"Keuka" is the name the Seneca people gave to the lake, roughly translated to mean "Canoe Landing". Early
settlers named her "The Crooked Lake". In the late 1800's the wine industry began to flourish and the vintners
felt that Crooked Lake was not a very elegant name to be associated with fine wines. The name of the lake
was officially changed to Keuka in 1887.
settlers named her "The Crooked Lake". In the late 1800's the wine industry began to flourish and the vintners
felt that Crooked Lake was not a very elegant name to be associated with fine wines. The name of the lake
was officially changed to Keuka in 1887.
American composer and bandleader Hoagy Carmichael
was the pianist and vocalist at the Keuka Hotel in 1926
and 1927. Local legend has it that it was here that he
wrote his hit melody "Stardust" on a hotel napkin one
lonely night.
was the pianist and vocalist at the Keuka Hotel in 1926
and 1927. Local legend has it that it was here that he
wrote his hit melody "Stardust" on a hotel napkin one
lonely night.
On August 27, 1873 while fishing with
his mother on Keuka Lake 7year old
Harry Morse leaned over the side of
their small rowboat to peer into the
depths of the lake. As his nose touched
the water an eight pound trout mistook
it for a morsel and clamped on. The
boy jerked back in agony, pulling the
fish into the boat, where it was quickly
dispatched by his mother. Harry spent
his life on the lake, later becoming the
respected captain of the steamboat
“The Mary Bell”. He carried the scars
as proof of his fish tale until his death.
his mother on Keuka Lake 7year old
Harry Morse leaned over the side of
their small rowboat to peer into the
depths of the lake. As his nose touched
the water an eight pound trout mistook
it for a morsel and clamped on. The
boy jerked back in agony, pulling the
fish into the boat, where it was quickly
dispatched by his mother. Harry spent
his life on the lake, later becoming the
respected captain of the steamboat
“The Mary Bell”. He carried the scars
as proof of his fish tale until his death.
In the late 1800's the Adirondack Region had become the most popular tourist destination in New York.
Each spring droves of tourists from New York City headed to the North Country lakes where they were
greeted and fed upon by clouds of hungry mosquitoes. In 1892 a group of businessmen in Hammondsport
attempted to redirect the seasonal crowds to Keuka Lake by announcing that they had imported a large
colony of brown fruit bats which had devoured all of the area's mosquitoes. A stamp was produced
proclaiming that Hammondsport was "The town with no mosquitoes". These were distributed locally with
instructions to attach them to all outgoing mail in an effort to further spread the word.
Each spring droves of tourists from New York City headed to the North Country lakes where they were
greeted and fed upon by clouds of hungry mosquitoes. In 1892 a group of businessmen in Hammondsport
attempted to redirect the seasonal crowds to Keuka Lake by announcing that they had imported a large
colony of brown fruit bats which had devoured all of the area's mosquitoes. A stamp was produced
proclaiming that Hammondsport was "The town with no mosquitoes". These were distributed locally with
instructions to attach them to all outgoing mail in an effort to further spread the word.
Keuka Lake has the distinction of
being the only lake in the country
that flows both North and South.
Water entering from Coldbrook
flows North to Penn Yan. Water
entering from Guyanoga Creek in
Branchport flows South through
the West branch of the "Y", then
heads North to Outlet Creek in
Penn Yan.
being the only lake in the country
that flows both North and South.
Water entering from Coldbrook
flows North to Penn Yan. Water
entering from Guyanoga Creek in
Branchport flows South through
the West branch of the "Y", then
heads North to Outlet Creek in
Penn Yan.
