Continuing the Tradition

The Beloved Lionel train at Midway State Park 

Congratulations Midway State Park and 125 Years of Fun for the Entire Family

Located on the shores of beautiful Chautauqua Lake Midway State Park in Maple Springs NY is  truly a family landmark treasure since 1898. The lakeside park encompasses 44 acres and was added to the National Registry of Historic Places on March 13, 2009.

Originally opened as one of the thousands of "trolley parks" across the country that offered respite and recreation. At the peak of its popularity in the 1920s, Midway Park hosted events that attracted thousands of visitors who enjoyed swimming, roller skating and rides that included the large scale "Jack Rabbit" roller coaster. 

Ownership of Midway Park was held by the JW & NW Railroad until 1939, Thomas Carr until 1951 and the Walsh family until the park was purchased by the State of New York in 2007.  It continues operations today as Midway State Park.  Under the Walsh family and through a growing relationship with the Allan Herschell Company in nearby North Tonawanda, a complete Herschell kiddyland of rides was installed in the 1950s.  It was soon joined by the "Dodgem" cars, the "Tilt-A-Whirl" and a 1940s Herschell carousel.  These rides are still the anchors for ride activity at Midway.  The original games arcade was in the former trolley depot. The first owners of the park constructed a dance hall to entice customers to ride the trolley on weekends.  The dance hall later became the popular roller rink with in-house organ. 

Midway State Park continues to offer the same family friendly atmosphere that visitors have come to love.  Patrons can take a nostalgic ride on the vintage carousel, play a game of miniature golf, take a spin on the tilt-a-whirl and ride the go-karts or watch their children enjoy themselves on the many kiddie rides.  

On August 20, 2011, there was an event called Midway Couples Reunion hosted by Friends of Midway. Many couples in attendance enjoyed telling their personal stories about meeting, dating and roller skating at Midway Park in the late 1940s and early 1950s.

If you go to your local PBS station, online, you can give a donation and watch a documentary about Midway State Park produced by Peter Daulton.  Eventually, the park will have DVDs available of this nostalgic 30 minute documentary.

On Wednesday, July 12, 2023 Midway Park celebrated its 125th anniversary with extended hours and fireworks.  Congratulations to our beloved Midway Park. 

Roller Skating in the Hippodrome

 

If Walls Could Talk

Mayville, New York

Adelbert B. Swetland was born January 18, 1865 on a farm in Chautauqua County where he lived until 1890 when he traveled to New York City and began working with his brother, H.M. Swetland who was with the Power Publishing Company.  The company produced several important trade magazines.  Returning in 1901, he became the owner of several parcels of real estate.  Among his purchases he bought and built what was considered one of the best business blocks in the area, the Swetland Opera House Block. 

The Swetland Opera House building was completed in 1902 with a flat floor and 700 seats which included a balcony. There would be plays, lectures, vaudeville shows, dances, political meetings, church services, home talent shows and many other community activities.

On September 17, 1902 the Mayville firemen held their annual parade. During the day  firemen served ice cream and popcorn at the new Swetland block until 9:00 when the grand dance reception commenced.  Those who attended the dance were given the opportunity to view the new Swetland block and were surprised to find that the county seat had such a fine building with a large and well-equipped opera house. Eventually, a third floor was added to the building. 

In 1907, silent movies came to the Swetland Opera House for the first time.  The Olson Brothers advertised their movie as being "the latest and the best".  Admission was 10 cents.  Motion pictures at that time conveyed their plots mainly by pantomine.  Eventually, audiences stopped coming after the novelty wore off though vaudeville productions continued.

In 1914 under Black and Rohn, silent movies returned to the opera house.  A promotional advertisement stated "Elaborate movies are being made for the production of High-Class Photo Plays projected by the best picture machine manufactured.  Remember, this is the only amusement house at the head of Lake Chautauqua and will furnish entertainment for all points of interest on the lake as well as the surrounding towns." 

On May 31, 1951 the Jamestown Post-Journal reported that "The Mikado" of Gilbert and Sullivan will be presented Sunday and Monday at the May Theater.  It stirred up old memories of famous names in American theater who once trod the boards of the former Swetland Opera House such as Mary Pickford.  A photo accompanying this article shows a movie poster featuring selections in 1938 when the name was the Carlson Theater.  It later became the May Theater around 1949 when it was purchased by the famous movie moguls, the Blatt Bros. who also owned the Grand Theatre in Westfield NY.

On July 9, 2023 I was given the opportunity to tour the former Swetland Opera House with tour guide, Luke Nickerson son of Trevor and Barb Nickerson who are now the current owners.  During the tour Luke pointed out a brick stage wall which still bears faded posters of past productions.  Part of the restoration includes an an original tin wall the Nickersons plan to keep intact.  They look forward to bringing life back to the Swetland Opera House located on South Erie Street because it has been part of Mayville's history since the early 1900s. 

 

Luke in one of the beautifully renovated apartments.

Trevor and Barb Nickerson are hoping to have the building listed on the national historic registry and to acquire State grants. 

"We hope that this project will facilitate the interest in the village of Mayville.  We hope to create a space that is interesting for people to see.  We hope to bring back the history so it doesn't get lost.  We ultimately would like to create a destination spot for both the building and the village of Mayville." 

Trevor Nickerson

"Trevor and I genuinely are community-minded. The restoration of the opera house not only preserves a piece of history, it breathes more life into the community.  I love the vision of people lining up to go to an event at the theater after having done some local shopping, eaten a great meal and then completing their outing with a good cigar or nightcap; the following morning, grabbing a cup of coffee with breakfast and relaxing with a good book before heading to the lake."

