Memories
of our...
Caroga Times
Visitors and Friends
Let
us know of your memories of "The Lakes," or read about others. No doubt from
some people you know!
We
Would Love to "Hear" From You
October
22, 1999
Tony,
I love your site !!! For the merry-go-round to be the first visual,
nearly brought me to tears, what memories!! I don't have much time now, but I
really wanted to thank you. I can't wait until this evening when I can
really stroll down memory lane.
Have a wonderful day, I certainly know that I will. Thanks again and take
care !
Jo Anne Walters
10/29/99
Hi Tony,
Thank you ever so much for sending me your FANTASTIC website CAROGA TIMES.
When I was a young child, I use to beg my parents to take me to
Tony, the most amazing thing is that I think my parents knew your
parents. Mike and Mimi (Biasini) Myzel were friends of my family, also. I think
that she was a very good friend of my Aunt Honey (Carmelia Di Spirito). I
recognized Mimi's picture immediately. My parents (who are now both deceased)
were Kenneth and Lena Taddune. I also believe that your parents knew my
uncle and aunt (Pete and Rose Raneri) very well. It really is a small world,
Tony.
Thank you again for taking me back to the good times and letting me live
my childhood once more. God Bless, Tony, and take care.
Hi, Linda
again! I loved the Caroga site! My brother is going to freak, he lived there for
quite awhile before moving to
Linda Mcdaniel Knowles
Hi Tony. .
. .Thanks for the "Reach Out And Touch" contact. You put together one H--l of a
Web Site. It is great to have access to so many pix. I did not have time to view
all of them, but I also had a hard time getting myself to stop clicking for the
next one!
Your Web Site is well done. From the little note at the bottom of your Home Page
I deduced that you do Web Sites as a business. I have put up and continue to
maintain 3 or 4 so far, free of charge, because mine are fairly simple, nothing
too fancy, and at my age (pushing 80) I have little interest in going into
business. If you like, you can check out the one I put together for the large
local group of former employees of the company I worked for until I retired.
Click on: www.worldaccessnet.com/~exch2m to see the little magazine I put
together so we can continue to stay in touch.
I ran into the J'town Web Site quite by accident but I was truly delighted
to have found it. I have many fond memories of the beginning years of my
life there. After enlisting in the Army in Feb. of 1942, I spent no more time
in J'town except for a couple of months following my discharge in Dec. of 1945.
I spent the next 22-23 years or so in the San Fernando Valley before moving to
Your name does not ring a strong bell in my memory----I graduated from
High School in 1938----are you in the same generation as I am? The photos depict
you as a much younger person then me. And I fail to bring up any memories of
"His Honor, the Mayor" and his connection with any business I am familiar with
in J'town.
Nevertheless, I thank you for making contact; it was very generous
and considerate of you to share some old memories with me.
C. J. (Gus) Pantazi
Tony:
Awesome, can't say when I enjoyed an afternoon better than this - with goose
pimples up and down my arm in recollections of the Caroga Lake and Adirondacks.
The best of my life has been at
Some of the greatest times of my life were spent there. So what are you doing
in
I want to thank you most sincerely for looking me up, and directing me to
the wonderful pictures you depicted in your Web Page. Someday I hope to do the
same, but at the moment I'm in limbo as to how to create such a magnificent page
of Caroga and vicinities. I'll try to dig up some pictures that I have laying
around and scan a few for you as I'm able.
What memories, what GREAT times. We may have even crossed paths at one time
or another. Wish I could remember names of places better, but out of sight - out
of mine. I owned a camp on
Dancing at
Once again Tony - I appreciate your generosity and your offering of nostalgia.
Ted Kitler 2015 Groveland Rd Palm Harbor, FL 34683 PS- We
still spend 3 months plus in the Adirondacks during the summer months - mostly
on
Dear
Tony=
Thanks for sharing your page with me = you graduated the year after and the year
before my sister and brother -- It was fun to look back.
Nancy Robinson Hauck
Hi Tony,
What a great web site. Haven't had time to view all of it yet, but will
shortly. Hope to see you at our class reunion in 2000. It's hard to
believe it's been 40 years. Boy, do I feel old. Loved the pictures of the
young Tony Ermie. Brought back a lot of memories.
Looking forward to seeing you.
<**>**<**>**<**>**<**>**<**>**<**>
Sharon Manno
Hi,
THANK YOU SO MUCH. I cannot tell you how happy you just made me. It wasn't
long ago I was telling stories about summer visits to Caroga and how great
God Bless and please keep me on your mailing list as you make updates. I very
much appreciate it.
Take care and stay well.
With Love,
A lifelong fan of
Ruth Corey of
Date:
11/4/99 8:54 PM
From: anitawells
To: caroga@ermie.com
Subject: Caroga
Thanks for the e-mail and the great web site. You certainly have some beautiful
photos. You must be quite a photographer. I spent quite a long while
perusing the scenery.
We bought Joe Yack's Camp up the road from the Nest-O-Rest. I will try and send
you a picture of it. I went to a yard sale at your camp the summer before last.
Was it your mom who showed me the rest of the camp? I was surprised to see how
much room there was upstairs.
I know Pat
that lives in the brown camp on the corner, next to yours. Also met the
D'Alessandris who owns the camp now. A nice fellow.
I was hoping to see a picture of Mr Yack as we have never met, although for the
last 5 yrs I have sent him a short note each month with the mortgage payment.
Pretty much a one way correspondence. He is a local artist and paints what you
have taken pictures of. I bet you miss it. I agree that there aren't many places
prettier than the
We lived in
Anyway thanks for letting me share your web site. You have done a terrific job
with it. It works flawlessly. Didn't crash once. A real pleasure.
Anita
Date:
11/7/99 10:35 AM
From: Rick Lilley
To: tony@ermie.com
Subject: Caroga
Hi Tony,
Just visited your web site. Wrung me out. Fabulous!
You certainly married a dish. Kathy is so pretty, and Kelly and Michelle look so
much like her. Great looking bunch of women you have in your life. Paul too of
course.
I got kind of choked up looking through your family history.
The name of the street where you live is certainly appropriate. Talk about
cruising down "
Rick
Lilley
(
Date:
11/5/99 8:53 AM
From: Martin Collins
To: <ermie@ermie.com>
Subject: Re:
Thanks for the memories!
Martin
11/8/99
Dear Tony:
While we were thrilled to see the old pictures of
I hope
when you are back home you will get a chance to meet me so that I may give you a
guided tour. Your e-mail comes at an opportune moment. My wife, Ruth
and I want to do one wall of the dance hall with photographs of people and
Sherman's throughout the years. We will make copies of the photographs and
return the originals to whoever submits them. We hope to give credit and
identify the people depicted in the photographs. It is important to know
the year of the photograph was taken. Ruth knows how to make this internet
thing work and right now I am asking my secretary to work the computer for me so
that I can view your site. I would love to hear more from you and hope
that you will be able to assist us in our restoration effort. If you have
any suggestions, please let us hear from you.
Thanks
again.
George
Abdella
Hey,
THIS WAS GREAT -------JACK REALLY ENJOYED IT----HE COULD PICK OUT
ALMOST EVERYTHING! I'm just learning this thing!!!!!!!
It's one week old
Love to all,
Judy Van Voast Cleary
Tony,
I just spent the last hour touring your site. It is great. My family had a camp
in the woods a few miles from the lake, on the road that Shine's was on. We used
to come to swim at the beach and if I was lucky to go on the rides and
spend hours in the arcade. That was the forties and fifties - we always stopped
at the ice house to get ice. Of course in the sixties when I could get the
car it was Willies and
What memories you brought back. I haven't been there since the early sixties.
You made me homesick for the mountains. Nice job.
Thanks again,
Bob Ruller -
Date:
11/27/99 10:17 AM
From: William F. Weaver
To: <tony@ermie.com>
Subject: Caroga Lake Days ! ! !
Hi Tony:
While I never have met you, I do know the name Ermie. I am a native of
Northville, and our class trips in grade school were always to
The penny arcade was great towards the end of the day, since you were generally
low on funds at that time. We rode the whip, merry-go-round, and the Ferris
wheel. God, what good times we had.
I am a retired G'ville firefighter, retired in 1989 after 25 years. Still keep
busy as a consultant to Architects and Engineers dealing with buildings and
building problems.
Your page is great I really love it. If I find any old pictures I will send them
to you for your addition to a very great site.
Bill Weaver
11/28/99
Hi Tony,
I have to tell you that your Caroga Web Site is Fantastic. Although I did not
know of you until now, I loved the pictures, memories and music we need more
information on the surrounding communities as well.
Please stop in and visit us at Classic Image 8 E. Main St. Johnstown, NY. We
have a lot of people who stop in from that area. You can even bring the
music along with you.
Karen Coppola
Classic Image
Date:
11/29/99 6:08 PM
From: Saul B. Kalbfeld
To: tony@ermie.com
Subject: Caroga
Really enjoyed your Caroga Website. It's great for people who can look at the
pictures and recognize people and places. I'm from
I've been
in
Best Wishes
Saul Kalbfeld
Date:
11/29/99 7:13 PM
From: MIANEWYORK@aol.com
To: tony@ermie.com
Subject: I love it!!!
Hi Tony,
I don't know you but I love your site. I am probably a bit younger than the
folks that are writing to you but when I saw this site it gave me chills. It
brought back lots of memories . I think we lived in
Michelle Mia Standhart
Date:
12/3/99 3:22 PM
From: John P. O'Connor
To: tony@ermie.com
Subject: excellent
I viewed your site and enjoyed it. sending it on to my G'ville friends &
relatives. GHS Class of 1952.
Date:
12/4/99 4:53 PM
From: AVIOLA28@aol.com
To: tony@ermie.com
Subject: Old, but not that old
Thanks Tony, I lived for several years just two doors down from the Ermie Family
and it sure did bring back many old memories from my childhood. Remember the
Marchetti Family well also and really enjoyed seeing some of the faces that I
would hardly recognize now.
Best wishes to all the families involved and God Bless.
Fred Viola,
Hi, I just
clicked in your web site and it's fabulous. Thanks a million.
K B Gordon
kbgordon@nycap.rr.com
Hi,
We lived
at 312 Fon Clair right at the end of
When I got looking at the pictures in your information. I was really amazed to
see Pete and Willie. Especially the ones in that small kitchen we operated out
of on
I too wish I had a good picture of the shack across from the beach at
There is too much to remember to write down. Thank you for the pictures.
Jim Wheeler
12/21/99
Hi Tony,
I just found your site and immediately got Bob to come and look at it with me.
We really enjoyed the stroll down memory lane!! Caroga Lake is special to us as
we started our life together in the summer of ' 62 at Caroga.
We missed seeing you this past summer-it was a beautiful summer. We spent
every weekend through October at the lake.
Merry Christmas to you and your family. Hope to see you this summer!
Bob and Shirley Gray (Malagisi's neighbors on Scott Rd)
Date:
12/22/99 8:18 PM
From: Dsldsl1@cs.com
To: ermie@mediaone.net
Subject: Caroga
Dear Tony,
I've sent a few messages but they came back. Good to hear from you. Your Caroga
site is great, all my kids have been up there and they have enjoyed it as well.
It is hard to tell them what Sherman's was like, but with your site they can
see!
You have a very nice family. I mailed John Robare, hope to hear from him.
I don't live in Johnstown any more, but I'm not very far away. We live in
Middleburgh, which is about 30 miles south, so we go back alot. Will stay in
touch, hope you do as well.
Don St. Louis
12/23/99
Dear Tony,
Thank you for a wonderful job in preserving the heritage of Caroga Lake on
your website.
Despite residing in Orlando, Florida now, I still take a week each year in the
summer to spend at Caroga. You're absolutely correct...a cup of coffee does
taste better at the lake!
I have very fond memories of Caroga Lake, especially during the 70's, when I
was in my teens and Sherman's was the place to go and meet your friends.
Keep up the great job. I will visit the site often, and tell my family & friends
about it!
Sincerely,
William M. Vail, Jr.
P.S. My aunt, Shirley Gray told me about your website.
What a
great site! I stumbled upon it while looking at the bulletin board on the
Gloversville site. Although I am only a few years older than your daughters I
have many fond memories of Caroga lake, Sherman's, and the beach at Pine Lake
from my early childhood.
I still
remember Sunday drives with my parents and ending up at Sherman's, if for
nothing else, ice cream and popcorn! My favorite ride was the tilt-a-whirl and
maybe the bumper cars too.
Thanks for the trip down memory lane. I enjoyed it and even laughed out loud at
some of your stories! The camping night was a hoot! I have passed this site on
to family and friends that I know will enjoy it!
Thanks again!
Kathleen Eagan
Date:
1/17/2000 4:59 PM
From: Don Zullo
To: tony@ermie.com
Subject: Caroga Lake
Funny......I hung out for years up there as a kid...... Now my sister lives at
Pecks Lake.........I always liked it (still do)
Don
Zullo
,
Houston , Texas
Date:
1/18/2000 6:14 AM
From: RASprkr@webtv.net
To: tony@ermie.com
Subject: Caroga Lake:
Tony,
Having
lived in Caroga Lake , back in the Early 50's up to 72 when we moved to Fl.
Been here for 30 yrs. My younger son and I go back every summer to visit
old friends. Your site sure brings back the old days.
My son
will try to find some old pictures , you might want to add to your site. You
might know my older son, Richard Spraker. Do you get back to Caroga Lake often?
Regards
Robert Spraker
Date:
1/29/2000 6:26 PM
From: Thelma Palmieri
To: tony@ermie.com
Subject: pictures of friends
Just got done looking at the Caroga website it is totally fantastic. It
just makes you laugh, cry, and everything all at once and brings
back a lot of memories.
Thelma Palmieri & Lino Biasini
Date:
1/31/2000 1:58 PM
From: Gary Jennings
To: tony@ermie.com
Subject: Nice Web Site!
Thanks so much for sharing such wonderful and nostalgic pictures.
I'm
originally from Dolgeville, so "the lakes" are indeed a part of my "old stomping
grounds." The covered bridge in Salisbury is but 100 yards
from where my aunt lived in Salisbury. It's an old brick home from the 1700s. I
didn't realize the bridge had been closed to traffic, but then it's probably
been 15-20 years since I've been there.
Pine and
Caroga lakes were my favorites while I was growing up in the '50s. Pine was the
best swimming lake (nice sandy beach) and Caroga had the carnival atmosphere. So
sad to see how they have deteriorated over the years, and Caroga closing
completely... Even my home town - homes falling apart, lacking upkeep, etc. Such
stark contrast to where I live now, near Charlotte, NC, where everything is new
and growing. You also mentioned Fonda - I frequented the old drag strip there in
the mid to late '50s. got to see Shirley Muldowney (famous drag racer) race her
'vette a few times!
I swear, if it weren't for the unbearable winters, I'd be retiring to one of
those lakes in a couple of years. Might anyway! :-)
Gary Jennings
Support Manager
Microsoft Corp.
Date:
2/16/2000 9:28 PM
From: Platt, Erin
To: "'tony@ermie.com'"
Subject: Caroga Times
I wanted to tell you how wonderful your site is. I grew up on the South shore of
East Caroga Lake and have not been back in almost 8 years. My mother worked at
the Country Store for many years and you may know her (Toni Johnson). I have
since married and am now living in Colorado. Thanks for bringing back !
Erin Platt
March 12,
2000
Hi there
Tony:
Nice job
on Sherman's. I'm passing it on to my friends. Can't wait for them to open. This
should give a boost to the town. Hope our Town Fathers try to help,
too.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Think of your mother often. We use to have great visits when I worked at the
Post Office.
Regards,
Millie Busch
busch@surperior.net
Tony,
I just
got thru the whole thing on Caroga. I think it's more wonderful than I said in
my last E-Mail to you.
Millie Busch
3/13/2000
Thank you for
the memories.
As
ones before me has said, it brought a tear to my eyes. My family could
never afford a camp, but would camp out in the state park, and the highlight was
Sherman's. We lived in Fort Plain NY and every Sunday was Dad's ritual, to
drive to Sherman's for "HOT" peanuts. We did this every year until there
was no more peanut stand. Broke poor dads heart.
It's a very
sad sight to even go past there now, such a shame that it no longer is the
greatest place to visit. Thanks for this great site.
Claudia Howe (Keller)
3/25/2000
Tony-
What wonderful memories your web site has brought back to me! Though my parents
moved away from Gloversville in the early fifties, we continued to return to the
area on a regular basis because both had been born and raised there and that is
where many of their brothers and sisters remained.
My mother's family once owned a "camp" in Caroga Lake, so we spent as much time
there as brief vacations in the summer would allow All these many years later, I
am still an annual visitor as a cousin now owns her own lake property and
regularly hosts a family reunion. I look forward to these occasions since my
summers don't feel complete until I've watched the sun set on Caroga Lake at
least once.
Obviously, as a child, Sherman's Park was a highlight of my visits to the area.
To see it wan and close was a real heartbreak.
I was a bit disappointed not to find a photo of The Whip (while it was in
service) amongst your collection. Without question, that was my all-time
favorite ride! And, I've been on many a Tilt-A-Whirl in my day, but none that
spun around as many times nor as rapidly as did the one at Sherman's Park! You
got yourself a real RIDE in those days! Not one of these quickie deals because
there are so many folks waiting on you in a line.
I haven't had an opportunity to read all of your text yet. During my first
visit, I admit to being too captivated by the pictures to slow down long enough
to read. But.....I'll be back! Perhaps I can scout around and find a photo or
two myself to contribute. Meanwhile, many thanks for taking me back, again, to a
place where I experienced some of the happiest and most carefree moments of my
life!
-Diane
PS - Among numerous other relatives, I have an Uncle Ennio (Jim) Ermie still
living in Gloversville. Are you related to him in any way?
March 29,
2000
Wow!
I heard about
your site and truly enjoyed it. By the way, I'm "Sissy" Avery. You know, Bob's
daughter and the sister of Lyman, Bart, John, Gary and Connie Avery. I now
live in PA and do get back home once a year to visit all and we have a family
reunion at our lake in Arietta each summer
Keep up the
good work and thanks.
( Sissy) Gail Avery Holmes
April 5, 2000
Can't tell
you how much I enjoy your Caroga Times! It is awesome.
My family
had a camp on Garlock Road when I was a kid. After my parents passed away I had
to move to Albany to live, however, I continued to come to Caroga every
weekend.
One day, in 1971, I quit my job in Albany and moved back to Caroga Lake. I now
live on So. Shore Road of West Caroga Lake. Perhaps you remember companion Jack
Holliday.
While
enjoying Caroga Times we were in the Caroga Area Scenery section and a picture
of a barn came up labeled Old Barns Near Stratford. (not the large barn where
they held dances, the smaller barn with the farm equipment near the tree on
left) This barn was owned by Jack and myself from 1977 until we sold it in 1993
and is located on Newkirks Road in the Town of Caroga. It is on an old farm
which was owned years ago by Tunis Lane and his family.
Thought
you would like this information. If you look close you can make out a sign on
the side of the barn facing you - Bruce Busch made that sign and it read
"trail to Jack's place. " I will be looking for some old pictures to send you.
I enjoy Caroga Times each time I look at it - even living here!
C. Gay Schrecker (Doodie) P.O.Box 193,Caroga Lake, NY 12032
doodie@citlink.net
April 10,
2000
Hi Tony,
What a wonderful way to start my day, viewing your web site! I have cried
and laughed and thought of all the people I want to share it with. It was
as if you and I were sitting on the front porch of my parents house, chatting.
I must go now and finish viewing the site. But first, do you remember the
machine in the arcade, where you could make your own record? I'm going to
send some photos.
Hope to see you in August,
Julie (Elmendorf) Intonte
March 18,
2000
Thanks for
sending this fabulous site of yours to me. I tried to contact you
before but my emails were returned to me. I will try again.
I still have a camp in Pine Lake which I spend most of my summer weekends at. I
remember everything that you talk about on the site. My graduation class
was 1958.
I graduated from FMCC in 1976. I wish I could get invited to a class
reunion from one of the years around my year. Even though I didn't graduate
from Johnstown High, I did complete my education at a later date and
graduated from Fulton-Montgomery CC. I would love to see some of the people from
my time at Knox and Johnstown High. Anyone that would like to contact me
via email, please feel free to do so.
Thanks again Tony.
Gary Ovitt
govitt@aol.com
4/18/2000
Mr.
Ermie,
I have to
tell you that you have put together an amazing website. My Grandparents
purchased a camp on Kirchens Grove in 1945 and our family has been going there
every year since. Thank you for providing me with a great historical prospective
on Caroga Lake. Sure did bring back some great memories!
Todd C. Walton, OD
April
19,2000
Tony,
I wanted to tell you after I found your Caroga Times pages I have been having a
good time looking at the old photos. I especially liked the Sherman's photos. It
brought back many fond memories and I found myself sittin' here smiling thinking
of those days.
I was raised in Johnstown and lived there until 1969 before moving to Michigan.
My family still lives there. If fact will be back there next week seeing my mom.
My Dad had a hardware store in Johnstown for over 40 years
Thanks for putting this website all together
Greg Nilsen
April 26,
2000
Great site
of Caroga Lake. Keep up the good work. I look forward to seeing more "old time"
pictures.
Bill Drake
Johnstown High School
1957
May 1,
2000
Hello,
Enjoyed browsing on the Caroga Lake page you created.
Very nostalgic and nice to see.
Ruth Wilson
May 6,
2000
TONY
What a great site, I am not done looking at it yet but I had to send you a
message. Your site brings back many great memories. It makes me think I am a
child again. I graduated from jhs with Ted Farnsworth and Harold Witzke, so it
was nice to see the picture of Ted and the parade for Harold. And I remember
Chisel Greco very well, what a guy.
Well Tony
just wanted to congratulate you on a great site. I will send it to all my
friends. Thank you for contacting me.
KIERAN FEENEY
May 16,
2000
Tony,
Enjoyed your hard work on a wonderful site. Brought back many memories and good
times.
Scott Mercer
Burlington, VT
May 23,
2000
Tony-
I have
spend 61 summers at Caroga and you can imagine how thrilled I was when Millie
passed on Caroga Times to me. I also have passed it on to old friends that have
moved from the area. You did a wonderful job with it and should be
congratulated. We are lucky enough now to spend five months at Caroga and are
packing up as I type.
I will
look in the old photo alums at camp and if I come across anything you could use,
I'd be glad to send them to you. Our camp is on the south shore of W. Caroga and
is under the name of LENZ. Nice talking to you.
PEGGY LENZ DAVIS
May 23,
2000
Found your
website today. It brought back great memories of Caroga Lake.
My family spent many summers there when we were kids in the 50's & 60's.
Now even though I live and work in Washington, D. C. I still take my wife & kids
to that area every summer. We spend a couple of "quiet" weeks down the road at
Pleasant Lake.
I do a lot
of biking and I ride daily from Pleasant Lake to Caroga by way of the Canada
Lake shore road and London Bridge Rd. It's sad to see the place as it is today.
I try to tell my kids about the fun we used to have there and all the activity
that went on, but it must be hard to understand when they see it now. It was a
special part of growing up.
Thanks for
the memories.
rmgiammaria
May 28,
2000
Thanks,
Tony
Now my two sisters can enjoy it too. We had a camp on the South Shore Rd. on
West Caroga and after my Dad passed away in 1966 my mother bought a camp on the
Lake Shore and on the corner of maybe Forrest.
My sister,
Linda worked for Fay and Ray, in the ice cream place and the gift shop. Oh how I
loved the old clam shack across from the beach. It may have been the original
Willies. I was happy to here Sherman's has reopened. We are going to my husbands
50th high school reunion in Aug. in Herkimer and look forward to driving out to
the lake.
Thanks, an
excellent site.
Gail
{Trask} Jones
GJ
June 4,
2000
Your web
site just flooded my mind with such fond memories of Caroga Lake.
Always the merry go round comes to mind, and then it was Janet out in
front making that great Sherman's popcorn. When my sisters and I were real
young, we'd watch them play bingo and then it was our turn to ride the rides.
The Tilt-a -whirl was our favorite, with the merry go round almost a tie.
We
all loved Trixie, and fed her peanuts almost every day when we would stop by
on our way to the post office. Does anyone remember when the high wire acts were
over the midway? Now that was a great summer.
As a group of us got older we used to walk down south shore road, almost every
night, buy a soda at Putnams, where Kathryn Putnam always greeted us with her
famous hi hi. then we'd sit on the steps, drink our soda and spend a few hours
and then walk back down south shore road in the dark!!!!! Some nights we'd walk
all the way to willies, when we would hear the jukebox calling us, and just had
to go to get a Willies hot dog.
Great memories, thanks for bringing them all back!
Donna (Trask) Saylor
June 7,
2000
What a
tremendous job you have done to compile so much of the Caroga Lake area - THANK
YOU
doneast@aol.com
June 7,
2000
I cannot
tell you the memories it brought back for me. My parents started taking me to
Sherman's when I was about 5 years old, more than 50 years ago. I can still
smell the cotton candy and the popcorn, hear the carousel music and remember
falling off a great white steed trying to catch the brass ring.
Thank you
so much for the trip back to my childhood.
Judy Marcoux
June 10,
2000
Tony,
Thanks for
sending you Caroga Times! Sure is GREAT!!
Amazing when you are young, you can't wait to be older, and when you are older,
you would like to be young.
Your site
brought back a lot of pleasant memories. Our family camp back in "the cove" is
now owned by my brother Brian and his family. Mom & Dad just didn't want deal
with the upkeep anymore. My husband Paul and I have a summer place up on the
Sacandaga, about a 1/2 mile north of Lanzie's. The rest of the year is spent in
Johnstown.
My sister
Nancy and her husband live in Saratoga. The youngest brother is in Durango,
Colo. Mom & Dad still live in Sammonsville. Will you and your wife be coming to
the class reunion? We have another meeting this weekend at Karen & Chuck
Wright's house. Sure doesn't seem like we have been out of school 40 years.
After all--I am only 35!!!! HA HA!!
Again, Thanks for the GREAT memories.
Mike (Michelle Cridland)
Beyer
mbeyer@superior.net
June 17,
2000
Tony -
your website is fabulous. I am Jennie, Chuck's wife, and Chuck and I were
just looking at the pictures. Of course, he knew most of the people.
Thank you so much.
Jennie Ermie - Utica New York
June 19,
2000
Just spend 2
hours enjoying your "Caroga Times" website. I cried and laughed and
enjoyed the whole experience. We live in Bleecker and have enjoyed the
area our whole lives. Caroga and Shermans was a place of many memories,
especially when we were dating. Keep up the good pages.
Al & Shirley Alfini
June 19,
2000
Hey Tony,
What memories---I thank you-----so much fun to see it all again. As you know I
spent every summer of my young life at "the lake" how simple everything was
then!
We won't be going to the reunion but are going to try to get to Saratoga this
summer. Jack is doing well right now. We have six grandchildren and hope to see
them all!
Hope you are doing ok--Carol keeps me informed. Willies really scares me----My
favorite place!
Love to you and Kathy,
Judy (VanVoast) Cleary
June 30,
2000
Tony,
Fantastic
site. As a member of Little Falls High School class of 1957, I want to tell you
we spent most of our free summer time at Sherman's. Many memories of Caroga Lake
and Pine Lake. I haven't been back there since. 35 years in the California
desert followed by retirement to Oregon (much more like Caroga). How many
megabytes does that incredible website contain?
Jim
Fitzgerald
July 11,
2000
I am new to
the internet and just today discovered your website. What a marvelous job
you have done. About 35 years ago St. Mary's Hospital purchased a camp on
Canada Lake. I am one of the sisters there and was privileged to share
some time each summer for most of those summers.
In later
years I discovered the amazing beauty of the other seasons as well. This
year the camp was sold (anyway I think it was) and it ended an era for me but I
treasure the memories I have shared in this beautiful part of the country.
I still
live in Amsterdam and so I am able visit the area and now will do as you suggest
and visit some of those roads you just don't know where they will come out.
I have some shots I may send if I can get to a scanner and learn how to do this
or maybe I will snail to you. So just know that you made my day today.
It was a great journey of memories and I will be back to visit here again and
tell my friends and family about it as well.
