a display of letters written by women and children as they traveled at sea during the late 1800s.

The next room showcases an old canal-boat stove, a ship’s riggings, and displays having to do with Oswego’s granaries and fishing industry of times past. From here on the museum’s

Work with the finest artists in the nation in a historic setting of lyric beauty

Week-long workshops in letterpress printing, calligraphy, lettering arts & bookbinding

north side, you catch a glimpse of Oswego’s historic lighthouse, which stands as a sentinel overlooking the vast waters of Lake Ontario.

Around the corner in the last exhibit room sits the lens that lit up the lighthouse back in 1881. This room also displays the Albert Adams Collection of scale-model sailing vessels, yachts and battleships. A history of the Oswego Yacht Club is also found here along with an impressive, 36drawer Coast Guard document desk.

Before you head downstairs to the first floor exhibits, you get to see how the average seaman slept aboard ship during the early 20th Century. A far cry from the Captain’s Quarters, this hallway display shows you the “comforts� of the seaman’s hammock, a line above it where he hung his clothes and shoes, and his nightly entertainment that consisted of a checkerboard and a deck of playing cards.

A stop on the Underground Railroad

As you proceed down the battleship-gray stairwell, you come upon the museum’s main dry-land exhibit. Here unfolds the compelling story of Oswego’s involvement in the Underground Railroad from 1835 to 1862. On the wall are two 1835 petitions, one signed by men and the other by women, calling for slavery’s abolition. There is also a photo display of 14 buildings still standing in Oswego County that were once used as Underground Railroad “stations.� Inside the wall under the stairwell, is a mock up of the ingenious “hidey-hole� where fugitive slaves were hidden behind trapdoor-style cupboards in the basement.

Come join us & become part of a new tradition.

Wells Book Arts Summer Institute D Main Street, Aurora, New York D LLL L:AAH :9J 7DD@6GIH 7DD@6GIH8:CI:G @ L:AAH :9J D;;>8: D ;6M Circle Reader Service Number 148

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Pictures of history

The exhibits turn seaward once again as you enter the next room and view the prints by Eugenys Kasim.

They depict scenes from along the

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Oswego Canal, the waterway that runs parallel to the river. More scale-model ships line the windows, including detailed models of the Pinta, the Nina, and the Santa Maria, as well as the Civil War ironclads: the Merrimack and the Monitor. Under the red, white, and blue banner of the American Steamship Company is a large photo of the freighter, the H. Lee White. This 704-foot cargo ship, first commissioned in 1974, is still in service today.

The final room on the tour is the museum’s largest. Oversize oil paintings of scenes from the American Revolution in New York State cover entire walls. One features General Benedict Arnold, prior to his turning traitor, leading the charge for the American side as they went on to victory at Saratoga. Representing the War of 1812 is a large-scale model of the warship Oneida.

In one corner of this spacious room you’ll find the Captain Carl Slocum Collection of early 20th-century nautical gear. At the center of this display is a huge diver’s helmet that weighs over 100 pounds. Also in this room is a weaponry cache from the Revolution and a special exhibit commemorating how Fort Ontario provided refuge for 1,000 Holocaust victims during World War II

Life in the Finger Lakes magazine is a great gift for birthdays, anniversaries, housewarming gifts and other special occasions. Give a gift today!

S

800-344-0559 • www.LifeintheFingerLakes.com

(continued on page 83)

“Victorian Charm with a European Touch.” An 1896 Eastlake Victorian – elegantly quaint and comfortable.

Overlooking nearby village, lake & country sunsets.

3143 West Lake Road • Skaneateles, NY 13152 www.thewestridgebandb.com

THE CLIFFS AT SODUS POINT A BED & BREAKFAST ON LAKE ONTARIO This is just one of the views from our Bed & Breakfast which is situated on 5 plus treed acres with 340 feet on the water.

Restaurants, marinas, golf, gift shops, fishing, and galleries surround the Cliffs. Spend some time with us and we guarantee you will leave relaxed.

E

7961 Lake Road, Sodus Point • 315-483-4309 info@thecliffsatsoduspoint.com www.thecliffsatsoduspoint.com

4343 Routes 5 & 20, Canandaigua, NY

Comfortable * Affordable * Centrally Located Best Rates for Skiers!

Check out our Casino Package, 2 nights stay, $25 to gamble, & 25% off food @ Casino Package only $150!

Your home away from home!

For reservations or Information

585-394-2800 or 800-727-2775 On the web— www.fingerlakesinn.com

Finger Lakes Mill Creek Cabins

Don’t Wait

2382 Parmenter Road Lodi, NY 14860

607-582-7673 Be sure to get your gift subscriptions early for Christmas.

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Two, fully furnished, pet friendly cabins nestled on 42 secluded acres near the national forest and wine trails. Available year round.

