The Walworthians: Ballroom at Ccarey Lake
The Walworthians
A collection of telephone interviews published in the Wayne County STAR Newspaper and Wayne County MAIL Newspaper, 1994-209
by Kate Chamberlin
Carey Lake and Restaurant
August 08, 2002
The Carey Lake and Restaurant are located on the former 145-acre Valentine homestead. For many years around the 1920’s, the large farm house opened up the connecting three front rooms and held very popular square dances. Then by the 1930’s, one third of the home was converted into an apartment where various family members rotated in and out as their circumstances dictated.
“I was born in that house,” Lavern Morrison, a Macedon resident told me, “but, my parents were actually living in a home on the Monroe-Wayne County Line Road. My mother, Irene, was one of the 11 Valentine children, 8 daughters and three sons. She died when I was six, so my dad moved into the old homestead where my aunt could take care of me. Eventually, my Dad married Aunt Edith and bought the tenant farmer’s house for us to live in.
When it was a working farm, the tenant’s name was Gnadi, and we’ve always called it the Gnadi’s House, although, when my Dad purchased it, my uncle Edgar Valentine was living in it.”
(I checked with our town historian, John Traas, who checked in the 1914 Registry of Farmers in Wayne County. He found an Otto and Loretta Gnadi lived on Penfield Road with their one son.)
In 1950, after a honeymoon trip across country, Lavern and his bride, Beryl (Whitmire), lived in the farmhouse apartment until 1953. During 1954, they established their own homestead in Macedon and still reside there with frequent visits to the Gnadi home.
In the mid-70’s, a portion of the land was rented to a fellow who kept large draft horses. We always smiled as we drove passed the farm when the young draft horses were cavorting in the east pasture.
In the late ‘90’s, the farmhouse became all rental apartments and the north portion of the pasture gave way to a large man-made pond that expanded into a lake, reported to now cover 15-acres of the current holding of 210-acres.
At one point during the early stage of the lake’s creation, a big scooper/crane sunk into the spring-fed muck up to its cabin. We shook our head and chuckled as we drove passed the old homestead.
The lake attracts the Canada Geese as they trek north and south, as well as migrating ducks. It is fun to see how they companionably keep a portion of the lake warm enough to swim all winter long.
In the summer, snow-mobile competitions are held to see who can skim themselves the farthest over the lake. On-lookers who stop on Rte. 441 are systematically shooed away. All year around, we get a smile as we drive passed Carey Lake.
Early in July, 2002, we stopped at Carey Lake to try the new restaurant that had been built where the draft horses used to play. It was the first time we’d ever stopped to gawk.
“This building looks identical to what a building of this type would have looked like at the turn of the century,” the menu states. “Huge wood corbels, 4″ clapboard siding, fluted wood trim, large thick wood front doors and inside the 3″ wood board ceiling. The beautiful frieze panel along the ceiling and the old 27″ floral wallpaper. Notice how thick the bathroom doors are? The display counter and cash register came out of the old Caledonia five and dime.”
Mr. Carey was pointed out to us, but he was not available for comments. The menu states that Mr. Carey encourages old-fashioned courtesy, family fun and wholesome food.
Along with the regular menu, he has designated Wednesday as Pasta Day – 4 pm ’til gone; Thursday as Barbeque Day – 4 pm ’til gone; Friday as Fish Fry – 11 am ’til gone; Saturday as Prime Rib Day – 4 pm ’til gone; and Sunday as Turkey Day – 1 1 am ’til gone.
Upon entering the restaurant, you stand at a counter to order your food and take a number. On busy nights, your number is called when your food is ready and you take it to your table or booth. Fortunately, it was not busy when we were there because it took a while for the menu board to be read to me and I’m glad we didn’t have to make any one wait. Our meal was brought to us, which I appreciated.
Mr. Carey has a start on collecting movie and other memorabilia from the early 1900’s. There is a vest from Al Capone and newspaper articles naming the “boys” and in the parking lot is a 1931 “Madam X: Cadillac. (The next week there was a Rolls Royce.)
