Historic Vessels Company Will Elect New Board
By PATRICK L. FANELLI
10/3/2006 - The non-profit group that oversees the Chautauqua Belle and the Bemus Point-Stow Ferry will likely have a new board of directors when members meet next week, according to Paul Stage of Bemus Point.
‘‘A board of directors will be elected from the membership, and at that time the officers will be elected, and they will then direct where the steam boat and the Sea Lion will go from there,’’ Stage said.
Aside from the Belle and the ferry, the Sea Lion — a working replica of a 16th-century, three-masted, square-rigged British sailing vessel — was another attraction of the Chautauqua Lake Historic Vessels Company. It was sold to the Buffalo Maritime Society in 1992 and returned to Chautauqua County after it sunk in Buffalo Harbor.
‘‘There are a lot of emotions tied to each one, and there was a lot of hard work and sweat and tears from a lot of people,’’ Stage said. ‘‘Our goal is to see that all are up and going on the lake.’’
Some supporters of the Belle and the ferry were skeptical of the Historic Vessels Company since it was no longer clear who belonged to the organization’s board of directors. They were especially concerned when Henry McConnon, Mayville entrepreneur, offered to buy the Belle for $25,000.
The Chautauqua Belle — the steamship drydocked at Mayville Lakeside Park — has not operated since the 2003 summer season, and McConnon said he wanted to have it running on the lake again.
‘‘It should be out there tooting its whistle,’’ McConnon said in August. ‘‘It’s a very doable thing. I hope we get the chance.’’
Belle supporters helped block the sale — not necessarily because they objected to it, but because of the confusion surrounding the Historic Vessels Company membership and board of directors.
Since then, the organization’s membership has been re-established, and a new board of directors will be elected at a public meeting Saturday, Oct. 14.
According to Brent Galuppo, who works with McConnon, they are still interested in purchasing the Belle but are awaiting the change in management among Historic Vessels Company members.
The ferry finally resumed regular operations in late August after repairs and upgrades had been made, largely thanks to Ellery resident John Cheney, a longtime advocate for the attraction, Stage said.
Eager to see the ferry running again, Cheney had the paddle covers replaced, the deck refurbished, the ramps fixed and the tank chambers cleaned out, as well as other labor-intensive upgrades.
County officials also helped acquire the necessary insurance coverage and replace the two cables that guide the vessel across the lake, and the ferry finally began operating again Aug. 26.
Janet Meeder Davies, a resident of Churchville who grew up in Sherman, was very pleased to find the ferry running again and remarked that four generations of her family got to ride it at once.
‘‘My daughter, my grandson and I drove to Mayville to visit my Mother. She likes to think of something she can do with her great-grandson when he visits. This time, it was an experience they could share,’’ she said. ‘‘We all enjoyed the ride.’’
Resuming regular hours of operation was one much needed source of revenue for the ferry — and the Bemus Point Historical Society raised an additional $3,000 for the attraction through the Bemus Point Bicentennial Ball on Sept. 16.
‘‘It went great,’’ said Sarah Trainer-Goebel of the Historical Society. ‘‘We had well over 250 guests and over 40 area businesses donating items for door prizes and giveaway items. And the dance band was wonderful.’’
Another source of revenue was the fund-raising drive that re-established the Historic Vessels Company membership, according to Stage. Anyone can become a member with a donation of $100, and 40 new members provided an additional $4,000 in funds.
‘‘We’re headed back in the right direction,’’ Stage said.
‘‘A board of directors will be elected from the membership, and at that time the officers will be elected, and they will then direct where the steam boat and the Sea Lion will go from there,’’ Stage said.
Aside from the Belle and the ferry, the Sea Lion — a working replica of a 16th-century, three-masted, square-rigged British sailing vessel — was another attraction of the Chautauqua Lake Historic Vessels Company. It was sold to the Buffalo Maritime Society in 1992 and returned to Chautauqua County after it sunk in Buffalo Harbor.
‘‘There are a lot of emotions tied to each one, and there was a lot of hard work and sweat and tears from a lot of people,’’ Stage said. ‘‘Our goal is to see that all are up and going on the lake.’’
Some supporters of the Belle and the ferry were skeptical of the Historic Vessels Company since it was no longer clear who belonged to the organization’s board of directors. They were especially concerned when Henry McConnon, Mayville entrepreneur, offered to buy the Belle for $25,000.
The Chautauqua Belle — the steamship drydocked at Mayville Lakeside Park — has not operated since the 2003 summer season, and McConnon said he wanted to have it running on the lake again.
‘‘It should be out there tooting its whistle,’’ McConnon said in August. ‘‘It’s a very doable thing. I hope we get the chance.’’
Belle supporters helped block the sale — not necessarily because they objected to it, but because of the confusion surrounding the Historic Vessels Company membership and board of directors.
Since then, the organization’s membership has been re-established, and a new board of directors will be elected at a public meeting Saturday, Oct. 14.
According to Brent Galuppo, who works with McConnon, they are still interested in purchasing the Belle but are awaiting the change in management among Historic Vessels Company members.
The ferry finally resumed regular operations in late August after repairs and upgrades had been made, largely thanks to Ellery resident John Cheney, a longtime advocate for the attraction, Stage said.
Eager to see the ferry running again, Cheney had the paddle covers replaced, the deck refurbished, the ramps fixed and the tank chambers cleaned out, as well as other labor-intensive upgrades.
County officials also helped acquire the necessary insurance coverage and replace the two cables that guide the vessel across the lake, and the ferry finally began operating again Aug. 26.
Janet Meeder Davies, a resident of Churchville who grew up in Sherman, was very pleased to find the ferry running again and remarked that four generations of her family got to ride it at once.
‘‘My daughter, my grandson and I drove to Mayville to visit my Mother. She likes to think of something she can do with her great-grandson when he visits. This time, it was an experience they could share,’’ she said. ‘‘We all enjoyed the ride.’’
Resuming regular hours of operation was one much needed source of revenue for the ferry — and the Bemus Point Historical Society raised an additional $3,000 for the attraction through the Bemus Point Bicentennial Ball on Sept. 16.
‘‘It went great,’’ said Sarah Trainer-Goebel of the Historical Society. ‘‘We had well over 250 guests and over 40 area businesses donating items for door prizes and giveaway items. And the dance band was wonderful.’’
Another source of revenue was the fund-raising drive that re-established the Historic Vessels Company membership, according to Stage. Anyone can become a member with a donation of $100, and 40 new members provided an additional $4,000 in funds.
‘‘We’re headed back in the right direction,’’ Stage said.
For more information on Chautauqua Lake Real Estate & Living visit: www.chautauqualakehomes.com
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