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Boats to explore

As you head outside, there are two boats docked in the harbor that can be toured during the summer months. These are part of the museum’s Exterior Exhibits. The Lance Knapp is a 1925 canal boat, such as the type that once cruised through the Oswego Canal. Then, the LT-5, a World War II tugboat, is a National Historic Landmark. Known also at times as the John F. Nash and the Elisha R. Henson, this gray vessel is the last operating tug that served in the

Westridge B&B

Maxwell Creek Inn Bed & Breakfast (800) 315-2206

Historic 1846 Cobblestone House nestled on six acres, located on the Seaway Trail halfway between Rochester and Oswego on the south shore of Lake Ontario www.maxwellcreekinn-bnb.com

the

Vagabond inn

“The Switzerland of America”

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Imagine a haven of tranquility, nestled deep in the heart of the Finger Lakes. Quiet elegance on a mountain top in complete seclusion and ultimate luxury. Fireplaces, hot tubs, pool, gourmet candlelight breakfast overlooking our panoramic views known as “The Switzerland of America”. A haven you will return to again and again…

The Vagabond Inn at Black Pearl Friesian Stables 3300 Sliter Road Naples, NY 14512 www.thevagabondinn.com www.blackpearlfriesian.com (585) 554-6271 • (585) 943-0040 Give your pets a vacation too!! www.hitor.com

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Patterson Inn Museum

Seneca Falls Historical Society

59 W. Pulteney St., Corning, NY 607-937-5281•www.PattersonInnMuseum.org Open Mon-Fri 10am-4pm

We maintain a 23-room Queen Anne Style Victorian Mansion circa 1890, as a home of a wealthy Victorian family.

Museum complex features a tavern c1796, log house c1850, schoolhouse c1878, agricultural barn and blacksmith.

55 Cayuga St., Seneca Falls (315)568-8412 • www.sfhistoricalsociety.org

Upcoming Events: Dec 8-Holiday Open House See the website for more information

Schuyler County Historical Society

Yates County Genealogical & Historical Society Museums 200 Main Street, Penn Yan

607-535-9741 • 108 N. Catharine St. • Montour Falls, NY 14865

The L. Caroline Underwood Museum and the Oliver House Museum, home of Yates County history. Research center, period rooms, changing exhibits.

Historic 1828 brick tavern, eleven exhibit rooms.

Tues.-Fri, 10am-4pm Saturday: Closed for Winter www.schuylerhistory.org

Hours: Tues-Fri 9am-4pm, Saturdays 9-1

315-536-7318 www.yatespast.org

National Memorial Day Museum Waterloo, NY Open Tue-Sat 1-4pm, 15 May-23 Dec & By appointment

(315) 539-0533

The National Memorial Day Museum commemorates the founding of Memorial Day through period rooms (1866) and exhibits that highlight the service and sacrifice of our Veterans.

Historic Maritime District

Glenn H.

Celebrating 25 Years!

Museum 8419 State Rte 54 Hammondsport, NY 14840 Ph: (607)569-2160 www.glennhcurtissmuseum.org

Open Daily 1-5pm, Mid May-Dec. Open Mon-Sat, Jan.-April

West 1st Street Pier, Oswego

315-342-0480 Since 1982

www.hleewhitemarinemuseum.com

National Soaring Museum Detail of painting by former Phelps resident J. Swdey

CHANGING EXHIBITS OF REGIONAL ARTISTS 15 Church St. Phelps, NY (315) 548-2095 Hours: Fri, Sat, Sun 1-4 p.m.

Overnight Soaring Encampments

for scout & youth groups

NSM Web Store

books, apparel & more!

soaringmuseum.org/store

51 Soaring Hill Drive Elmira, NY 14903 (607) 734-3128 soaringmuseum.org

Incredible Fishing Experiences

Sunday, December 9th, Noon-5PM Come to Historic Auburn’s

FREE Holiday Celebration with quilt exhibits, musical peformances, horse & wagon rides, costumed museum tour guides, cookie making and more!

For more details call 877-343-0002 or visit

www.TourAuburnNY.com

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Private Family Trout Preserve Catch 1 to 5 Pound Trout Exclusive Access by Appointment Only No License Required. No Closed Season Barbless Artificial Lures and Flies Only Fee: $20 Keep Two Fish • Additional and Injured Fish $5.90/lb Children 6 to 14 Half Price with Adult Rods, Lures, Ice and Cleaning Available

607-546-7308 or 570-877-2605 Finger Lakes Free Range Farms 4644 County Route 4, Burdett, NY 14818

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INDEX OF ADVER TISERS FREE information by mail. Life in the Finger Lakes offers you the opportunity to request free brochures and information from our advertisers. Simply circle the numbers on the adjacent postage-paid card and mail.

The advertisers will send information directly to you.

For a quicker response, visit www.lifeinthefingerlakes.com/vendorinfo.php and request information from advertisers online.

