Historic Vessels Company Making Progress On Sea Lion, Belle Sale
By PATRICK L. FANELLI
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3/4/2007 - Gradually, bit by bit, the Chautauqua Lake Historic Vessels Company is being transformed.
In May, it was unclear if the Bemus Point-Stow Ferry would even operate that summer; the Chautauqua Belle remained drydocked for the third consecutive season; thousands of dollars was scattered across multiple bank accounts; and there wasn't a clear-cut board of directors or membership to manage the group.
But in October, a group of residents concerned with the fate of the ferry, the Belle and the non-profit organization's other attraction, the Sea Lion, took control and are making progress on all three fronts.
''The board members on it — I've never run across a bunch of educated individuals like they are,'' said Fred Croscut, a county legislator and member of the board of directors.
The group has met every month since they took control of the Historic Vessels Company in October, catching up on six years' worth of back taxes.
''We're chipping away at things,'' said Paul Stage, board president. ''The board has been re-established and we've got a pretty good handle on where we are financially. We're getting up to speed.''
According to Stage, group members have split up into three groups to decide how best to handle the three separate attractions that belong to the organization — which is officially called the Sea Lion Project Ltd.
First, there's the ferry, which was out of commission until Ellery resident John Cheney fixed it up over the summer with a handful of others and got it running again in August. A $15,000 grant from the state and thousands of dollars raised at a fund-raiser by the Bemus Point Historical Society helped cover the cost.
''The ferry has never been in better shape,'' Croscut said.
The Chautauqua Belle remains drydocked at Mayville Lakeside Park and could be sold in the coming weeks. Recognizing that it would be extremely difficult to run themselves, Sea Lion Project officials put it up for sale and will authorize the transaction only if it remains on Chautauqua Lake and it's for a reasonable price.
''I'm expecting right now three bids,'' said Duane Buchweitz, board member. ''Hopefully one will come in that is acceptable to the group as a whole. If the board and the general membership doesn't approve any of these bids, then we're committed to try to operate it under the Historic Vessels Company.''
See HISTORIC on Page A-3
HISTORIC From Page A-1
The bids are due by April 14. The board will look them over the following day and the matter will come before the general membership at a meeting the following week.
The third vessel, the Sea Lion, is a working replica of a 16th-century, three-masted, square-rigged British sailing vessel, which was unexpectedly sold to the Buffalo Maritime Society in 1992 and returned to Chautauqua County only after it sunk in Buffalo Harbor.
Cheney re-acquired the vessel seven years ago and hauled it down to Barcelona Harbor, where he and a handful of others continue to restore it to this day. There are numerous options they are looking at, though the jury is still out on whether it will ever sail again on Chautauqua Lake.
''We're hoping to,'' Cheney said. ''That's the purpose of our restoration group. Whether it sails in my lifetime, I don't know.''
According to Stage, group members are considering permanently breaking up into three separate groups to manage each vessel. The Belle would be managed by private interests, the Sea Lion Project Ltd. would oversee the Sea Lion, and a separate group would run the ferry.
''There are three diverse groups in the Sea Lion Project,'' Stage said. ''That's what's always been an issue. It's very difficult to get a 15-man board working in the same direction on all three of those things.''
Send comments to pfanelli@post-journal.com.
In May, it was unclear if the Bemus Point-Stow Ferry would even operate that summer; the Chautauqua Belle remained drydocked for the third consecutive season; thousands of dollars was scattered across multiple bank accounts; and there wasn't a clear-cut board of directors or membership to manage the group.
But in October, a group of residents concerned with the fate of the ferry, the Belle and the non-profit organization's other attraction, the Sea Lion, took control and are making progress on all three fronts.
''The board members on it — I've never run across a bunch of educated individuals like they are,'' said Fred Croscut, a county legislator and member of the board of directors.
The group has met every month since they took control of the Historic Vessels Company in October, catching up on six years' worth of back taxes.
''We're chipping away at things,'' said Paul Stage, board president. ''The board has been re-established and we've got a pretty good handle on where we are financially. We're getting up to speed.''
According to Stage, group members have split up into three groups to decide how best to handle the three separate attractions that belong to the organization — which is officially called the Sea Lion Project Ltd.
First, there's the ferry, which was out of commission until Ellery resident John Cheney fixed it up over the summer with a handful of others and got it running again in August. A $15,000 grant from the state and thousands of dollars raised at a fund-raiser by the Bemus Point Historical Society helped cover the cost.
''The ferry has never been in better shape,'' Croscut said.
The Chautauqua Belle remains drydocked at Mayville Lakeside Park and could be sold in the coming weeks. Recognizing that it would be extremely difficult to run themselves, Sea Lion Project officials put it up for sale and will authorize the transaction only if it remains on Chautauqua Lake and it's for a reasonable price.
''I'm expecting right now three bids,'' said Duane Buchweitz, board member. ''Hopefully one will come in that is acceptable to the group as a whole. If the board and the general membership doesn't approve any of these bids, then we're committed to try to operate it under the Historic Vessels Company.''
See HISTORIC on Page A-3
HISTORIC From Page A-1
The bids are due by April 14. The board will look them over the following day and the matter will come before the general membership at a meeting the following week.
The third vessel, the Sea Lion, is a working replica of a 16th-century, three-masted, square-rigged British sailing vessel, which was unexpectedly sold to the Buffalo Maritime Society in 1992 and returned to Chautauqua County only after it sunk in Buffalo Harbor.
Cheney re-acquired the vessel seven years ago and hauled it down to Barcelona Harbor, where he and a handful of others continue to restore it to this day. There are numerous options they are looking at, though the jury is still out on whether it will ever sail again on Chautauqua Lake.
''We're hoping to,'' Cheney said. ''That's the purpose of our restoration group. Whether it sails in my lifetime, I don't know.''
According to Stage, group members are considering permanently breaking up into three separate groups to manage each vessel. The Belle would be managed by private interests, the Sea Lion Project Ltd. would oversee the Sea Lion, and a separate group would run the ferry.
''There are three diverse groups in the Sea Lion Project,'' Stage said. ''That's what's always been an issue. It's very difficult to get a 15-man board working in the same direction on all three of those things.''
Send comments to pfanelli@post-journal.com.
For more information on Chautauqua Lake Real Estate & Living visit: www.chautauqualakehomes.com
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