Thanks,
Sister Johanna Ryan
July 18,
2000
What a
wonderful Wed Site. I was born in Canada in 1935 and had Grandparents in
Northville. Every summer when we visited we made one or two trips to Caroga
Lake. I remember the bumper cars and the monkey very well. Thanks for bringing
all of this back to me.
Jim...
July 20,
2000
Though my
wife's family (her Mom was a Sherman from Gloversville) are from Fulton Co, I've
never been there, but your site is a marvelous recollection of the joys of small
town America.
My congratulations!
Step Tyner
Carmel, CA and Colorado Springs, CO
July 21,
2000
Tony..
What a great web page. It brought back many memories. Back in the '50s, my
maternal family, the Klena's, ran the old Morse Bakery, on the corner of Main
and N. Perry St. (right across from Grant's).
I remember going to Sherman's with one of my uncles to deliver fresh bread and
rolls to the Morris family's business. Ray, the Crazy Slovak, used to let me
ride the bumper cars for 15 or 20 minutes every Sat. morning. The worst thing
was, I was the only one there! Me and 25 empty Lucas Skooters!
Thank you..
Ted Kralovic
Liverpool, NY
June 22,
2000
Thanks,
I only had a short time to look over your web site, hope to
return soon.
Don't think you know me, but I spent most of my summers at Caroga Lake. My dad
would rent a camp every summer from a guy by the name of Bill McCormick, I think
that's his name.
I have other pictures of my summers, but this picture that
I'm sending you is from my last trip back to New York, 06/29/00. I have one of
the postcards that you have on your web site. I have been trying to buy some
postcards on Ebay, but they are getting to be to expense.
My dad use to play in a band, he play the piano, his name was
Allan Howe.
I'm third of seven children. I don't think I have many pictures of
Sherman's, mostly of the camps that we would rent from time to time.
My best friend Dennis Swartz, who now has the camp that his
parents owned years ago near the bridge connecting west and east Caroga
Lake.That is where I spent most of my summers at Caroga Lake.
A couple years back when I was home I stopped in to see Denny and he was showing
me some old pictures that he had from when they build the camp and cleared the
land. But as you know I could go on forever about how I spent my summers
at Caroga Lake. I will pass your web site along to others
Again Thanks for the memories!!!
Steve Howe / Gilbert / Arizona
June 24,
2000
Saw the
picture of Mr. & Mrs. Ken Rexford.
In 1967 when I began my employment at GE in Schenectady, I met a fellow by that
name. I'm not sure if this is the same Ken Rexford. We worked in the same area
together. We had some great times on 3rd shift. I still live in Johnstown and we
have a camp at Pine Lake. Things have changed a lot on the last few decades. But
the Adirondacks have managed to retain it's beauty and serenity.
Thank you for an enjoyable trip down memory lane. I will be sure to share these
priceless pictures with my teenage girls.
Phil Santangelo
August 11,
2000
Hello
Tony,
I have just had the best time looking at your wonderful pictures, listening to
the great choices in music and going back in time to remember the good times I
had at Caroga Lake!
It was probably way back in the late 50's or early 60's since I was there, you
know graduated and moved away, but I often thought about the magical place. I
went to a Catholic school in Schenectady and for a special treat, the faculty
would charter a bus and up we'd go.....may have been for the end of the year
picnic??
My
favorite memory was to see the nuns and priests in the scooter cars and we kids
got a chance to "Bump them"...I can still see the smiles on their faces.
What is happening there now, is it still opened? You sure were lucky with such a
great place to grow up in!
Best
wishes to you and hopefully you will get some more great pictures. I will look
thru my albums and see if I have any and will send them to you.
Thanks
again,
JOHN /BRIDGET SCHWABROW
August 23,
2000
Hi Tony -
Checked your
"Caroga Times" Website. Very nice indeed!
John
Freiberger
August 25,
2000
Hi,
I have just spent a very enjoyable and emotional time at your site. In fact I
have been reading and seeing between tears. I am researching the Sherman's of
that area because my late husbands grandmother was a Sherman. I have no idea if
they were related to that Sherman or not but I will ask his mother who is still
living at age 86 in Gloversville, NY.
What a great job and such a beautiful web site. Love the pictures. I have some
pictures that I will look up and send them to you.
My husband was Oscar Guy Manchester , Jr., of Oscar Guy and Azubah Crannell
Manchester, Sr. Her parents were Robert and Lydia Sherman Crannell. Guy was born
in Broadalbin in 1934 and when he was about ten they moved to Lassellville on
RT. 29. He still has brother's in Bleecker, Lassellville and Gloversville, and a
sister in Rockwood.
Any way he spent many a happy hour at Caroga Lake, Sherman;s and Pine Lake as a
youngster and as a young man. And when we married he took me there and for the
three years we lived in St. Johnsonville in the mid sixties we took our five
children there also for the rides and the fireworks. We left in 1968 because he
had arthritis so bad he would have ended up in a wheelchair so we moved south
but he dearly loved his home in NY. He told me all about the dances on the upper
floor of Sherman's. As you know they closed that upper part.
The last time that he we were there was about 1982 , we got together with
nieces, nephews and brother's etc. and went dancing there. Shortly after we
returned from vacation that year he had open heart surgery and a year later they
discovered a brain and lung tumor and he died in 1983.
I was there the last time in 1984 and met my brother-law there for lunch as he
drives for ups and it is on his Rt. I am from AR. But I also love it there. I
will put it in my favorite places so I can return to it again and again.
I just had to let you know how deeply it touched me and I will put it into my
research for them. Thank you so much for the memories.
Juanita Booth
Baytown, TX.
August 29,
2000
You have
really put up a great site. It brought back a lot of memories. I
worked at Sherman's during the summers of 1973-1976. My father and mother
(George & Dorothy Manchester) ran Manchester Lakeview Market in the Yates store
in the late 60's early 70's. Later I would occupy that building in 1980-82
with T&T repairs service. I joined the Marines in 1982 and currently am
serving as the First Sergeant for a unit at Twentynine Palms California.
You mentioned so many familiar names I have not heard in years it sure stirred
up memories.
Thanks,
Tim Manchester chesty57@onemain.com
9/1/2000
Hi,
My name is Paul Kreim I grew up in Ft. Plain and spent many many summers at
Caroga where we had a camp. My Dad Erich Kreim was on the Police dept. in Ft.
Plain ( Just thought I'd add that in case ya might have known him.) Anyway the
collection of pictures sure took me back and I can't thank you enough for having
them here on the net. I wish I had some to add but my sister Pam had most of
them and can't seem to locate them at the moment perhaps one of these years hehe
anyway Thanks again !
Erich Paul Kreim
West Hollywood, Ca.
September
4, 2000
Hi Tony!
My husband and I took a ride to The Adirondack Museum at Blue Mountain Lake
today. We went by way of my old home town, Amsterdam, New York, up route 30. As
we were riding along, I reminisced about Caroga Lake, which my sisters and I
frequented when we were growing up. I told Bill all about Sherman's and the
marvelous carousel and other attractions, including the monkey.
When we arrived home from the museum at Blue Mountain Lake, (which, incidentally
was marvelous), I just, on a whim, plugged Caroga Lake into my browser, and
voila! Your web site came up. I have been enjoying it for at least an hour
laughing and crying--it's such a link to my past! I am so sad to hear that the
original wooden horses from the carousel have been sold, but I am glad that
there still is a carousel there, and Bill will have to take me Johnstown way one
of these Sundays to see it, as our kids are grown, and I want to take a carousel
ride. But the pictures of the new Sherman's make me wish I had acted sooner to
have some closure about the old Sherman's.
Do you know whatever happened to the rides at Pine Lake? I remember it was our
second favorite, and I can recall whirling around on those swings with long,
long chains that gyrated from a central pivot point. Do you remember them? And,
I seem to remember that they also had a carousel at Pine Lake. But, it was never
as exciting as "the real thing" at Sherman's--especially with the cotton candy,
the Arcade, and of all things, BINGO!!!
Your
descriptions of the whip and those bumper cars was memory jarring. I always rode
the whip and remember the smell. And, although I didn't like the bumper cars, I
did go on them every time because my sister wanted to! You say on your site that
Pine Lake Restaurant is for sale. Does this include the amusement park? Gee,
I've got to get back there before it goes!
Thanks for the memories!
Carol Ann
wlowes@nycap.rr.com
10/7/2000
Hi Tony:
Just found the great site for Johnstown and following some links discovered your
web pages. I graduated Johnstown High in 1960, my name then Allfrey, my mom was
a substitute teacher there in both Knox Jr. High and in other classes. I think I
remember you but mostly I wanted to say hello and thanks for the great web
pages.
I live
near Syracuse, New York now and have spent a lot of today walking down memory
lane. Guess after 58 you do that some of the time. My parents, Ken and Verna
sold our house at 123 East Fourth after I married and moved away, they bought a
place on Caroga Lake and later after selling that rented from Mother's Day til
October when they would head for Florida. Nice to see some familiar sites.
Thanks for the great web pages.
Wishing you a pleasant autumn. I would love to hear back from you.
Sincerely, Kay (Allfrey) Marziale
October
30, 2000
Whow!
What a trip down memory lane for me. I had tears flowing half way through. You
have put a wonderful package together. Guess you didn't think too much of us
"Woodchuck's"
We sure counted a lot on you folks coming up for the summer. Someone must have
pictures of Nickstoner Inn the monument and the Golf Course. Of Course,
Christmastree Lodge, The Sno-Drift and Avery's.
I'm sorry to say that all of my photos were ruined. But someone must have some.
This was the most enjoyable experience I've had in years. Thank you so much.
I'm Milton Avery's daughter who was killed in WWII as you probably remember
along with his brother Bart. My mother Nora Larkins (Stoner lake} married Avery
and when the war was over she married my step-father who was the only father
I've ever know, Glenn Harris your Assemblyman for many years.
I live in Fla now as does the whole family. Thanks again for the wonderful trip.
Michael Avery Valdez
October
31, 2000
Thanks for
all those pictures and information. I can see myself swimming with all my
friends; I can see myself dancing on Saturday night. The music accompanying the
pics is great. Good job Tony!
Carolyn Palumbo
November
1, 2000
Well
Ermie, You did it again.
How
emotional I get looking at Caroga times. It seems like it was only yesterday
that night Sat.in July in 1956 that I first walked into Sherman's as a new
bride. And another Sat .night in summer of 1983 on a visit back. The year before
my husband died. And all the other pictures of places we went.
My kids
loved the covered bridge at Salisbury. And Pine lake. I loved all the pictures
.Don and I are camera bugs. We take hundreds of pictures with our video camera
and our digital camera as well as our 35m. Now we have a dazzel digital video
creator so we are having fun putting our nineteen grandchildren on Video.
He is
enjoying Caroga times also even tho he has never been there. I am getting him
hooked so he will take me back!! I am so happy that it has reopened. So many
wonderful memories.
You have
done a incredible job with it. Thank you for letting me know about the new
things you put on. Makes a person want to be there now.
Best
wishes.
Juanita Booth
in Tx.
November
1, 2000
Tony, great
job with the pictures and music.
I'm
living in Houston, TX now and before that I lived in Sammonsville for the past
20 years. My mother and father live at the junction of 10 & 10A across the
street from the Stocks. Helen & Stan Moore and my Aunt Marge and Uncle George
Davidson live right next to them. Anyway I enjoyed looking at your pictures and
the music fit so well. I wanted to show my friend what the colors of fall look
like and you had a few. My brother David Soltner did some of the stained glass
work in the carousal house when he worked for Don Dwyer of Adirondack Stained
Glass.
Keep up the web site, I'll be back from time to time.
Gary Soltner
November
28, 2000
Thank you
so much for letting me know about the latest addition to your site. I loved the
story of Frank. It was so touching & as always brings back lots of good
memories. I really appreciate that you keep me posted when you add items. We all
get busy but never too busy for a wonderful trip down memory lane. Once again
you made my day.
Have a nice day. Keep smiling, God knows you always bring a smile to my face &
tear to my eye and warmth to my heart. I treasure these memories so it's great
to know there are others who share similar ones and remember them with as much
admiration as I do.
God Bless.
Ruth Corey
November
11, 2000
Hi Tony,
Just finished looking at your website pert. to Frank Sherman. It was very
interesting and well done. The music was lovely also. I still have to view your
other new sites, but it's late now and off to bed I go.
Keep up the nice work on Caroga Lake. Can't wait to visit there again and
do some dancing.
Rosemary Piccola
December
1, 2000
Tony,
Your web
site is WONDERFUL! Enjoyed every minute of it. Since we're relative
newcomers I didn't have a clue about what Caroga was like 30 or more years ago -
particularly Sherman's. Thanks so much for sharing it with me.
As it turns
out, we have a visitor coming from Virginia this weekend who grew up in Little
Falls in the 50's and spent much of his summer youth at Sherman's. Your
pictures, dialog and music will be a real treat for him.
Thanks
Again
Judy
Moritz
December
11, 2000
I just got
wind of your Caroga Lake site. It is great. Have enjoyed reading and seeing all
the pictures. I have heard all the stories and listened to the tales of the good
old days at Sherman's.
I never
was privileged to be there. I understand that a picture of our place was on
Sept. web site, Sorry I missed it. Keep up the great work.
Joan
Dudley,
Granny's Ice Cream
December
15, 2000
I have to tell you....
I'm a little
upset with your web page...
I'm In the
air force now stationed in San Antonio TX, but i grew up just about 6 miles from
Sherman's Amusement park at the intersection of Caroga lake stage and State
Street Extension. Now I've been in Texas for a couple years and Korea and
California for the few before that.
I'm going
home for Christmas this year for the first time in a long time, and after
reading your rather extensive web pages and viewing your pictures, I'm going to
have a very hard time trying to talk myself into going back to the bleak, semi
urban nightmare that is San Antonio. Which means I'll be AWOL and be
arrested... you can see my dilemma.
But
seriously, This is a very well constructed site that loads rapidly, very good
job. I build web pages for a living and can appreciate the time spent in
this endeavor.
Thank you for
putting forth the effort to not only make an interesting sight but taking the
time to make it work right...
Benjamin
Rowland
SSgt USAF
12/20/2000
Was
surfing around the web and came across your site...I enjoyed visiting. I
am a direct ancestor of the 'original' Sammons that settled in New York; while
looking over the pictures posted on your site I couldn't help but feel that I
was looking at "home" somehow. Great job on a fantastic place to visit
online!!!
Thomas Sammons
Boise, Idaho
December
27, 2000
Dear Tony,
What a great job! I have some old pictures that I'll dig out and send to you.
The "Gloversville Realtor" with the Banjo was my Father who was a close friend
of Frank Sherman'. They were both "Cadillac" fans.
I grew up
in Gloversville and remember many, many times at Sherman's while my Dad and
Frank would walk and talk - they grew up together. My Dad (Robert E. Lee
O'Donnell) passes away a few years ago and my Brother, Danny O'Donnell still
lives in Caroga Lake. The next time you see Mr. Sherman ask him if he remembers
the dead owl which was wrapped up and left as a gift on his front porch about 45
years ago. My father shot it and then had us sneak it on to Mr. Sherman's porch.
I don't know if my Dad ever admitted it, but I do know Mr. Sherman suspected him
(the owl was killed with a bullet between his eyes - my Dad was a hell of a
shot).
My Brother, Mike worked for Willie for several years. There we're 10 in my
family and most now live in Arizona and since my Father passed away we don't get
back to the area very often, but your site sure made me nostalgic.
Anyway, great job. I'll find those pictures for you. Happy New Year!
Melvin (Mel) O'Donnell - GHS Class of 1960
melodonnell@cs.com
December
28,2000
Enjoyed
watching your Caroga Times .com that Colleen Graves sent me in a Christmas card.
Thank
you
Annie Baker
Niagara Falls New YORK
January 1.
2001
Hello ,
Just
a quick note to let you know that you have a very interesting website. I own the
monument business in Ephratah and last summer we had a guest from England and
spent some time in Caroga he enjoyed it to no end. I have just sent this
link to him and his family to enjoy .. He will be back this summer with his
family and no doubt want to go to Caroga .....
Thank you for this site
Harold St John
January 2,
2001
Dear Tony &
Kathy,
My name is
Peggy Parkhill Unger. I am from Gloversville Ny and my parents use to have
a camp on Unger Ln. in Caroga Lake.
I love the
site it brings home to me since I don't get to there enough. Now I live in
Georgia. My mother still lives there in Gloversville and I have an Uncle
and Aunt that lives on London Bridge Road in Caroga Lake. Every summer we
went to camp and had a wonderful time there. Always went to Sherman's and
went swimming.
Please keep
up the good work and the web site.
Thanks for
the memories.
Peggy
Parkhill Unger
1/16/2001
My time at
Caroga, precedes yours by a few years, however pictures and comments were
especially good. I've been in Idaho for quite some time now, still enjoy the
upstate memories, keep up the good work...
Dick
Ryall
1/18/2001
I enjoyed the
site! I'm from Broadalbin and used to work for Ernie & George Abdella in
the early 70's. Ernie's "girlfriend" [Maggie Wilkins] is my cousin so I
see him regularly, and I checked out the renovation this past summer when I was
visiting. Your Caroga site was fun & nostalgic.
Thanks!
K.C. Newman
Tampa, FL
January
20, 2001
Hi Tony,
We don't
know each other but I want to tell you how much I am enjoying your site! The
memories it brings back are Great!!! I graduated for GHS in 1953.
How well I remember going to Sherman's for the dances. We would beg a ride up
to "the lake" and then really sweat trying to get a ride back to G'ville.
But it was always well worth it. My Aunt and Uncle had a camp on East Caroga
Lake. (I can't remember the name of the road) Their name is Add and Marion
Gilbert.
Our family
spent many good times at their camp. We also spent many good times with
our children at Ken and Joan Benton's camp too!!! Our children loved to go
there!!!!
I want to thank you for bringing back so many pleasant memories and I am
passing this site on to our friends and I am going to pass it on to as many of
our classmates as I can find e-mail addresses for. Again thank you so much.
My name is Jackie Faville Gloversville N.Y.
blondie2@capital.net
January
21, 2001
Recently I got YOUR web address from Colleen Graves, simply awesome! My
name is Jeff Wood, My family, Kim, Alison, Lyndsi and Jeffrey moved to Caroga
Lake in Feb.2000 after visiting a friend who lives here. We LOVE it! The school
is great, parents actually come to the events to show support. David Jung
just restarted the Cub Scout troop up. It seems to be going well.
Personally I am a pro photographer and publisher of The Beat
a monthly Arts & Entertainment Magazine put together right here in Caroga Lake
by myself and a few other residents. If you have use for our medium or any of my
shots please let me know.
We have a wonderful community here in Caroga (but you already
know that). Thank you for letting others in on OUR little secret.
Best Wishes,
Jeff S. Wood
January
22, 2001
Just loved
your page. Kept me up longer than I planned to be but well worth it. Many
memories of Caroga Lake. In fact the last time I was there was in 1972. We
celebrated my Dad's 88th Birthday.
His name was Henry F. Bush. He passed away in 1977.
Keep up the good work.
Bet wishes, Nellie Dib
January
30, 2001
Thanks for
the memories................I also spent many summers at the lake, 1967-the
presents..........on North Shore Road, West Caroga in our little camp and now at
my parents (Jack and Beverly Barkevich) who live there year round on South Shore
Road, West Caroga (they bought Klena's place at the end of the lake by the
cove)
I am
enjoying it year round.......my sister, Sally Barkevich Cram, also lives there
year round on North Shore Road.......Sally and I both worked at Sherman's,
starting when I was 16 until about 22 years old (it helped to pay for going to
college).....I worked for Ray Allen in the soft ice cream stand and Sally worked
on the midway, first with the games and then on the rides.......what
memories...........thanks for the "Caroga Times"!!!!
Sincerely,
Susan Barkevich Forte (from Kingston, New York)
February
4, 2001
I grew up
in Gloversville and am currently living in Massachusetts. My Aunt and Uncle
(Irene and Ed Smith) lived in Caroga Lake and My Grandfather (Earl Smith) had a
camp in Green Lake. The camp is still in the family although not in it's
original form. As you can imagine I spent more time than I can calculate in
Caroga Lake, Canada Lake, Green Lake, and Sherman's as well. I suspect we even
walked past each other at Sherman's a couple of hundred times and never even
knew it!
I spent
times at these places with people that I love that I wish I could have back.
Finding this website PLUS the Caroga and Canada Lake sites has meant a great
deal in helping me reconnect with my memories and how vividly they have stayed
with me through the years.
Though I
can't have "things" the way they were it's nice to see these places by way of
your website and the others. It helps me revisit the people I love as well if
only in my imagination.
Thank you so much!
Sincerely:
Rick Ottman
February
6, 2001
Tony , I
was born and grew up in Johnstown. I lived on West Madison Ave. I just spent
some time viewing the wonderful memories that you provided with your photos.
I especially enjoyed seeing the shots of Sherman's and The Lakeaire in the good
old days. I could smell the smells that you reminded me of as I glanced at each
reminder of my youth. I took my wife up there a couple of years ago, she is not
from Johnstown so she really didn't understand when I told her that I wanted to
go up to Caroga Lake and experience the smells that meant so much to me.
Remember the smell of coffee in the Camp Site on East Caroga? It's not there
anymore because its all propane and instant coffee makers. No popcorn at
Sherman's and no hot dogs and pizza at Willies. It 's all gone. I was sooo
depressed.
I really
thank you for taking the time and interest to provide the beautiful trip down
memory lane.
Dave McGuire
February
6, 2001
I live in
Gloversville and recently found your excellent memories of Caroga Lake.
I worked with your [cousin] Doris at the bank and have seen her over the years I
also know of Eleanor, because of her working relationship with Judge Aulisi.
Thank you for the wonderful memories you brought back to me.
Jeanne (Smullen) Galway
jgalway@webtv.net
February
8, 2001
I was on the
classmate site for 1962 for Ft. Plain and noticed Caroga mentioned. We had
a camp at East Caroga for 55 years. My brother still lives there on South
Shore Caroga lake road. I remember the wonderful times at Sherman's and I loved
your photos. Thanks so much.
Nancy
Macintrye Runnion
February
11, 2001
Just had a
great time scrolling thru your site. Lots of familiar faces, some family, some
friends. My Dad owned the Bleecker Hotel with Muriel & Charlie Robinson in the
40's and 50's.
Just
thought I would add - found my cousin Mel O'Donnell on the site and Jeanne
Smullens - small-small world. Bill Bennett and, my Dad, Mel Ernst opened
the Adirondack in Pompano FL in 1956. we stayed Bill went back! Have lots of
stories from my background and very large family (30 first cousins).
Sharon Ernst
Boca Raton Fl
February
16, 2001
I have
camped up to Caroaga Lake since I was seven years old. My parents had a camp on
Lake Ave. Yes, the smell of popcorn and all the fun hanging out at Sherman's.
Boating, dancing and just plan good old fun!
Unfortunately we sold are camp in the 80's. We were across the street from
Ermie. Are you any relation to Jimmy Ermie?
Now in Palm Coast Florida
Sharon (Hooper) Guile
Renee Hooper (my sister)
February
19, 2001
Tony-
I just discovered your wonderful website. Quite by accident, I have just put up
a site and was doing a search to see which other sites were linked to mine. Both
your site and mine were both listed on the Fulton Cty History Page. (which I
didn't even know existed).
At any rate I have spent close to an hour just on the Sherman Story. Very nice
work, I hope you will keep it up because I will be going back.
Frank Ambrose
http://www.frankambrose.com
February
20, 2001
Hi Tony
Great WEB site. I purchased the old Willet house next to St. Barbara's Chapel
this past summer. I've been visiting Caroga Lake on and off now for about 20
years. I plan to retire there in the near future. It's a really great place with
lots of history and your site does show it all.
I'm attaching a few photos that I took of my place and St. Barbara's over the
New Years weekend. It really is beautiful in the winter.
Keep up the GREAT work.
Mike Patino
Brooklyn, NY
February
23, 2001
...when I
see the picture of Frank gazing out of the garage with "bittersweet" memories,
all I can think of is at least he is there in person and can see it and smell it
and walk it and be it......unlike some of us who haven't been back in so
long......or cannot come back because the family camp has been sold.
What I wouldn't give to be there too. My grandfather Alden Miller Sr and his
father Irving Miller built our family camp on the South Shore of East Caroga
Lake before there was even a road...they floated the building supplies across
the lake on rafts. I spent every summer there from 1961 until I went to college,
and have only been back 3 times since-once, the summer I left my first husband
(talk about a good place to go to repair your soul...) and twice, bringing my
new husband for the experience. It's been over 10yrs now.
My father and his 5 siblings owned the camp until, one by one, they all sold out
to one Aunt...I suppose because they could not fathom the 19 members of my
generation to be able to play nice and share. Oh well, at least, it's still in
the family...whether we can visit or not.
So, does anyone publish a list of camps for rent by the week &/or month? Or, out
of all the little motels, etc, in the area...which would you recommend? Visiting
your wonderful website sight makes me "Summer Homesick".
Thanks again for the memories...
Connie Miller Hanna...Sunset Beach, Maryland
February
24, 2001
Tony,
We enjoyed your web site so much. We have been going to Caroga Lake since
1972. We are from Massapequa, Long Island. We bought a camp on Balsam Ave.
It used to belong to Harriet Thomas. It was across from Frank Simprevio.
After about 3 years we sold it and bought a camp down the road. It used to
belong to Marty Mathusa. We had so much fun going up for the summers. We
had 3 kids and they have many great memories of the lake. Now that they are
older they go up on their own.
We really enjoyed the pictures. We have always gone skiing at Royal Mt. The
winter scenes are beautiful also. We would like to see more or those.
Thanks
John and Mary Ann Bruder
March 1,
2001
Tony,
My family left New York and moved to Colorado last July - my husband and I
visited here, fell in love with the mountains, sold our house, quit our jobs,
and moved! I had forgotten about this site till I came across it today - you
have a lot of new pages and I really enjoyed the story about Frank Sherman. You
really do have a knack of telling stories and, although I was only old enough to
visit Sherman's during the Bill Morris years, I can only imagine my parents
pulling some of the stunts I have read about! We have communicated before about
the site- but I thought I would tell you how much I still enjoy it - I emailed
it to my parents back in Gloversville - I am sure they will enjoy it just as
much!
Thanks for taking the time to share your stories and your photos!
Kathleen Eagan
Senior Analyst
RW Beck, Denver CO
(303)299-5337
keagan@rwbeck.com
Engineering and Consulting Services http://www.rwbeck.com
March 4,
2001
Tony, that
was a great look back at Johnstown from Lew Decker. Thanks for putting it on
your site. I am sure many people will get great enjoyment out of the photo's, as
my family and I did.
Thanks
again. And great music to go with it.
Kieran
Feeney
March 4,
2001
Great new
photos! Seeing the trolley car reminded me of a story from my Dad. He used to
work for Pecks Flowers and would have to go to the greenhouse in Johnstown to
pick them up. In order to save time getting there from G'ville he said he would
drive on the trolley tracks - Old man Peck could not figure out how he could go
and get back so fast! My Dad's theory was time was money and he would be able to
make more deliveries if the arrangements were done.
Sorry about not getting the photos scanned yet - have been very busy the past
couple of weeks - but I have not forgotten.
Regards, Sharon Ernst
March 4,
2001
Hi Tony,
I enjoyed the new site of "Old Johnstown" My husband worked at the old
Tryon Oil co. when it was the Atlantic station. He worked with
"Chile" Hildreth, "Stretch " Weiss, Chuck Tysko and Chuck Wilson. This was back
in the early 60's.
I have written to you before re' the Caroga Lake site and I can't tell you how
much and often I have gone back to this site. Tony I have some old photos
taken at our Senior class picnic in 1953 taken at Sherman's. Would you be able
to use them if I sent them to you? I hope to see a site next about "Stump
City" otherwise known as Gloversville. Keep up the wonderful job you are
doing
Jackie Faville
blondie2@capital.net
March 4,
2001
Hi Tony,
Just reviewed your new section on Lewis Decker. It sure was interesting. I
forwarded it on to Everett and Ruth Praetorius, as they have really enjoyed the
Caroga Times and have e-mailed it to many of their friends. Keep up the good
work and send them on to us. We really enjoy them.
Rosemary Piccola
March 4,
2001
This is an
outstanding site, thank you!
