Committee hopes to increase awareness of area's rich history

The Lakewood Historical Committee is hoping to get much accomplished in 2010. From left to right are: Susan Lane, Helen Ebersole, Tillie Solomonson and Anthony Barone (holding one of the Circa Plaques they'd like to see on all older homes and businesses in the village). Not shown are Linda Cowan and Mary Ann Herring. (Photo by Jason Sample)

If you were around a 100 years ago and lived in Lakewood, you probably already know the village was the home to two of the largest hotels to ever sit along Chautauqua Lake. And you probably also know there were several gothic style summer cottages scattered near the lake shore. And, if you were around 100 years ago, you probably know the few buildings and structures that have survived over the years and still stand today.

Problem is, you weren't around 100 years ago. In fact, you'd be hard pressed to find anyone who was around 100 years ago, let along someone who can recall how things used to be in the small village of Lakewood, NY.

Thankfully, we can still get an idea of how it used to be with the help of local historians. In Lakewood, the current historian is native Anthony Barone and the former historian is Helen Ebersole. Between the two of them, they hold a wealth of knowledge regarding the history of the village and, with the help of local residents Tillie Solomonson, Susan Luna, Mary Ann Herring and Linda Cowan, they want to share it with you. Together, the group has established the Lakewood Historical Committee and they have several programs they want to initiate in 2010.

"We hope to make the village and its residents more aware of the rich history in Lakewood," says Barone. "We want to educate residents, especially the younger ones, and make them more aware of the wonderful heritage. There's so much they just don't know about."

As part of the committee's effort to raise awareness about the history of the village, they started a Circa Plaque program. The circa signs will be made available to the older homes and businesses in the village that were built prior to 1900. The group is currently in the process of contacting the property owners in hopes that they will take part in the program.

"We want to educate local residents and visitors about some of these old home and businesses in our village," says Barone. "So far we've sent out 92 letters. For just $50, the property owner can have a plaque made that will be fixed to their home, so people who walk past or drive buy will know when it was built."

The Kent House in Lakewood, as it appeared on a postcard in 1907. (Submitted Photo)

"It's a great way to note the different era of the village," adds Ebersole. "There was a pattern as to when and how the homes were built, but you really don't see it or notice. But with the circa signs, you can actually see the gradual expansion of the village during the late 19th century."

In addition to the Circa Plaque program, the committee is also in the process of putting together four different markers that will note were a historic structure once stood.

"We hear about these big hotels and they're sort of like a figment out there, so one of our main goals is to put sight signs out there and show everyone where these beautiful buildings were located. That's a big project for us, probably in the spring," says Solomonson.

With the help of the village board, the committee has already acquired enough funding to set up four initial sight signs marking the locations of the Sterlingworth and Waldemere Hotels, the first and second Kent Houses, the Packard Mansion and the Village Hall, a structure that still stands today.

The committee is also in the process of collecting photos and artifacts that involve the village's history. Several can already be found in village hall, but the group also welcomes anyone who may have an old photo or artifact to contact them so they can add it to the village's collection.  Later this year, the group will set up an exhibit in the basement of the village hall which will display various items and which will rotate from month to month or season to season. And Barone is also considering a monthly nostalgia meeting were residents can share stories about how things used to be in the village.

To learn more information about the Circa Plaque Program, or to help the committee in its effort to preserve the history of the village, call chairman Anthony G. Barone at 763.9357.