BOATS OF YESTER-YEAR

(This article was first published in Discover Conesus in September, 1975)

    Would you like to take “out of town” guests for a ride on beautiful Conesus Lake?  It can’t be arranged today, unless you own a boat or have good friends.

   Back in 1903, you could hire a boy, eight years old, to come with his one cylinder swan shaped twenty footer to take a group of 12 people riding for a dollar an hour.  His name was Tooey and in later years he became known respectfully as Colonel Tooey.  His career, in handling boats of all sizes, began on Conesus Lake.  The gas used then was purchased from Standard Oil at 2cents a gallon.  When the price was hike up to 5 cents a gallon, it was so disastrous for business,  that a contract had to be signed agreeing on the price of 5 cents a gallon for 5 years.

   Tooey’s father, also a boat enthusiast, had a larger 2-cylinder boat.  He also built building at Long Point.  The building that was used for years as a bathhouse and for “bingo” was located near the edge of the lake.  Later, he built a refreshment stand located at the side of the cobblestone house on the West Lake Road. He also added a wooden hotel.  It was three stories high with a big dining room, and rooms to rent.

   The excitement and thrills were there at Long Point, in those days, in the cove area north of the present dock.  The “razzel-dazzel” was a curved slide, while the “helter-skelter” was a pyramid, like a giant teeter-totter.  On the merry-go-round you might, by chance, grab a brass ring and it could mean a free ride.

    Tooey’s boats grew in size as well as numbers.  Large picnic boats were purchased at Thousand Island which could carry from 30 to 65 people.  He had three of these large boats for the picnic trade.  The scenic rides were slow trips going around the head of the lake, for 25 cents per passenger.  Later on, on Saturday and Sunday, the price was raised to 35 cents.

   Speedboats that could carry 12 people were the excitement in the 1930’s.  He owned six of them at a time.  These rides lasted 12 to 15 minutes.  As the spray increased so did the girls’ screams of delight.  In the daytime, the ride was closer to shore, but at night it was up the middle of the lake.  Another boat business was carried on from the East Side of the lake.  These two boat owners cooperated in building the docks at Long Point and McPherson’s which they shared.  However, each kept to his own side of the dock at Long Point and McPherson Point for business purposes.

   Through the years, during the winter seasons, racing in Florida brought trophies and fame to the Tooey’s.  The glass bottom boats at Silver Springs, Florida was an additional business for over 40 years.  Summers were still spent at Conesus Lake.  Colonel and Mrs. Tooey spent their summers at their West Lake Road home in Conesus where he was interviewed for this article.

Reproduced from "The Diamonds are Dancing"

   These are just a few facts of a family of Conesus Lake, who helped Rochester people and local groups enjoy the “good old summertime” at our playground area.

Reproduced with permission from the Discover Conesus Newspaper.

Research as to author was done to no success.

Diamonds still available for only $15

In mid-May, the CLA sold its first copy of the newly revised edition of -

The Diamonds Are Dancing: A History of Conesus Lake.

Since then, over 600 books have been sold, most during the warmer months but still there was a very strong selling spurt leading up to the holidays. Evidently, many people who heard about the book saw its gift potential to someone who loves our lake.

Many people have asked where the book can be purchased. Since last May, Sun Dance Books (Main Street, Geneseo), Shoreless Acres (East Lake Road, Livonia), and both Nothnagle Realtors and Five Star Bank in Lakeville have sold the book. We thank them for their support.

We have just added four more locations for you to find the Diamonds book:

Lakeville Liquor and Pat's Petals, both on Big Tree Road in Lakeville, Julie's Floral & Gifts in the hamlet of Conesus, and Deer Run Winery on West Lake Road. Alternatively, you can always get one or more copies directly through the CLA by calling me at 346-5622 or via my e-mail:

JCONNEL3@rochester.rr.com.

There is a good chance other sales locations will become available as the weather turns warmer; we'll keep you posted. The CLA will also have the books available at all the events we sponsor throughout the year.

John Connelly, CLA Director Editor, Laker News

NOTE: Click here for the Conesus Lake Association web site.

Click here for the Town of Conesus web site.