Pg. 67

Ameriprise Financial ........................Info #143

Pg. 17

Heat-Line Corp., Div. of CML............Info #137

Pg. 27

Antique Revival ................................Info #102

Pg. 21

Hilton Garden Inn ............................Info #116

Pg. 28

Balloons over Letchworth ................Info #131

Pg. 16

Holtz House of Vehicles....................Info #152

Pg. 4

Beaver Mountain Log & Cedar Homes ................................Info #132

Pg. 15

The Inn on the Lake ........................Info #149

Pg. 4

Ithaca Mall........................................Info #133

Pg. 67

Belhurst Castle ................................Info #100

Pg. 17

Pg. 13

Best Western Vineyard Inn ..............Info #101

Johnson’s Log Home & Timberframe Show ......................Info #166

Pg. 13

Bristol Builders ................................Info #142

Pg. 23

Kendal at Ithaca................................Info #117

Pg. 38

Bristol Mountain ..............................Info #162

Pg. 65

Ketmar Development Corp. ..............Info #139

Pg. 59

Cayuga Wine Trail ............................Info #144

Pg. 67

Ketmar Development Corp. ............Info #138

Pg. 26

The Chalet of Canandaigua ..............Info #150

Pg. 12

Keuka Family Dentistry ....................Info #118

Pg. 5

Chemung Canal Trust Co. ................Info #134

Pg. 20

King Ferry Winery Inc.......................Info #119

Pg. 67

The Cheshire Union Gift Shop ........Info #103

Pg. 20

The Loomis Barn ............................Info #120

Pg. 65

Church Creative Flooring ..................Info #140

Cover 3

Lyons National Bank ........................Info #121

Pg. 16

the cinnamon stick ..........................Info #104

Pg. 37

Marine Innovations ..........................Info #122

Pg. 8

Clifton Springs Hearing Center ........Info #151

Pg. 11

Marvin Windows & Doors ................Info #123

Pg. 24

Clifton Springs Hospital & Clinic ......Info #105

Pg. 14

New Energy Works TimberFramers ..Info #124

Pg. 25

Cobtree Corporation ........................Info #106

Pg. 26

New York Wine & Culinary Center....Info #158

Pg. 29

Community Bank ..............................Info #107

Pg. 64

Niles Gourmet Country Market ........Info #159

Pg. 68-69 Cortland Downtown Partnership ......Info #163

Pg. 12

Ontario County Historical Society ....Info #167

Pg. 27

The Country Porch ..........................Info #135

Pg. 64

Owego Treadway ..............................Info #168

Pg. 39

DCE Northeast Upright Bathing Systems ..............................Info #154

Pg. 66

Prejean Winery ................................Info #136

Pg. 66

The Produce Place ..........................Info #160

Pg. 29

Design Works Architecture P.C. ........Info #108

Pg. 35

Rex Simpson Architect ....................Info #125

Pg. 57

Dr. Konstantin Frank Wines ..............Info #109

Pg. 8

SCOPED............................................Info #169

Cover 2

Elm Croft Manor Bed & Breakfast ....Info #153

Pg. 71

Spa Apartments................................Info #126

Pg. 35

Engel & Voelkers US Holdings Inc. ..Info #164

Pg. 6

Taughannock Farms Inn ..................Info #127

Pg. 59

Esperanza Mansion ..........................Info #110

Pg. 18

Thomas Hartwell Photography ........Info #161

Pg. 25

F. Shattuck Tailors ............................Info #165

Pg. 19

Timber Frames Inc............................Info #128

Pg. 71

Finger Lakes Conveyors Inc. ............Info #145

Pg. 66

Timberpeg East Inc ..........................Info #129

Pg. 71

Finger Lakes Dermatology................Info #111

Pg. 3

Waterloo Premium Outlets ..............Info #130

Pg. 7

Finger Lakes Health ..........................Info #155

Pg. 78

Wells Book Arts Center ....................Info #148

Pg. 61

Finger Lakes Premier Properties ......Info #146

Pg. 35

Finger Lakes Railway........................Info #141

MARKETPLACE ADVERTISING

Cover 4

The Finger Lakes Show ..................Info #156

Accommodations ................................................Pgs. 77, 79

Pg. 27

Five Star Bank ..................................Info #147

Attractions ..........................................................Pgs. 80, 82

Pg. 61

The Furniture Doctor Inc. ................Info #112

Camping and Dining ..................................................Pg. 83

Pg. 37

Gateway Commons LLC ..................Info #113

Visit Honeoye Falls! ..................................................Pgs. 53

Pg. 19

Gault Auto Sport BMW ....................Info #114

Visit Naples! ..............................................................Pgs. 73

Pg. 24

Geneva On The Lake ........................Info #115

Real Estate ..........................................................Pgs. 30-31

Pg. 28

Glen Iris Inn......................................Info #131

Shop Here! Retail & Business ............................Pgs. 84-86

Pg. 9

Hart Hotels ......................................Info #157

Wineries ..............................................................Pgs. 74-75

