THE FREEZE OF 1912 - Seneca Lake is known to have frozen over during several Februarys in the mid to late 1800s, and most recently in February 1912, when its surface was solid from shore to shore, from Geneva to Watkins Glen. A foot thick closer to land, theIce cutting frozen lake was strong enough to support cars and draft horses hauling away blocks of ice by sled. In 1977, record low temperatures throughout western New York caused residents to expect a second 20th century freeze. The extreme cold generated a number of news articles recalling the 1912 freeze, which from most accounts, seems to have lasted about a week.

Amos HallThis photo, simply titled "Amos Hall's Basket Factory," has been confirmed by several reliable sources as located on the property just north of the North Main Street home (east side) of the late Floyd Covert. Census records show Hall listed as a carpenter, born around 1850. These unidentified people are a reminder of Lodi's enduring history in the fruit industry, and the cottage industries that once supported the local economy. (photo and information courtesy of Mark Brown)

‘TIS THE SEASON FOR PARADES - In this undated photo of a fireman's parade in Seneca Falls, William Dohrer (with cigar) rides along with his son William Dohrer, Jr. (at far right). The couple with hats switched are unknown, and the other men are believed to be Henry Dohrer (in vest) and Bill Putnam. Bill Dohrer ran the Eagle Hotel from the mid-1920s to the 1940s. Prior to that, the Seneca Falls native operated the Ovid Hotel, now Community Bank.(Photo courtesy of Nancy Covert Reff)

1893 SPRING FASHION FOR BOYS – These sailor suits for boys were among spring and summer clothing for men, women and children, offered by the John Wanamaker Company on Chestnut Street in Philadelphia. The suits were priced from 2.75 to 4.50 in the 1893 mail order catalogue, which also pictured bone corsets, real tortoise shell hair combs, hearing aids, lace, trunks, glass, china, silverware, rattan furniture, scissors, baskets, refrigerators, dog collars and horse harness, toys, sporting goods and clothing patterns.

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.

unknownSOFT MOMENT IN A HARD LIFE? This undated photo of an unidentified woman and her cat was among numerous photos found in a barn on the John C. Townsend farm, now the location of Suzanne Fine Regional Cuisine on Rt. 414 at Upper Lake Road. Unlike most of the professionally produced, matted photos in the collection, this one was wrinkled and torn. Does anyone know who she is? (photo courtesy of Gayle Hatch) (featured on the cover of the Winter 2005 issue of The Rec

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)

Porter homeOne of three large houses built by James and Charles Caywood, around 1900, has been purchased and renovated by James and Patricia Pellegrini. Located at the corner of State Rt. 414 and Caywood Road, the house was home for Elmer J. Porter and his wife, Mary DeBuyscr Porter, and their family before it was sold to the Pellegrinis. The couple is set to open the doors of their home to bed and breakfast guests in March. The est

Covert CoonsA GOOD DAY’S HUNT – As fall settles in, hunters in this area still look forward to their sport. Around 1900, raccoons were hunted for their pelts, which could be turned into soft, warm coats. A 1907 edition of the New York Times advertised a “man’s raccoon automobile coat” for $47.50. Popular to this day, vintage raccoon coats sell from $500 to $1000.

John Walter Keady, Summer 2005 cover of the RecordSUMMER TIME AND THE LIVIN’ IS EASY… Some simple pleasures, like watermelon in summer, are universal. John Walter Keady, Jr. II is the third man from the left, in back row. Photo is believed to be from summer 1918, just before Keady left Lodi to become a soldier in WWI. Last fall, Kathleen Keady, daughter of John Walter Keady, III, contacted and visited the present owners of her great-grandparents’ home on Keady Road.

Lodi Town TruckSTATE OF THE ART 1925 – The man in this 1925 photo of a Town of Lodi truck with hoist is believed to be John T. Rallings. An early 1960s edition of the Ovid Gazette featured this photo and another of Rallings seated on the running board of a truck bought by the town in 1919. The caption states that Rallings — well-known for his photography — drove both “service vehicles” for Lodi and that he posed for the picture he took of himself with the 1919 truck. It is likely he did the same in this photo.

BACK TO SCHOOL – The 1923-24 sophomore class of the Lodi High School on W. Seneca Street was dressed in their Sunday best with hair combed neatly in place for this picture taken by photographer J.H. Kibler of Syracuse. Back row: John Wright, Ray Newkirk, Grant Newkirk. Middle row: Lynn LaM1923 Sophomore class Lodi High Schooloreaux, Mary Huff, Carrie Wiley Halsey, Alice Covert Wyckoff, Betty Voorhees Hazlett, Ben Birge, Earl Shannon.

Summer on SenecaSUMMER ON SENECA – Society member and gifted artist Floyd Covert worked from a postcard to create this painting of boathouses that once stood at the northern end of Seneca Lake near Geneva. It was given as a gift to Lodi Historical Society president Carolyn Zogg and now hangs in her home. Floyd was born in 1932 and passed away in early 2006, after a long battle with cancer. His extensive works are known for their vibrant colors and seasonal realism. (photo courtesy of Carolyn Zogg)

RUMBLING ALONG - The Lodi Train Station was one of 23 freight and passenger stops spaced five to ten miles apart on the New York Division of the Lehigh Valley Railroad's Mainline, spanning the distance between Manchester, NY and Athens, PA. The steam locomotive in this photo, circa 1910-20, is believed by local train authorities to be a K-2 Pacific Lodi Station Its heavyweight, truss rod cars appear to include six coaches, one baggage car and a Railway Post Office (RPO) car at the head end. Sisters Harriet and Ruth Van Vleet, interviewed in this issue, recall their father Lawrence visiting with Lodi stationmaster Halsey Covert at the time when communications were telegraphed in Morse Code.(photo courtesy of Bob and Joan Covert)