Elinor Woodward
March 4, 2001
You are
doing a wonderful job .You have made a lot of people happy in remembering their
memories of long ago. It is the way you bring it to life as if it was just
yesterday.
That is a talent in it self. I love it. We are fine here in Texas . You have a
great time in June. We too use to love just driving the country roads as it is
so beautiful there.
Thanks for the memories and can't wait for more. Do you know how Shermans is
doing now that it has reopened? Best wishes to you and yours.
Juanita Booth
March 4,
2001
Hi Tony -
Viewed the "old Johnstown" and found it delightful - nice job!!! Was beginning
to think you took off or something when no new pages or mail appeared - glad to
see you are still at it doing a marvelous job. I also read the mail that
you have received - do you know how many people you have touched with your work
on these projects - I have not seen a response like that - all favorable too, in
a loooong time. Can't offer any suggestions on Johnstown project - how can
anything be an improvement on that? I am just jealous - wishing it were
Gloversville.
Thanks Tony - Doodie
March 6,
2001
I spent the
past half hour or so laughing, remembering, and yes even some tears shed for
some dearly departed family members who loved Caroga Lake. Your music was also
great! I also spent several nights, weekends, and summer weeks with
my family at the Sammons camp. We were way down at the end of the lake and
could look straight across at Sherman's. It was like little Summersville
there at Caroga lake with my grandparents camp, Aunt' camp, uncles and of course
my fathers camp all in the same area. What great times.
It has been
good time spent on this wintry blustery blizzard day - 3/6/2001.
We have had in excess of 25 inches of snow. My workplace has been closed
for two days - as has been schools, college, business, etc.
Interesting
that the URL for your site was sent to me from a friend now retired in Florida.
Now I can't wait to send it to a lot of my Fulton County friends and relatives.
Can I have
permission to add your sight as a link from my company business site? We
have a nice section of links to Fulton County area sites and your site would be
a fine addition. Please let me know.
Regards,
Marlene A. Benton (Sammons - maiden name)
Oh - one more
question or comment if you will - are you a writer? If not you should be!
March 7,
2001
Dear Tony,
Thanks for the nostalgic tour of days gone by in Johnstown. A lot of work; well
done.
Thanks again,
Jennie (Connie) Ermie Piazza
March 9,
2001
A friend
forwarded the Caroga pictures and history to me. It was very enjoyable and
interesting. Are you related to Jim Ermie? He is about 47 years old
and he went to school with my son, Greg.
Again, I
enjoyed the "tour" and I know a lot of work must have gone into this.
Jeanine
Precopio
March 12,
2001
My husband
and I are enjoying your travelouge through Fulton Co. He will be retiring from
being County Judge and Surrogate ..this year. You will find our picture in
Deckers first book about Fulton Co. Do you have the tiny book about J'town
published in about 1945? It's about 3by5inches. I'll try to find one for you.
Graziella
Lomanto
March 20,
2001
Hi Tony,
The pictures are great! Mom flew in this weekend from Johnstown and we all sat
and looked at the pictures. She was amazed! You have done so well with your
website. So many great memories. Thanks. Will keep in touch.....
Carol (Barnholt) Washburn
March 21,
2001
Hi !
My name is Steve Pitcher and I grew up in Johnstown ( 1961-1984).My family
still resides there and I am currently approx. 3 hrs. away.
I still
come back to visit a couple of times per year. I would like to thank you for
your efforts on this particular site. It was very well done . I was excited to
see all the old pictures and recognized some of the buildings and photos .I also
found the site to be a little sad in the way that in the early 1900's the
streets of Johnstown appeared to be hustling and bustling and today if you drive
down main street at 6:00pm all the stores are closed and the streets are empty.
So much for modern technology ! ( Dam that Walmart )
Anyhow, thanks for the stroll down memory lane. It's one of the best strolls
I've taken on the net yet !!!
Steve
Pitcher
April, 7,
2001
What an
awesome surprise! I opened my email this morning and there it was. I wasn't
surfing the web. Your mail, then website, appeared. The trip down memory lane
was moving to say the least.
We had a
camp for about 16 years with my uncle and his family and my grandparents and
spent the entire summer there from "school's out!" to Labor Day (the saddest day
of all). I remember my grandfather taking his walk, after church (at St.
Barbara's) on Sundays, to Sherman's for his bag of peanuts and his weekly talk
with Mr. Sherman and the "pretty little blond" (as my grandfather referred to
her) at the popcorn stand.
We lived in what was called "Lake View Grove" and I often wonder what became of
all the neighbors...the Kozaks, DeGaros, Pakeltis', Bauders. (This was in the
'50's and first half of the '60's) When my grandfather passed on, it seemed the
magic of the camp and Sherman's went with him and we sold...something my cousins
and I regret to this day.
It was a walk to Sherman's every day and sometimes early evening too with my
friend next door. It was safe. It was healthy fun. It was the magic of summers
at Caroga Lake. Thank you for rekindling some wonderful memories.
Jan DeLilli Swatling (from "the Passero clan")
Northville, NY
April 7,
2001
I just
looked over your site and loved it. My family is from Stratford, the Johnson
family. We visited Shermans many a Sunday. and remember the good old days keep
up the pictures it brings back many wonderful memories. thank you.
Gina
( Johnson) Coffin
Sacandaga Lake.
April 10,
2001
Dear Tony:
I just want
you to know that I have viewed your site many times!!!!
I used to
spend quite a bit of time in Caroga in the summertime with Bruce and Mike
Heberer who's parents still have a camp on Lake Ave in Caroga Lake. Bruce says
that they are related to you.
Also, the
many pictures of Sherman's bring back memories to my wife, Lita Guy Hillier.
She is the daughter of Butch and Patty Guy. I am sure you know Butch, he
worked for the Nick Stoner Golf Course for 30 years. Lita's mom, Patty, was the
former Patricia Barney, who parents Gordon and Versella Barney lived in North
Bush for years. Versella was a Stock, sister to Donald and Robert Stock,
Loretta Ferrari, and Iva Zayicek. Do any of those names ring a bell?
My wife Lita
worked summers at Sherman's when the Morris' owned it. She said she used
to have a ball the last few years Sherman's was open. My wife is now the
bookkeeper and budget officer for the Town of Caroga. She started when
Bruce Busch was Supervisor and continues to work for FritzAnn. We loved
the pictures from the coffee shop you posted.
Another tie
to Sherman's my wife and I have, is that we held our wedding reception in the
banquet room at Sherman's on 6/6/92. That is when the Abdella's first
purchased it and it wasn't even open yet. My wife and I kind of met there
in the late 80's when Carbone's ran it like a night club. It was only
fitting that we celebrated our marriage there. We took our wedding party
on a party barge - pontoon boat around the lake before "landing" on the docks at
Sherman's. What a day - almost 300 packed into Sherman's.
I am a
lieutenant at the Fulton County Sheriff's Office in Johnstown. I am also
GREAT friends with Little Joe Riccardi! He and I traveled to NYC a couple
of months ago and stayed the weekend at a FDNY station in the south Bronx.
You have to agree with me that Joe has a line of "B.S." a mile long and when he
said he had "friends" in the fire department I thought he was just kidding.
Boy was I wrong! They even know him in the Big Apple. Sure knows his way
to Little Italy! It was nice to see the posting of Lil Joe! It was
great!!!
Keep up the
good work! Your website certainly matches or exceeds the printed work of
Barbara McMartin on the history of Caroga.
Have a great
day.
Lt Garth W. Hillier
April 11,
2001
Tony...
Great site. I was born in Gloversville, NY and as I was growing up my family and
I would camp at Caroga Lake and spend time at Sherman's. I remember riding the
Whip and driving the gas powered cars. And who could forget the penny arcade.
Your site brought tears to my eyes. As I am now a parent, I would love to bring
my children to Sherman's to see where the first true amusement park was. Times
change and I know Sherman's will not mean much to my children but it is
important that they see "our" park.
Joe Chizek
4/17/2001
Hi Tony -
don't know if you'll remember me, but I grew up in Johnstown and
graduated in the class of 58'. I think you were one class behind me. Weren't you
related to Gina Precopia on West Clinton Street. I lived across the street next
to Marchetti's. Were you ever down there on a hot Saturday night and Joe would
"sing" up the street and Mrs. Marchetti would come running after him. I was best
friends with Ralphie. Brings back such warm memories. Ralphie and I built a boat
behind the bar when we were around 4 or 5. He was going to take me to Italy!
Well, thanks you so much for bringing back such fond memories of Caroga.
That's what the 50's were all about for a lot of us. Right? Anyway, fantastic
job.
Jane Vrooman
April 20,
2001
Tony,
Thank you ever so much for the memories. Your pictures of Johnstown brought
many things that I had forgotten about, I graduated June 1950 from JHS. The
very next day I left town never to return, I took a job as a trainee with FW
Woolworth. They sent me to Ogdensburg NY, where I met my wife to be. I
then was drafted into the Army for two years, When I was discharged I went
back to Ogdensburg.
My family at this time moved to Florida, where I visited them.
Thank you again,
Ernest Schumann (Ernie)
Crescent@usadatanet.net
409 Morris St.
Ogdensburg, NY 13669-2727
April 24,
2001
Tony:
Enjoyed the
visit to Johnstown. During October 25, 1786, my distant relative Lt Col Volkert
Veeder of the 4th Regiment of Tryon Co., fought in the battle of Johnstown
during the revolutionary war. Many of my relatives are from your home. I will go
visit this summer. My past surnames include: Easton, Morrell, Gaylord, Vrooman,
Veeder, Bailey, Scott, Dalrymple, Smith and Mabie. Gloversville, Fonda, Cherry
Valley, Fort Plain, Albany, Mohawk are all towns where my relatives lived. I
hope to visit all of them this summer. You lived in a very beautiful area of the
country!
Robert M Easton, Jr, OD, FAAO
2708 East Oakland Park Blvd
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33306-1605
April 24,
2001
Tony,
What a great addition to your website! I graduated from Johnstown in 1975 and
was just back there last August for our 25th High School Reunion at the Country
Club (which used to be a farm when I was a kid and lived down the road from
there!). I will have to check my pictures and see what I have that I can
contribute.
Keep up the good work!
Kim Brown
Bedford, TX
April 24,
2001
Hello....
Just looked at it for the first time........GREAT...GREAT JOB. I am the third
generation to own our camp on the East lake. Looking at the pictures sure took
me back. Again GREAT JOB......I will be back......
Thomas
Hermance,
Gloversville (for the winter)
April 25,
2001
Tony,
My congratulations of your web site on Caroga Lake and Johnstown. I is superb
and have brought back a lot of memories of going to Caroga Lake is the late
fifties and of Johnstown where lived until I left for university in 1958.
Your site
information was sent to me by Jane Vrooman Bowman, a fellow classmate. Having
just moved house for the 19th after 27 years in the military and my fifth move
here in Belgium, I know I have some info on Johnstown in some box from the turn
of the century as my grandparent lived in Thyneville and across the street
(Hamilton St) from the Wells Estate. I will try to locate it and will pass it on
to you if it is in decent shape.
Regards
Ray Healy
April 25,
2001
Hi Tony!
I do keep checking this great site--love the Johnstown pics--even though I did
not grow up there. Hope all is well with you & the family. I give
you so much credit for bringing so much joy and memories to so many people.
Added one more grandchild to our list in August--please, Lord, keep them
coming!!! Did you ever post that picture I sent on the Merry-go-round last
year? Take care & keep up the wonderful work.
Janet Fowler Hurwitz
April 25,
2001
Hi Tony,
A link to
your website was sent to me by my sister-in-law and I just went through the
whole site and even read every page. I enjoyed every part of it immensely!
You did a
Beautiful job putting this all together.
I will be
forwarding this link to many people and highly recommend they see this site. I
am 56 years old now and I remember so many good times going to Caroga Lake as a
boy. I grew up in Ilion and still live here, and I remember when I was in Grade
School some of us were what you called Patrol Boys. Basically, we would be let
out of school a few minutes before everyone else and we would go to various
street corners and stop traffic to let the smaller kids cross the streets
safely. Each summer the Local Police in Ilion through their PBA would charter a
Bus and take all the Patrol Boys to Caroga Lake for the day. they would give us
each a Dollar spending money and a Box Lunch. That was their way of thanking us
for being Patrol Boys for the year. We all looked forward to that annual Trip so
much.
Later on in
Life I started to work in Remington Arms and I am still there. Been there for
almost 39 yrs now. Back in the '70's we use to have our Annual shop Picnic at
Caroga and they would give each Kid a Dollar spending money and an arm band
where they could ride the rides all day for free.
Those days
are gone now and you just don't see the times anymore. I guess we can all say we
lived during the Good Days when people worked hard, but they played hard too. We
knew how to make our own fun and just enjoy life!
Thank you so
much for sharing some of your memories, but also letting me remember some of
mine.
Dave Dunckel
PS
I also do
Scenic and Wildlife Photos of the Adirondacks and other parts of NY and I have a
large e-mail list that I send them to people who have moved from this area and
some who are still here. I will definitely send them this link because I know
many of them and their families will enjoy it as much as I did.
April 27,
2001
What a
wonderful few moments of nostalgia of Caroga Lake. My name is Wally Pina
and I have been going to Caroga Lake for over 40 years. We bought a camp
in "Lake View Grove" in the late 50's and stayed their for around 12 years until
we just outgrew it. (five children) Two of my children worked at Shermans.
Susan as a waitress, dishwasher etc during her college summers and my oldest son
Jerry who worked in the indoor pavilion. Both liked it lots and have fond
memories. My other son Michael (now deceased) went to Wheelerville when we
were between homes and had to stay at the lake until late Oct. He was on
the championship football team there and they threw him a big party when he left
to return to Westchester. We presently own a camp on Scott road in East
Caroga Lake. We have been their for the past 30 some years.
Anyway, I
enjoyed your sight and will place it in the "favorite" category. Keep up
the good work, and stop by and visit at "Pina's Palace" on the end of Scott
road. We have a cute spot on the lake and would love to meet you in
person.
Wally Pina
May 4,
2001
Tony,
My sister who lives in Fultonville sent me your WEB site on Caroga Lake. I
worked at Morris' restaurant the summer of 1955 the summer before my senior year
at Fonda-Fultonville high school. I had a room in Mrs. Yates house across from
Sherman's next to the grocery store. It brought back a lot of memories.
Thanks for the site. Nancy Ingersoll.
May 4,
2001
Tony,
This is one of the finest web sites that I have ever seen. It's so fitting that
the finest web site is dedicated to the finest of all places, Caroga Lake. Keep
up the good work! I spent every entire summer with my grandmother, family,
uncles, aunts, cousins at West Caroga Lake. Many of my fondest childhood
memories and my love of the outdoors were forged at Caroga Lake. It was really a
trip down memory lane seeing the photos and reading the descriptions and seeing
some familiar names. Thanks for the memories. There is always a warm place in my
heart for Caroga and the Adirondacks.
I will try to dig up some pictures for your site.
Warmest Regards,
John Rekemeyer
Shrewsbury, MA
jrekemeyer@townisp.com
May 11,
2001
Hi Tony:
Just amazin'! I lived in Gloversville in the late 50s and used to be good
friends with Joey Riccardi. Caroga Lake holds a lot of memories for me,
including staying at the Riccardi camp. When I stumbled on this website, I
didn't know if I should laugh or cry. The Riccardi's were watching after me
when my father became very ill (and passed away in the summer of 58). If you
have a way of getting word to Joey, please say hey for me.
Larry Mullen
May 25,
2001
Hey Tony:
I stopped by the website today for another trip down memory lane-just one of
those days I was missing camp.
When I saw a picture of Saltsman's I got a craving for those special potatoes
they served with every dinner. I have tried in the past to re-create this
delicate blend of diced potatoes and...? Butter?? Cream??? They had kind of a
cheesy taste but I'm almost sure there was no cheese included in the dish.
I am wondering if any of the guests that come on-site who may read over these
messages have been able to recreate this master dish in their own kitchens? If
so, I'd love their recipe by email...they can zip it to
RioAt40@headspace.every1.net <mailto:RioAt40@headspace.every1.net> .
Again, kudos to you and keep up the good work on the site.
Regards,
Connie Miller Hanna
Sunset Beach MD
(but Caroga at heart!!)
May 25,
2001
Hi Tony
My name is Ray Bishop, and I am really enjoying what you have done with this
caroga thing. I grew up in Johnstown in the 40's and 50's. Spent a lot of time
at the lake in the 50's. Live in Az. now, but am enjoying these trips down
memory lane.
The midway back then used to have one of those old things that you hit on the
bottom with a mallet, and tried to send a ball up to hit a bell. Frank made sure
we couldn't ring the bell to often so we wouldn't get a big head. What a great
guy. They don't make many men like Mr. Sherman any more. Thanks to him for all
the great times we had up there when we were kids, and thanks to you for letting
some of oldies revisit.
Sincerely Ray
May 25,
2001
Hi Tony,
It's
Colleen, Lil Joe's daughter. I wanted you to know that they printed the story
that I wrote on my father along with the web address in the Am-Jam newspaper. I
imagine that you will be getting several hits.
Again thank
you, you've done a wonderful job! Keep up the good work!!
Colleen Graves
May 29,
2001
Was just
visiting Caroga Times on the internet. It brought back many memories from years
past. I grew up in Gloversville and graduated from high school in 1955. Still
get up there every few years to visit, and always make a trip to "the lake" a
priority. Thanks for having this site to go back in time to......I remember the
MONKEE's dearly.
Donald J. Holland
Winter Haven, Florida
May 30,
2001
Tony,
What a neat idea. I too have memories of Caroga Lake. We lived there from the
time I was a baby until the summer of 1977. I was entering 5th grade. I
remember going on class trips from Wheelerville School where I attended to
Sherman's, riding the carousel and the whip. I remember going there for the
summers with my Mom, sisters and the Hayner Family (Linda and her girls: Patty,
Chrissy and Lisa). We had lots of fun. I loved living there and to this day it
is one of my fondest memories of my childhood. I still call it home. If anyone
who reads this remembers me drop me a line. Love to hear from you.
Theresa Carbone (was Brooks when I was in Caroga Lake).
Sydwee915@aol.com
May 31, 2001
Loved your
site, only looked at the first couple of sections so far. There was a reference
to your site in the email from the Fulton Computers Group fmcug@yahoo.com
Paul M. Dietrich Sr.
Amsterdam, NY
June 4,
2001
A friend of
mine sent me your web site address and I thought I would give it a quick glance.
I've been giving it a quick glance for the past 2 hours. What a trip down memory
lane! I was raised in the Town of Oppenheim and on occasion my folks would take
us kids to Caroga Lake. What a treat that was. I can only envy you because you
lived there and must have had some awesome times. I can relate to alots of
things you mentioned like the dump at Stratford. I can remember sitting in the
car and watching the bears come out and paw through the garbage. Those were the
days.
In the
past 2 hours I've gone from laughing my butt off to choking back tears. You have
done a beautiful job with this site and can't wait to pass it on to my local
friends who also grew up in this area. I'm sure they will enjoy it as much as I
did. I also intend to pass it on to people I know who think New York is one big
city. After seeing your site they will understand why I love it here so much. I
was in the Air Force for 20 years and traveled all over the world and can
honestly tell you there is no place more beautiful than the Adirondacks. It has
so much to offer year round. People that visit me from other states are really
surprised to what they see when I take them around to see the sights. And of
course no tour would be complete without a stop by Caroga and Pine Lake.
Below you will see a web site that I put together. It started out as a small
hobby, but I think its turning into a monster. With your permission, I'd really
like to create a link to your site from mine. I would like for as many people as
possible from around here to see your site. Maybe the extra exposure will
produce more pictures and information that you can use.
Since my
retirement from the service, I've lived in Salisbury Center. Just down the road
from the covered bridge you mentioned. I drive thru it just about every day. I
noticed the pictures of the bridge show it closed off with boards across the
entries. I don't know when or why it was closed, but it is open and was
wondering if you would like some pictures of it without it being blocked off?
Again, Thank You!! You really made my day. Keep up the great work.
Ken Rasbach
148 Fairview Rd
Dolgeville, NY 13329
www.homestead.com/clubsandtrails
6/23/01
I was
thrilled to find your site. My family sold our camp last fall, and we all
miss Caroga terribly.
Thanks for
the wonderful site
Margaret Varieur
6/25/01
Wow...I
can't believe I stumbled across this site....what a trip down memory
lane.....you probably don't remember me.......but check out my web site to see
if you do..... www.louisemuller.com
We have
been gone from Johnstown since 1991 but did get back to Caroga the last 2 years
and will be there again in August of this year.....can't wait to have more time
to really get into the site.
Thanks for the ride........Louise Muller
6/28/01
Hi my name
is Michael Servido, my family owned a cottage on 5th ave on Caroga lake. My
grandfather Vito Servido brought it in the late 50's and my father sold it in
the early 90's due to illness. We all were very sad to loss a great place like
that. I spent most my childhood summers on the lake. I been all over this
country and still Caroga lake is the best place i have been.
The pictures on this site made me so happy. They brought back memories I had on
the lake. I sent this site to my brother and sister. My father knew Lil joe very
well if you see Joe ask if he knew Vito Servido. He past a way a few years ago.
I want to come up to Caroga with my children to show them the wonders and
majesty of the lake .I would like if you could send me some info of places
in the area to stay.
Thanks for this site it made me very happy I will always love that lake as long
as I live. Thanks again for this site.
Michael Servido
7/03/2001
Tony,
These
pictures bring back such happy memories. Back in the early 60's , I went
to ST. Michael's school in Cohoes New York. The Resurrection nuns ran the
school and they would bring us here every year on a field trip. It was the
excitement of the year.
I think I
have some old pictures, I will check for them.
The Pictures
are ok
Cathy Gonzalez
7/03/01
Great site
... well done too ... (being in the internet business ... I see alot) Don't know
what compelled me to look up Caroga lake and Sherman's park tonight...but, was
good to see some old pics from the 60's ... gotta love that yellow popcorn ! ...
and those motorized go-karts were so cool ..... (the "turnpike"?)
Thanks ... Hopefully will get a chance to take a ride up when in Schenectady
visiting the folks this weekend ....
Ray Tumi
Norwich, CT
7/4/01
Hi
Marie Gilbert
sent me your e-mail and it sure does bring back memories. I graduated from
Johnstown High in 58 and grew up in Johnstown since 4 and as you get older you
realize memories are what it is all about. You have done a great job of
putting together memories.
Glad Marie
forwarded this on to me. Keep it up.
Happy 4th.
Betty (Smith)
Twardy
7/6/01
Tony,
What a great job you've done on the site. My maiden name is Dicruttalo. My dad
Albert Dicruttalo Sr. played at Shermans in the Freddie Clute Orchestra.
And how well I remember the great times. Grandma Dicruttalo had a cottage there
and every time dad played we'd get to stay up late to sit under the ropes or
around the side and dance the night away. As a teenager I was always at the
Hupticks camp with one of my best friends Susan Huptick who passed away last
summer..
The memories that you brought back were great. I will look for some photos next
time I visit my mom in Gloversville and send them your way..
Thanks for the memory!!!
Sincerely, Cathy (Dicruttalo ) Salatino
July 20,
2001
A friend just
emailed me to check this site out. I love it, it brings back so many wonderful
memories of when we went there on those summer weekends. This would be in the
late 40s & early 50s when I was a pre-teen. I especially remember the paddle
boats. Keep up the good work.
Rich Hagarty of Calif.
July 28,
2001
Tony,
I'm afraid
that I don't remember you, but Shermans was an old haunt. I went there
many times as a youngster and worked there after I grew up and married. I
drove for Coca Cola and stocked soda coolers on weekends. My father,
Everett Brown, worked many years from about 1949 until he died as a handyman
around the Lake and did a lot of cooler (refrigeration) work for the Shermans.
I lived up
on Morey Road from 1954 until I left for active duty in the Army in 1963. Five
of my six children were born in Nathan Litteaur (sp?) Hospital in Gloversville
while we were living there. I do remember the Shermans, Yates's, Baker's,
Holloday's, Lakes, Busch's and many, many more. Thanks for the "drive"
down memory lane!
Dick Brown
July 28,
2001
Many years
ago (20+) my family used to travel to Caroga Lake. What a great place and
wonderful memories! I swam across the lake when I was 11.
I am looking for information about a church we used to attend there. It was only
a block or so from the lake and if you were facing the carnival area, it was
down the road a bit on the left (then up a road a block). Do you have any
contact information regarding that church. I think it was either
nondenominational or Reformed.
Thanks again. And I love your site.
Rick Derrico
August 8,
2001
Hi, even
though I moved out of Caroga lake less than 10 years ago, I was amazed at how
familiar some of the pictures of places around town were.
My parents owned 'T'hee Country Store, up until a couple years ago.
I just came across the site, and thought id drop a line..
Bill Toles
Site Management & Design
Producer - Egghead.com
Phone: 650-470-5512 btoles@egghead.com
August 11,
2001
Dear
Tony...
I am sitting here after discovering your "Caroga Times" website, quite by
accident, and just feeling like I'm home again. Thank you so much for doing
this...I am so overwhelmed right now I can't write much more...but thank you and
I know I have some photos from Caroga Lake.
My name is Rich Loebl.....we lived in Gloversville...on 12th Ave...(now it's
Grandoe Lane) and I can remember how excited we would get when my Dad got us all
into the car for our weekend ride to Sherman's...my Dad and I use to ice skate
on the small pond behind the merry-go-round in the winter. I have so many
memories of Caroga Lake I can't even begin to write them...thank you again.
I also live in California now...in Santa Barbara....
Sincerely,
Rich Loebl
August 12, 2001
Dear Tony:
Thank you so much for giving us the opportunity to view how our ancestors once
lived. I can just picture my Grandmother during this era......
This
summer, I took my family to the Johnstown/Gloversville area because my roots on
my father's side began in that region. My Grandmother, Mildreth Louise Gaylord
was a DAR through her relation to Lt Col Volkert Veeder who was in the 3rd
Regiment of Tryon Co Militia and fought in the Battle of Johnstown. I took my
family to the site of the Battle and the Stone of Dedication by the DAR. We also
visited the Fonda Archives, where I met a descendent of Lt Volkert Veeder with
his name, Volkert Veeder. Volkert was very helpful to me in explaining the
history of the area and how he and I was related to the Lt Col. Volkert
gave us a tour of the area where all the Veeders lived. Volkert was a true
servant to his heritage and his community. I hope to see him again on a
future visit.
We
also visited Gloversville Pleasant Hill Cemetery with another relative of mine,
Emmett Van Arnam. Here most of my relatives of the Bailey, Morrell, and Vrooman
family were buried. Most of my family were Glove Manufacturers in Gloversville.
We toured the
area and enjoyed the architecture, the surrounding flora, and the clean air. On
our next visit, I hope to take my father, Robert Morrell Easton Sr and his wife
back to his mom's roots. This area of the country is beautiful.
Thanks for
providing us your webpage,
Robert
Morrell Easton,
Jr, OD, FAAO
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33306-1605
August 12,
2001
Enjoyed
the addition, especially to the Caroga Site.
My husbands nephew Paul Galway in the picture with Brian Yates, with the horses
were a pleasant surprise, Brian's Dad and my husband, Fred Galway, were good
friends then and remained friends until Fred passed away in 1997.
Again thank you,
Jeanne S. Galway
August 19,
2001
I
thoroughly enjoyed the Fall 2000 "Picture Show" by the various folks who have
brought back to us, the many fun times we all had at Sherman's, when we were
young.
My husband
and I live on E Caroga Lake during the summer and fall months, leaving after the
leaves change for Florida until May of the next year. It's been a real pleasure
to visit the Caroga Times web page to see what has been added since our
departure the previous year.
My uncles
and aunts, (the Charlie Vedders, the Richard Jenners) have lived at both the
Caroga Lakes for years, as well as my parents, Reg & Rusty Drake. Now our
children and grandchildren are enjoying all that we experienced years ago.
Thanks So Much.
Gretchen Johnson
August 23,
2001
What a
trip down memory lane! I've been going to Caroga for 43 years - since I was 2. I
remember heading up to the lake and asking "When are we going to Shermans?" If
we were there for a week, Mom and Dad would have to space the two trips we were
allowed during the week. I still remember the cotton candy and we'd have to
finish it before we got in the car because we'd make a mess of the car... and we
weren't allowed to get the cotton candy until the rides were finished. Then we
were taken home and put in a bath because we'd gotten cotton candy in our hair
and everywhere else.