Barb Nickerson

 

Chautauqua Lake from High Above

"Chautauqua" is an Iroquois word with multiple meanings, including "a bag tied in the middle" or "two moccasins tied together."  The word describes the shape of Chautauqua Lake located entirely within Chautauqua County, New York.  It is approximately 17 miles long with its narrowest point located in the Bemus Point area.  The surface area is approximately 13,000 acres and the maximum depth is 75 feet in the North basin and only 19 feet in the South basin with 42.5 miles of shoreline. 

The lake was formed during a glacial retreat at the end of the Ice Age.  During the retreat, the glacier first paused at Jamestown and deposited a mound of soil.  The underlying solid rock formed a natural dam barrier that established the southern end of the lake. The glacier paused twice more on its retreat northward with the next pause occurring at Bemus Point where another soil deposit occurred.  The third pause occurred at Mayville.  Several ridges of soil deposits were created there before the glacier resumed its retreat northward.  The Mayville ridges caused rain water falling there to subsequently flow in one of two directions:  North to Lake Erie which is part of the Great Lakes Basin that flows eventually into the Atlantic Ocean or South to Chautauqua Lake whose waters eventually flow to the Gulf of Mexico via the Chadakoin, Conewango, Allegany, Ohio and Mississippi Rivers.  The three glacial pauses resulted in Chautauqua Lake being created in the form of two basins, each initially having some differing properties due to the characteristics of the two glacial retreats.  

The divide, known as the Chautauqua Ridge (low irregular hills) can be used to mark the border between the Southern Tier and the Niagara Frontier forming a watershed.

During the winter months ice fishermen drill holes in the lake during the winter months and catch yellow perch, walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and Muskellunge though a total of 81 species have been catalogued since 1902.  Surveys ranging from 1960 through 2000 catalogued 45 species of fish.  The largest fish taken from Chautauqua Lake occurred in 1872 weighing 126 pounds and measured 6'2" long.

Most publications list the lake's elevation as 1308 feet above sea level.  In comparison, nearby Lake Erie's height is 570 feet above sea level.  Lake Erie has the smallest depth (62 feet) of all the Great Lakes with its deepest point measuring 210 feet.  

The lake freezes in winter to a depth of 2-4 feet and in mid February over Valentine's Day weekend a full-scale ice castle is built from blocks of ice cut from the lake with area restaurants providing hot meals to the dedicated team of castle volunteers. Each year a king and queen are crowned with celebratory fireworks.  

 Floating Stage Memories to Last a Lifetime 

"Performing on the floating stage in Bemus Point on beautiful Chautauqua Lake was the most unique venue I have ever experienced.  There is something about being surrounded by water as the sun is setting that gives the performer and the audience a memorable experience.  The setting only enhanced the evening by giving each and every performance a completely different "almost magical" dimension.  Bemus Point was the perfect community for this arrangement.  The floating stage provided everyone with many memorable summer concerts."

Michael Ross Nugent

Vocalist

 

Floating Stage Memories to Last a Lifetime

When it comes to music and our favorite summertime fun along the shores of Chautauqua Lake it would be the times we all spent at the Bemus Bay Pops in Bemus Point whether on shore or on water.  It was truly where music met the water for 20+ years.

"I remember the anticipation every summer watching the Pops website for the schedule to be posted.  I'd go through the entire schedule and get all the shows onto my calendar  so I didn't book anything else on those dates.  There was nothing better than the night when Boogie Wonder Band from Montreal, Canada stepped on the floating stage.  It was so much fun to go back to the 70s for an evening with others who shared a love of disco dance music.  The party atmosphere was the best in the area and the location on the lake could not be beat.  It was also home to the best sunsets in the county.  I actually watched Andrew Hill, local radio personality, ride up the lake broadcasting live from the stage the first year it headed to Bemus Point.  It was quite the event leading up to the inaugural Pops concert.  Everyone was so excited about this new music venue that floated on water."

Lori Stearns

"We always looked forward to the summer weekends when we would spend a fantastic afternoon and/or evening enjoying the wonderful music, food, drink and fellowship with our friends and neighbors at the Italian Fisherman and the Bemus Bay Pops.  

Our community always seemed a little closer and more vibrant during these summer events with the presence of a floating stage in our midst featuring many talented musicians which included the Chautauqua Lake Symphony Orchestra.  Interestingly, one of the reasons that we purchased a home in Bemus Point was to be able to walk to the shows being offered on the floating stage.

We truly miss the entire Dalpra family and the Bemus Bay Pops team."

Tom and Sue Brierley

 

A new spot in Bemus Point NY has arrived and its name is Splash, a trendy tapas bar and lounge with indoor and outdoor seating. The owners are Shawn and Susan Weatherup.  Shawn is originally from Westfield NY and Susan hails from Tampa FL.  Shawn spent several years at Bern's Steakhouse in the Tampa area and brings to Splash a special ambience that makes this a unique summer destination. Be sure to say hello to Milton "Skip" Svetanics, the wine connoisseur on Wine Wednesdays. Skip can be seen on FB featuring his wine selections each week from different locations in the lounge that harkens back to "Old Hollywood" or a scene out of the movie, Casablanca starring Humphrey Bogart. A raised corner stage provides an area for guest entertainers such as local musician, John Cross and Ralph "Razz" Rasmussen from Razz and Friends. 

I, personally, enjoy the scallop entree with a coconut margarita and for dessert their delicious butter toffee mini bundt cake. 

Treat yourself to a "splash of fun" this summer.  Gift cards are now available.