History
Looking from the South end to the North end of Findley Lake
HISTORY OF FINDLEY LAKE, NEW YORK
Findley Lake, the name alone means so much to those who have spent any amount of their time on and around its shores. But why? Can it be just the restful lapping of the cooling waters, or the gentle breeze through the flowers and trees? No, I think there’s more. It’s history is ever changing.
From when a young man of Scot-Irish decent came from Ireland searching for a place to raise a family and finding just that site purchased it in 1811. Alexander Findley acquired the land around a small pond nestled in the green hills of Southwestern New York, he built a dam and by 1816 he had built a small sawmill, a grist mill and his home. The settlement that grew up around the mills prospered and by the 1890’s you could just about buy anything you needed in “Findley’s Lake.” The settlement sprung up around the mills, hotels, several stores, churches and schools. Fires tried to destroy it but it kept springing back.
We had our own little Chautauqua. Its name, Lakeside Assembly. The Lakeside Assembly on the southwest shore entertained and inspired during the summers between 1895 and 1915 with programs that rivaled Chautauqua Assembly. The Assembly was reached by one of two steamboats, The Silver Spray or the Daisy. Steamboats in the summer and horse races in the winter, those are all memories now.
In the 1900’s the national trend of returning to America’s small towns to discover a sense of place occurred in Findley Lake and a renaissance began. The lake today still has its activities, the town is grown with changes. With the formation of the Findley Lake Area Chamber Of Commerce in 1993, the renaissance took direction. From one antique shop on Main street in 1988 to nearly 25 retail Chamber member businesses, it’s easy to see that the old dream of a few people is coming true. The mix of merchandise available to the shopper is impressive. World class selections, friendly shopkeepers and good service are what makes Findley Lake shopping so pleasant and relaxing for our visitors. Add the endless recreational and lodging possibilities of the area and it’s a year-round winning combination.
The Findley Lake Property Owners (FLPO) was incorporated in 1949. At that time the purchase of the property at the head of the lake was finalized. The mission of the FLPO was to maintain the lake in an ecological balance and to educate the public on environment and safety on the lake. From these goals Findley Lake would be a better place to live and to enjoy the recreation that a balanced lake would furnish. The property at the head of the lake is maintained as a public park for all to enjoy. This includes the Gazebo area, the boat ramp and the Marion Labor/Swartz Mill Public building. So we are again making History! . July 2006 the name of the FLPO was changed to The Findley Lake Water Shed Foundation.
The Hamlet of Findley Lake is situated on the Western boarder of New York State. Findley Lake was formed by the damming of two ponds in 1815, covering an area of approximately 300 Acres. The water level is controlled by a dam with a summer elevation of 1428 feet above sea level and a winter elevation of 1417.03
“THE MINT”
Paul Swigart was born in Cleveland, Ohio and operated a little stand on the Gallup property inf ront of the Lake House called “The Mint”. This stand sold hot dogs, ice cream and real estate lots. He sold the lots that were part of the Gallup property. This stand represnts the first real estate office in Findley lake. It is also rumored that Paul Swigart sold moonshine in small hip pocket sized bottles out the back door of the “The Mint”. Someone from the Little Corry area of the lake furnished the moonshine, but the “proof” of the product remains unknown. Mr. Swigart died at the Corry Hospital, Corry, Pennsylvania in October 1925, at the age of 51.
FIRST COTTAGE
In 1894, a group of people, including Dr. X.A. Beebe from Corry, Pennsylvania purchased a small tract of land on the east side of the lake. This area was in the location where the two ponds were combined to form one big lake when Alexander Findley built his dam and flooded the area. The groupo of men purchased the area known as “Knowles Woods” or the “Spirit Land” from a descendent of Alexander Findley. The area was named after Jeremiah Knowles who settled on this prt of the lake when tehre wasn’t a public road in the vicinity. He was said to have been a vicil engineer and is credited with having surveyed the first public road on this area of the lake. Dr. Beebe built the first cottage in this area, which still stands today, and by 1910, there were over twenty cottages built in this area. The majority of the cottage owners in this area were from Corry, PA and, very quickly, this part of Findley Lake became known as “Little Corry”. There is a Little Corry Association of property owners that was formed long before the Findley Lake Property Owners Association about which very little information is k nown. The Little Corry Association still operates today, but is a very private concern. Little Corry Road was changed to Sunnyside Road in October 1968.
LAKESIDE ASSEMBLY
In 1895, the Lakeside Assembly was established. Dr. Fred Lilley and Rev. F.C. Langdon with other cooperationg businessmen founded this assembly, whic was patterned after and rivaled, the famous Chautauqua Institution on Chautauqua Lake. The first season started August 1st and ended on August 25th. Admission was ten cents for the day or $1.50 for a season pass. Lakeside Assembly had the same high quality entertainment as the Chautuqua Institution., which included bicycle races, balloon ascensions, water sports, daily lectures, Shakespearean plays and various religious teachings. As the Lakeside Assembly continued to grow each successive year, and cottages started being built on both sides of the lake, Findley Lake started to become a center of culture, religious sentiment and temperance. The Lakeside Assembly continued until 1915 when, for financial reasons it was discontinued.