In the dining room is a player piano. The cabinet and perhaps the works are old, but it is computerized and I’m pretty sure they didn’t have computers at the turn of the previous century.
Over-all, it is not the fast food of Wendy’s; nor the drive-through convenience of MacDonald’s; nor the plentiful and inexpensive food of the Yellow Mills Restaurant, nor the fine dining of DiVinci’s; nor the comfort of home; so, what is the Carey Lake Restaurant?
Well, the ultimate test will occur when we take our little ones for home-made ice cream. I will, of course, be comparing my malted, extra thick vanilla milk shake to the perfect ones we get from Longacre’s. I’ll let you know if future trips will find us chuckling as we pass or smiling as we turn in for more.
For more information, contact: Carey Lake Restaurant, 959 Penfield Rd. (Rte. 441), Walworth, NY, 1-315-986-1936. Hours: 7 Days a Week, 11 am-’til everyone’s fed. Cash, Visa, Mastercard Accepted, but No Checks. prices subject to change without notice.
2018 Up-Date: The Ballroom At Carey Lake | Event Venue | Macedon, NY
https://www.careylake.comActions for this site
You’ll fall in love with the atmosphere at The Ballroom at Carey Lake. Surrounded by 200 acres and overlooking a 15-acre lake, our property will be the perfect backdrop for …
Contact:959 Walworth Penfield Rd, Macedon, NY 14502 · (315) 879-7701
Thanksgiving Saddness
Thanksgiving Sadness, 2018
By Kate Chamberlin
I have so many Blessings in my life to be thankful for. This year, however, I am engulfed in an over-whelming sense of wrenching sadness and dark foreboding.
On a global level, I’m depressed about the civil strife in the Middle East; the pandemic health issues in Africa; the armament of North Korea; the intellectual infringements of China and Russia; and, of course, climate change that seems to blanket all of us.
Our 20-year old grandson enlisted in the Marines after high school, graduated from Parris Island, trained to be a fixed wing aircraft mechanic, and promptly deployed to Bahrain. He returned to the states to train with advanced weapons and live ammo and, although, he won’t be home for Thanksgiving, he is combat ready to serve and protect our country.
On the National scene, I’m concerned about the families decimated by the Camp and other fires in California; the 13-year old girl in Milwaukee, who was shot and killed in her bedroom of her home, only two years after her essay on non-violence won an award in the Martin Luther King Day contest; the prolificacy of mass shootings in our malls, churches, and other large venues, not to mention the polarization of races and creeds, that are continuing to erode the morale and patriotism of Americans.
Our eldest son has lived in California for decades. His home isn’t endangered by the Camp Fire, however, they do have to pay attention to the Air Quality Index, which measures the ash residue and smog levels. When the levels are too high, they stay in-doors. His twins made a video of their Thanksgiving dinner preparations and posted it on YouTube, so, we felt included in their Thanksgiving, even though we’re on opposite coasts .
Our second son won’t be able to make it home for Thanksgiving, either. He and his family live in Pennsylvania, but, he is the owner/operator of a long-haul trucking business. He phoned us to let us know he was on the road with his big rig.
Locally, I am particularly distressed about my 18-year old grandson being in jail; the effect divorce of our daughter from his adoptive Father is having on our grandson; the Assistant Principal of the Pal-Mac High School, who stalks and persecutes specific students; the school’s and community’s lack of response to and for children who are at risk; and, of course, our grandson’s failure to understand how much he is loved, appreciated, and supported by his grandparents.
The afternoon before Thanksgiving, our 7-1/2 year old grandson came for a visit. He and Granddad put up our train set. Then, he and our daughter came on Thanksgiving Day to join us for turkey, stuffing, KB Sweet potatoes, acorn squash, garlic mashed potatoes, and green beans almandine, as well as, pecan pie and pumpkin pie. We enjoyed telling train stories as the toy train ran circles on its track and appreciated each other, but, it saddened me to not have our whole family together.