My husband started coming to the lake when we were dating and fell in love with
the place. We've owned a place on the golf course for 15 years and both my boys
love the fishing, swimming, boating and waterskiing as much as I did when I was
a kid. I was always sorry, though, that Shermans was just a ghost of what it had
been. Do you remember the amusement park at Pine Lake?
Mary
Gilmour
August 23,
2001
Hi Tony,
I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed "Caroga Times". Going thru it
brought back such wonderful memories of the summers I spent their in the 40's
and 50's. I went back and forth from laughter to tears remembering all the
special times I enjoyed. Thanks for bringing back all the memories of Caroga
Lake.
Carole Gritzbach Jobe, Florida
(originally from Schenectady)
August 27,
2001
Thanks for
some of the memories!
I started
coming to Caroga Lake in the late 60's (in my teens) & spent weeks in the Caroga
Lake camp site with the Bell's. We enjoyed many a good time at
Sherman's trolling for the opposite sex (unfortunately at that time without
success). I did ask my wife out on our first at the Jammer though in 1980. They
were good times as well. I guess I might have some stories as well about some
local characters from our times.
Anyway, we built a house on Rt 10 just north of "The Maple Tree Restaurant" and
we love the community. My wife & I also have a camp on So Shore E Caroga Lk to
enjoy the sunrises & sunsets.
Caroga Lake
has been asleep for a few years with regards to a lot of activity. I do see a
change coming in the wind. Lets hope everyone embraces it.
Robert Sullivan
August 29,
2001
Tony,
First chance I've had to look at your site. (Albert & Julie alerted me to it
about a year ago, but I could never pull it up.) Great Job! Johnstown will
always be "Home." So many wonderful memories. Thanks for keeping them alive,
renewing some temporarily lost, & adding new.
Congratulations & kindest personal regards,
Charles Schwab, '59
PS Maybe one day when you're editing, you could correct the spelling of my name
on the '59 reunion photo. Also, believe the one of football players Tom Russo,
Fred Maderic, etc had to be '59 vice '60 as I know Fred graduated in '59.
September
7, 2001
Tony, this is Ron Knapik from ASW Computers in Tribes Hill NY. We have
received much input from our local customers who really like your site.
Since so many people from the Mohawk Valley and Capital District spent some of
their youth at Sherman's or came there as adults to dance, we would like to post
a link to your site in the ASW Links Library of our site.
Check it out, and let me know ASAP if we could post a link to your site.
Thanks
Ron Knapik
ASW Computers
www.aswcomputers.com
September
9, 2001
I absolutely
love you website! It brings back memories of my younger years. But then
I'm sure you've heard that many times from many people.
Have you ever thought of doing something on Gloversville?
I truly wish
you would. The Gloversville Business & Professional League produced a photo
slide show screensaver. Their production can't hold a candle to what you have
produced on your website. In my opinion what they did was not done well. Too bad
because there is a lot of history in Gloversville just as in Johnstown and
Caroga.
There are
sufficient picture etc. available if someone had the talent and time to work on
a Gloversville segment. You obviously have the talent but perhaps not the time.
Anyway... Love Your Website!
Cynthia L. Morey
October 2,
2001
I live in
Germany and was at a party this past week and I met Ray Healy who lives in
Belgium. We asked each other where we are from and we both found out we came
from upstate New York. To make things easier for people from the other 49
states, we say we're from near Albany.
Well when
we both said that we had to narrow down our geography a little bit more. It
turns out that Ray is from Johnstown and although I grew up in Schenectady, both
of my parents came from Gloversville and my mother's family had a camp on East
Caroga where I spent every summer of my youth. I left that area in 1971 and
moved to Europe. I have visited Caroga several times since then. I thoroughly
enjoy your web site and have forwarded it to my brothers. Thank you for sharing
your website with us.
Bill Van
Husen
October 6,
2001
This is
Greg and Joan Caliri of Bradford, Massachusetts. Greg doing
the writing.
Joan's maiden name is Baker. Her family had a large house on Caroga Lake but we
sold it off in the mid-1980s. While we miss our trips to Caroga Lake, it was
logistically impossible for us to keep "Lakehome", as my in-laws decided not to
travel north from Florida every summer. Joan's sister is in the Buffalo area,
I'm in Boston, so it was a four-five hour drive for either of us to get there.
My brother-in-law lived in Latham at the time but he had no interest in
retaining it, so it went up on the market.
Joan's cousin, Greg McDuffee, still owns the house next door to "Lakehome", as
far as I know. He is the son of the late Lavern and Doris McDuffee, who lived
down in Sprakers during the winter but the weekend retreat was Caroga. Lavern
was the traffic manager for Beech-Nut, and Doris was very active in civic
functions in the
Canajoharie-Sprakers area. Greg's great uncle Sherwood, now deceased, owned the
home two doors down , and Doris' father had the house next door, so we had a
sort of family compound at Caroga from the mid-50s through the mid-80s. Doris'
sister also had a house -- so we had the five houses between Sherman's house (as
Joan vaguely recalls) and the Baker "Lakehome".
Prior to acquiring Lakehome in the mid-1950s, my in-laws owned a home near
Chapel Road and the main road by W. Caroga Lake. Perhaps you remember Helen and
Pete Baker from Batavia? That's our family!
My mother-in-law and father-in-law both grew up in the Caroga Lake area. My
mother-in-law, who passed away in April of this year, is the former Helen
McDuffee. My father-in-law is still living in Florida -Dr. Peter Baker. He had
his medical practice in Batavia, near Buffalo, because his mother worked at the
New York State School
there. So, the Bakers lived in Batavia, but spent summer weekends in Caroga
Lake. In fact, they met at Sherman's in the 1930s, and Peter also worked as a
short-order cook at Sherman's to pay his way through Syracuse University.
Pete and Helen always encouraged us to bring our friends and my family up to
Caroga, and so we did so often during the summer. As a result, some of the
happiest memories of our lives were at Caroga Lake and the surrounding area.
Your page jogged many happy memories of the area.
Our
daughter is now 24 years old, and even she has happy memories of Caroga with
"Popsie and G'ma Baker". My own parents sometimes lament that we let the house
go, as do we.
We remember the "old Sherman's" well -- also, we remember Pine Lake Pavilion,
where every Saturday night a dance was held with a live band - and I can
remember the folks dancing to the Ernest Tubb tune "Do what ya do, do well!" As
we didn't have a lot of money when we were college age, we used to buy one
plastic pitcher of beer, then toss it out the window of the pavilion so a friend
would fill it up with the
contents of quart bottles of Genesee 12 Horse Ale or Topper Beer obtained from
the Price Chopper. Our friend Marty, who lives in Attleboro, proudly displays a
framed, discarded sign from Pine Lake which warns "Do not enter the Pavilion
with alcoholic beverages which have not been purchased within." It hangs over
his bar in his home.
We have one somewhere as well. We have many pictures -- my father-in-law just
cleared out his "stuff" in the apartment in Florida, and so we will cull through
the pictures and scan and Email you the best ones we find. It might be awhile,
as we are busy in November and October. Plus, there's a lot to go through.
Thanks for putting the pics up online. Again, it brought back a LOT of good
memories and pleasant times. We made a pledge that we will get back there
sometime next year. We haven't been there in around 16 years. We miss the area.
I will also make my brother-in-law and sister-in-law aware of the
Carogatimes.com site.
Finally, the penny arcade, kiddie rides, etc. are gone from Sherman's --
obviously, it was a different era, and people had different interests, and times
have changed, and things that decay or break down have to go. Economics dictate
that you have to provide what people want consistently, or you won't survive .
But we are especially happy to see that Sherman's still lives on in a slightly
different form - and also appears to be a few steps above what it was when we
last saw it, and in what could have been its declining days.
Regards,
Greg and Joan Caliri
October
16, 2001
Dear Tony,
The site
brought back such good memories, it brought tears to my eyes. I shared the site
with my six year old. After all I am an "older" mom who visited Shermans almost
every year of grade school with ST. Michaels School from Cohoes, NY , this was
the highlight of the year, going to Caroga Lake. It has such good memoriesl I
explained to him , that this was where I went on my field trip. I have a
coworker who has camp there now who hooked me up to the site originally.
I am going
to bring him sooner or later.
Thanks so much for a fantastic site.
Cathy Gonzalez
Malta, New York
October
17, 2001
I'm Dick
"Growler" Nolan who lived in Johnstown from the late 40's to the early '50. I
remember the area you cover on your Site with great pleasure so I was delighted
to look at your pictures and read your comments. You did a marvelous job of
putting the appropriate music to the great pictures and prose. Art Stock of
Gloversville, who is married to my cousin Mary Ann, has roamed, hunted and
fished and trapped that area all his life and has told me many a tale of the
locations you featured. Just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed your work
and wish you the very best.
Dick Nolan
October
17, 2001
Hi Tony:
Thanks a million for the update on your CAROGA TIMES. I spend a good five hours
reviewing just the Classic pictures that you note as your favorites. You've
created a tremendous list of slides relating to the heart and soul of youthful
memories of life - in and around the Caroga Lake area. My heartfelt "Thanks" for
the generous quotation noted by you for my inclusion of some 30 plus pictures -
it's deeply appreciated.
Ted Kitler
October
22, 2001
Tony,
I saw this
and thought of the back roads, the dirt roads, you have taken us on at your web
site and thought you might enjoy this. You do a great job sharing Fulton County
with us. I wish you grew up in Amsterdam or my hometown near Syracuse
(Camillus). I would love to see memories like yours shared on the net. I missed
most of the fall here because I was visiting in Colorado but did get back in
time to see some of the prettiest color right across the street from me where I
live.
We have a beautiful country.
Have a
good day.
Sister Johanna
November
29, 2001
Hi!
Nice bunch of pictures. I sort of remember Caroga Lake from about 1931, when we
used to swim at Vrooman's, rather than Shermans. I can still remember the smell
of the rubber from the bathing caps.
As my family had a place in Benson, I never got to Caroga much until 1942.
That's where the "action" was! Thanks, I enjoyed the show.
Wolf
Conover,
GHS '42
November
30, 2001
Tony-
I have to
say, I love this site. I currently live in Washington, DC, but was born
and raised in Amsterdam New York and spent many summers and holiday weekends at
Bleeker Mountain. While I am too young to remember Sherman's, I know that
my older siblings, as well as my mother went to Sherman's years ago.
My fiancé and
I, also from Amsterdam, are getting married in September at Shermans,
surrounding the carousel and would like to use a true photo of the area for a
reply card for my invitations. I saw that a few of the pictures are used
with permission from Ms. Mc Martin.
Could you
please respond with her contact information, or pass along my email address to
her so that I may get in touch with her.
All the best and happy holidays.
Steve and Debbie
November
30, 2001
Fantastic.
Most enjoyable website I have visited.
What memories and music.
Thank you.
Markley
November
30, 2001
Tony,
ABSOLUTELY
GREAT! this past summer, took our kids (8 & 10, we live in Florida) up and
climbed Kane Mt ... they loved it (our camp was next to Sherman's house ... we
sold it)
Mike Gisondi
December
3, 2001
I was sent
this web site from Dave Dunkle and found it very interesting and nostalgic.
I would camp here at Caroga every year as a child with my grandparents, more
than 55 years ago. Then as a teenager I would baby-sit for the Coakley
family who owned a camp on the lake. During the 1970's we had fun family
times there with the Sperry/Univac plant picnics.
I noticed that you might have a book for sale. Could you give me the
particulars.
Thank you.
Barbara
Jackson Doxstader
Birmingham,
AL
barbdoc.bjd@att.net
December
3, 2001
Hi Tony -
what a great site! It brought tears to my eyes as I remembered all the
wonderful times our family had at Caroga Lake during the summers in the 40's and
50's. Although my memory has faded some with time, your site stirred up
memories of the beauty of the area and all the fun we shared there. Your
pictures are outstanding....keep taking them. The majority should be
framed. They are really pieces of art. My brother lives in Ilion and
sent me your site. Kudos..........
Sharron
in South
Carolina
December
3, 2001
Just
viewed your piece on Frank Sherman and would like to congratulate you on a job
well done. He not only was the mechanical genius you portrayed but, also, one of
the most astute business persons I had ever met.
I worked for 'Buster" and Bill Ostrum in the early fifties and have many
memories of Shermans' when it was, perhaps, the most popular resort in central
New York State.
Viewing your site is like taking a step back in time.....................
Regards-----Bill Houck
12/4/01
I am Don
Jonas from Frankfort and spent my time at Piseco. Went to Caroga lake over the
washboard road from Piseco. Fritz Limpert from Ilion made the trip many times.
You did a great job on this program.
Don
Jonas
12/4/01
Hi Tony...
Thanks very much for sending the Caroga Lake page. I discovered it at the same
time that I was browsing the Johnstown page. All I can say is that it really
brings back memories, especially in the wake of Sept. 11th. I was at the
amusement park a few years ago and was delighted to see that someone had
purchased the facility and was still operating it. The saddest parts were
discovering that the Penny Arcade building was gone, along with all those
never-to-be-seen-again games! I was also sad to see that the original horses
were removed from the merry-go-round and replaced with newer versions. They
look fine, but they are not the same as the originals. Do you know whether any
of the penny arcade games and/or the carousel horses were sold at auction or may
still be available? Please let me know.
I remember the first time my father persuaded me to try a ride on the Ferris
wheel. When it got to the top, I was terrified and made Dad tell the ride
operator to stop and let me off. Poor Dad. I was about four and really scared
way up in the air!
I miss the mountains and returned every year regularly, until a few years back.
I used to spend summers at Henrietta Kobuskie's home near the top of Pinnacle
Mountain in Bleeker. "Kobusk" or "Grandma Diddy-Daw" as all the kids called
her, raised 8 or 9 kids in that little house -- with a well and a kitchen pump,
a wood-burning stove and outdoor plumbing. I can still remember nailing
cheesecloth across the windows in the summer to prevent being eaten alive by
"punkies."
The last time I spent a week at the Kobuskie home was in 1966...the summer after
my freshman year away at the Univ. of Miami. Somehow I knew it would be the
last time I would ever see Kobusk. I was right. She died in 1969 when I
graduated from UM. It was a real rite of passage for me. When my grandmother
died, Kobusk's son, Jack (former coach of the G'ville basketball team) came to
Danny Ehle's place to see me and to pay his respects.
All I can say is that they don't make many men like Coach Kobuskie. He told me
that when he was a boy, living in that house on the mountain, he had to ski down
the mountain in the winter in order to attend the one-room school house at the
base of Pinnacle Road. He made his own skis. His father was a true lumberjack
and a Bleeker pioneer.
Down the road from the Kobuskie home, lived a mountain man, named 'Fay." Fay
built his own one-room dirt-floored shack and lived very contentedly. Kobusk,
her sister Aunt Trace) and my grandmother ("Babu") use to walk down the road to
visit Fay. My first visit was made at age 6. I was a scrawny little kid with
white-blonde hair tied in ribbons. I was completely fascinated with Fay and the
colorful habitants of the tiny mountain community.
Fay made his living (occasionally) by lumbering and cutting grass for the
County. He had an old Indian Paint horse named "Jughead" and a German Shepherd
as companions. He also kept one mighty rooster and some hens. In the summer,
the hens lived in the hen-house, but in the winter, Fay brought them all into
his little shack for survival.
Clearly, Fay had a lifestyle that was quite the opposite of what I was
accustomed to back in Johnstown. My parents were amused when I returned after
the summer in Bleeker. I apparently told some curious tales about adventures
with Fay at the family dinner table. My father, ever the protective guardian of
his daughters, decided to check out Fay and the mountain shack. One Christmas
he drove up the Pinnacle and brought Fay a smoked turkey and a bottle of good
scotch. Fay invited him in to sit by the wood-burning stove, which was on the
other side of the room from his big four-poster bed, hewn from logs. It was a
very cold Christmas and naturally the rooster and his harem of hens were
clucking all around the small room.
One very smart hen was roosting in Fay's only cooking utensil -- a battered old
frying pan. The pan was on top of the stove and while the fire had gone out,
the stove and the pan were toasty warm -- just right for a fat old hen on
Christmas Eve.
Of course this was the same frying pan that Fay always used to fry up brook
trout, caught in a nearby stream. I had had the pleasure of being served some
of those very same brook trout and bragged to my parents (at the family dinner
table) about Fay's great fried brookies.
It goes without saying that my father was polite to Fay, but as he told the
story to Mom when he returned, the place was in his words, "disgusting." Dad
gave the edict that Christmas that I was forbidden from ever eating at Fay's
again. Just think of al that dirt -- a dirt floor!
I was crushed. But, as usual, after dinner when Dad had disappeared in his
study, I appealed the case to Mom. Her advice was simple, very basic and always
the same -- "All right, Susan. You can go to Fay's when you are there next
summer. But, do not come home and tell your father about it."
Fay's
cabin was on the right side of the dirt road, just past the old saw mill and the
hound/gun club, as you were driving up the mountain. It was just a bit down the
road from the Kobuskie place. He cleared quite a bit of space for the hen
house, Jughead's barn and some for planting. He won Jughead from an Indian in a
poker game (his version). Fay and the other loggers would hitch "runners" to
Jughhead as a means of carting hewn logs out of the woods. I would follow along
(starting at age 6), carrying a lunch bucket and looking forward to a plate of
fried "brookies" for lunch. Fay always caught them with a hand line.
He used to make his own homemade wine from elderberries, blackberries and
blueberries. He always invited us down for an afternoon "toddy" but Kobusk
always politely declined. That would have really set Dad off!
I miss Kobusk and Fay "more than words can tell." After living in the slick
city of Miami for 35+ years and sharing my "Bleeker adventures" with my friends,
I can assure you that no one I know down here has ever had such wonderful
childhood experiences.
The last time I visited Bleeker, the old saw mill was gone, along with the mill
pond where I used to go rafting with summer friends....a part of Bleeker history
vanished forever.
Fay's shack still stands. I was thrilled to meet Fay's daughter and son-in-law,
who had taken over the place after he died. In the best Bleeker tradition, they
are mountain people who were just not quite comfortable down in the "big city"
of Gloversville. We shared tales of days past. Jughead is long gone and of
course the rooster and his gals are but a memory. I have no idea whether they
are still in the shack.
My most enduring dream is to live out my last years in the old Kobuskie house on
the side of Pinnacle Mountain. The house is still there, looking like a canvass
painted by Andrew Wyeth. I understand some folks from New York bought it and
sometimes spend summers there.
You can still hear the whip 'o wills calling across the meadows. The deer are
still plentiful (despite the damn hound and gun club). The old bridges are
still sturdy. The road still goes to the top of the mountain. If you hike all
the way up, you will see sunlight filtering through the overhead leaf canopy and
you will hear the mountain stream rushing over smooth rocks.
Half way up is a small clearing. Once as a girl, walking my Irish Setter, I
unexpectedly startled a flock of pheasants and quail. Mike, my Irish Setter,
"pointed." The sun was magnificent on his deep russet coat. There are some
very old gnarled apple trees in the clearing. Long ago, a logger's wife
gathered apples for her family. All that's left of their homestead is the
hand-dug cellar, its walls of granite still standing.
Kobusk told me when I was very little that she remembered the family that lived
there and how hard their life was.
The wind in the trees, the songs of the whip 'o wills, the clean mountain air --
the sounds of silence are my most enduring memories. Every kid should have such
a magical childhood.
God Bless You All.
May the world be as peaceful as Bleeker this Christmas.
Sue Sponnoble
12/4/01
Hi Tony:
I was
directed to 'Caroga Times' probably about a year ago; Thought it was spiffy.
Now you have added more attractions and it is even spiffier. I went to
grade school with your aunt Ernestine and your mom, a little older, went to
school with my sister Madlyn.
20
yrs. ago, or so, when Sherman's (before the fire) had dancing upstairs, as in
the old days of the 40's, we met your mom and dad, also your little girls who
had a great time dancing. After your dad's passing we were still in touch with
Mary during the summer months at Sherman's..
Things
are not quite the same now, but we all have wonderful memories. Only this week
my husband and I have enjoyed the many postcard pictures from the Hogan's. They
took us back to even before our time. They are just great great. I have a
photo of me taken by Frank Ambrose-----A bathing suit photo----on the dock at
Sherman's. Maybe I'll send that to you some day. Anyway, thanks for the note.
Give my love to Mary and a Merry Christmas to you and yours.
Sincerely,
Gloria Sutton Davis
12/4/01
I was
forwarded to your site by a friend of mine. I love it! We have a camp on Canada
Lake and guess who one of our good friends is? The Don Hoffman! My husband grew
up across the street from their home in Dolgeville and said you could never ask
for a better neighbor. I am going to tell Don about this site and have him come
over to check it out. Thanks for the bit of nostalgia! Have a happy holiday
season!
Sincerely,
Linda Fake
Dolgeville, New York
12/5/01
Greetings
from Pensacola, FL! I just had to write and tell you how very much I enjoy
your web site!!! It has brought back some wonderful childhood memories of
summers spent there with my family.
I
particularly remember dancing with my grandfather by standing on his feet...and
my mom and my uncle doing the jitterbug!!!! My grandparents, Burr and
Zaida Metzler owned a camp in Gnatville....we used to drive to Sherman's on
Saturday nights to listen to the music, eat popcorn, and get our fortune's told
by the Gypsy!!!!! We swam and fished and always had a wonderful time!
I remember
getting sick on the tilt-a-whirl....but always wanting to ride it
again.....and riding the rollercoaster at Pine Lake....my family has many
wonderful memories of Caroga Lake.
I am now
grown, with kids of my own and my grandparents have been gone for many years.
But when I look back on my childhood, my fondest, most special memories are of
the times spent at Sherman's with my family. Those were definitely the
good 'ol days!!!!!
Thanks for
reminding me,
Cindie
Hutchison,
Pensacola, FL
12/5/01
Great web
site
Bev Pitera
12/6/01
I received a
call from my father-in-law Don Hoffman from Dolgeville and he told me about this
web-site.
I married his son Bob Hoffman and we have just finished going through all of
your beautiful work of Caroga Lake and Frank Sherman.
I'm sorry I
never met Frank but as you know his sister Dorothy in Don Hoffman's mother, or
Bob Hoffman's grandmother. She is still alive and turned 100 years old
this past year.
I just wanted
to tell you how much we enjoyed reading about Caroga Lake. Of course, Bob
remembers so much of it and what he had forgotten came back. If you need
more pictures Don has a photo album of the good ol' days. We just saw it
when we were up there this passed summer.
My name is
Peggy and Bob and I live is Tuscaloosa, Alabama where we have been for 10 years.
Bob was the Postmaster but retired just a few months ago. We were here in
Tuscaloosa in the late 60's where Bob graduated from the University of Alabama
with a double degree. One in engineering and one in accounting. It
was very interesting that he was transferred here in 93 because we loved it here
but never thought we would ever live here again. We just love it. We
have two son's, one is married with two beautiful children. A son that
just turned 3 and a daughter 8 months. Our other son is here in Tuscaloosa
also. He graduated with his MBA in May in E-Commerce and MIS.
Would love to
hear from you. I have to call Bob's parents now and tell them all about
your wonderful work of Caroga Lake and Frank Sherman.
Thank you so
much.
Peggy Hoffman
Pgkhoffman@msn.com
12/7/01
I am
greatly impressed and delighted to get Caroga times. I spent my teen years there
during the 40's. Also, worked at Harmony Lodge, one summer. It was operated by
the VanAlstine family.
We would
always find a ride to Sherman's, on the weekends, to dance to Freddie Clute. We
really never worried how we were going to get home, Only how we were going to
get there, Ten cents a dance. In my early years, I didn't get there that often,
as my Dad did have a car. But if I was fortunate to be invited by someone, what
a thrill. The merry-go-round, the whip, etc.
Always
loved listening to the lady laugh, close to the popcorn stand. Also, the monkey.
I guess, I could go on and on. But I loved Caroga Lake, then and now. I'm glad
it has new owners, and hopefully, will give pleasure to many generations to
come. sincerely,
Elizabeth Richards Sizemore from Naples, Florida
12/6/01
On one of
your pages you stated that Don Hoffman was married to Frank Sherman's daughter
-- WRONG! Donald Hoffman is Frank Sherman's nephew. Don's mother is Frank's
sister, Dorothy, who just celebrated her 100th birthday last May. Donald's wife,
Erma Youngblut Hoffman, was from Dolgeville and was not related to the Sherman's
except through marriage. You can check on this if you'd like, but I'm positive
of my facts.
Great website though. Lots of fun to look back at all of the pictures.
Thanks -- Donna (Hoffman) Gavin
12/9/01
Finally
allowed myself a peaceful hour to watch your presentation and it is fantastic.
I spent a lot of time at Caroga Lake with my girlfriends and later with
boyfriends and it sure brought back many memories. I'll look and see if I
have any pics that would be timely.
You have
done a fantastic job of putting it together and the music was perfect. I
also live many thousands of miles away from Caroga Lake (St Augustine FL) and
found it refreshing. Thanks for what you have done for all of us transplants.
My maiden name was Stella Cerneckas, class of 60, DCS. Now
Stella Wahl, stella@aug.com
12/13/01
I have
enjoyed your website. Finally got to the page where you mentioned the
sledge-hammer game (or whatever it was called). Since I am( no doubt)
older than you, I thought perhaps you wouldn't mention it because it was
probably gone by the time you were at Sherman's in the fifties, sixties,
seventies.
I used to live in Ephratah in the 1930's and the highlight of my summer was to
ride to "The Lakes" with my parents. We didn't go camping - just to
Sherman's and sometimes to Pine Lake. My father, who I believed to be the
tallest, strongest, smartest man in the world would always hit that
"sledge-hammer", ring the bell and win a cigar. I was hoping you would
know the correct name of that attraction, but it doesn't matter, as it brought
back fond memories to me. My father worked at the New York Power and Light
sub-station in Ephratah in the 1930's, and we lived in a company house for $5.00
a month, if I remember correctly. That was during the Depression, but he
had a good job, so we could afford to go to Sherman's midway.
MERRY
CHRISTMAS to you and your family. I can't thank you enough for this site
about Caroga. I haven't even clicked into the Johnstown part yet, but will
when I have time. The music is great, too. I admire what you have
done and are doing with this site. I have tried to explain to my sons how
Caroga Lake/Sherman's used to be, but it is difficult. When they visit us
sometimes in the summer and we drive through Caroga I think they believe I am
exaggerating. Now they can see for themselves. One lives near
Toronto, Ontario, Canada and the other lives in North Carolina. We have a
trailer at Peck's Lake Campgrounds and spend as much of the summer there as we
can.
Marion
(Mosher) Keyser
Little Falls, N Y
12/29/01
What a
wonderful place to revisit... I grew up in Gloversville and graduated in 52 ....
We use to rent a cottage every year with my family at Caroga...
When I got in High school a bunch of us girls would rent a cottage and it was
wonderful.. I live in Texas now, have 7 grown children...We live in the fast
lane now, sorry my children didn't get to live the life I had...
Thanks for
the memories...
Marge
1/1/02
Dear Tony,
I am Bart Avery's daughter. Bart was the son of Jennie & Lyman Avery, brother to
Milton, Bob (of Caroga Lake), and Helen Avery Newnham of Schenectady.
Both Bart & Milton were killed in WWII. I never met my father.
Bart graduated from GHS in 1938. If there is anyone out there that could share
their memories of my father with me I would be so grateful.
In 1989, my daughter & I stumbled upon the GHS Class of '39 reunion being held
at the Holiday Inn. We met many classmates of Bart's and cherish the stories
told and meeting people who actually knew my father.
I would have loved to have grown up in the Caroga Lake area with my father and
his family.
What great memories you have captured on this website.
Thank you.
Terri Avery Morrison
(408) 354-6759
terri.morrison@gte.net
1/5/02
I greatly
enjoyed all the pictures on this site. My family had a camp at Pine Lake from
the late 60's until the early 70's. Any idea whatever happened to Bob Lord? My
mom would take us to Caroga Lake (Sherman's) as a special treat. If you have any
other pictures of Pine Lake, I would love to see them on this site. The one of
the beach with the huge slide brought back some great memories.........