C A L E N D A R DECEMBER 1-2...Deck the Halls at Seneca Lake Wine Trail Holiday wines & food pairings. Grapevine wreath with ribbon & ornament from each winery. www.senecalakewine.com 877-536-2717 1-2...Holiday Shopping Spree at Cayuga Lake Wine Trail Get a wreath and ornament at each winery, along with wine tastings, holiday treats, souvenir wine glass, holiday recipes. www.cayugawinetrail.com 800-684-5217 1-2...Santa Express at Finger Lakes Scenic Railway Station 90 minute train ride with Santa over Finger Lakes Scenic Railway between Geneva and Cayuga. www.genevarotaryclub.org 315-789-0574 1-22...Holidays at the Mansion at Sonnenberg Gardens & Mansion State Historic Park Special month of yuletide weekend shopping at greenhouses, wine center & gift shop. www.sonnenberg.org 585-394-4922 1…27 Annual Home Tour and Auction, Owego Auction immediately following the evening home tour. tiogaartscouncil@stny.rr.com 607-687-0785 1-Jan. 5, 2008....Sparkle at West End Gallery in Corning The opening reception showcasing Aleta Wynn Yarrow is Saturday, December 1, from 5-8 p.m. www.westendgallery.net 607-936-2011 3-April 13, 2008...Polar Passport on the Seneca Lake Wine Trail At only $10 plus tax, the Polar Passport gives residents and visitors alike a convenient and affordable way to enjoy many of the wineries on the Seneca Lake Wine Trail. www.SenecaLakeWine.com 877-536-2717 2-16, 2007...Holidays at the Market The entire public market is transformed on Sundays from 9 a.m – 3 p.m. into a holiday shoppers paradise. The event features numerous vendors with art, crafts, decorations, holiday food delicacies, gift items and stocking stuffers.

585-428-6907 7...StarShine Christmas in the Village Historic Main Street of Penn Yan transforms into a winter festival with holiday music provided by local school and church choirs. Hot foods and beverages, horse-drawn wagon rides, face painting, a pancake dinner and the arrival of Old St. Nick are just part of the evening. www.yatesny.com 800-868-9283

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ATTRACTIONS C A L E N D A R 7-9...It's A Wonderful Life Celebration the town of Seneca Falls The village depicts Bedford Falls from the classic holiday film and invites everyone to join in the festivities. Personal appearance of Zuzu. www.senecafalls.com 315-568-1995 or 264-9215 E

Don’t Wait Be sure to get your gift subscriptions early for Christmas.

800-344-0559 • www.LifeintheFingerLakes.com

8...A Touch of Christmas Dundee’s annual holiday gift to the community.

Join with your neighbors and friends in a celebration of the season. Holiday music, decorations and seasonal foods.

800-868-9283 8...31st Annual Christmas in the Park On the Village Square in Hammondsport 607-569-2989 8...Santa Lucia Day Celebrate the traditional Swedish holiday and enjoy special treats at Swedish Hill Vineyard & Winery. www.swedishhill.com 315-549-8326

Folks from the beautiful Finger Lakes Region have enjoyed millions of cups of coffee from Finger Lakes Coffee Roasters for over seven years. Our travels and roasting experience allow us to locate the highest quality beans from all over the globe. Freshness is guaranteed. Please visit us or purchase a bag of beans online!

www.fingerlakescoffee.com 800-420-6154 Visit our locations.

Pittsford Plaza Farmington Corner of Routes Monroe Ave. 96 & 332 (CVS Plaza) (Next to Michael’s) 585-742-6210 585-385-0750 Strong Memorial Hospital Elmwood Avenue Rochester, NY 585-273-4169

8-March 8...Family Night Saturdays at Bristol Mountain Family of 3 can ski or ride for $65 from 4 - 10 p.m. with Wegmans Shoppers Club Card.

Additional family members $18. www.bristolmountain.com 585-374-6000 9...Auburn Chamber Orchestra The orchestra will put on a holiday concert at St. Francis of Assisi Church at 4 p.m. www.catholic-church.org/stfrancis-auburn 315-252-0065 20...Genealogy Workshop, Penn Yan A session on official records, from 1-3 p.m., at the Oliver House Museum. www.yatespast.org 315-536-7318 22...Sciencenter Showtime – Presentation Orchids Discover orchids with Ithaca’s Sciencenter educator John Alvarez Castillo. Visitors will take home an orchid plant and learn how to care for it.

607-272-0600 29-30...Holiday Memories at Historic High Falls Travel back to 19th Century Rochester in this historic site from 5-9 p.m. Many activities for all ages including horse-drawn hayrides, strolling performers, toy train village, historic re-enactments, lantern-led tours and more. www.cityofrochester.gov 585-428-6697 31...New Year's Eve Celebration on Main Street Downtown Rochester Enjoy the evening’s festivities from 10 p.m. – 12:30 a.m. Fireworks will follow family festivities at the Convention Center and on Main Street.

