Skaneateles

By Sue Ellen Woodcock

It is known as one of the most beautiful and cleanest lakes around, and for years Skaneateles Lake and the town of Skaneateles have served as the eastern gateway to the Finger Lakes, drawing visitors from all over the world. The beauty of the lake is enhanced by the well-kept village and town, which line its shores. Many of the early homes and buildings have been well maintained and are recognizable today. From the mid-1800s to the 1970s, the town changed little from when it was first settled in 1794.With sailboats and steamships, old views of the village and of school days of yore, Skaneateles recalls the people, places, and events that made a difference. Included are people such as John D. Barrow and Clarence Austin, places such as the Glen Haven Water Cure and the Packwood House, and events such as Bobby Kennedy's visit and Microd racing. Skaneateles also recalls the City of Syracuse and the town's great history of steamships, sailing and boating, and early industries.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Arcadia Publishing
• Release date: Sep 18, 2012
• ISBN: 9781439628249

Sue Ellen Woodcock

Sue Ellen Woodcock, the author of two other Arcadia publications, is a former editor and writer with the Swampscott Reporter. Although she has always had a keen interest in local history, it is her work at various publications in Massachusetts that has fueled her desire to connect the past with the future. In her spare time, she is an avid genealogist, writer, and photographer, as well as an advocate of keeping local history alive for future generations.

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INTRODUCTION

Skaneateles is rich in history, and it is important to take a moment and go back in time before going forward. Residents of all ages have their own memories of the town they grew up in. For me, there are memories of the Grange Hall on Fisher Road, Tucker’s Hardware, the Tasty-Freeze on Route 20, Skanellus Drive-In, Hahn’s Pharmacy, Cooney’s Closet, Roland’s, the Skaneateles Bakery, Riddler’s, the Red & White Supermarket on Jordan Street, the old crumbling stone pier at the lake, and Saturday evening Mass at St. Bridget’s in Skaneateles Falls.

However, those memories all date from about 30 years ago, and there is a huge amount of history to reexperience through photographs that existed long before 1970, long before there was the village and town we know today.

Since 1750, when Moravian missionaries first came to what we now call Skaneateles, the lake has served as a lure for generations. Even the missionaries opted to set up an encampment on the beach near the site of the current St. James Church. The area was densely wooded, and only Onondaga Indian trails ran through what is now the village.

The name Skaneateles and its pronunciation have tested outsiders for years. The name was first found on a 17th-century map provided by French Jesuit missionary who marked the lake as Lac Scaneateres. In 1750, Moravian missionaries refer to the lake named Sganiatarees, which means long lake. Onondaga Indians referred to the lake as Skeh-ne-a-ties. Although there are several stories on how Skaneateles got its name––some humorous, some serious––most agree the name has its roots in the Indian language and means long water.

After the Revolutionary War, soldiers were given tracts of land as payment for their service. Many townships, including Skaneateles, which was part of Marcellus before breaking away in 1830, became home to these early settlers. The village of Skaneateles was incorporated in 1833. An election was held at the Indian Queen Hotel, located at the corner of Genesee and Jordan Streets, and Freeborn Jewett was elected mayor for the first three years.

While it is unknown who first settled in Skaneateles, it is believed that Abraham Cuddeback was the first permanent settler, arriving in 1794 with his family and establishing a farm on the west side of the lake. By 1801, an estimated 100 homes existed in town, many of which still stand today, a testament to how they were constructed and maintained. The lake and surrounding creeks and streams not only caused many to fall in love with the area but also gave birth to a number of industries––boating, mills, farms, and tourism.

Today, Skaneateles is known for its beautiful summer homes, many of which became permanent residences. The town receives visitors from around the world. In two recent years, Pres. Bill Clinton spent summer vacations in town. Other notable visitors include the great orator William Jennings Bryan, Secretary of State William Seward, Pres. Theodore Roosevelt, and Robert F. Kennedy.

The mills of yesteryear have been replaced by international companies such as Welch-Allyn, manufacturers of medical devices and fiber optic instruments, and T.C. Timber Habermaass, the makers of wooden trains and other toys. Waters running to the lake also support New Hope Mills, 12 miles up the west side of the lake. Since 1823, New Hope has produced a superior pancake mix that is shipped all over the United States. Today, it is one of only two water-powered flour mills still operating in New York State.

Tourists are drawn to the Sherwood Inn, c. 1807; the Krebs Restaurant, c. 1899; numerous