Thanks for some great memories.
Jack Zito
Clinton, NY
1/5/02
Dear Tony;
I'm a
resident of Caroga Lake and I really enjoyed your website about the history of
Caroga and all of your little stories. Is it no longer on because I have
not been able to get it on again lately. If not I think you did a great
job and enjoyed every bit of it. My husband and I have both lived here all
of our lives and it is nice to see that other people enjoy it here also.
Some of your friends are cousins of mine, like Joe Simone and Johnny Gage.
Hope all is well with you and your family.
Thanks
again. Louise Stock
1/6/02
Hi Tony,
My name is Scott Horton. I come from J'town and my family, grandparents
and many friends had places on Caroga Lake. Mom and Dad bought our camp on
the South Shore of West Caroga sometime around 1955 with Art Aulisi.
Later, after Art became Supreme Court judge, we bought it outright from him.
Around 1973 we had to sell the camp. I still miss it today. I had a lot of
fun up there.
Are you a
relative of Joe Marchetti who had a little corner store on Meadow and
Montgomery? I have a few stories about that place too.
When I get
some time to pass along a story or two I will. I want to explore this web
site for awhile and reminisce. I would love to hear from some of the old campers
of the 50's thru 70's.
Scott
shorton2@nycap.rr.com
1/7/02
Tony,
A friend just sent me this page. All I can say is AMEN. I am going to take a
graphic, post it on our clubs web site, and use it as a link to your page.
Roy Buckridge
1/18/02
I haven't
got time right now to write more, but the Hogan pictures are great. My wife
Donna and I love this area. We have a place on Garlock. Keep up the good work
Donna and Bob Lull
2/5/02
Hi Tony,
Thanks for
sending the link to your site & letting me know it is still up & running.
Your site
has made a small town in a fast world look back at how lucky we all are to have
had such a remarkable place to enjoy in our own back yard. My family has
lived in Caroga lake since the 50's & as kids we spent almost every day at
Shermans from dusk to dawn it seemed. It was sad to hear of Franks death, For he
was a true legend who made what we all share and to look back at & enjoy what is
still left today.
I was also
glad to see that Colleens story I helped her with on her dad, Lil Joe made it to
your web site. Like I mention I have a house full of Collectible & Antique items
and many items we won playing the games Kip & his girl Kat...(Kat it was he
called her) ran along with many post cards.
I also
have many home made 8mm movies & remember Shermans being on some. I was really
good friends with Kat's son Timmy & remember going down to Kip's store On Main
street in Gloversville & watching him load up his U-haul it with all the great
Prizes for Shermans. Many of our allowances was spent on the Ring Toss Game.
I will take
some pictures of some post cards & email you them. I go to a few Post card
shows & always try & get the ones of Shermans & Caroga lake area. One of your
visitor to your site ask if you knew what ever happened to Bob Lord, the guy
who ran Pine Lake park??? Last I knew he was fishing off a yacht he bought
somewhere's on the ocean. He has a beautiful home In Johnstown. I know his
nephew & can ask him if you would like to know more. His brother Lance is still
around & I think he's in Politics.
Thanks for a
great step back in time of home,
Gene Baker &
Family
2/25/02
Tony:
This is
one of the best web sites I have ever seen! I married a girl from G'ville
who's family is still there and a big part of the town. I remember
Sherman's from the 70's and I feel like I grew up there myself! Thanks for
doing all that you have done with this site. I'll be back again and
again...
Charles
- LCS Computer Systems
Loveland, Colorado
3/8/02
Hi,
I am Dick Calderwood of Scotia, NY (formally of Johnstown). Since I have been
seeing this site I have not been able to stop. I visited Sherman's Every night,
except Mon. all summer during the mid and late 40's. It was never the same after
the mid 50's.My aunt and uncle (Joe Brookhiser) lived next door to you mom and
dad and I got to know the also. If I come across any pictures of caroga lake or
Johnstown I'll get them to you. GREAT SITE!!
Dick Calderwood
3/16/02
I can not
tell you how much I enjoy your Caroga Times, some I have to cry some
I have to laugh. I think my wife of many years is ready to leave me
because I spend so much time in the past GOD bless you great job
Bernie Geisler
3/19/02
Hi Tony,
My nephew just put me in touch with this great web site. Originally from
Ft. Plain, I grew up every summer at Caroga Lake, spending much of my time at my
brother-in-law's camp-Camp Russell-which is still located on the road just a
short walk along the water line from "Shermans". Our families, the Utters
and Ehles, have great memories of Caroga Lake and Shermans.
I can't wait to look further into this web site. The pictures, alone,
bring back so many fond memories.
Even though I now live in Peoria, AZ., every time we travel back east, we,
always, try to take a trip out to Caroga Lake. Although the area has
changed drastically, we still enjoy walking around the immediate area every time
we go there.
Thank you for getting this site going.
Bob Utter-Ft. Plain, NY
3/19/02
TONY,
JOE SIMONE FORWARDED ME A LOT OF YOUR PHOTOS FROM THE JOHNSTOWN AND CAROGA LAKE
AREAS. THEY ARE WONDERFUL AND BRING BACK A LOT OF MEMORIES.
DON
SMITH
3/22/02
Thanks a million....we really enjoy your website......
Dick and
Marsha Jones
3/23/02
Dear Tony:
Just wanted to thank you for the great memories on your website. I'm from
Johnstown and now live in Gloversville. I can remember going to Sherman's
all the time in the summer. I can remember one time in particular when my
brother was about ten years old and my uncle said he would take him up there to
ride all the rides he wanted to. Well after a wild ride on the
Tilt-A-Whirl my uncle came off of there a real peculiar shade of green! He
wasn't quite as experienced on the rides as my brother was. I can still
taste that great popcorn and creamy ice cream cones. Thank you for the
great pictures and music.
Nanette Kersting
3/24/02
Hi Tony,
Do you remember when the fireworks exploded in the carousel at Sherman's on July
Forth, in about 1978? I remember playing the bingo/ball game and when I heard
the explosion and noise I didn't budge from my seat. My mom was yelling, "Let's
go the buildings going to burn. I just sat there, until I realized what was
really going on.
I remember the pizza place with the jukebox across the street. My dad and I ate
diner there every night that we were camping in the state park.
There are so many memories, from Camp and Sherman's. It reminds me of the great
parents I had to make sure us kids got to go camping each summer for two weeks.
Thank you for the memories,
Sally
SillySalie@aol.com
3/27/02
Hi Tony,
Thank you for taking your time to answer to my letter, I had sorry I had not
responding quickly enough, I had not been well the last few days. Anyway, I am
only 38 years old, I originally from Florida and live in Rome, NY.
I just happened to have a best friend who went to Pine Lake campground and they
had invited me to camp last summer, I had fell in love and decided quickly to
have it seasonal in 2002.
I am learning about the Caroga Area, so I decided to look up the site and found
yours. I love it so much. I never stop looking at it and show it to my kids. I
am looking forward to camp there and know I will truly enjoy it there.
Mind my bad grammar, I am hearing impaired, God Bless You and keep posting the
pics. I love history, it my passion favorite time to read, looked at the
pictures and learn about the past. Thank u for a million times of you showing
the best webpage that I had ever see in my life!
Sincerely,
Diana Libby
3/27/02
I live in
Syracuse and own a lake house on east Caroga. I recently began residing there
and commuting home on weekends. Due to the 9/11 events my airline job has taken
me to the Albany airport. Your pages are wonderful and nostalgic, my late father
once worked at Sherman's and Willie's during the 1950s and I know he would have
loved looking over them. Thanks for taking the time.
D.Smith
4/11/02
Hi
tony...thanks so much for the pictures and write-up on Caroga lake.. Boy it
brought back so many memories and good times. how nice of you to think of me and
send some great times that I always will cherish..
Thanks again and for all the work put into it...
Carmie Navarretta (Leotta)
4/13/02
I just wanted
to tell you how much my wife and I enjoyed going through your website this
evening. So many memories came flooding back. After Shermans closed we would
take rides up that way and and in our minds eye remember the crowds, the
picnics, swimming, the whip, the merry-go-round, the candy apples, the creamy
whip (which I have never found anything that tastes as good as that did then )
and we would always comment on that whenever we rode by. We enjoyed the
place when we were kids and then we brought our kids there. Thank you so
much for the wonderful trip down memory lane! :o)
Marlene Duseler
4/27/02
Tony,
Thanks you
for bringing back the good old days of Caroga Lake. Remembering those days gave
me goose bumps...to pass there is a terrible feeling of loosing a great place
and pastime that left many memories in everyone's heart and mind of the good
times spent there either for the season, or a day It was Awesome!!! Remembering
the dances , the crowds that sometimes parked down the road a few blocks just to
be able to dance and enjoy the evening, I frequented Sherman's since 1967,
without fail a few times a week and every week just to remember the great roast
beef dinners and the great French fries with gravy have been and still are a
conversation in our family on many a night wishing we could jump in the car and
go to Caroga Lake and enjoy all of that. The ice cream , cotton candy, made by
John and Ray Allen, a great treat. Not to mention the ferris wheel, the penny
arcade, and rides and games of sorts it makes you feel real lonely, and
heartbroken, it all had to come to an end, wish we could go back in time.
Everyone was a big happy family meeting each and every week at Sherman's. And
not let us forget the great fireworks that put us in awe, and the traffic jams
it caused but was worth it all...To bring it all back ...OH yes.. Thanks Tony
for making my day and our family too. God Bless you. Thanks so Much!!!
Simone (Pagerie) Kunath
4/28/02
Tony,
I
would like to thank you for the memories your site just brought back to me.
Seeing some of the pictures really made me smile. I could almost smell the
popcorn, and scent the bumper cars gave off. I used to go to Sherman's
weekly as a child from 1971 until its closing with my parents and
grandparents. We would go for the roast beef dinner, and afterwards I would get
to go on the bumper cars, Ferris wheel, carousel, or in the game room, and if I
was really good I'd get to toss a few darts and try to win an iron-on for a
t-shirt. I can still remember Ray serving up his goodies with his words of
wisdom. When Ray was asked how he was doing he would reply "I'm all right,
it's the people around me that ain't all right". I remember going to the polka
dances with my family and dancing at the age of around 5. Thanks again for
the great memories.
Michael
Kunath
4/29/02
Tony:
Congratulations on the creation of the Caroga Lake site, you certainly did your
research. My family and I spent some wonderful years there. Bill Morris was a
good friend of my parents, Dr. Marcel Pagerie and Simone Pagerie, both, my
sister Simone Pagerie Kunath and I built, owned and operated the French
Restaurant in Meco, called "Page-One". Bill Morris, his family and friends
frequently visited us for dinner as we did at Sherman's.
Our
favorite was the rare roast beef and the french fries with gravy. I was glad to
see Sherman's is back and I look forward to visiting it again. My parents are
deceased now, but I still have family in Johnstown and Ephratah and I do visit
them and I definitely will return back to Sherman's for some good food and
memories. Again Tony, thank you for such a wonderful wed-site.
Richard Pagerie
Fort Myers, Florida
rpagerie@aol.com
5/13/02
Tony;
My name is John Ferraro. First I would like to tell you how much I enjoyed
"Caroga Lake".
I remember the fire at the lake. My father, Salvi Ferraro was playing at
Sherman's at the time with his band. He also played for the dime a dance.
I often
heard him tell stories of Sherman's and the good times. Later I played at
Sherman's. Several times up stairs with a classic rock group called "Peppermint
Twist" I then started a new group with more "mature" musicians. We played
several time down stairs and the crowds were usually quite good. We played all
kinds of music, but swing was our thing. I also played many parties at Nick
Stoners. Very nice place.
I will
look around for some pictures and if I find any I will get in touch with you.
Thanks
John Ferraro
P.S. I am from Little Falls New York and spent many years going to the "lakes".
Caroga and Pine lakes. I have been all of the rides at Caroga Lake.
5/14/02
Thanks for
the wonderful memories of Caroga Lake and Sherman's, a special part of my
summers growing up. Born and raised around the lakes, I especially enjoyed the
comments from fellow Fulton Countians. It was a truly a virtual trip back home
for me.
Suzanne Moore, Ph.D.
Yokosuka, Japan
5/16/02
You have
no idea what you've brought to me. I cried I laughed I cried. Someone like you
should live in every town and city just to bring back Good things.
In this
world where people don't ever know their neighbors any more, to busy to smile
and say hello This dog eat dog world should think how it was years ago. I don't
think it was just Caroga Lake but yes your right, as I read about the Golden
phone I was closer to heaven back then. I can't even tell I how emotional you've
made me Thank you from the bottom, no from my whole heart. When I find that
Golden phone I feel it will be you answering it.
Thank you
Betty Harris Mentone Calif. Eh
909389@aol.com
5/30/02
Hi Tony
I wish there was some way of telling you how wonderful seeing Caroga Lake again
like this has been for me. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
I've been livening in Santa Barbara now for a number of years and while I don't
miss the winters I do miss the times....If you ever get up to Santa Barbara
please look me up.
I actually worked at a number of the arcades...the water bobble....the penny
throw and others. My family had a small camp along the lake and we actually
lived there for a full year when our home in Gloversville burned down. I can
still remember ice skating with my Dad on the pond behind the merry go
round...just in front of the restaurant.
Thanks again.
Richard Loebl
805 264-0412
5/30/02
HI TONY,
RECEIVED YOUR NOTE "TO ALL" TODAY. GONNA CHECK YOUR SITE AGAIN AND VERY
SOON I WILL BE SENDING YOU A CHEESECAKE PHOTO OF YOURS TRULY AT SHERMAN'S DOCK
WHEN I WAS ABOUT 15 OR 16.
NOW, HERE
IS ANOTHER MATTER.....YOU MET MY DAUGHTER, STEPHANIE, AND HER HUSBAND, BOB
SWANSON RECENTLY AT THE SAWDUST RESTAURANT. I GUESS YOU WENT TO SCHOOL
WITH BOB AND RECOGNIZED HIM, FOR HE HAS NOT CHANGED TOO MUCH THRU THE YEARS
SINCE JHS. SMALL WORLD, AYE?
WHOEVER
WOULD EXPECT YOU FROM CALIFORNIA TO WIND UP IN A HICVILLE PLACE LIKE BLEECKER
AND WHY? ANYWAY, WE HAVE ALWAYS HAD A SUMMER PLACE ON MOUNTAIN LAKE
AND ALL OUR KIDS GREW UP THERE ALL THE WONDERFUL SUMMERS OF THEIR LIVES, SO
BLEECKER IS OUR SECOND HOME. BESIDES THAT, MY MOTHER WAS BORN AND RAISED
THERE AND HER PARENTS OPERATED A LARGE DANCEHALL (PETERSON'S DANCEHALL)
I WAS LITTLE THEN AND THE BUILDING SEEMED HUGE), THAT'S ALL FOR TONIGHT,
TONY. GIVE MY REGARDS TO YOUR MOM. AND BY THE WAY...WHAT WERE YOU
DOING IN BLEECKER?
GLORIA SUTTON DAVIS
5/30/02
Dear Tony,
How wonderful, it is, that you take the time, to bring back such memories for
us. The pictures, almost, make me cry. They were such wonderful times, so
peaceful and nice. Unfortunately, times have changed and life goes on. But, I
wouldn't give up those Caroga memories for anything. They sure were beautiful
times in my life, as well as the many people that I send your "Caroga times" to.
They also, are very thankful.
I wish I had some Pictures to send to you, but I don't. Sorry. I am going to
Gloversville this summer for my 55 class reunion, class of 47.Do keep touch.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Sizemore
6/5/02
As a
Foreign Exchange Student in Gloversville 1962/63 I spent many days and hours at
Caroga Lake with "my" family The Abdellas.
As I'm going
back for a very short visit this summer, I found it great to look at old as well
as new pictures. I'm looking forward to see the restored carrousel.
And spending
an evening at Sherman's after 40 years.
Jesper Ismael Christensen
Denmark
6/9/02
My name is
Lisa Dougherty and I live in Castleton, Rensselaer county, NY. As a child
in the 60's and 70's, we would often visit my great aunt at her Caroga Lake
camp. I'm hoping someone can tell me the address of that camp.
From what my
mother has told me, my great aunt and uncle, Emma and Howard IRWIN, owned two
camps on Caroga Lake; one they rented out, one they stayed in themselves.
It's the latter camp that I remember. I have some pictures of it from I'd
guess about 1966. My aunt ran a beauty salon there- the sign in one of the
pictures reads "Emma's Vanity Shoppe". My aunt and uncle had a daughter
Carol who recently passed away. I don't remember Uncle Howard Irwin at all
since I was quite young when he died, but I remember Aunt Emma Irwin quite well-
she was a very small woman with dark (and then gray) hair. She passed away
in 1989 and the camp was sold since no one in the family had the financial
resources to take it over at the time. One more thing I remember about the
camp was it had screen porch which was built around a giant tree! I
remember being very impressed with the "indoor" tree when I was a kid! I'd
love to find out where this camp is today, and maybe do a "drive by". Any
help is appreciated!
Lisa
Dougherty
6/12/02
I was sitting
with a friend of mine tonight who we are taking up to Peck Lake and we were
talking about the NY area. He had said that he was good friends with a Sarris
who died when he was 21 but had a couple of siblings. They owned an Italian
restaurant, I think he said in Johnstown, would you happen to know of any of
them? We'll be visiting the week of 4th of July from the Philadelphia area and
I'd love to surprise him with some information. I came across your web site in a
"Google" search - I'm dying to show it to my father-in-law who grew up in
Cooperstown and Dolgeville. Thanks for your help -
Chris and Ruth Doubleday
6/16/02
Hello,
Was surfing the web and found your website and particularly enjoyed
the section with L'il Joe Riccardi....we are Harley enthusiasts also and plus we
do know him personally....he's a great guy and he has the best daughter...it was
to our amazement to find a website featuring him, we thoroughly enjoyed
it....good job....
Best
Regards, Tony & Colleen Mattioli
6/18/02
Have
enjoyed so much the web page on Caroga Lake and the memories it has brought back
as children and young adults we spent many hours at Sherman's and Caroga Lake
dancing playing games and riding rides enjoyed especially the music of the merry
go round. I have lived in Syracuse, NY since 1948 but come back every so often
once a year for a reunion luncheon with our class of 1945 and wanted you to know
that I enjoyed the memories you have worked to put together.
Lorraine Thompson Liszewski
5/22/02
Just wanted you to know what a pleasure your site is. It brings so much good
memories back that. Wish that I could be back there now.
Brian
Northville NY
5/22/02
Hi, Thanks
for the memories. I used to go there all the time when I was growing up.
I have a photo of me on a carousel, but it wasn't that one, wonder if they had
one at Pine Lake? I did not have time to look at all of your photos. What a
wonderful job you did.
I heard
about the fire, what year was that? I remember going in to eat at Sherman I
think in the mid 80's. It was April or September as that was when we came back
home from here in Ohio to visit my parents. a few years ago I got interested in
carousels and toured a lot of museums and noted on the carousel pages, they
never mentioned the Caroga Lake one. Then in June, 1999 we got to visit upstate
New York again and my husband and I stopped at the amusement park. I think we
were the only ones there. I looked into the carousel and noted that the horses
weren't original. By that time I was pretty expert on them, but I told the guy
in Mansfield, Ohio and I think he went there to check up on it. I also heard
someone had been killed while riding the carousel in a wheelchair and that was
why the park was closed. The bumper cars were all gone, I don't know if there
were any chairs left on the Ferris Wheel. But I did take video of the place. I
think the Tilt O Whirl was gone too. I don't know what is going up there now. I
know the restaurant was closed and that seemed unusual in June. So what is going
on there now? I remember the Pine Lake place had a small amusement park too and
I remember riding on these flying chairs. That is probably long gone. I remember
playing ski ball and going to the arcade.
Cher Classick
6/30/02
HI. THIS
IS PENNY.....
A LONG
LOST FRIEND OF JOE RICARDI AND DIANE. FIRST THOUGH, LET ME
SAY THAT YOUR CAROGA TIMES WEB SITE BROUGHT TEARS TO MY EYES FOR I
HAVE SOME FOND MEMORIES OF CAROGA. I NOW LIVE IN WHITESTONE. NY.
A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE IS PURCHASING PROPERTIES UPSTATE AND JUST THIS
WEEK TOLD ME HE BOUGHT A PROPERTY ON CAROGA LAKE....SO OF COURSE ,I LET
HIM IN ON A FEW OF MY OWN PERSONAL STORIES. I THEN CAME HOME AND WENT ON
MY COMPUTER, TYPED IN CAROGA LAKE AND WOW!!! ANYWAY THANKS AGAIN. MY EMAIL
IS m0mdab0m104@aol.com
P.S. TYPE
ZEROS INSTEAD OF THE LETTER '' O'' IF YOU SEE JOE
AND DIANE PLEASE TELL THEM TO EMAIL ME...I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE IT. I
OFTEN THINK OF THEM. MY SISTER HARLIE IS COMING FOR A VISIT
AND IM SURE SHE WOULD LOVE TO SEE JOE AND DIANE TOO.
THANX AGAIN...PENNY (RAY) FERONE
7/4/02
What a
beautiful group of pictures!!!
Gene and Marion Sutliff
July 6, 2002
Tony:
Thanx for the memories... I got my first Brass Ring up there and got a free
ride... I'm 61 and it seems like yesterday ... the monkey cage... the Paddle
Boats... I was young....
Thank You....
Geo. Syzdek
7/9/02
Have just
been advised of your Caroga Times Web site. It is wonderful. I spent the
summer so of 1948 and 1949 operating the Ferris wheel for John Morris. Many fond
memories. Eating contest as how many pancake cooked by Bill Morris week could
eat at one setting. I got to twelve. My Twin brother and I spent many summers at
my Aunts Camp on 2nd st (excuse the expression) at EAST Caroga. Along with
my cousin Binnie Van Auken spent many hours at Sherman's. Mostly during the War
years. Had to walk from East Caroga , by the state Camp site, it didn't bother
us.
Remember well
Fredie Clute, danced many a dance to his smooth music. My brother and I
graduated from GHS in 1945.
Anybody
seeing this that wants to send and email I'll answer it.
Bill Hemenway
Socorro, NM
bheme@sdc.org
7/13/02
Sir:
Congratulations on an excellent website about Caroga Lake! Many years after
having witnessed the slow deterioration of Sherman's. I rediscovered the park
this summer and was astounded and encouraged by the positive changes being
wrought there.
Thank you
for presenting a photographic essay on the town, the amusement park, and the
people who have played a part in both.
Sincerely,
Jon Battle
7/20/02
Tony,
I'd really like to hear from anybody who had a camp at Pine Lake any time from
1968 to 1972. I remember a guy named Iggy who had a trailer next to ours who was
the "life" of the party. Two other family names that I recall from our immediate
area are Kirkendall and Coffin. If anybody out there remembers the Zito's,
please e-mail me.
Sincerely,
Jack Zito
Clinton, NY
jszito@hotmail.com
7/21/02
Hello!
I have to thank you so very much for putting together this fantastic website.
My name is Chris and I was born and raised in New Hartford. My Mom was born and
raised in Dolgeville. Therefore, all of us kids spent a significant part of our
childhoods and growing up spending time with relatives in the "valley" i.e.:
Dolgeville, Little Falls. My great Uncle, Charles Dolge, had a camp on Canada
Lake that was in our family for so many years until his passing a few years ago.
We all spent a lot of time at the camp during summers, and also at Sherman's,
and at the attractions Pine Lake used to have. I was last at Sherman's about 5
years ago and what a sentimental, yet sad time that was. The buildings that are
still there, brought back great memories but to think so much more used to be on
that land and that so many people used to "frequent" all that used to be there.
Thoroughly surfing through this website was very touching and impressive. I had
no idea it existed until I chose to search Sherman's and found it. My dad has
played golf at Nick Stoner's and as a boy, I remember myself on all of the rides
at Sherman's, my favorite being the Whip. Not to mention they had great food.
I'm sure I'm one of few people who are so sentimental about Caroga Lake and
Sherman's but I needed to compliment you and thank you for such a great site.
This helps to keep great times of the past alive.
Feel free to e-mail in return if you wish.
Sincerely,
Chris Sloan
CCS1121@aol.com
7/27/02
THANKS FOR
THE COLLECTION OF ALL THE OLD TIMES.
FROM ALASKA
BILL JURICA
7/28/02
Dear Tony,
I'm sending
an attachment of a picture of my Mother (Vera Demarest) at Caroga Lake taken
today sitting on the Ferris Wheel.
As you can
see by the smile on her face she was so thrilled to be there. We took a ride up
there this afternoon and it brought a lot of memories flooding back to us.
My
Grandfather (my Mother's father) Amasa Smith, used to work for Frank Sherman
years and years ago. She can't remember what he did though, but said she
remembers her father working for him.
We got an
ice-cream and reminisced about the great taste of the Creamy Whip. We
looked at the place where the monkey used to be and could still see him in our
minds eye. Seeing the Ferris Wheel and the Merry-go-round in working order
brought back memories of when we were all younger and used to look so forward to
going up to Caroga and riding on the bumper cars, trying to catch the ring on
the Merry-go-round so we could get a free ride, rocking the seat of the
Ferris Wheel to scare the girls and enjoying the scene from the top when we
would stop up there as people were getting off at the end of the ride, leaning
in the corner of the Whip thinking that would make it go around the corners
faster, the smell of the popcorn and the cotton candy, the hotdogs and the music
playing, the beach, so many things that we just strolled around and thought
about today.
How happy
we were to see so many cars in the parking area, like the good old days. And as
we walked through the entrance area it was as if we went back in time.
Thank you
so much for a fantastic website. We visit it often - it brings back so
many memories of the happier carefree times of our younger years.
Bob & Marlene
Duesler
8/4/02
Hi!
We've been enjoying the Caroga Times and I just found myself in the picture
listed as "Willie's at Night"! The picture donated by Pete Mosconi is listed as
being in the early 60s. It was actually taken in the early 70s. The people in
the photo from left to right are Paul Mosconi, Sheila McIntosh, Karin Fowler,
and Pete Mosconi.
I believe
that Karin and I worked at Willie's the summers of '71 and '72. I'm sending this
from my mother's home and email. Thanks for sharing the Caroga photos!
Sheila McIntosh Nolan
rtnolan@attbi.com
8/5/02
I really
enjoyed what you have done with your site.
I am one
of the "Morris" girls... Ron is my dad. I was a little upset to see my
grandpa's and uncle's names mentioned in the "old" Sherman's pictures and
stories, but not Dad's. All 6 of us kids grew up at Sherman's. It was our
heaven! We had the opportunity to meet and become friends with many wonderful
people. Summer's end was always bittersweet, with looking forward to seeing old
friends at school and having to say goodbye to new friends.
Keep the
pictures and memories coming. It is good to look back!!
Lori (Morris)
Weaver
lorilei65@hotmail.com
8/14/02
Thank you
for the information about Glen Harris, I worked at the Christmas Tree lodge when
Nora Harris owned it. It just so happens my last name is Harris also. I was
going to Gloversville to pick up supplies one time and driving to fast, a police
car going the other way saw my brake lights when he went by, he turned around
and pulled me over. When he saw my license he asked are you related to Glenn
Harris, I lied I didn't want a ticket, I told him he was my favorite Uncle, he
told me just this time I'm going to let you go, slow down and remember if your
driving to fast, don't ever hit your brakes when a cop is going in the opposite
direction we can see your brake lights.
I saw Glenn Harris about a week after wards and told him what I had done, He
just laughed at me and said that's what I like to see from young people You
where using your head that day but don't speed anymore you might lose that
useful mind of your. He was a very nice man
Betty Harris
8/15/02
Hi Tony, my
name is Bonnie Wiltey Pulis. I grew up on Meadow St. You may remember my
older brother Butch Wiltey. Your site has brought back so many memories of my
childhood. I remember my mother roller skating down the street only to
"crash" in front of Marchetti"s. Joe laughed until he cried! I was a
friend of Ann Marie Precopio and to this day can smell the "Pasta Fazool" in her
mothers kitchen. One day, on my way to Ann Marie's, on the corner of
Meadow and Clinton (Marchetti"s) some boys (I don't know who) ambushed me and
put a snake down the back of my blouse. Mr. Precopio ran across the
street, got the snake from my blouse and cut it into pieces (my hero!) I was all
of eight or nine at the time. A million years later my son Billy bought
Pino's. You can't imagine the joy we have had looking at the old
photographs on your site of Marchetti's, now Pino's. Back in the "Hood"! I
work at Johnson Hall State Historic Site, live in the "Caretakers Cottage" .
