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 Caroga Lake and  Pine Lake. I most definitely remember many of your great shots of Caroga Lake. I stayed up half the night enjoying your site and reminiscing. 

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.

Marietta (Taddune) Blaisdell

Hi, Linda again! I loved the Caroga site! My brother is going to freak, he lived there for quite awhile before moving to Frankfort. Thanks

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 Portland, OR in 1969. In 1989 I moved To Vancouver, WA.

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 Caroga Lake since I was 15 years of age - let's see - that makes it 66 years. In fact I bought a History of Caroga Lake Book many years ago, and now I can't remember where I may have put it. I hope I didn't leave it a Camp Irene on East Caroga Lake North Shore or Garlock Rd.

Some of the greatest times of my life were spent there. So what are you doing in California, and I in Palm Harbor, FL.

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 East Caroga Lake and was a Director of the East Caroga Lake Asso. for some 15 yrs., Back then I also started a Saturday afternoon regatta of sailboats every Saturday afternoon, and on the 4th of July - fireworks and flares around the Lake that is still in operation to this day. 

Dancing at Sherman's Pavilion at ..10cents a dance for (3) sets was the epitome of pleasure derived. Who would ever go with a date to Sherman's when he could dance with 50 girls on a week-end? My first wife died from cancer at an early age of 42, but the Big Bands at Caroga were something else. When I remarried my new wife Jackie and I won a few dance contests when Paul Volk was in charge before the fire. Now, when we pass by Sherman's it about tears my heart out to see everything boarded up, and no where to go anymore in that direction. 

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 Great Sacandaga Lake. 

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
<**>**<**>**<**>**<**>**<**>**<**>
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  Sherman's was. I loved that place so much. My daughter just could not conceive of what it was like seeing it today. I will treasure this and share it with many .

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 Sherman's
Ruth Corey of Delaware

Date: 11/4/99 8:54 PM
From: anitawells
To: caroga@ermie.com
Subject: Caroga Lake

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 Adirondacks. 

We lived in Phoenix Arizona for about one year and the only place I saw that I thought was as pretty was Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon. But then it looked a lot like the Adirondacks. 

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 "Memory Lane"!

Rick Lilley (Ontario Canada)

Date: 11/5/99 8:53 AM
From: Martin Collins
To: <ermie@ermie.com>
Subject: Re: Johnstown - Caroga Lake

Thanks for the memories!

Martin

11/8/99

Dear Tony:  
While we were thrilled to see the old pictures of Sherman's, it is good to hear from you, especially now that we are making a wonderful restoration of the dance hall. 

 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 Lake Aire.

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 - Fairport, N.Y.

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 Sherman's. We had great times there, and your pictures really brought back memories.
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
Johnstown, NY

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 Gloversville and spent my summers in Sacandaga Park. We used to take the old county road from Benson, to Pine Lake, I think, across the top of Fulton County. we had plenty to do in the park, but Caroga had a strong attraction. 

I've been in Michigan for 30 years. I have pictures somewhere of my daughter taken in 1980 when she was six on "The Whip."

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 Caroga Lake in the 70's. Any way thanx for the great memories.

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, Riverside, Ca.

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 Cady Street. My brother is John, my sister is Barbara. 

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 Main St, Johnstown. 

I too wish I had a good picture of the shack across from the beach at Sherman's.
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