Performances both inside and outside for all ages. www.cityofrochester.gov 585-428-6697

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JANUARY 4...Stringin’ Around Series, Elmira West O'Clare and Finger Lakes Folk – two regional favorites with the sounds of Ireland and the Irish immigrant. www.clemenscenter.com 607-734-8191 11-13...Off-Broadway Series, Elmira "Forbidden Broadway: Special Victims Unit".

Spoofing the characters, plots and tunes of Broadway, past and present. www.clemenscenter.com 607-734-8191 13...Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards Winter Music Series Each Sunday through February 24 will feature live bands from 1-4 p.m. There will be no cover charge to come in and enjoy the fun. www.hazlitt1852.com 607-546-9463 17...Winemaker Dinner at New York Wine & Culinary Center, Canandaigua 7 course tasting dinner with Lamoreaux Landing Wine Cellars. 7-9:30 p.m. www.nywcc.com 585-394-7070 18-20...Light in Winter, Ithaca A Weekend Festival of science and the arts. www.lightinwinter.com 25...Passport World Music Series at Smith Opera House, Geneva Gandalf Murphy and The Slambovian Circus of Dreams. www.thesmith.org 315-781-5483 FEBRUARY 8...Cabin Fever in Corning Beat the winter blues by joining the Gaffer District Business Association in this special night of wine tasting and promotions. www.gafferdistrict.com 607-937-6292 10...Fire & Ice Festival at Casa Larga Vineyards Fun and festivities including ice sculpture bar, food demos, music, winery tours, wine tastings and seminars in Fairport. www.casalarga.com 585-223-4210 10...Antique Show & Sale at All Things Art Antique show and sale in Canandaigua with over 40 quality antique dealers. Verbal appraisals on antiques & books. Refreshments and lunch. www.ocacantiques.com 585-396-0087 16...Screwy Louie's Ice Fishing Derby, Fairhaven Perch and pike derby, door prizes and drawings.

Fish at Blind Sodus Bay and Little Sodus Bay. www.screwylouiesportshop.com 315/947-6348

Visit LifeintheFingerLakes.com for more calendar information.

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(continued from page 79) that they shot down one of Hitler’s luftwafts.

As this historic tugboat and all the indoor exhibits show, The H. Lee White Marine Museum is about more than just a local port’s colorful history. Its displays truly represent a maritime legacy that encompasses the Great Lakes region as a whole, as well as the inland waters that make their way into Oswego Harbor. How appropriate it is that where the waters converge, much of their naval history comes together as well.

Museum employee Susan Wild conducts a group tour. Prearranged tours of the main building are available year-round. Photos courtesy HLWMM

The H. Lee White Marine Museum is open daily, except for Sundays during the winter months. Admission is $4.50 for adults and $2.50 for youth ages 5-12. The museum’s hours are 1 to 5 p.m. September through June, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. during July and August. Group tours are available by appointment. For more information, call 315-342-0480.

Normandy Invasion in June 1944. There are even bullet holes in it from Nazi aerial assaults, but the LT-5’s valiant crew fought back; the small plane painted on the tug shows

Reverend William F. Mugnolog is the pastor of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Newark. He currently resides in Marion.

M

C

E

CAMPING • DINING Don’t Wait

Clute Memorial Park & Campground 155 S. Clute Park Drive S Watkins Glen, NY 14891 Ph: (607)535-4438 • www.watkinsglen.us

4 Authentic Log Cabins Pool • Laundry • 3 Pavilions • Frisbee Golf • Camp Grocery Store • 30-50 Amp Service • Seasonal Sites • Wireless Internet Access • Planned Activities • Water and Sewer Hookups

Family Fun for Everyone!

Be sure to get your gift subscriptions early for Christmas.

Calling All Snow Birds...

800-344-0559 www.LifeintheFingerLakes.com

Be sure to notify us if you have M a change of address for the winter.

Don’t Miss An Issue of Life in the Finger Lakes!

3 mi. west of Waterloo Premium Outlets.

Call for directions.

1475 W. Townline Rd., Phelps

315-781-5120 www.juniuspondscampground.com

800-344-0559

The Perfect Gift!

A Subscription to Life in the Finger Lakes, the region’s premier magazine

GIFT Subscriptions

1st Gift ........................$12.95 2nd Gift ......................$10.95 Each Addʼl ....................$8.95

A Subscription for YOURSELF

3 Years (12 issues) ......$25.95 2 Years (8 issues) ........$19.95 1 Year (4 issues)..........$12.95

Canada, add $15. Overseas, add $30.00 postage per year. U.S. funds only.

Four GREAT issues a year!