A few years ago, visitors were walking into the office, I took one look and said
"Oh my God, Ralphie Marchetti!" He said "Bonnie Wiltey!" Not bad
after what? forty years! Just a joy to view your site and I thank you.
Bonnie Wiltey Pulis
9/3/02
Hi Tony,
My brother
just found your wonderful web site and sent it to me at work. You can
imagine not much is getting done here this morning.
I just had
lunch last week with Cathy Leotta Gage and she told me about the reunion for the
60 year-olds. It sure sounded like fun. I will send this address on
to her so she can relive those wonderful times at Caroga.
Next
project--how about a St. Patrick's School web site.
Thanks for
the memories.
Lois Hadley Applegate
lhappleg@webtv.net or
lhappleg@syr.edu
9/8/02
Tony, thank
you thank you and thank you again for taking the time to put together these
wonderful pictures and thoughts of Caroga Lake and Sherman's. They sure
did float me right back to "the good old years" when life was more simple and it
took so little to make us happy. Being almost 60 years old it is so nice
to be able to go back! Life really was wonderful (and still is I might
add!) ! Thank you again, I am going to pass them on to a friend in
California!
God Bless
Bette Atty
Gloversville
High School Class of ' 61
9/8/02
Just saw
the message from my sister, Lois Hadley Applegate. Our oldest sister, Linda, was
at my home today and we talked about this web page. I was "shocked" to hear that
there was a bar at Caroga that would serve underage minors! Plus she talked
about the gambling raid at the place next to the movie theater.
We moved to NJ in '56 so my memory of JTown is limited. I recall names
like,Hammond, Noone, Yacabucci, Kane. We lived at 101 Prindle. Nice web page. It
made me smile
Bill Hadley
9/9/02
Hello
Tony,
My name is Kelli Harris Best – I have attached a better picture of the Christmas
Tree Lodge which my parents owned from the late 1950’s till the mid- 1970’S.
Your picture of what is left of the Christmas Tree is no long valid. The
Christmas Tree in now gone. The town of Caroga received the
land due to a tax sale and have finally gotten rid of the eye sore. They are
planning on putting in a park. Please update your picture so that those of us
with memories can remember they way it once was. The Christmas Tree was formerly
owned by BOTH – Assemblyman Glenn Harris and Norah Avery Harris.
I what to “Thank You” for the links regarding my dad. He love the area and tried
his best to make it a better place for all of us.
I am also the daughter-in-law to Pat Best who currently owns Vrooman’s Hotel.
She just celebrated the 30 anniversary of ownership of the Hotel. Which her and
her late husband Donald Best purchased 30 years ago from the Baker’s.
Thank you for a great site. All of us from the area should be proud that you
have done such a site.
Kelli Best
OurFullMoon.com <http://www.ourfullmoon.com/>
9/12/02
Tony -
Just received this link from a good friend. It's great! Certainly brings back
wonderful memories. I live in Schenectady, NY and my family would take me there
several times a year - I loved it and then went back in my early adult years.
Used to love the amusements and all the friendly people.
Congratulations on bringing a bright spot to my surfing and to all others lucky
enough to find your site and recall visits to this genuine wonderland
Don
Marcello
9/23/02
Hi,
I'm a native
of Gloversville, and a cousin of Frank Sherman's (1st cousin, once removed).
My memories
of Sherman's go back to the 1920's , 30's and 40's when my Great uncle Frank was
at the popcorn machine, and always stopped to get us the most marvelous tasting
ice cream cones. A friend in Gloversville just told me about the web site. What
I have seem so far I love. I am pretty emotional right now, actually crying,
because so many of my days were spent in and around Sherman's and with my
cousins Connie and Beth Sherman, Floyd's girls. In the winter we'd ride our
bikes around the Whip track. That was exciting!
I moved away
from Gloversville in 1946 so have not seen Frank in years. I don't know if
he's still alive, but I really appreciated the photos of him. I could sure tell
it was him.
I will spend
many happy hours looking at your site. Thank you!
Marjorie
Bacon Giebitz
Crossville,
TN
9/24/02
Dear Tony
Great site.
My wife and I lived in Little Falls and Caroga Lake was the place to go.
High School picnic's, etc. We still make sure Pine Lane and Caroga Lake is
visited each year. EVERY YEAR!! We were up there just last week. Wonderful
memories, Brought tears to my eyes. I guess we really didn't realize
what a prize we had when we were growing up. It was a great era to
grow us in and a great place to grow up near. I will
look through our archives and see if we have anything we can send you. Would
love to help you. I will pass this on to other friends from my high school class
and maybe they can also.
All the best
and thanks
Dave Blovat
10/5/02
Thank you so
much for putting this site together. It has been many years since I've
been to the Caroga area and it brought back a flood of wonderful memories.
Being from the Mohawk Valley, it truly was our "Disney" world.
Don and Judy
(Daly) Ropeter
JRopeter@cfl.rr.com
Palm Bay,
Florida
10/10/02
Tony, I
don't know where to begin, but here goes. My name is John Ryan,
originally from Buffalo, and my parents had a camp on Stoner Lake from
1955 to 1983, next to Ted Farnsworth on Rt. 10. My aunt, Viola Schulte,
who used to reside there at Stoner Lake, used to work at the Wheelerville
school until her death in 1983. That's when my mother finally sold the place.
As a kid (I'm now 57), I was up there each summer since I was two.
And boy, do I wish I could be there right now. I call it my home, even
though I'm really from Buffalo. I remember fishing East, West and Little
Stoner lakes summer after summer, going to Sherman's amusement park
on weekends, Vrooman's Hotel, the original Arietta Hotel (Gus Bartlett
had it then) before it burned down, Glenn Harris and his wife Nora who
owned the Snow Drift Lodge in Arietta, and then the Christmas
Tree Lodge in Wheelerville. And hunting and hiking on Rooster Hill
behind our camp. Climbing Tammany mountain in Arietta (or Cane mountain)
when it had a ranger tower. And Avery's hotel up toward Speculator . . .
I could go on and on; the memories are endless.
What is going on up there ? Have things changed much (I sure hope
not). Is Ted Farnsworth still alive - he was a building contractor ?
Do Ed and Irene Scharpou (?) still own the Arietta Hotel ? I've got
a million questions.
Hoping to hear from you soon, and thanks for your time and patience.
Sincerely,
John Ryan
1405 Halkirk Way
Bel Air, Maryland 21015
11/5/02
Tony, this
is just amazing!! I can hardly keep a dry eye looking at those pictures,
and listening to that beautiful music. I have forwarded it to
EVERYBODY.....
Loesje van
Tongeren Barnhoorn
11/17/02
Tony,
What a great
site! I keep finding new sections to read and each one brings a smile!
My family owned the Skakel Camp on Green Lake. It was originally The Tryon
Camp owned by the Johnstown Firefighters, established in 1918. My
grandfather, being one of the firemen owners, bought it as a private camp in the
'30s. He turned it over to my Dad, Ralph Skakel, who turned it over to my
sister Cheryl and I a couple of years ago. Spending summers at the lake
was a joy - climbing Kane Mtn [ going up the Green Lake Trail and down the Pine
Lake Side, going on the rides and then back along the road] Wow! We
couldn't do that today. I remember the fishing contests for kids.
Caught lots of sunnies, perch, and bullheads. Always got a few more than
Davey Sponenberg which made my day! Of course, he wouldn't remember it
that way. I'd write more but there's so much more of your site that I have
yet to get to.
Thanks again!
Barbara Skakel Plantz
11/21/02
I worked
at Sherman's. I painted Sherman's. I loved, laughed, and cried in a little
'camp' called the Gray Gull. I guarded the beach for the Association on East
Caroga. I made doughnuts at Morris' Foodarama and bagged ice until my
fingers turned blue in the middle of the summer. I cared for my neighbors,
laughed with them aplenty, pitched in when people needed help, fell in love in
the starlight on Association beach, and healed myself in solitude in the same
place.
It is unfortunate that you sullied an otherwise enjoyable "visit" to one of my
old stomping grounds with your spiteful politics. Your need for everyone
to 'love your politics or leave'
(Caroga Helps Out Hollywood)
is pathetic. When you speak so hatefully of those who dare to disagree with your
politics, how can you then be surprised when they balk at the idea of the
world's fate being at your mercy?
How dare you presume to speak for all of upstate New York? After all, the
'father' of modern liberalism, Franklin Roosevelt, was from?....That's right,
upstate New York. Yes, LIBERALISM. Don't choke on it. How are social
security and Medicare for radical ideas? Are you collecting yet?
I thank you, however, for reminding me of something other than the glossy veneer
of that 'neck of the woods' as represented in your pictures and memories.
May we all have enough.
Brian J. Moore Oles
11/21/02
Hey Tony:
You've really done a great job with this website....much expanded since
I was there last. I especially liked the bio on Frank Sherman.
Dave
Ackerbauer
11/22/02
I was
surfing the net, and found your website. It's fascinating!
For years, we had a camp on Balsam Avenue in the Grove. Our family
spent many wonderful hours at Sherman's, enjoying the facilities.
We have such fond memories of the Adirondacks, especially of places
like Avery's, Sherman's and Piseco.
Just thought I'd say hello,
Bob & Charlotte Wolf, and Karen, Bryan and Erica
12/07/02
Tony
Dave
Ackerbauer sent me the link to your site.
Boy what
memories it has brought back to me. The one memory I have is pulling on my
fathers hand so we could cross the road from the parking lot. Once across it was
my Disneyland.
Tom Manning
Tracy CA
12/8/02
Hello from
J!town: I very much enjoy your web site: It bring back old memories from the
past. Keep up the good work, Thank you from the
Louis Wiesner family
1/19/03
Loved your
site...Would love to see pictures of Stratford i.e. Stewart Landing, That's
where I grew up. You brought back so many memories. Thanks so much
Darlene
1/21/03
Hello from
Paul Galway.
Great
website. Have spent much time scanning through. Would love to hear from you. I'm
married & living in Florida. Gail says hello & not to take Rosie's pills & make
pizza. Do you have an email address for Brian Yates? If you see him, tell him I
would like to hear from him. My email address is
ptgalway@aol.com.
1/21/03
Tony,
Great nostalgia! Reminded me of many experiences long forgotten.
My maternal grandfather, Louis Eppich (he owned the Kingsborough Hotel) built
one of the
early camps along Grove Ave. I spent my childhood summers there (mid-40's
to mid-50's),
swimming in a very cold Caroga Lake and fishing at Peck's. I don't recall
Willy's being
there, it was just a vacant lot that the Gloversville folks used when they came
out on
the weekend. Sherman had fenced off "his" part of the beach (you have
fonder memories
of him than I do), so to avoid admission fees, the city folks took over "our"
part of the
beach...much to the dismay of us locals.
My uncle had a place on the South Shore (is that big archway still there?), and
my paternal
grandfather had a place on the East lake. Bert Yates was the town's major
domo, a real
gentleman. But time and population has taken its toll on Caroga....I was
back there a few
years ago, and it's gone downhill...no longer the pristine spot it once was.
But thanks for the memories of a better time.
I presume you're aware of the book Caroga, by Barbara McMartin (1976).
It's got some
great old pictures as well.
Chris Witze
Santa Fe, NM
2/4/03
Tony,
I was born the year 1936 in Mayfield, New York, about 5 miles from
Glovesrville on the way to Northville. My first trip to Caroga Lake was
with my grade school class at the end of the school year. Can't
remember the year but the introduction was everlasting. We never knew
the enjoyment of spending more than an evening or day at Sherman's. As
we reached High School and had a means of transportation, me and all the
guys would head for Caroga Lake on Friday and Saturday night in hopes of
meeting girls from Gloversville, Johnstown and Fonda. I was one of the
few guys that knew how to dance and gave me one up on the others in
meeting the girls. I'm guessing the year was 1952 when the popular
dance step was the "Caroga Crawl" That was back then when you got to
hold the girl close.
All the memories from the Caroga presentation came flooding back and
brought a lump to the throat and tears to the eyes. I never had the
privilege of meeting the owners but I am sure they enjoyed it as much
as we did. Whenever I talk with old friends, the conversation always
includes stories about the great times we had at "Caroga Lake"
Thanks for sharing all the pictures of Sherman's at Caroga Lake......
Gary D. Jones,
Chandler, AZ
2/5/03
hi Tony;
Our family had a camp on east caroga also called Nest o rest! My grandfather
built it in the 30's I believe. His name was Charlie Johns. It was next to a
camp
owned by Ronny Wicks. Does that sound familiar?
Andrea Latham
Virginia Beach
2/14/03
Hi Tony:
I just want to congratulate you on a job well done. My son in law
found the sight while surfing the net and told me about it. I can't get
over it. You've given us great memories from great times.
Thanx again.
Dante Marcuccio
Johnstown High School , class of '56
My parents were Carmelo and Angelina Marcuccio
9 Washington St.
Johnstown, NY
The only family I have left in Johnstown Is my first cousin Jack Papa
(the barber)
2/15/03
Hello Mr.
Ermie,
I enjoyed
your website. We used to go to Sherman’s and Caroga
Lake a lot . I particularly like the pictures of Joe Marchetti and his family.
My wife and I and our children visited Johnstown briefly in January 1979 while
we were traveling from Colorado to New Jersey (McGuire AFB to be exact) en-route
to a new USAF assignment in England. I hadn’t been back in almost 20 years. It
just so happened that we ate dinner in what used to be Joe’s Tavern. One of his
nephews was running the place. He was a friend of my younger brother Mike. I
can’t remember his name now, but he sure remembered Mike who was responsible for
catching another boy who had thrown a knife that stabbed Joe’s nephew in the
leg. This would have been in the late 1950’s. Anyway, as you know, Joe had a
small store adjacent to the tavern where he sold candy etc.. I am ashamed to say
that we sometimes took advantage of Joe, and sometimes took a little more candy
than we bought. That was until Joe caught us one time. I am proud to say that we
(particularly me) learned a valuable lesson that day. I think that Joe made us
promise to never steal again, and he promised not to tell my father. I never
broke that promise and I never stole anything ever again. You probably know that
Joe sometimes got a little snookered and put on quite a show for the
neighborhood (his wife would be chasing him around to get him back in the
tavern). This is when he wasn’t paying very close attention to what was going on
inside the store. Well, I really enjoyed your website. By the way, did you know
any of my family, perhaps my father or grandfather (both Bill Kennedy, Sr. and
Jr.. I am the third)? I believe my uncle, Richard Kennedy, was on the high
school track team in Johnstown. I hope and pray that this message finds you in
good health and spirits. God Bless.....
Bill Kennedy, Converse, Texas.
2/18/03
Tony I'm not
from the lake yet it caught my heart with the attention of my husbands' past.
My husbands name is Jeff Groshans, he has tried to fill me with his memories of
his childhood
on the lake and as you know our memories and what we hold of them are truly our
own,
Although your sight has very much enlightened my soul with only a portion of
what my
husband holds so close to his heart! Thank you for the stroll! It caught my
attention to
when I saw "lil Joe" Hey, Joe! Love the Harley's Joe! Our son loves colleens'
music great
voice Colleen.
Take Care
To All Rony Groshans
2/23/03
HI
My name is
Betty Tranowicz, was Betty Becker, I lived in Meco until I
married. These pictures
my sister sent to me via computer and they bring back such great memories. We
use to go to
Sherman's all the time. As I am writing you, I can smell the popcorn and hear
the merry-go-round..
After I married I moved to Glens Falls, but have brought my children to
Sherman's, of course it
wasn't the same, but they got a picture of what I did as a child.
Thank you for
these beautiful memories, Betty,
3/24/03
Tony,
Fantastic Website the best I've seen. I am 20 years old and have spent my
childhood and all of
my spare time in Caroga Lake. It is really great to learn the history of the
place I love so
much. I Look forward to making many great memories here.
Thanx again.....
Jason
3/20/03
Tony,
My name is
Bobby Marchetti and I live in Denver Colorado. I was so impressed with your
website,
it reminded me so much of my childhood growing up in Brooklyn New York. I am a
singer and would
like to share with you a copy, of my new album titled (What's New) recorded in
Denver Colorado
as appreciation for looking at your old wonderful pictures. God bless you all.
If you would like a copy of the CD or copies (no Charge) it would be an honor
for me. My website
is WWW.bobbymarchetti.com.
Thanks for making my day.
Bobby Marchetti
3/28/03
Tony,
You certainly
brought me back a few years. For better than 20 years our family (30 of
us) would
make the pilgrimage to Canada Lake to Ron and Bonnie Buckner's Lakeside Motel.
We would go
to Jim Remmington's restaurant for dinner, the guys would play golf at Nick
Stoner's.
But the times
were never complete without breakfast at Sherman's and countless rides on the
bumper
cars, skee ball in the arcade, riding the ferris wheel, and awesome carousel.
That place
was magic to me when I was a little kid. I could not wait to see the
whirly gig on
the corner of the popcorn stand as we made our way up to Canada Lake.
I have many
many photos of the place in the family archives and will at some point make the
drive home to get then and send them off to you.
Thanks for
putting the site together. It was an awesome ride down memory lane!
Mariann Izzo
Monticello,
New York
4/15/03
MY FATHER
OWNED "THE WELL" IN CAROGA LAKE. ON THE CORNER OF 10 AND 29 A DURING THE 1950
ERA.
he sold it to Babe Unger when the "Unger HOUSE" BURNED DOWN. My BROTHER
CLAYTON PEDRICK
ATTENDED WHEELERVILLE SCHOOL. I finished SCHOOL IN JOHNSTOWN AS I WAS NEARING
GRADUATION. '
'PART OF THE NORTH END GANG'' GRADUATING CLASS OF 1953.
When I get
home from Florida, I will be searching thru my pictures. I know of several of my
graduating class enjoying good old Sherman's. I also have pictures of my
mother and aunt
taken at Sherman's in the early thirties ,on the beach.
Many a day I
have camped at the state park in the early 1940.1950, and after marriage and
5 sons, camped every summer with my family.
My name is NITA Pedrick
4/30/03
Tony -
As a youth, in the early '40s, I spent as much time as possible at
the public campsite on E. Caroga and Sherman's on W. Caroga. I lived
in Gloversville from 1929 until 1947 (G.H.S. Class of'47), when I
enlisted in the US Navy, spent 20 years there, and retired to North
Carolina, which is still 'home'. I have a question - what caused the
flooding at Sherman's? Was it ice & snow melt, or heavy rain, or ???
Since W. Caroga is a small lake, I can think of no reason for flooding.
What's the answer?
Thanks so much for "Caroga Times" - you'll never know how much
pleasure you have brought to so many people!
Alan J. (Pete) Schwarz,
Charlotte, NC - n4fef@bellsouth.net
5/5/03
Tony -
Thanks for keeping me on your emailing list. I just browsed through much of
the pictures and letters you have included from Caroga lovers. It's a real
pleasure using the internet to enjoy a site like this versus jokes, E-bay
and all the other nonsense we waste our time with. I'm sure it has given
many special moments to those of us lucky enough to have Caroga Lake in our
memories. Great job !
Don
Marcello
5/10/03
Hi,
Sherman's was a special place for my whole family. We have a camp on
Canada Lake, as do my cousins,
Bud, Mark, Dionne and Jeff Bates. There are seven of us Bates'. The
three original Bates brothers
Bill, Rob and Jim have been coming to Caroga Lake since about 1950. (Rob and Jim
(my dad) have died)
I remember always begging the parents to take us to Sherman's when we were kids.
Then our kids
begged and it won't be long before the grandkids want to go to Sherman's....what
a legacy!!
We were there this past few Julys and enjoyed the fireworks.
I am looking for a picture of all of us on the Ferris Wheel for a Bates Kids
Reunion about
15-20 years ago. We completely filled up the Ferris Wheel...and as always
we were still
afraid that it would roll right out into the lake! lol
We can't wait to get up there this summer....due to arrive on June 28th.
I live in Atlanta, GA now, but was born in Gloversville. The rest of the
Bates were born in
Albany, NY.
Thanks for the great pictures and the stories that went with them.
Linda Bates Massey
6/10/03
Great site. Brought back a lot of memories.
Ron Baker
Lake Worth,
FL
6/14/03
Tony,
Hello, my
name is John Utter. I grew up in Caroga Lake. I currently live in Charlotte,N.C.
My
Grandparents owned a camp on Garlock Road @ East Caroga. The name of the camp
was " Stumble Inn ".
I remember
those days like they were yesterday. I am 32 years old now & still visit Caroga
Lake
a couple times every summer. Always on the 4th of July. I never miss a boat
parade !
I just wanted
to let you know that I really like your website. I will pass it on to the rest
of my family.
Best Regards,
John Utter
6/15/03
What a lovely set of pictures! My earliest memories were of the campsite where
we spent the
summer of '38, of wanting to hold Trixie, of those little mechanical figures
(that I though
were real little people), canoeing with my parents, feeding chipmunks, the
smell of pine.....
thank you
Marcia
6/22/03
Just read the
Sunday News paper, and now I know who has the beautiful plate with Caroga on it.
I followed you to Caroga last week one day. I have lived in Caroga Most of
my life. My name is
Julie and I am related to the Foster's and Arnst's. My mother's maiden name was
Eva Foster. I
remember allot of the real good old days.
Julie Thompson
6/22/03
What a great site. I'm originally from Gloversville but married a J'town
girl(Anne Stewart)
47 years ago so I spent a lot of time hitch-hiking (you could do it then) back
and forth between
the two cities. I'll have Anne check through old photos and maybe
we can help add to your site.
Thanks for the memories....Bernie Frank
6/27/03
Oh, thank you so much for this site. I grew up in Johnstown (JHS '65) but
have been away since
1966. I live in Las Vegas now.
My kids can't picture what things used to be like when I was young. It's
hard to visualize the
lake when you live in the desert and have a pool in the yard. I have been
collecting post cards
of Johnstown and the area to show them I am not lying when I talk about life in
a small town.
I appreciate what you have done and thanks for sharing it with others. God
bless.
Nancy Parsons
6/29/03
Tony,
I was
thinking of my parents (Ted
and Shirley Farnsworth) while I was on the computer, and I
don't know why I typed in Caroga Lake. It brings back so many memories
with my family and my
mother and father. This site is just wonderful. I can not believe
that I just found it. I
am going to pass this to my brothers and sisters, and there is 13 of us
together and what
fun we had in Caroga Lake.
Thank
you for this site. What a uplifting it is. God Bless to you and your
family.
Shannon
(Farnsworth) Borst
Borst
Construction Company
Our Reputation Says it all...
1-800-408-3784
1-518-548-8111
7/12/03
Hi Tony
Don't know if
you remember us or not but would like to say Hi and tell you what a wonderful
thing you have done. I was just reading some of the notes people have sent you
and my thoughts
are with you also.
Thank you
Don & Kathy Ellis Biron
7/13/03
Tony- I was
playing golf yesterday with your cousin Jim Ermie and I was mentioning my
childhood
days when we vacationed at Caroga Lake from NYC. He directed me to your
wonderful web site....
a magnificent accomplishment to say the least. Your parents gave me
a nickname which was
strictly related to Caroga Lake, your family, and all the people who worked at
Sherman's
Janet and Bob Kane, The Hoffman's, among others.) Do you remember it?
I moved to Johnstown
in 1959, when my father retired from the INS (his life long dream to return to
Johnstown) I
feel so fortunate to have met my wife, raised my two children, and spent my
entire career in
the Johnstown area. It is truly a wonderful place with fantastic
people and I include all
the surrounding area as well. I will be visiting your web site often and
will be alerting
others of its creation. Best wishes to you and your family. "SALTY"
Michael Mongin
7/22/03
Hi Tony,
I have tried to write you through your wonderful website but to no avail.
It just wouldn't
go out on the Net so now I'm trying just plain e-mail. I have been setting
for hours just
enjoying every bit of your website. You probably don't remember me or my
family, but my
daughter and son were kids when you and Peter were and we, along with my
parents, owned
"O-So-Ko-Z" which was about 4 camps to the left of your camp. I knew your
folks and used
to visit with your mother. We got the camp in the fall of 1947 and had it
until in the
mid 60's when my dad developed Alzheimer's and my mom didn't want to be out
there anymore.
So the place got sold and we bought a truck camper and then a big 5th wheel
camper. My husband,
Dick had the first 70 horse motor on the lake and was the first one to ski on
the lake.
Our first boat was a big wood one which we had tied to our dock out in front and
then later we
traded that in for a classier blue and silver one. You may remember Dick
trying to balance
himself on a wooden disk and then after that, he tried balancing himself on a
chair, etc. My
husband and dad also helped tear down Harmony Lodge and a lot of the lumber
that they salvaged
was used in the little camp back beside our garage which we owned and then
rented out and we
called it "Lil Kozy". We have been spending about 6 months in the winter
in New Smyrna Beach,
Fl. for the last 23 years, but still come up by the family for the summer.
We are now
living back in Palatine Bridge, N. Y. where I grew up One of these days we
will
probably sell out in Florida but we are taking each day as it comes. If I
ever get a chance
to see some of my old pictures and slides and if I find anything that I think
you might want
to add to your collection, I will definitely send them on to you.
By the way,
you had a picture of Charlie and Florence Burkart. I wanted you to know
that
we called on Charlie in the nursing home last Monday.. We were good friends with
them all
those years, too.
We used to go up to Willie's little shack on the corner by Bath Ave, and buy
fried clams.
They cost us 25 cents a bucket and we used to have to scrounge around to get
enough money to
go and buy them. Also, I used to go up to the dances long before I was
married and remember
the big guy roping us off of that dance floor so we wouldn't stand a chance of
getting in a
second dance for that dime. The music was wonderful and such a beautiful
spot when it was
a balmy night and all the shutters were open. The music echoed down the
lake. Well, I
don't want to bore you with all my recollections but your website has sure
jarred a lot
of my memory and all I can say is Thanks Again For the Trip Down Memory Lane!
Barbara
Shults
barbrs@frontiernet.net
P. O. Box 135
Palatine
Bridge, N. Y. 13428
7/25/03
This was a
fantastic production.
I relate to
Groshan's Park Dance Pavilion at Green Lake where I played trombone nightly
during the summers of 1937 and 1938 in a dance band led by Art Gibbons. I was a
GHS grad of 1937.
My memory is
a bit hazy now but the other members of the band that I recall were;
Bob Wiley piano
Bill Rigs(?) trumpet
Walt Campo drums
?
"
Duane Rupert sax & clarinet
?
base
Tony........... "
"
?
" "
If anyone can
fill in these names or has a photo of this band I would be most appreciative
if I could obtain a copy. I now live near Ocean Shores in WA. My wife succumbed
to cancer
two years ago.
Charlie Smith
charliebone@coastaccess.com
7/26/03
GREAT!
I happened on your site as I was looking for "good ole days" - info for a Fall
Singles
Retreat. Thanks so much for sharing.
Nancy Gillepsie
7/28/03
Thanks for the memories. I live in North Idaho now but grew up in Little
Falls, NY. I spent many
a happy time at Caroga! My brother and his wife still have a camp there.
You really took me on
a trip down memory lane. Thanks a million.
Lois Spacapan
7/29/03
What great
memories. we rode up to Caroga Lake on the 4th of July & you could have shot a
gun
off on the mid-way and not hit any one. What a change from when we were young.
We have so many
fond memories of Sherman's and the good times we had. One memory that is so
special to me is the
great dance floor and the big bands. I was about 8 yrs. old and my father would
put my feet on
his and we would glide around that big floor. I felt just like a Princess. That
was the best
of times. Thanks for a stroll down memory lane.
Marie Hall----butterfl@superior.net
7/31/03
Tony,
Wow! What a
fantastic site you have there! I can't wait to go through the whole thing.
Brings
back lots of memories.
Feel free to
use my little "history" any way you want. I can give you an original updated
copy if you wish, rather than taking it from the PLPA site. Up to you.