Penn Yan was originally inhabited by an equal mix of equally
stubborn settlers from Pennsylvania and New England. Having no
official name it was referred to as "Unionville". In 1810 the two groups
met repeatedly to decide upon a name that would appease both
factions. Suggestions included "Morrisville" and "Pandemonium", to
reflect their inability to resolve the issue. A final meeting was held,
proceeded by "passing around a cask of whiskey". Philemon Baldwin
spoke: "Gentlemen, if we cannot untie this knot we must cut it, - I
propose 'Penn Yan' - Penn for you Pennsylvanians, Yan for you
Yankees." A final round from the cask sealed the deal. The
Village of Penn Yan was officially incorporated on August 29, 1833.
stubborn settlers from Pennsylvania and New England. Having no
official name it was referred to as "Unionville". In 1810 the two groups
met repeatedly to decide upon a name that would appease both
factions. Suggestions included "Morrisville" and "Pandemonium", to
reflect their inability to resolve the issue. A final meeting was held,
proceeded by "passing around a cask of whiskey". Philemon Baldwin
spoke: "Gentlemen, if we cannot untie this knot we must cut it, - I
propose 'Penn Yan' - Penn for you Pennsylvanians, Yan for you
Yankees." A final round from the cask sealed the deal. The
Village of Penn Yan was officially incorporated on August 29, 1833.
During the "Moon of the Strawberry
Harvest" (June), a Seneca was
crossing the lake with his wife and
child when a sudden storm capsized
their canoe. The woman and child
were lost to the depths. The Seneca
cursed the lake - "You have taken my
family and I curse you always to be
hungry. You hunger for bodies, but
they will always rise to the surface and
the wind will carry them to shore."
Harvest" (June), a Seneca was
crossing the lake with his wife and
child when a sudden storm capsized
their canoe. The woman and child
were lost to the depths. The Seneca
cursed the lake - "You have taken my
family and I curse you always to be
hungry. You hunger for bodies, but
they will always rise to the surface and
the wind will carry them to shore."
In 1790 Jemima Wilkinson, the self proclaimed "Publick Universal Friend" and first woman in
America to found a religious sect arrived with 25 followers - "The Universal Friends". She called
their settlement on Outlet Creek "Hopeton". She later purchased a tract near Branchport "and we
shall call this place "The City of Jerusalem." The sect grew to 260 devoted followers. Jemima's call
to the cloth began at age 24, when she "died" after a brief illness. She stunned mourners by rising
from her coffin announcing "I return to you, my brothers and sisters, a second Redeemer. The fiery
preacher offered to appease sceptics by repeating Christ's feat of walking on water. Her followers
gathered at the shore of the lake as Jemima arrived in her elaborate green carriage.Following a
rousing sermon on the subject of faith she queried "‘Do ye have faith? Do you think I can do this
thing? " The crowd responded "We believe! We believe!" As she returned to her carriage Jemima
said "Good; if ye have faith ye need no further evidence."
America to found a religious sect arrived with 25 followers - "The Universal Friends". She called
their settlement on Outlet Creek "Hopeton". She later purchased a tract near Branchport "and we
shall call this place "The City of Jerusalem." The sect grew to 260 devoted followers. Jemima's call
to the cloth began at age 24, when she "died" after a brief illness. She stunned mourners by rising
from her coffin announcing "I return to you, my brothers and sisters, a second Redeemer. The fiery
preacher offered to appease sceptics by repeating Christ's feat of walking on water. Her followers
gathered at the shore of the lake as Jemima arrived in her elaborate green carriage.Following a
rousing sermon on the subject of faith she queried "‘Do ye have faith? Do you think I can do this
thing? " The crowd responded "We believe! We believe!" As she returned to her carriage Jemima
said "Good; if ye have faith ye need no further evidence."
The "rickshaw" was developed in the Keuka Lake suburb of North Urbana, not
in Japan. In 1869 Jonathan Goble, an American missionary in Yokohama
wrote home to area wagonmaker, Frank Pollay, asking Pollay to design and
build "a two-wheeled, human-powered carriage" for Goble’s invalid wife. The
request was fullfilled and delivered, making the Rickshaw the first American
vehicle exported to Japan.
in Japan. In 1869 Jonathan Goble, an American missionary in Yokohama
wrote home to area wagonmaker, Frank Pollay, asking Pollay to design and
build "a two-wheeled, human-powered carriage" for Goble’s invalid wife. The
request was fullfilled and delivered, making the Rickshaw the first American
vehicle exported to Japan.
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