Call Today! 800-344-0559 subscribe@lifeinthefingerlakes.com www.lifeinthefingerlakes.com

Pierce’s 1894 Restaurant Discover Pierce’s interpretation of excellence in American/Continental cuisine and their outstanding selection of New York State Wines as well as wine selections from around the world. We feature casual bistro food available in our lounge, new and interesting cocktails and martinis, and of course, our traditional and contemporary dining room menu.

Reservations Recommended.

228 Oakwood Ave., Elmira Hts. 607-734-2022 • www.pierces1894.com WINTER 2007 ~

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SHOP HERE! A Sewing Joys’

American Girl Doll Clothes Clothing & Accessories for 18˝ and 15˝ dolls Available now at Flowers by Lisa Marie

Hours: 104 Main St. Phelps, NY

M-F 9-5 Sat 10-3

One of a Kind Events (OKE)

“Tradition with a Twist” Professional Bridal Consultant Specializing in Winery Weddings www.1ofakindevents.com • 607-661-3985

finger Lakes soap co.

Heluva® Good Cheese Country Store 6152 Barclay Road, Sodus, NY Stop in for a visit and a sample.

Heluva Good products, cheese cut off the block, country gifts, and in store specials.

Not Just Good...Heluva Good.

Seneca Moon, Cayuga Mist and Keuka Amore’ Soaps available at wineries and gift shops, or online at:

800-445-0269

ROUTE 96

• B&W and Color Photocopies • Printing - Newsletters, Stationary, Business Cards, Business Forms, Tickets • Mailing Services • USPS Delivery & Postal Permit www.keukalakeenterprises.com • 315-536-1274 226 Sheppard Street, Penn Yan, NY 14527

Over 700 REAL LOG HOMES Built in the Finger Lakes Area Since 1971.

www.fingerlakessoap.com

Call for Monthly OPEN HOUSES

www.loghomeguy.com www.realloghomes.com

Call Ed Schoen 800-736-4360

SNOW FUN! X-country ski packages • snowshoes 100’s of Kayaks & Small Boats Kayak Trailers & Roof Rack Systems

VISIT OUR SHOE OUTLET Specialty Fitting • Large Sizes Special Orders & So Much More!

A Finger Lakes landmark for classic gifts, extraordinary accessories for home and garden, handcrafted jewelry, apparel, fine stationery and whims w h i m ses! ie s!

You’ve got to see it ALL to believe it!

Lawn & Landscaping Equipment • Logging Supplies • Sales & Service

1035 Owego Road (Rte 96), Candor, NY

Call 607-659-POWER (7693) Toll Free 866-70-KAYAK • powerandpaddle.com

56 South Main St. • Downtown Canandaigua Open Daily • 585-394-6528 • www.goodie2.com

th f s 20ear oTree Y ng lli

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FEATURING

U-cut or Pre-cuts Inside Potted Trees • Tree stands • Wreaths Garland • Evergreen Kissing Balls Pony Rides: 11–2 Saturdays, Nov. 24, Dec. 1 & 8 Santa: 11–2 Sundays, December 2 and 9 Food & free wagon rides on weekends in December.

Shaking and baling of trees, candy canes and coloring books.

Open Nov. 23-Dec 23 9am- 6pm UPS Shipping available. Master Card and VISA accepted.

10 minutes North of Ithaca on Route 34 575 Auburn Rd • Lansing, NY 14882 www.mooretrees.com • (607) 533-3670

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GOURMET COFFEE & AUTHENTIC LATTES, CHAI, FROZEN SMOOTHIES AND A WIDE VARIETY OF DELICIOUS PASTRIES & SPECIALTY DRINKS J IC/OPEN OPEN MING SOON COM

AM

LIVE ENTERTAINMENT ON WEEKENDS DIRECT FROM OUR JAZZ LOUNGE!!

7 DAYS/WEEK • 6:00 AM -10:00PM

LOCATED IN THE GENEVA CENTRE

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SHOP HERE! P

Discover...

Two Floors of Distinctive Gifts, Including Our Year ’Round Seasonal Shops Visit During Normal Business Hours.

Open Sundays in Nov. & Dec. 2 West Main Street, Clifton Springs 315-548-4438 MAKE YOUR OWN WINE

Finger Lakes Images

A DIVISION OF COMPLETELY WIRELESS LLC

Geneva Shopping Center (Next to Peebles Shopping Center)

Geneva, New York 14456 PHONE: 315-828-6704 FAX: 315-828-6710

MON-SAT 10AM-9PM SUN 12PM-5PM

www.fallbright.com Secure online shopping Winemaking Information Fall Bright, The Winemakers Shoppe • Keuka Lake 10110 Hyatt Hill, Dundee, NY • 607-292-3995

Bill Banaszewski Specializing in Outdoor Photography Over 200,000 Stock Photos Custom Photo Shoots 315-536-1004 www.thefingerlakesimages.com P.O. Box 626, Canandaigua, NY 14424

Cornell Sheep Program Blankets Created from wool of Cornell Dorset and Finnsheep, each blanket is serially numbered on the Cornell Sheep Program logo and comes with a certificate of authenticity.