John Peck
Peck's Lake
8/3/03
Hi Tony, You
really hit a spot with the Caroga times on the internet, I grew up in Stratford,
and have many many memories of the Lakes. Wish I did have pictures, my dad
had a band and
often played at the dances. Mostly in the Pine Lake pavillion. Keep
them coming.
Thanks Bill Bradley, I now live in Pittsburgh Pa, and moved around the
country San Diego,
Boston etc. What memories. Thank you for taking the time to do this.
Bill Bradley
8/10/03
This is a
great site brought back some fond memories. Our class trip was at Caroga Lake
(class of '56) what class would do that now?? Good to see the lake is making a
come back.
Was sad to see it when we returned back to J'town (we were in the Navy for 20
yrs). Good
to be back,,we look at all the great photos of the area, back when,,,,great job
everyone,,,,,
Raymond & Eileen (Winchell) Spawn
8/16/03
What a thrill
and joy to find your web site. My grandparents took me to Sherman's often
when I was a boy back in the 60's. Thanks for creating it. Made my
day.
Larry Hinkle
Bradford,
Massachusetts
11/01/03
Just came
across your site, looking for info on Caroga lake, My family had a house on
the lake, for many many years. It was sold in the late 80's. My
cousin and I were just
talking about all the wonderful memories of the summer reunions at the lake.
thank you
It is a
wonderful site.
Michelle
Migliore
11/07/03
Tony, I'm
sure you remember my family. We had a camp on the south shore road of West
Caroga. This site is spectacular. Thank you for the memories. I will
periodically
return to view any additions added over the months.
Gary Torrisi - Class of 65
11/10/03
A friend at church found I spent all the summers of my youth at Caroga Lake and
told me
your website. What a joy it was to read about Caroga. I haven't had
time to read the
whole site yet. I will send you a nice picture take in 1960 when I showed
my husband
the lake and our cottage. We were right across from that big rock that you
labeled
view from the Hogans.
More later.
Sincerely, Jeanne Miller
11/10/03
Tony- My
cousin Jeanne just told me about your Caroga web site. My grandfather was John
Sherman and his brother Frank. My grandfather owned a house on the shore side.
It was a
two family cottage and shortly after being converted to a beautiful summer home
burnt
down along with many other beautiful old homes. My grandfather rebuilt
exactly as it
had been. My mother spent many summers there and danced her heart away at
Sherman's.
The house stayed in the family while I was young and we loved it. When my father
(he also grew up on Caroga Lake) decided we should spend our summers in a more
creative
way and sold " Lake Home" we all cried.
Susan Doty
12/20/03
Thanks for
posting this. What a wonderful trip down memory lane. I can
almost smell the popcorn. Although I lived in Gloversville, we used to
go to Caroga Lake every single Sunday. I lived across the street from
Charlie Butler, the guy who use to run "The Whip." Sometimes he would
let me ride for free. I have a memory for you ---- In the Penny Arcade,
there was also a "Boxing Machine," where you had to pull "triggers" to
try to hit the other opponent squarely on the jaw, to knock him out.
Later, as a teenager, I recall spending lots of times at Willie's. It
was run by the Mosconi family, who were really nice people.
I haven't been to Caroga Lake since the middle sixties. Congratulations
for posting one of the coolest links I have ever seen. I can't wait to
forward it so some of my other relatives. Once again, thank you so much
for your efforts.
Bill Race
12/28/03
Thank you for
your nostalgic, magical and often hilarious site. I was feeling kind of
low today, missing my late husband, and happened on your site. I found myself
smiling,
singing, dancing with my little dog in my computer chair and even laughing until
I had
tears rolling down my face. I almost feel like I have been there. It has been
a wonderful time here with you and I am going to tell my friends to come visit
too.
Thank you again.
Alma Green
1/24/04
Dear Folks --
What a treat! While researching Barbara McMartin's long list of books, I
discovered your site. Talk about a rush of great memories!
We had a family camp on the north shore of West Caroga for 20 years (1967 to
1986). We were the last occupant of our property's
80-plus-year-old house, which was demolished when we sold it to make room for a
new building.
I have a treasured copy of Barbara McMartin's first edition of "Caroga."
Our family was one of its patrons. We wore out several
copies of her wonderful little "Walks and Waterways" guide, happily tramping
through the woods surrounding Caroga.
The owners of the camp before us represent a real Who's Who of Caroga folks.
From 1897: Morey, Burr, Miller, Vrooman, Pedrick,
Lake, St. George Cottage Association, Jung, Farhart, Johnson, and ourselves.
We loved Caroga, and our old camp. A tiny part of me still haunts that
waterfront and hillside. Wonderful, irreplaceable times.
Keep up the good work! I'll be back.
Lou
Raichle
Barnstead,
New Hamp
3/12/04
Tony,
thank you so much for allowing me to go back to the good old days and Caroga
Lake. We were you're neighbors on
Fon Claire Street and I knew your Mom and Dad very well. I have so enjoyed
the articles that I have read and surprisingly,
I remember most of everything you talk about. Please keep up the good
work. I am now in Florida but I am determined
to go to Sherman's this summer while visiting up there. Thanks again.
Helene ( Walsh ) Hladik
3/16/04
What a
great site!!! I have never been to your lake or town but we are
making a trip this weekend to look for a vacation
home in the area (03/20/04).
My wife
and I have been searching for a long time now and think that we have found a
camp/house near the lake. Makes
me feel good to see all the pictures and read about the history and good times
that everyone is and has been having.
Keep up the good work!!
Jerry and Jennifer Rasiak
Long
Island , N.Y.
3/21/04
Tony (et al),
I spent a pleasant 2-1/2 hours this morning going thru the Johnstown section of
your web site. CONGRATULATIONS !!
AND WELCOME BACK. I'm an old Johnstonian (twice removed) and I enjoyed
every minute of it.
I have a lot of old photos of J'town and activities circa 1948 - 1951. I also
have a lot of pictures of OLD J'town that most people
would not recognize. MY fathers' uncle was William Kibbie who ran Kibbie Photo
Studios back in the late 1800's. At the moment,
most of the pix are buried under a lot of other stuff (having moved up here in
1999 and have not set aside time to sort out and classify
all the artifacts. I'm not sure that you would remember me but, you might be
familiar with my brother - Richard Calderwood
who lived in J'town for many years. I would like to contribute to your
"collection" in the future with some of the photos.
Donald J. Calderwood, Sr. (thefatscot@aol.com)
13 South Park Street
Cambridge, N.Y. 12816
3/21/04
Well, Ernie you did it
again brought back the memories and tears. Although I was raised in Arkansas I
fell in love with the area
in and around Caroga Lake when I first saw it on a sat. Night in 1957 as a new
bride.
Loved the new pictures .
Juanita (Manchester)
Booth.
Baytown Texas.
3/21/04
Thanks for the up-date,
Tony. Hope we can meet you this year when you are in Caroga again.
Will look for your electric car!!!
It looks like a good idea to have one like that with gas prices going higher all
the time.
We will be camping in our
trailer at Peck's Lake again this summer. It may not be early in May,
though, as we have lots of snow
and it is in the 20 degree range here in Little Falls today. The calendar
says "Spring", but it sure doesn't look like it outdoors yet.
Sincerely,
Marion (Mosher) Keyser
3/21/04
Thanks again. You have done a great job with this. Have sent it on again
to family who spent summers at Canada and Caroga lakes. Keep it up.
Takes me back a few years....I'm 82
Percy
3/21/04
Tony,
I don't
respond very often, but looking through the site today brought back some great
memories.
People were kinder and gentler back then.
Was
there, or not, a "tilt-a-whirl" at Caroga? I know I milked all the
sympathy I could get from the
Little Falls girls one summer when I nearly lost a finger in a summer job
accident while at RPI.
Believe it or not there is a relationship between the injury and the
tilt-a-whirl.
How did
you come to be in Visalia? I lived in Lancaster for years and just drove
up 99 a few days ago
after attending a Lockheed flight test reunion along with old buddy who now
lives in Three Rivers.
Years ago
when we frequented Caroga, no one dreamed of moving as far away as we are.
Now we
are spread all over, I in Oregon now.
Jim
Fitzgerald
3/21/04
Thanks Tony,
I enjoyed seeing the new pictures.....
Bill Kennedy (from Johnstown, now in Converse, TX)
3/21/04
My son
sent me the link to your web site and I really enjoyed browsing through it.
My husband was Gregg Smith; I believe you
worked with him at Willie’s and possibly Sherman’s cafeteria. As you may know,
Gregg passed away on 3 Jun 01.
Going through your pages brought back many memories -- Gregg loved Caroga
Lake and had so many stories to tell about
his time there as a teen that at times I felt as though I spent those days with
him. While we own a camp on East Caroga,
I didn’t, meet Gregg until 1962 in NYC.
Some years
ago, as Gregg and I were leaving our camp on Garlock Road, we spotted one of the
old bumper cars, resting on
the side of a small out-building on Route 10. The old rusted car looked
forlorn and as though someone had discarded it there as
mere junk. I took a picture of it because I knew it would make a good
subject for a painting. Since Gregg passed away I have
pursued my love of painting and one of the first things I painted was that
bumper car. I’ve attached a digital photo of the
painting (watercolor) for you to see.
Thanks for
the engaging web pages – Gregg would have loved the web site.
Regards,
Irene Smith
3/22/04
Wow Tony, I'm literally
oozing nostalgia. What a great adventure you are sharing with
all of us. I graduated in 1952 with Connie Ermie...any relation????
Thanks for the
memories! Warm Regards, Bernie Frank
3/27/04
Denny Vosburgh sent me this
web site months ago At the time I only glanced at it.
This morning March 27 04 I went to ebay which comes up on favorites and
volia.
What memories I don't know weather to laugh or cry but at the moment there is a
grin on my face oops even a tear . I have
been talking to Denny Vosburgh as I view these memories. From Time to time I
would be invited to stay a day or so at Jim
Hogans Camp. It was always a great time. I'm sure I was told to say thank you
Once again thank you Jimmy I don't think
we knew how lucky we were. And thank you for this wonderful web site. My wife
Joni and I spent a week at a cabin on Canada Lake .
It was nice but not a fish to be had anywhere and I used to be pretty good with
a pole in my hand. It was sad to see what
had become of Sherman's Willies and even Lake Air. It was great to drink at
eighteen Without a doubt we all had guardian
angels on our shoulders. A couple of beers certainly made my dates a lot more
enjoyable. Oops.. today we would be
before Judge Hogan, or worse.
You guys have made it possible to "go home again" for all of us that grew up and
loved that region of the world and remember
what it used to be like.
Thanks again
Rick Mansfield
HARVMAN class of 62
Go Sir Bills
4/23/04
The Caroga Times site is a
true treasure. Thanks so much for putting it together and for giving a
time to remember to
those of us who cherish memories of Sherman's and summers at the lake. I
attended Ephratah Consolidated School
and remember our yearly springtime outings to the lake. It the carousel
still in operation? My wife and I enjoy summer
trips in our RV. We would love to camp near the lakes for a wekeend if
there is a nearby campground.
Do you have any recommendations?
With best regards,
Randall B. Krum
Chair, Division of Science and Technology
Southern Vermont College
982 Mansion Drive
Bennington, VT 05201-6002
Phone/Voice (802) 447-6379
E-mail: rkrum@svc.edu
May
18,2004
What a
beautiful site, you have done a fabulous job. I sure enjoy looking ai the
various images and reading the stories.
As a
child we would go to Sherman's several times each year, what a treat! I use to
love the go carts and of course the
penny arcade. We currently camp at Pine Lake and think (we know) it is our
heaven. Thank you for such a treat.
Art
Parmer
Little
Falls, NY
5/18/04
Tony,
Just wanted to say a quick
hello and let you know how much Eric and I enjoyed your website Sunday morning.
Mom had mentioned it to me a few times so I decided to check it out. With
Eric's career and schedule, he has
rarely had the opportunity to meet anyone from Grams side. It was nice to
be able to point of so many places and
faces that I so often speak of along with the old and new pictures from Caroga
Lake. We are now both looking
forward to visiting this summer. Rumor has it that you will be spending
the summer there too?
Feeling pretty well and
knocking down the days until it is all over. Doctors and professionals
have been great along
with my biggest fan, Eric.
Hello to your family and
thanks again for the story and pictures.
Be Well,
Deena Ecker
5/25/04
Hi:
I actually
came across your web-site by accident. I have spent the last two hours looking
and remembering. I found myself
consumed in your memories as well as some that I had as a kid.
I grew up
in Ilion, NY and many times our family would hop in the car and go to Pine or
Caroga Lake for the day.
Some time
my dad would just say "I'm hungry for popcorn" and we knew we were on our way to
Sherman's. We always
had a bring an extra set of clothes for my little brother Jeffrey (he's 49
now) because he would get so excited when we
rounded the corner and saw the Ferris wheel he would always "wet himself".
And the monkey?? He was the greatest animal.
I still
have the silver coin that was punched out of the machine with our kids name on
it!
I am in my
fifties now but remember some of my best childhood memories. Swimming in
the lake, riding the rides, crack the
whip and tilt a whirl were my favorites and picnicing with homemade fried
chicken, and potato salad, on the back of the old
woody station wagon. They think "tailgating" was just invented? I remember being
six.
Thanks
Tony for taking me back to a happier time, when families took time to talk to
each other, eat meals together, play
games together and just be a family!
Sue
Walsh
Albany, NY
5/26/04
A
wonderful site, I’m from Gloversville, but certainly made the trek up 10
and 29, to the Caroga area, I must say I miss those days,
after viewing those beautiful pictures, I will need to return , and see how
things have change or hopefully stayed the same,
Matthew
Matthew J. Goguen
007 Electronics Network
P.O Box 1056
Schenectady, NY 12301
Ph# 518-377-0070
Fax# 518-377-0011
hi -Tony i so
much enjoy this web site! - it brings me back to so many great memories of
J'town and Caroga lake!!
I grew up in J'town on Mc Kinley Ave. and spent many hrs. in Caroga lake .
After so many it seems so good to hear
all the familiar names that i grew up with. Thanks more than you can know.
Kare Brosat Luck
7/12/04
Hi Tony,
Just want you to know I am a child of Lee Hillman's. I spent many a summer at
Caroga Lake on visitation with my Dad. I remember
Sherman's and all the fun. I would like to thank you for the memories. My
husband and I just bought a camp on Unger Road, We are
renovating it and all I can do every time we are there is remember the good
times I had as a child, at Caroga Lake. My Dad's been
dead for sometime now and so has my Mom. But the memories are wonderful. My Mom
lived in Johnstown, on Hillside Ave. Her
name was Virginia Sweetman. My relatives what are left still live there and
some have moved away. I live in Rotterdam, NY. About
1 hour away from Caroga. But I love the area. thank you again for all the
memories from this site. Maybe you remember the
Benders from Benders Farm. That's my Aunt Pat and Uncle John.
Well again, Thanks.
Mary Lou Dwyer
7/29/04
7/5/04
Hello
Tony: I just came across some of your old time pictures and they brought back
many many good memories
of my life in good old Johnstown, every time i see them they mean more and more
to me as i am getting older.
Also living across the street from the good old Knox Field and Knox School i
have a few pictures of Wiesner's
Store that you may be able to use. How do i get them to you ? I hope to hear
from you regarding these some
time soon. You do a great job on your web site, I just love it. Thank you very
much for all you efforts.
Thanks again,
Louis Wiesner
11 East First Ave.
Johnstown,NY.12095
518-762-3764.
8/9/04
Tony,
I just spent some time
looking at your website - it is wonderful - love the music too
Thanks so much for
the memories !!!
Joanna Siedlecki
Fratangelo
8/13/04
What an incredible
experience finding and viewing this website. I grew up in Central NY and
visited
Caroga/Sherman's with my family often in the 60's as a young boy. What
incredible memories I have
of those visits to Caroga and Pine Lake. I now live in Dallas, Texas and
in mid-July 2004, made a trip
through Caroga region on my way from Saratoga to Utica with my son, who is 10.
I must admit, I had
to rely on my sense of direction and memories to find the right roads from
Saratoga to Gloversville
and beyond to Caroga.
I had hoped to be
able to share some of the wonderful experiences that I had as a child at Caroga,
but sadly, Sherman's was closed and just a shadow of it's former self. It
was a rainy day and appropriate
for the mood and what I saw on this journey. I was pleased,
however, to see some parts of Sherman's
preserved...the Carousel, the Ferris Wheel, the Pavilion, the Ice Cream
stand...it had been at least 25-30
years since I visited the area. Our drive to Pine Lake revealed much the
same as Caroga...only memories.
I was happy to see a school bus of children visiting Pine Lake and enjoying
that wonderful sandy beach that
was my favorite as a child. Those beautiful mountains on the other side of the
lake haven't changed a bit.
I must say, living in the flat plains and urbanity of North Texas, I now truly
have an appreciation for
the beauty of New York, and particularly the Adirondacks (which I know that I
took for granted when I
live in the area!). I had to re-create the scene, as I remember it as a
child..."that's where the midway
was". and the "slide was over there, on the right side of the beach facing the
lake".
Then, I found your
website... I can't thank you enough for creating this great site that I will
surely visit again
and again. Thanks to this incredible website and this great collection of
photography and memorabili
I can share with my children the wonderful times and memories I had as a child
growing up in CNY.
I appreciate your
effort and look forward to visiting the site again soon and hopefully seeing
"new" memories.
Mark Carden
Dallas, Texas
AUGUST 28TH-2004
Tony~
A well done website for a
fabulous Adirondack community! Looking forward to your continued updates!
Sincerely,
Robin & Peter Fields
124 Lakeview Avenue
Caroga Lake
9/12/04
Thanks for this update, Tony. I loved it; it's a wonderful job; and
brought back a lot of memories.
Adele and I are now in Charleston, WV - slowly making our way "back east"
(maybe to the Caroga Lake area?)
ED Shoop
9/17/04
HI TONY:
FINALLY FINISHED POURING OVER YOUR UPDATE . GREAT WORK.
PARTICULARLY
ENJOYED THE ESSAY ON B. McMARTIN. WHAT A LOVELY LADY... AND THE TOUR
OF HER HOME
VERY INTERESTING. IT APPEARS YOU'VE HAD A MOST BUSY SUMMER.......
THANK YOU........
GLORIA
S. SUTTON DAVIS, 318 CO HWY 102, G'VILLE NY
9/21/04
Tony, It's
Shirley...first time I've been on your site...LOVE IT. See ya next weekend
Shirley Florcz
9/24/04
Tony,
Thank you for this web-site. I grew up in Caroga Lake. Seeing these pictures
floods my memories. I pull u
p the next site and stare at the pictures and I am taken back to childhood and
early youth. And I sit at look at the
still pictures and walk the wooded roads, Sherman’s midway, along the beach and
smile and let my thoughts drift.
I grew up on London Bridge Road and I worked at Sherman’s for a few years (I
think working at Sherman’s
was a rite of passage. I drank at Vrooman’s and Lake-Aire. I shopped at Groom’s
and “Thee” Country Store. I’ve
been down most of the back roads and held branches back from my face as I
ventured into the woods where
there was no trail.
There is so much more, but I would be writing for days in recollection. I now
live in Denver, CO. and I take
melancholy trips to your web-site whenever the need arises, which is often.
I sometimes show fellow workers this web-site and act as tour guide and everyone
who listens and
watches seems to agree that there is something about this place. They find it
hard to believe that a place
like this exists in New York of all places. Thank you very much for the journey.
Garth
Unger
9/25/04
Tony,
I have read a number of
Barbara McMartin's books over the years and was thrilled to see the tribute to
her on
your web site. Loved your presentation.
The, what appears to be, the beginning of "great camps", etc., was fascinating.
It was wonderful to take a
peek inside some of these camps.
A friend sent me the link to
your site. I'll be back often.
Carrie Streeter
Los Angeles, CA
Hi Tony,
What a wonderful job you've done with the
story on Barbara McMartin. The last page actually brought tears to my eyes.
Thank you,
Victoria Smith
Salt Lake City
10/08/04
Tony,
Just finished another trip to Caroga Times and wanted to thank you for
all the updates.
I was visiting family this summer in upstate New York and spent quite a
bit of time in Northville, NY, visiting my aunt. Since my aunt lives
close to Mayfield, NY where I grew up I got the chance to visit with
two of my high school friends. Whenever we get together we always
talk about the good old days at Caroga Lake.
About 7:30 on a friday night in July, we decided to find a place to
have dinner and a couple of drinks. My friend John DeGolyer was the
navigator and I was driving. Hugh Bellen was in the back seat. John
told me to turn right at one point and I asked him "where are we
headed"? Then came the reply, "where else, Caroga Lake"...
I have to say, it felt good to be on the Caroga Lake road again. It
had been about 50 years since we had taken the ride together. One
friend who always made the trip with us, Bill Goodwin, was missing.
He passed on a couple of years past.
It was dark of course and we couldn't see a lot of what was familiar,
years past, but it sure felt good to be on the way to Caroga Lake
again. Being thirsty and hungry we found our way to the first
establishment we could find, which happened to be an old Hotel. I
believe the name was Voormans. We managed to find room at the bar and
had a couple of drinks, toasting our good friend Bill who was with us
in spirit. Finally about 10 pm we got a table and ordered Lasagna,
that was either great or we were really hungry.
It was not the same but just being able to say we were on our way to
Caroga Lake was a great feeling.
Thanks again for all the good memories of Caroga Times.....
Gary D. Jones
Born and raised in Mayfield, New York,
Living in Chandler, AZ
10/17/04
Tony;
Very nice! We finally had a chance to look at the pictures.
2 corrections! Our name is spelled wrong in 2 places. It is
Brower, not Blower.
Does anyone know what that white covered pot
is to my left in the "1910 parlor"
photo?
Thanks,
John and Eveline
10/28/04
Dear Tony,
Thanks for keeping us posted
on the goings on. I love the old photos. They sure do bring back so
many memories.
I love it! Wish the kids could have enjoyed times like we had in this old
place. Alas by the time my little one was ready
for it, the fire had done its damage. But the memories have spoken volumes
themselves. In any case, thank you for
sharing yet another treasure. Keep them coming.
Ruth Corey
10/29/04
Tony,
I came across your site by
accident while searching the web.
What an incredible thrill to
see tribute to one of my favorite Adirondack authors, Barbara McMartin, on it.
Hopefully,
she's still recovering from her sickness.
While I've never been to
Caroga Lake, after spending two hours on your site, it almost felt like home.
What, as
you say, a "magical place" you have to call home. Caroga.
Thank you for the glimpse of the magic,
Charlotte Brenheimer
12/2/04
Tony,
It has been along time since I have been back to Caroga Lake and the
Gloversville area, but I am taking a short
trip back soon. I just want to say THANK YOU for doing such a beautiful job on
this site. You have brought back
a few tears of joy to this lady of the late 1930's. I will certainly visit your
site many more times. The music and
the pictures are so well put together. I have spent many memorable times at
Sherman's and the Lake in my youth.
I have lived in Colorado for the past 5 years now and love it, but I miss the
lakes and the green grass and the
lovely changing of the seasons as we new them. I could go on and on, but again
Thank You for sharing your
memories with us.
Sandy Foley, daughter of Joseph "Sarge" Foley.
12/20/04
Hi Tony,
Don Biron, 308 Wells Street, sent me your web site. When I came
across the accordion picture I about fell out of my chair.
I’m the second from the right, front row. My brother Jim is the tall
one in the back row. I can’t help you with any of the other
names, don’t know.
Bob Hladik
1/25/05
Tony: I can't tell you how
much I have enjoyed reading the many messages
from people who have "known" Caroga Lake.......
They have brought back so many memories of my time spent in that area as a
child.......I especially remember the magnificent carousel...........I would
ride and ride around, hoping to catch the brass ring so I could have another
free ride.....I remember the music and those beautiful carousel horses, and
the sparkling ceiling mirrors that glistened above as they glided up and
down....
That was long ago, (60 years to be exact!!), and last Spring my husband and
I drove up to the Lake......I had to see if the Carousel was still
there........As we approached the site where it originally stood, my heart
stood still......the horses seemed so small......the carousel itself seemed
miniature compared to the enormity of it as seen thru the eyes of the child
I once was.............
And now, seeing your web site, and reading about the wonderful plans you
have for "Caroga Lake", I look forward to another drive this
Spring.......and I will definitely look for the carousel........maybe there
will be a little child riding one of the beautiful horses, and perhaps
she'll be lucky enough to catch the brass ring too!!!!!
Thank you for this beautiful tribute to the "Lake".....it all brings back
memories of a kinder, slower, more simple time......a time before life
became too hectic and fast-paced to appreciate the ordinary things.......
I will continue to watch for news of "Caroga Times"......and wish you
well.........
Carol (Polk) Bruce
Guilderland, N.Y.
jbruce2@nycap.rr.com
1/26/05
Tony, I want to thank you for an unbelievable trip
down memory lane.
Although I am a "youngster" in relation to the times that you write about I
still have more memories than I could use in three lifetimes. I was born in 1970
and from that point forward my family and I spent as much time at Caroga Lake as
possible. My parents bought two lots on East Shore South Caroga Lake Road in
1963. They appropriately called it "howdiyafindit". At the time we became good
friends with our neighbor to the right, Harold and Eileen Thompson, perhaps you
know them. Harold does a lot for the people there, a true "selfless"
person!
Anyway we put a small trailer in the center of the two lots. The next 15 years
we as a whole family would take turns going up to the lake and enjoying all it
had to offer, we couldn't go up all at once because there just wasn't enough
room. Then next to us moved in Jim Steenburgh and his nice family, of whom we
became good friends with. We then finally purchased a larger, more accommodating
mobile home and split the lot with my aunt who also enjoyed Caroga. She also
bought a mobile home and as it still sits now the two homes face each other
with, of course, a fire pit in the middle for those nightly fires that you
talked about. The 70's, 80's, and the 90's were great times for me and my family
at Caroga. Now between work my family and just life in general I don't get there
as often as I would like but in all my travels I have settled in Rochester, NY
so I am Not far and plan to be there this spring and summer. Hope to maybe meet
you there.
Thank You again for this web-site!! Looking and reading all
your stuff actually brings a tear to my eye, a good one! Incidentally, my last
name is D'alessandro, pretty close. I thought that was interesting.
I
would to hear from you. Keep up the good work!
Sincerely yours,
Frank D'alessandro
108 Greenleaf Meadows
Rochester, NY 14612
ihopdinosaur@rochester.rr.com
1/31/05
Tony,
My name is John Lorence Christman. I'm only 19, but I absolutely love Caroga
Lake! I spend all of my free time on our family camp on West Caroga. I'm not
sure if you knew him or knew of him, but my Grandfather was Dick Lorence, and I
know he was quite involved in Caroga. I just wanted to tell you that I loved
looking at all of the pictures on your sight, although it makes me sad that
I'll never be able to experience all of the fun times at Sherman's. I would
love to see the whole area restored!
Thank you for posting all of
the pictures, and
feel free to reply, I'd love to talk about the "lake", as we call it!
Take care,
John Lorence Christman.
2/10/05
I recently learned of your
website from Bill Pollak (former Johnstown mayor).
I spent a good deal of time
looking at it and enjoying the pictures, history, and comments. It was
terrific.
I spent a great deal of time
at Caroga Lake from the late 50's and early 60's. My brother Steve
Thompson, along with
his partner, Tony Sokol, owned Steve and Tony's, which I guess is now the post
office.
Sorry, I have no pictures.
Jim Thompson
3/12/05
Tony:
I spent a lot of time at Caroga lake, Shermans, and your parents (Aunt Mary and
Uncle Tony's camp when I was
just growing up. I have many great memories.
My mother told me about the website. It is great!. Hope all is well1
David Gutowski
3/19/05
Very nice walk down memory
lane - thank you.
My mom and dad were Rosalie
(Fernandez) and Harry Paxton of Johnstown/Gloversville.
Mom was the daughter of
Frank and Bertha Fernandez of 28 Lexington Ave., Gloversville.
I was born in 1943 and
sister Gale was born in 1940 married Don Garguilo and now lives in Los Alimitos,
CA.
Brother Chris is 47 and
lives in Murietta, CA
Mom and dad came to
California in 1963 or so. Dad died in 1970 and mom in 1999.
I married Mozelle Lansing in
1966 in Gloversville. Her mom and dad were Hank & Arlene (Laird) Lansing.
