Town History (continued)
Our Town was the home of ex-Governor Enos Throop who made his home at Willowbrook near the end of the lake. Here he entertained Martin Van Buren, Washington Irving and others. Later Willowbrook was owned by his nephew E. T. Throop Martin was also host to many notables on the beautiful grounds. Jenny Lind, "the Swedish Nightingale" sang in a grove of trees entertaining a delegation from the Emperor of Japan. Gen. George Caster, Ulysses S. Grant, and Myles Kehoe were other guests after the Civil War who stayed at the 2 commodious residences built on the lawns overlooking the gardens and paths leading to the Lake.
Today Martin Point as it is now called, has condominiums, private homes, tennis courts, a reflecting pond and a private Beach House facing the extensive, choice beach frontage.
The Brinkerhoff family invented many kinds of Barbed Wire, an early washing machine. Samples of these can be seen at the Ward O'Hara Agricultural Museum on 38A. Owasco was a known for the many farms and small dairies which contributed so much to the economy and livelihood of each small landowner. Many of the early harvesting machines invented in Cayuga County are displayed at the museum. There are no dairy farms in Owasco today which played an important role in the County, and what remaining farm land is left bordering the lake is cash crop farming with corn, soybean and hay the major product.
Samuel Hopkins Adams, the noted author, lived at Wide Waters and another lesser known author George Jenks lived in the village and wrote the first Nick Carter serials.
Today Emerson Park at the foot of the lake provides many opportunities for relaxation and enjoyment just as it did at its heyday in the 1920's, when steamers, trolleys, a miniature train ride and Deauville Island and hotel lured the city dwellers to the Lake. Big name Bands played at the Pavilion, and the Friday night fish fry at Green Shutters across the street were popular for families who came by car.
The summer stock theater housed in the Old Merry Go Round, entertains the public with fine musicals from May to September. The lawns and Pavilion provide ample picnic, wedding and family entertainment. Boats navigate the channel leading to the lake. Two swimming beaches border the channel, where there are bath houses and life guards. Each summer the Antique Car show on the Island draws many visitors. The Myles Kehoe Great Race sponsors hundreds of teams of sports enthusiasts in July. In September, the Annual Tomato Fest draws thousands to the festival featuring crafts, entertainment, and informational booths.
The Town has two volunteer fire departments who sponsor a chicken barbeque and parade each July 4th, which is held on the grounds of Fire House # 1 on Owasco Road. This traditional fund raiser was begun over 40 years ago on the Earl Glanville farm field in the heart of the village. There are many 2nd and 3rd generation volunteer firemen today, who work along side their fathers on alarms. The Women's Auxiliary has a likewise admirable history of volunteerism.
The Owasco Elementary School is the only public school in the town. In the 1820's there were eight district one room schoolhouses throughout the area. A yellow brick school house in the Village built in 1892 is now a private residence. Other schoolhouses turned private homes are a house on Owasco road near Rockefeller Road and another up on Melrose road. A Christian school is located in the Emanuel Baptist Church on Letchworth Street.
Three Churches are in the Town. Sacred Heart on Melrose Road, and its mission church St. Anns in the village. The Owasco Reformed Church is also in the village.
Several businesses line Owasco Road leading to the lake. These are interspersed with tasteful homes and lawns so the mix is pleasant. Also three Country Clubs for golf enthusiasts, the Auburn, Owasco and Dutch Hollow, the latter being unique having some of its greens in Onondaga and Cayuga County. There is a Yacht Club for boating. All four clubs have a long and colorful history. The Cayuga County Sportsman's Club just inside the town line before
Niles begins, near Koenig's Point on Rockefeller Road was the location for many trials and shows for avid sportsmen.
There are two baseball fields, a boat launch and a family restaurant at the intersection of Owasco and White Bridge Road (or Route 437) also known as the shortest Federal road in the USA.
By: Laurel Auchampaugh Town Historian