Red stripes at each end and red binding accent the 100% virgin wool.

Lap robe (60 x 48 inches, 1 stripe) $75 Single (60 x 90 inches, 3 stripes) $101 Double (72 x 90 inches, 3 stripes) $112 Queen (78 x 104 inches, 3 stripes) $139 8% tax (within NY)/8$ per blanket shipping

Cornell Orchards, Cornell Dairy Store, or the Department of Animal Science

607-255-7712 www.sheep.cornell.edu (click on blankets)

cspblankets@cornell.edu

WINTER 2007 ~

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SHOP HERE!

Calling All Snow Birds...

Don’t Miss An Issue of Life in the Finger Lakes!

Be sure to notify us if you have a change of address for the winter.

800-344-0559

Finger Lakes from Space

POSTER 117 EASTERN BLVD. • PARKWAY PLAZA CANANDAIGUA, NY 14424 PHONE 585-394-7840 • FAX 585-394-7644 canandaiguaspiceco@yahoo.com • Over 350 herbs, spices & seasonings • NEW Spice Club, receive spices and recipe each month, see our website for details • Specialty gourmet items as seen on the Food Channels • Locally roasted coffees & over 40 loose leaf teas, some very rare • Large organic and locally grown section • Gluten Free Room including home baked breads and desserts

Take the Finger Lakes home with you with this stunning poster of the Finger Lakes Region from Space! The photograph, taken by satellite, consists of high-detail satellite imagery with overlaid map information. The map detail consists of cities, towns, main and secondary highways as well as airports, the Erie Canal, state parks and many other features of interest. There is no other poster of the Finger Lakes as beautiful and informative as this one. Poster size - 25Ë? x 39Ë?.

See our Winter Class Schedule on our website www.canandaiguaspice.com

Paper Poster: $22.95 • Laminated Poster: $29.95

Call 1-800-331-7323 to order.

Call or visit website for current store hours

Dealer inquires invited.

www.atwatervineyards.com

TREEFORMS Furniture & Giftstore Attention Grandparents!

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Feeding a large dinner crowd this Holiday Season?

We can help you seat from 2-22 people!

Solid Oak & Cherry USA Made Furniture Well worth the trip from anywhere! treeformsfurniture.com

607-272-2913

1302 Dryden Road Ithaca NY 14850

corner of Route 13 & 366 between Ithaca and Dryden

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Discover Geneva, Where the Difference is Downtown Theater, Movies, Music, Events, Shopping & Fun! Cruisin Night Heat up the Holidays Light Up Geneva! Auction Red Hat Society Spring ‘08 And Much, Much More‌

Call our Visit our Website 315.789.0102 www.DownTownGeneva.org

The Carpet Rack Furniture Center Three Floors of: • • • • •

Fine Furniture Flooring Mattresses Window Coverings Gifts & Accessories

“Downtown Cohocton’s FAVORITE place to shop for Home Decor�

Exit 2 off I-390 8 Maple Ave, Cohocton, NY (585) 384-5507

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We Have the Perfect Gift for You! The Springside Inn, Auburn

Rathbun, called “Hellmira” by its inmates, brought its mortality rate to 25 percent, the highest among Northern prison camps. As sexton of the Woodlawn Cemetery there, Jones singlehandedly buried nearly 3,000 Confederate soldiers who had died from small pox, the harsh winters, and a flood of the Chemung River. He kept careful records of each one. Today, Jones’s memorial reads: “He risked his life to escape bondage, then dedicated his life to bury those who might enslave him.”

My children and I took an informative and engaging historical tour on a trolley called The Elmiran. Woodlawn National Cemetery, where the grave markers line up like a small version of Arlington National Cemetery, was the most moving stop. Nearby is the newly restored John Jones house, which, in the future, will highlight the history of African Americans in New York’s Southern Tier.

Throughout our tour of the Underground Railroad in the Finger Lakes, we learned, made connections, and gained insight into an emotional time in American history. Our hearts were moved again and again. We came away with pride for these heroes of our country who “slaved” even after they were released from bondage to make America truly free.

Cindy Ross loves to write historical stories like this one to share the world and the past with her homeschooled teens. It helps her learn and understand the world, too.

A Subscription to Life in the Finger Lakes, the region’s premier magazine

GIFT Subscriptions

1st Gift............................$12.95 2nd Gift ..........................$10.95 Each Addʼl........................$8.95

A Subscription BDeesatl for YOURSELF

3 Years (12 issues)........$25.95 2 Years (8 issues)..........$19.95 1 Year (4 issues)............$12.95

Canada, add $15. Overseas, add $30.00 postage per year. U.S. funds only.