For now, all of this is over-whelming, but, in due time, I’ll regain my sunny optimism. I’ll edit and polish “Memoir of A Silver Girl” and shop around my Middle Grade novel “Hey! You Got Eyeballs In There?”, and start to re-count my Blessings…just as soon as that 18-year old gets out of jail.
“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can,
And wisdom to know the difference.”
–American theologian Reinhold Niebuhr (1892–1971)
Btw: My grandson is out of jail. One of his comments was that he’d never before realized how many minutes there were in a day. Prayerfully, this has been a wake up call to not waste anymore minutes of his life. He is going to school, working at Dunkin’ Donuts, and training in Martial Arts’ Mao Tai. Blessing count #1.
The Walworthians: Benjamin DeNicholas
The Walworthians
A collection of telephone interviews published in the Wayne County STAR Newspaper and Wayne County MAIL Newspaper, 1994-209
by Kate Chamberlin
Benjamin DeNicholas
December 13, 2001
Long-time readers might remember a book that was serialized in the Wayne County STAR entitled: Not a Drop to Drink. It was the creative work of a local author, Benjamin DeNicholas. Mr. DeNicholas was born in Marion (NY) in a home on south Main Street about 88-years ago. Both He and the home are still doing quite well!
Mr. DeNicholas recalled the stories of his being born at home, with probably Dr. Davis of Newark or Dr. Essler of Walworth on call.
As a young man, he was not happy with the University of Syracuse, so his father encouraged Mr. DeNicholas to attend the University of Madrid, Spain, where he studied Literature for four years. Writing science-fiction, short stories became his genre. “Not a Drop to Drink” was about a world-wide drought and the ramifications it entailed. “Deep Freeze”, which was published in 1990, was also a sci-fi desaster story.
Mr. DeNicholas says that an agent is a must for an author and has used Mrs. Schlesinger of New York City as his agent for many years. He recalled that when he submitted “Teen Terrorist U.S.A.”, she sent it back to him with the admonishment to scramble the details on how to make a bomb, because some fool might actually try to make one.
He wrote his stories in long-hand and his wife would type them. He explained that his agent and especially the publishers wouldn’t accept long-hand manuscripts.
Many years ago, when the DeNicholases were living in Jamesville and Rod Sterling had a cottage on Canandaigua Lake, Ben and his wife were invited to join them for dinner. As they entered, Mr. Sterling handed Ben a glass of Vodka.
“I don’t drink,” Ben said, “but I drank that drink. It was a very nice three-hour dinner and resulted in my writing several stories for his television program ‘The Twilight Zone’.
Ben has lived in a house near the center of Wolcott for the past ten-years, although he previously owned the old Pitts farm where he did a little logging from his own woods. He’d skid the logs next door to the Pettit sawmill for processing.
“Not much has changed,” he commented. “The hotel is still there. It’s a nice town. I like it here.”
I asked him if he’d be writing his auto-biography or at least jot down a few vignettes.
“I could,” he chuckled, “but more than 30-years of writing is enough.”
Well, it takes a good author to know how and when to end a story. The next time you see him, though, ask him about the stories he wrote for Alfred Hitchcock.
Thank you, Benjamin DeNicholas. Wayne County is proud of you and your accomplishments.
The Walworthians: The Lemonade Society
The Walworthians
A collection of telephone interviews published in the Wayne County STAR Newspaper and Wayne County MAIL Newspaper, 1994-209
by Kate Chamberlin
Wayne Area Low-Vision Support
September 06, 2001
Lemonade Society meets Wednesday, September 12, 2001
The Wayne Area Low-Vision Support Group a.k.a. The Lemonade Society will hold its regular meeting on Wednesday, September 12th from 10:30-Noon in the Newark Public Library Board Room, 121 High Street, Newark.
All wayne area adults who are legally blind, blind or losing their eye sight are invited to join us for round-table discussions about adaptive aids and techniques, physicians, home-care, emotional support and many other eye related topics.