Page 1 of Caroga Times shows
Mozelles grand father William Laird (on the motor cycle).
Arlene Laird Lansing is
alive and well and lives in Hemet, CA.
Unfortunately Hank Lansing
died 2 years ago.
Mike Paxton
3/23/05
Hi there, Tony,
One day, I was feeling a bit
down, and went for a really REALLY long ride. I just drove and drove, not sure
where I was headed,
and found myself in this beautiful town. There was an old carousel on the right,
and before that, some sort of antique/second hand shop.
If I remember correctly, it was on the left side of the road. It had old wood
siding and reminded me somewhat of a barn. It was filled
with lots of old items, from old milk cans to rusted old farming tools, pottery,
etc etc. I stopped there and looked about. As I continued
on, I saw a lake to my right, and there were some jet skiers out for a spin. The
lake looked beautiful and there was an old carousel
there as well, not too far from the road if I remember. It was about 6 years
ago. I stopped, got some ice cream (comfort food for those
feeling a little blue, you know!), and then continued on. I also came to a store
with hunting and outdoor gear, and it was a flat kind of
a building, with almost a sidewalk alongside it. There was a little gift shop
there as well. Not sure if it was before I got to the lake or
after. I also remember seeing a right hand turn just past the carousel, I
believe, that led to the lake or to some campgrounds. Eventually,
I think I ended up way up on route 28, and headed South to return back to Utica.
I have since looked on the
internet for this old carousel, and the name of the town I was in, to no avail,
until I saw your site tonight. I
think this is where I was! I think I was in Caroga Lake! I have looked and
looked for several years until tonight! I wanted to come
back so many times, since it gave me such a calm peace of mind there, and it
took the sad feelings that brought me on my long ride,
away. I loved it there.
Do you think I could have
been there, at Caroga Lake? Please let me know if you do. Thank you so much!
Debbie
5/1/05
This is,
without doubt, the best web site I ever visited! I was born in Gloversville in
1946,
and spent many great times at Sherman's (1950's and till I moved away 1966). I
have been
back a few times over the years. My father (born in 1921) still lives in
G'ville; and recalls
his family's camp on Caroga (1930's) Thanks for the memories,
Gary Merrill
P.S. The music is great, also!
5/26/05
Hi Tony,
Just found your site and
love it. Brings back many memories for me.
Back in the early 70's my
folks bought a camp up in Pine Lake and we'd send every weekend up there from as
soon as the roads cleared till the snow got too deep.
I have many memories of
Vooman's buffalo wings, also where I bought my first beer , riding the "big"
whip at Sherman's and riding the horses at Paradise.
It was the best place in the
world for a city kid from Albany to spend his summers.
We had our property right up
till the mid 70's. My dad had a heart attack and was forced to sell the place
right about the time Bob Lord sold the amusement park
at Pine Lk.
My mom and me returned to
the area in '80 for a time, we rented the house next to Putman's store on Rt10.
We only stayed there about a year or so before we
had to go back down to the city for financal and work reasons.
I miss them days up there !
I've been living here in
Greensboro,NC since 1989 , last time I was up in New York was '99 to lay my
mother to rest, wished I had taken the
time to visit the lakes but time was pressing. Sorry to hear the amusement park
is no more but I very happy to hear that some of the place has been
saved. Looks like they have a great operation .
Anyway just wanted to say
thanks for the trip down memory lane.
Sincerly
Art Chartrand
10/25/05
Dear Tony --
Your recent tribute to Barbara McMartin was beautifully done. I'm so glad
to have had a glimpse of some of her last days,
at her beloved Canada Lake home. Congratulations on a tasteful and
heartfelt piece.
During our 20 years at Caroga, Barbara's books inspired us to so many wonderful
family hikes through her "gentle wilderness,"
and her "Caroga" book about the town is endlessly fascinating. She had a
huge effect on our enjoyment of our beloved camp.
Again, thanks for your splendid tribute, and for your continuing efforts with
Caroga Times.
Sincerely,
Lou Raichle
DeLand, Florida
12/24/05
Dear Tony,
This was my first visit to Caroga Times. My Aunt and Uncle Caroline and
Orlando who were also your Aunt and Uncle had their camp
at Caroga too.
I spent many wonderful days there with Jim. He told me about your site. It is
marvelous Tony. My mom and Caroline were sisters.
She treated me to stays at their camp every summer when I was growing up. I
remember being very young and sitting on the corner
behind your parent's camp right across from the lake with a beach blanket while
watching the 4th of July fireworks. My uncle
taught me how to waterski on that lake behind his boat. Jim and I would fish
early in the morning behind the carousel next to the
little footbridge. We always caught a pail of bullheads too! There was a
neighbor next to your parent's camp who would play the
guitar and harmonica for us. What was his name? My goodness Tony this has
stirred so many memories
for me. Thanks again! Have a Merry Christmas! My e-mail is
jingle@superior.net .
Always,
Joe
Inglese
1/3/06
Tony,
I was listening to the Bob Cudmore's "Focus On
History" radio show this morning when, to my surprise, he mentioned he
was having you on later in the show. So I stuck around a little longer to hear
you.
Anyway, just wanted to let you know I enjoyed hearing a little more about
Sherman's and Caroga. In fact I'm just beginning
your web site right now.
Wow! It certainly looks like everything Bob said it was!
Tom Gilles
Albany, NY
1/6/06
Thanks so
much for a wonderful site! I laughed and cried! Spent a lot of time
at Sherman's as a kid in the fifties. My dad brought Frank
his Pepsi from Fitzgerald's in Amsterdam- he had a crush on Janet with that
blonde hair!
The A. V.
Smith's of 2nd Ave were my surrogate grandparents- their son Frank was married
to my aunt Norma. My cousin drowned there
in the 60's. Smiths still own the camp.
Will never
forget the Tilt-A-Whirl, cotton candy, and the sledge hammer thing where you had
to ring the gong.
Thanks
again- I'll be thinking about Caroga all day!
Marilee Watermann Litwa
1/7/06
Hi, Thanks so much for your
wonderful website. My husband and I are both in our 70's now, but
vacationed at Pine Lake, Canada Lake
& Caroga for over 60 years & remember the area well. We live in Fort Plain
but still travel out to the "lakes" every summer. I must go
back and look at your great pictures now.
Thanks again - you made my day!
Kay Bauder
1/7/06
Spent time today looking at Caroga Lake etc. It sure brought a lot of
memory's. Spent lots of summers there.
Really
enjoyed got the web sight from the Schenectady Gazette story in today's paper.
Thanks for
the memories.
Edith and Theodore Strobeck
1/7/06
I just wanted to tell you
how much I have enjoyed your website. As a
child I used to beg my father to take my brother and I to Sherman's for a
swim. We would often stop there on a summer Sunday afternoon for an ice
cream. My mother would tease our father about the "Popcorn Lady." I will
always remember her blonde hair.
I remember the arcade, and the fortune teller lady. As a child, I used
to be a little afraid of going by her booth. I think that your fortune
came out in a small little scroll.
Caroga Lake and Shermans will always be a special part of my childhood
memories.
I had a math teacher named Isabelle Fliegle, and she had a camp on
Caroga Lake. Just wondered if you remembered her.
Your site about Mr. Sherman was really a wonderful tribute to him
Thank you for all of your hard work. It is really appreciated by so very
many people, I for one.
Sincerely,
Thursa Martin
tinker@capital.net
1/8/06
Tony,
This site is fantastic!
My grandparents and
relatives from Canajoharie always told their stories of a camp on the South
Shore and going to Shermans in the early 20’s and 30’s.
I had the great privilege and joy of “going to Sherman’s” in the early 50’s and
on.
Your site brought back warm
remembrances of a simpler and quieter time… The penny arcade, bumper cars, the
whip, and the merry go round are my
fondest memories.
Thank you so much!
Tim Triumpho
Canajoharie, NY
1/8/06
Hi Tony, my 84-year-old mom
in Fort Plain, NY just phoned me today with your
website. She saw it in either the Amsterdam or Schenectady paper. We have
high speed Internet here in VA and I have spent the better part of today
looking through this wonderful look back at summers at Caroga Lake. This
is
addictive.!!!!
Thanks so much for this fantastic look back. Coming from a family that had
very little money, as many of us came from, we never took vacations. The
highlight of summer was to go to Caroga or Pine Lake. My cousin and I
would
go with the summer playground program through the Fort Plain School System
every Tues. and Thurs. to Pine Lake swimming via school bus. We all came
home with those salamanders in the Coke bottle and ate the delightful lake
food at lunch. Those were the days!!!!
I especially enjoyed the story about the lady at Canada Lake who has
authored several books about the Adirondacks.
Keep up the good work. Yes, the lady that sold the popcorn did have hair
that matched the popcorn!!!! Best popcorn I ever tasted.
Many thanks,
Candice Dingman Weppner
/Fredericksburg, VA/formerly Fort Plain, NY
1/8/06
Tony,
This site is the best!!!! I , too stayed the summer in Caroga Lake mainly
in the 60’s with my family on Garlock Road.
I worked at Sherman’s for Ray Allen in the cotton candy stand. I certainly
have fond memories of those years and you
have done a wonderful job with this site. I have it bookmarked now and
will revisit it often.
Thank you so much.
Taya (Marcellino) Kardash
1/9/06
Hi,
My sister
Esther (Holdridge) Capece from Oppenheim sent me an email with the link to your
website. I am the former Margaret (Peggy)
Holdridge and I grew up in Oppenheim, NY. I attended Oppenheim-Ephratah Central
School so we spent many summers visiting
Sherman's and Pine Lake. I have so many fond memories from the area.
Thank you
for sharing your pictures and stories from Sherman's and the area surrounding
Caroga Lake. It sure brought back many
memories of fun times.
I recently
retired and moved back to NYS. Last summer we went to Caroga Lake
and it was sad to see how little is left of Sherman's
but the carousel is still there and we enjoyed walking around and thinking about
all the rides and games that we remembered from
the 50's and 60's when things were booming in Caroga Lake and Pine Lake.
Peg
(Holdridge) Pinkham
1/10/06
Hi Tony,
I live in northeastern Tennessee , but was raised in
Lasselsville and went to school in Oppenheim .
A very good friend who lives up
there sent me this site.
I have only briefly checked it out,
but I KNOW I will spend many hours on it next weekend.
I can only guess at how much time and thought
you put into this, and wanted to let you know it is appreciated.
Respectfully yours,
Gary A. Jubar
1/11/06
Nice job,
you done on this. My brothers, and I use to go up there on weekends, when
my Mother could get my Father to
drive up there, all the way from Amsterdam, at
that time it, with the older cars,
and the roads, it was a long ride. That was in
the late 40s early 50s. It brought
back memories. Thank you & the other's that
help to see the old Caroga, like
it was.
Paul Jordan
1/12/06
Hi Tony,
I
got your web site from an article in the Schenectady
Gazette, just lately which was all about the Caroga Lake area. I went to your
web site and couldn't get away from it ,it was so interesting what with the
pictures, words, and music it made you feel as though you were there at the
present time. I spent many days in the Caroga Lake area in my younger
days. Those days were much less stressful and had less temptations then the
children of today have. I have told many people about the site and have
noticed that many people I know have written to you about how much they
enjoyed it.
Keep up the good work, and I'll be watching the site for your up
dates. Thanks again for the wonderful memories and for disproving that old
saying "you can't go home again".
Sincerely,
Joseph La Coppola, Jr.
St. Johnsville, N.Y.
1/14/06
Thank you so
much for the wonderful stroll down memory lane....
I wanted to mention
that on the bar in the upstairs of Sherman's there are thousands of pennies all
encased in some kind of clear
lacquer...It's quite unusual. Also, there used to be another bar in Caroga Lake.
We used to go there a lot...One of the owners
and/or bartenders was a midget. One of the greatest guys!!! Can't think of
the name of the bar.
When I was a young teenager, my mother had the opportunity to buy a two
room "Shack" in Shantytown...for $75.00...probably
in 1946 or 1947 ...I'm originally from Fort Plain and several families from
there had bought those small shanties too.
They sure weren't much...no indoor plumbing, no running water...but it was fun
to go to the well and pump the pails full of water.
My girlfriends and I absolutely loved Caroga Lake...1946 - 1954. My
husband (of 51 years) and I used to go there on dates
every weekend to dance the night away in the old dance floor upstairs.
I can't remember
the name of one of the bands that played there...I think they also played at
someplace in Gloversville or
Johnstown too. They had made a recording...the name of which I can't
remember now...perhaps some of your "readers"
remember. I even think I bought it...the old "45's" but have no idea what
became of it.
We married and
moved to Chicago where my husband was attending school. I think it
was while we were there 1955
that Sherman's had the fire. I was devastated...It was like my youth was
washed away ... But what wonderful memories.
We took a ride
there a couple years ago and danced downstairs one Sunday afternoon. It was fun,
but not like it was
when we were in our early 20's.
Anyhow, if I can come across any photos of anything of Caroga Lake, I will send
them to you. If you can't use them, that's okay.
Thanks for reading
this E Mail...Would enjoy hearing from you.
Sally Peters
E Mail:
flo103@aol.com
1/14/06
Dear Tony;
In my younger days
my parents and their cousin owned a camp on the South Shore. My dad was Wendel
Fallis
my mom was Doris H. Fallis. I spent parts of my summer on the lake and have just
read your article about
Frank Sherman. I agree he certainly was the Walt Disney of Caroga Lake.
Many times we stopped for popcorn and on Friday night we would spend the evening
at Sherman's.
Taking in the fun and community there. I remember the go kart track (my first
driving lessons). The
merry go round, ferris wheel and arcade made a few hours seem like a full
day.
My many thanks
for the enlightenment of the history. I am grateful that you would take the time
to document
this mecca of fun in Fulton County. I only wish I could afford to recreate what
was for the future.
I guess we are lucky to have what is left. Also I brought my son over a few
times he went swimming and we
rode the Merry Go Round.
Again my thanks
Richard H. Fallis
1/15/06
TONY, I REALLY
ENJOY YOUR HEART SONG MOMENTS SITE. I WAS WATCHING IT TONIGHT AND SAW MYSELF IN
THE JOHNSTOWN
PICTURES. I WORKED FOR THE OLD CENTRAL MARKET BACK IN THE 50:S. I WANT TO THANK
YOU FOR THE MEMORIES.
DUKE CARUSO
1/15/06
Tony, Just wanted to let you and
your viewers know the Royal Mountain Inn will be opening in the spring of 2006.
I hope all will come
and enjoy the food and atmosphere.
Richard Pagerie, new owner
1/16/06
Hi Tony,
What a wonderful website and
the memories came flooding back. We used to spend a great deal
of time at my Aunt and
Uncles camp on Cozy Cove on West Caroga - Bea and George Edick. My Mom
and Dad, Clark and Evelyn
Young re-located to Caroga Lake from Sammonsville in 1978. Evelyn, my Mom
was Tax Collector there for
years. I now live in Ohio with my Husband Ed Schlote and he too has
several
memories as his family had
camps on East Caroga; when we visit Johnstown, we never miss an opportunity
to visit Caroga Lake - it is
just incredible. It is indeed a "little slice of heaven.
Sincerely,
Gale Young Schlote
1-16-06
JHS Class of 1962
1/18/06
Hi, Tony.
You've created a very good website here. The section on Frank Sherman I find
very poignant only because
you are writing about him at the very end of his life. I think it would be
important for someone to document the
Sherman family's contributions to the area over the last hundred or so years. I
think it would be an interesting
read.
While
browsing the Johnstown section, I was transported back in time when I saw the
pictures from Fon Claire Street.
In the early fifties we lived right across the street from you, in a two family
house. I don't remember the number.
The Prestons lived upstairs. I remember the neighborhood and especially the
store. You triggered a memory that I
hadn't had in many years when you mentioned the gum ball machine. I vividly
remember pumping pennies into that
thing to possibly get that prized gumball. I also remember emptying out my bank
to buy candy from Freddy D for
the neighborhood kids, which made the parents really proud. I also remember your
parents as caring, kindly folks
that looked out for all of us that ran wild in the neighborhood.
Caroga Lake,
and especially Sherman's Amusement Park carry fond early memories for me also.
My grandfather worked
for the Sherman’s and my dad also worked there, mainly in the midway for Don and
Tony. When dad took his family
to the park, we were treated extremely well. They all knew us by name and saw
that we always had a fun time. A
very impressionable thing for a young kid. We spend a lot of time at the lake.
My grandfather built a camp in
Newkirks which is about a mile and a half down the road, toward Johnstown, past
the Outlet, on the bend of the
road where the Lane homestead is. The story goes that my grandfather had a
choice of a lot on the lake or the
Newkirk's lot. Grandma didn't like the water so he built there instead of on the
Lake.
My mother and
dad both worked so we spent holidays and weekends at the camp. We often spent
the entire day at
the swimming area at Sherman's. I always liked the water and was never afraid of
it, but I was never a very
good swimmer. Two weeks out of the summer they would rent a camp on the lake.
One year we rented a camp that I
remember as the "Longview". I'm not 100 percent sure (maybe 90) that was the
name but it was on the lake road
just down from and on the other side from Hogan's, toward Sherman's, on the
bend.
The year had to be mid fifties. I had a problem that year with my foot and could
not go in the water so I spent
a lot of time in the rowboat, mainly fishing. I think that may be the time you
remember recruiting us for your
"swim around the lake". It's a good thing you were a good strong swimmer,
because, looking back, it probably
wasn't the smartest thing to trust your safety to two eight year old kids, and
expect them to row straight.
What were you thinking???
I haven't
viewed all of the sections of your website as yet but I plan on returning to do
just that. I have
enjoyed what I have seen thus far and am looking forward to the rest.
John Gage
1/21/06
WOW.
This is amazing. So much good info to absorb and I haven't gone through
half of it.
Really appreciate you thinking of me and hope this message finds you well.
Ed
Davidson
Class of 1960
1/24//06
Dear Tony,
Let me
first introduce myself. I was Janice Frasier now Janice
Frasier Blowers. I graduated from Johnstown High in 1958. My husband Bill grew
up in Gloversville. He enjoyed it also, especially the music.
I just
loved what you’ve done here. Although I didn’t spend a lot of time at Caroga
I did however go there on special occasions. I sort of knew who you were by your
last name. It just so happens that your mother (Mary) and my mother (Ruth)
worked
together in the glove shop for many years. They were the best of friends. I
remember your
mother and where you use to live on (Meadow St.) I think? I’m not sure of the
street name. I know your mother is gone now but I remember her vividly.
I use to
go to the parties the ladies would have from the glove shop. My mother is still
going at 90. She still lives in Fultonville. I do have a brother that lives in
Johnstown with his extended family. His name is Paul. I thought you were Mary’s
son when I first saw your last name. Then when I saw the picture of your mother
I knew.
I live in
Connecticut now. I think you were younger than I was then. You
did have a brother? You have done such a great job here. It must have taken
hours? Have you ever thought about writing a book about your Caroga memories?
Remember Drums Along The Mohawk? Yours wouldn’t be a story but memories. I’m
sure you have a title already.
Again,
Tony thanks for the memories it was fun.
Jan
Janice Frasier Blowers
1/24/06
I have to
tell you how entertaining this web site is. Thanks so much for all the
memories. I graduated from Johnstown class of 59. Spent many a days here.
Your music and pics are wonderful. Keep up the good work as I will share this
with classmates and will be back to this site to visit again soon.
Totally awesome.....
Donna Lee Higel
1/27/06
Hi Tony,
I spoke
with my mother and told her about your Carogatimes. She was so excited. I told
her she was in a picture at Crescendo.
She spoke of your mother and how when she returned to Johnstown she would stop
at my mother’s house for a visit. Unfortunately,
Mom doesn’t have a computer to be able to see the site but we are trying to get
in touch with a relative who does and hopefully
they have a lap top and bring it for her to see. Mom would like your mother’s
address. It’s been a long time since they have
written each other and apparently she has misplaced it. She was going to call
Ceil Jarabek and tell her about Carogatimes
and of course the picture.
I’ll always be excited about this site. I came home from work the other day and
went straight to it and realized that after
2 hours I hadn’t even taken my coat off. We just love the music. I love the
Great Camps connection and the visit/photos
with Barbara. Your piece about saying goodbye to summer is a treasure.
Thanks again Tony.
Janice Frasier Blowers Class of 1958.
JaniceBlowers@cox.net
1/31/06
Thanks for the great
Caroga Lake web site. Went there as a kid with my mom and dad, in
the late 1940-1950.
We come from Amsterdam. I now live in Dighton . Ma. Again thanks so
much.
Joan Orleanski Ready
2/2/06
As a kid
my family and I camped at Pine Lake every summer. Your site brings back
many memories as we often
went to Caroga Lake.
Thanks for the time that you put into this and best wishes!
Bob
Heneka
2/15/06
As usual, nice job Tony. I didn't know Holton,
but recall very clearly him in the Cafe. Wished I did know the gent.
The pictures brought back some more memories, piling in the Cafe with my friends
before a day of fishing, swimming
or sailing the lake. They sold breakfast AND bait, what a deal!
Warm regards,
John Rekemeyer
2/15/06
Thanks for sending out the email regarding
Holts passing... sad to say I
hadn't thought about him in a long time but your email has brought up many
memories of spending time with him talking about the state parks and where
trails go ect.... The "Thank You" video was touching, great job putting that
together.
My prayers will be with his friends & family as they adjust to life
without
him with us.
Yours in Christ
Art Chartrand
2/15/06
Thanks for there "trip" down memory lane!
As
kids, we camped many summers at Caroga Lake.
Frank
Frank
Scrima
2/15/06
Tony
You did a "GREAT" job honoring Holt. I don't remember
meeting him at all but
reading your tribute and his obituary I
wish I would have met him.
Mike
Patino
2/15/06
Thanks for that,
Tony! (small tribute to Holton Seeley)
As a proud,
active duty member of the United States Air Force Band "Airmen of Note" (a
direct descendant
of the Glenn Miller Army Air Corps Dance Band), I had the honor of
performing some Glenn Miller favorites
on the main stage at the opening of the WWII Memorial here in Washington, DC.
You wouldn't believe the sea of people that were on the National Mall that day!
I can't tell you how many
times that day I laid eyes on the faces of men and women who served during that
most trying of conflicts.
I made it my mission to thank each and every one I made eye contact with, and to
breathe a prayer of
thanksgiving for those I couldn't speak to that day.
There were hundreds of thousands of people there. Some in wheelchairs.
Some without limbs. Some
widows and widowers came in honor of their spouses who didn't make it to see
that day - my fiance's
grandfather among them. Some just came and cried.
For many, I knew this trip was a very difficult one to make and would likely be
the last great "setting out"
in each of their respective lives. They had already made the most
difficult expedition of their lives, though.
Hadn't they? I could see that, to them, this long awaited and more than
well deserved journey was one
that culminated in the release of many a fear and heartbreak. There were
reunions, smiles, handshakes,
heart-felt embraces, and there was an ocean of tears shed on the Mall that day.
Today, there is an aura of peace surrounding that monument. It is an
amazing work of art and I know
in my heart that we owe an infinite debt of gratitude to those for whom it
stands.
If you haven't seen the WWII National Memorial, please make a point to visit the
DC area soon.
We'd love to have you and I promise you won't regret it!
May the Lord
bless you and keep you...
Sincerely,
TSgt Paige
C Wroble
2/19/06
Hi Tony,
Again I
was going through the web page and admiring, remembering many scenes while I was
a student at JHS. i.e. The FJ and G line.
I was originally from Fonda and transferred to JHS in my sophomore year.
I am
relatively sure that when I was a senior you sat right behind me in a huge study
hall. I made an attempt to play football for Prof
Siedliecki but I was not very good. I did not "play" my senior year. I believe
that you were a quarterback and a good one! (The last that
I knew, Prof Siedlecki's son Alex, was the head football coach at Yale
University.)
I was a
pole vaulter behind Jim Soulia at JHS, To this day I am a coach at Cannon School
in Concord, NC and for 30 years I was a
teacher/coach at Guilderland HS..Many times, I took our boy's team to JHS for
the track and field invitational. Fred Maderic was a
great coach and friend.
Very soon
it will be year #50 for the class of '57. Has there been any news that you may
know of with regard to a reunion?
(I realize that you graduated in '60).
Keep up
the great work with regard to the website re: Caroga Lake, Johnstown and
vicinity..
Bill
Drake
'57
2/20/06
Tony,
Thanks for sending me this GREAT website. Good job. I really appreciate the time
and effort you put into this GEM.
Doug Sager
2/23/06
Tony -
Just got a brand-new computer, and for the first
time I'm
able to hear the tunes that go with each
picture
- what a revelation! I now have 512 MB of
RAM,
instead of 40 MB for the old one, and I also
have DSL
-
I'm really seeing Caroga
Times for the first time,
as it should be! It's just as much fun as it was the
first time I saw it.
Again, many thanks
for taking
us back to "the (really) good old days!"
Keep up
the great work!
Pete
Schwarz -
n4fef@bellsouth.net
2/28/06
Hi Tony,
I came
across your website, and thought I could add to some of the modern pictures in
the links. I picked these pictures because it shows some great scenery
in the background of East Caroga on the south shore. These were taken last
July 4th. Although I am fairly young, (27),
I can remember Sherman's amusement park, and I also remember the Jammer (not
that I went there), but I didn't recall anyone mentioning that place, and it
still
sits there along with many of the old abandoned buildings. I have spent
every summer on Caroga Lake, and every summer carries unique memories and our
own little traditions. Specifically my neighbors have an egg toss on July
4th that brings neighbors on each side of us. The boat parade is a great
memory
that still goes on, which is also something that I don't think was mentioned,
although I read through the pages quickly and could have missed its mention.
My camp is rich in its own memories and traditions, specifically the family
memories of which it has been passed down through the years. I was sad to
hear
hat I missed the car races last weekend, also a tradition that I have fond
memories of as a child. Unfortunately, I do no have a picture of my camp,
but you
can see what a view I have of the Adirondack mountains on the lake.
Your site
is something that I will revisit over and over again, whenever "winter blues"
sets in.
Greg
Jones
Frankfort,
NY
3/24/06
Wonderful memories! I wish we could live them all over again. My
family owned a camp on west Caroga, South Shore, right across
from Sherman's'. I remember family parties, bats in the camp at night, going to
bed when Sherman's' lights went out, and the smell
of the freshly oiled roads in the spring. Rainy days, which were few, we played
games on the porch, blueberry picking in the woods,
the potato chip guy who came to sell them door to door, and how about those
fresh donuts that melted in your mouth!
My best memories are of my Dad, Jesse Eacker, and I dancing to the polka music
upstairs after a delicious roast-beef dinner
in the brightly colored booths. They truly were the best days of my life. Thank
you for a wonderful site to go to ...to remember!!!
Cher
Eacker Briggs
tbriggs@capital.net
|
6/19/06 Hi Tony: First I
would like to say how much I have enjoyed Caroga Times. My name is Gary
Champagne and I was born and raised in Thank you again, Gary Champagne 6/30/06
Loved your site!! keep up the good work!
Nick Gale
(a member of the "Healey/Rohrs clan" of Canada Lake by marriage to the
4th generation) 10/12/06 OH
MY GOD! WHAT MEMORIES I WILL ALWAYS HAVE OF SHERMAN’S. I AM ALMOST
BROUGHT TO TEARS LOOKING DOWN THE MIDWAY. SOME OF MY BEST SUMMERS WERE
ON THAT LAKE AND AT SHERMAN’S. NOTHING MAY EVER COMPARE. I
WILL GO THROUGH SOME OLD FAMILY PHOTOS & SEE WHAT I CAN FIND.
CAROGA LAKE WILL ALWAYS CENTER MY SOLE.
GOOD BY FOR NOW
MARK Rapid
Rivet & Fastener Corp. 10/22/06
Tony, My name is David Fudger, My Mother is
Kathleen Groshans daughter of Eugene and Catherine
Groshans. |
11/29/2006
Thanks for
giving us a trip back in time and the great website. My wife Janet and I
both spent many hours at Sherman's in
the 50's and early 60"s enjoying the bands and the atmosphere of the park.
Many of our friends from Mayfield and
Northville went there and remember . We now live in Northville in the
summer and in Florida for the winter. I always think
of the rope t