Four GREAT issues a year!

Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter

Call 800-344-0559 subscribe@lifeinthefingerlakes.com www.lifeinthefingerlakes.com

CALL TODAY!

Order by December 14 and recipient will receive a Gift Card in the mail, just in time for the holidays!

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George Rhoads The Sculptor and Toy Inventor Returns to Painting

by Peggy Haine

George Rhoads at work in his studio.

D

Photo by Meredith Michelson

ressed in loosely tailored bright purples and magentas, Mountain,” which he sold to the game company Milton George Rhoads’ puckish demeanor belies his 80-some Bradley. This convergence led to a career in audio-kinetic years. In what would be to most of us retirement years, sculpture, which has earned him, among other accolades, a he focuses his youthful energies on his first love: painting, ren- nomination for the Prix de Rome. A feature in The New York dering traditionally flat acrylic paints as deeply textured as oils. Times Magazine described his kinetic works as reflecting His most recent undertaking is a series of landscapes, many of “Alexander Calder’s abstract constructions on the one hand them inspired by his Finger Lakes surroundings. and the cartoons of Rube Goldberg on the other.”

“I’m trying to get the feeling you get Rhoads’ works are included in the when you look at a landscape that arrests Museum of Modern Art, Malcolm S. your attention – a quiet and kind of eterForbes, Leonard Bernstein, American nal moment. I go for twilight,” he says.

Scientific, and Westinghouse collec“Moments of twilight quiet the mind.” tions. His room-sized ball machines With an artistic career spanning enchant kids of all ages at the Corning seven decades, the Finger Lakes resident Museum of Glass, New York City’s Port continues to reinvent his art. A renowned Authority Bus Terminal, and Ithaca’s painter and designer of whimsical audioSciencenter, as well as children’s hospikinetic ball machines, Rhoads began his tals and public spaces around the world. artistic endeavors as a sort of Renaissance George Rhoads’ recent paintings “Wandering” is the title of this painting apprentice, drawing and studying the will constitute a one-man show titled basics as a very young man. After earning a degree from the “Transcendental Landscapes” in the gallery of Ithaca’s University of Chicago and studying at the Art Institute of Community School of Music and Art, 330 East State Street, Chicago, he supported himself in New York City by painting from March 5 to 28. Sales will benefit the school. The show houses and doing medical illustration while selling his paintkicks off Ithaca’s annual Gallery Night, a walking tour of a ings at the Terry Dintenfass Gallery. dozen or so downtown Ithaca art galleries. E-mail Rhoads served a term with fountain maker Hans Von de gallerynight@gmail.com for more information. During the Bovenkamp, before striking out on his own in the fountain course of the show, he will offer a gallery talk on his work. To world. Then he hit upon a toy called “Climb Every see more of his paintings, visit GerogeRhoads.com.

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=PZP[ )YHUJO 4HUHNLY ;HTT` /\[[LY HUK OLY Z[HMM HUK L_WLYPLUJL [Y\L OVTL[V^U IHURPUN We’ve expanded our services to better meet the needs of our Macedon area neighbors, with: • Convenient Saturday hours – 8 am to 4 pm • 24-hour ATM • Drive-thru banking window • Safe deposit boxes and other products and services to meet your needs We have 10 convenient offices to serve you: Main Office 35 William St. Lyons, NY 14489 (315) 946-4871

Clyde 4 Williams St. Clyde, NY 14433 (315) 923-2100

Geneva 399 Exchange St. Geneva, NY 14456 (315) 781-5000

Jordan 2 North Main St. Jordan, NY 13080 (315) 689-9530

Lyons Routes 14 & 31 Lyons, NY 14489 (315) 946-4505

Macedon 359 NYS Route 31 Macedon, NY 14502 (315) 986-9681

Newark 750 W. Miller St. Newark, NY 14513 (315) 331-0296

Ontario 6256 Furnace Rd. Ontario, NY 14519 (315) 524-9661

Penn Yan 205 Liberty St. Penn Yan, NY 14527 (315) 536-2300

Wolcott 5996 New Hartford St. Wolcott, NY 14590 (315) 594-6002

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From the producers of the critically acclaimed Adirondack Living Shows comes

you have to If you want to catch fish where the big fish... fish are THE FINGER LAKES SHOW

May 2 – 4, 2008

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Summer begins this May at the Finger Lakes’ best new attraction!

Hundreds of Exhibitors. Thousands of products and services. Industry Experts. An unparalleled marketing event!

If you’re a log home builder or timberframer, furniture maker, real estate broker, marina, camp service provider or artist catering to the lucrative camp, cottage and lake house consumer, then you can’t afford to miss the Finger Lakes Show and meet your customers, face to face.

Call today for Exhibitor rates and availability. Sponsorships also available. Space is limited.

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