No reservation is needed for the regular monthly meeting, but if you’d like more information or directions, for the library’s handicap entrance, please call: Mrs. Florence Declark at (315)331-1995 or Mrs. Kate Chamberlin at 315-986-1267.
2018 Up-Date: The Lemonade Society met for over 15-years – the longest active support group in Wayne and possibly Monroe County. Our last meeting was in 2015 due to the lack of transportation, diminished referrals by agencies, and the demise of members. The Lemonade Society expanded into the Wayne County Nursing Home as The Lemonade Society Auxiliary, for its monthly meetings, as several of our members moved into the facility.
Vetran Tribute: C. T. Furgeson
Charles Thomas Furgeson, Lt. Col. (Ret.)
By Kate Chamberlin
Charles (Tom) Furgeson graduated from Palmyra Macedon Central School District in 1955. He was active in glee club, band, orchestra and dance band. He also was on the football, basketball, baseball and tennis teams, as well as, active in Boy Scouts, his community and his church.
Tom graduated from SUNY Technical Institute at Alfred in 1958 with an AAS in Mechanical Engineering and, then, from Alfred University in 1961 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physics and Math. He also earned a Master of Science Degree in Education from Elmira College in 1984
In 1961, he entered the army through the ROTC program at Alfred University and served as an Infantry Officer in Airborne, Ranger and Special Forces Units for the next 30 years. Tom spent 5 years in Germany, 2-1/2 years in Vietnam, 1 in Korea and 1 in Iran.
his two tours of duty at the Pentagon were in the research and development field, due to his engineering background. The first tour he was chief of the infantry small arms division and the second tour he was deputy test director for the development of the current Army infantry fighting vehicle.
Tom also served as the US representative to the ABCA (American, British, Canadian, Australian) small arms standardization board and to the NATO small arms committee.
In early 1980 Tom was assigned a deputy commander at Fort Drum, NY with a follow on, and final, assignment to Seneca Army Depot, NY.
Upon his retirement from the service, Tom became a New York State Division of Veterans ‘Affairs Associate. He was responsible for ensuring the quality of educational programs for, and used, by veterans, throughout western New York State. This required on-site reviews and evaluations of educational institutions, including review of curricula and counseling services.
In retirement, Tom enjoyed all outside activities as well as travel with his wife Barbara throughout the United States to visit their five children.
An accurate description of a battle and tom’s character can be found in “Vietnam: 3 battles”, originally published as “the fields of bamboo: three battles just beyond the china sea” by Samuel Lyman Atwood Marshall. S.L.A. Marshall was a chief U.S. army combat historian during world war ii and the Korean War.
Tom Furgeson went to be with Our Lord on Thursday, September 10, 2015. He was an extraordinary man with a hero’s history; not to mention, deep feelings beneath the smile and jokes. Our heartfelt prayers are with him and those he left behind.
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by kate
Comments Off on The Walworthians: Kathryn Youngman nee Luke
The Walworthians: Kathryn Youngman nee Luke
The Walworthians
A collection of telephone interviews published in the Wayne County STAR Newspaper and Wayne County MAIL Newspaper, 1994-209
by Kate Chamberlin
b.October 23, 1931 – d. February 21, 2001
When Dave and I first moved to Walworth in 1972 to build our home, we stopped into Youngman’s Variety Store many times for little this and thats. Gordon was always on hand to help his customers – even the ones who came in with a thing-a-abob that needed a new you-know-what. He’d find it right away each time.
Katie was to be found at the check-out counter with a smile and a frendly chat.
The big thing was to go from the front of the store to the back of the store where the soda fountain was. Once you were seated, Katie would come from the front and serve you. We usually only asked for ice cream cones, but it was a big treat.
It was a memorable experience of the now vanishing Americana.
We are truly saddened with the passing of this lovely lady. She will always be a Walworthian with the accent on worth.
Good-bye, Katie. We love you.