Fossenvue:

SUMMERS’ MEMORIES, THE LATE 1800S

By Carolyn Zogg

One hundred twenty-nine years ago, this July, a group of friends from GFossenvue E.S. Millereneva, looking for a good time for their summer vacation, hit upon the idea of camping, and set about fulfilling their plan.

Autograph BookTHIS 1880s AUTOGRAPH BOOK of Sarah Townsend was recently given to the Lodi Historical Society by resident Gayle Hatch, director of the Elizabeth B. Pert Library in Hector. The book was among miscellaneous items found by Bob and Lois Nordling when they owned the John Townsend farm on the east side of Rt. 414, at Upper Lake Road.Somewhat like the tradition of school yearbook signing, the autograph book was offered to friends and family for a fond, written gesture. Rendered in the most perfect of penmanship, heartfelt messages were composed at the time of signing, especially for the recipient. In some regions, illustrations appeared.

Caywood General StoreKEEPING WARM AND UP-TO-DATE AT THE CAYWOOD GENERAL STOREtc "KEEPING WARM AND UP-TO-DATE AT THE CAYWOOD GENERAL STORE"

Pictured are Charley Ellis, Monroe Smith, and Lou Coleman. (c.?) Located a short distance down Caywood Rd., west of Rt. 414, the general store supplied goods for the hamlet of Caywood. The Caywood Station, a stop for the Lehigh Valley Railroad, was about a hundred yards west of the store. The building is now home for Caywood Antiques, owned by Steven Wagner. Caywood Road has been dubbed a number of other names, including “Caywood Station Road,” “Station Hill Road,” “Porter’s Caywood Shores,” and “the road going down to the store.”

School Picnic, Summer 2004 cover of the RecordSchool’s Out! This truck was packed with students who traveled from the Caywood School to Taughannock State Park for a school picnic on June 16, 1939. The one-room 24’ x 40’ wooden schoolhouse, still standing on County Rt. 137, operated for 114 years, and was “the last of its type in South Seneca County,” according to a Geneva Times article by Elizabeth McElroy, dated June 18, 1959.

Snowplow, Winter 2004 cover of the RecordIN 1929, Lodi town board member Arthur Knight took this picture of a new snowplow being demonstrated for board members. The gas-powered vehicle is shown plowing through a massive drift, on Townsendville Rd. (County Rt. 146), about one half mile south of Rt. 96A. Among those pictured are Sidney Colgate, Gilbert Townsend, Edgar Covert and his son, Clermont Covert. (photo courtesy of John and Ann Knight)

Townsendville Methodist Church

The Townsendville Methodist Church was the site of an annual July Festival that attracted many people who enjoyed a band concert, ice cream, cake and other treats. Since there was no electricity, a huge bonfire built on the platform shown was a beacon that could be seen from miles away. See Summer 2004 issue of The Record.  

Alexander III (Sandy) & Nellie Hay

The family of Alexander (Sandy) Hay owned the land at what is now Lodi Point State Park until 1962, when the state took possession. Alexander Hay III died in 2006. (photo courtesy of Nellie Hay) The Fall 2004 issue of The Record includes a feature article on the couple.