Collier's Dam & the Creation of Goodyear Lake
JARED GOODYEAR
Tidbits from Times Past
Many thanks to Marilyn Bailey and Wayne Wright for locating items in the NYS Historical Association collection. Thanks, too, to Bruce Shultis for access to the Lake Association materials. The following "tidbits" have been excerpted from the early minutes by Francine Stayter.
Tidbits from the Past - # 8
Fish, Roads, and the Dam: 1934 - 1937
For members of the Goodyear Lake Association, the lake provided a seasonal place for fishing, swimming, and getting out of the city of Oneonta, especially during the summer months. Ken Yager served as president and C. W. Southworth as secretary from 1934 - 36. In 1934 the Association voted to stock the lake with bass, pike, pickerel, and perch. Walter Getter and N. Platt were responsible for putting the fish in the lake.
As before, the Association was concerned about the swimming facilities and the cleanliness of the waters. Elwyn Radley was paid $34.60 for cleaning the beach, putting sand on the beach, and repairing the diving board so that it extended over deeper water. Additionally, a $.10 fee was voted on for the use of the bathhouses. The money collected would be used clean and maintain the bathhouses. Elwyn Radley also notified the group that, since the lake was state water, it was against the law to throw rubbish in the water and that people who did so were subject to arrest. Parties found to be disposing of rubbish and garbage down the banks would receive a letter from the secretary.
It’s hard to imagine Goodyear Lake without the roads we now take for granted, but many of these roadways were either non-existent or dirt pathways in the early to mid 1930s. Approval of the roads on the Cliffside by the town of Milford began in 1934. Mr. C. T. Waters did much of the early work on the roads before they were taken over by the town later in the decade.
During this time, winter meetings were held in Julian Jackson’s office in Oneonta, and the summer meetings were held in the Grove at Cliffside. Membership was an issue. Members in arrears for two or more years would be suspended and would have to go through the approval process to be granted membership. In 1935, 90 new applications for membership were approved. John Young was responsible for canvassing the Cliffside portion of the Lake and C. W. Southworth was responsible for the west side of the lake. Of the 90 new members, John Young brought in 77. Each canvasser was awarded $.25 for each new member brought into the Association. Among the new members listed were Vito Molinari, Maurice Barnett, and Jay Utter.
At a well attended meeting in July 1935, Mr. McElwain and Mr. Thompson of the Associated Gas & Electric Company came to speak to the members of the safety of the Collier’s Dam. The representatives assured members that the dam had been inspected and would be inspected regularly again by an expert engineer and that the results would be published in the paper. Plans were underway to recoat the surface of the dam. To reassure the members, Mr. McElwain explained that the dam was 70 feet thick at its base and anchored 6 feet below the bed of the river in solid rock. The dam was 200 feet long and anchored in solid rock on each side. As most of the members of the Association lived in Oneonta, they were concerned not only for Goodyear Lake, but the effect the failure of the dam could have on Oneonta.
During this time period building around the lake must have flourished as membership in the Association grew. As the membership grew, so too did the work of the Secretary. By unanimous vote it was decided that the secretary would receive an annual salary of $10 to recognize the work involved in the office.
In 1936 leadership of the Association was passed to Elwyn Radley. Nine members were appointed as directors: C. W. Southworth, J. Bookout, M. C. Riley, J. B. Jackson, Horace Stanton, Roger Coyle, Claude Mitchell, W. H. Lunn, and J. M. Bennett. Thirty-six members were appointed to the 7 active committees. During the 1936 and 1937, Radley remained as president. While no firm decisions were made, the Association spent much time discussing sale of property owned at the point and the possible purchase of property at the Grove. Neither issue was resolved. Members remained concerned about the roadways around the lake at Cliffside, the improper speed of boats on the lake, and boats without lights on the lake at night. Roads around Cliffside were named during this period. A committee was appointed to determine the names of the roads. Elwyn Radley was the president of the Association which led to Radley Road and Silliman’s Cove was already named, but there is no information in the minutes of how the other streets came to be named.
In 1936 – 39 the Association sponsored annual summer clam bakes. Members and their families paid $1 each for the clambake with any deficit in the cost being made up from the Association’s treasury. Membership in the Association numbered around 70. Members were solicited by direct contact, rather than by mail.
Despite the Depression, the Association remained active and involved in the improvement of the Goodyear Lake community through this decade.
Many thanks to Marilyn Bailey and Wayne Wright for locating items in the NYS Historical Association collection. Thanks, too, to Bruce Shultis for access to the Lake Association materials. The following "tidbits" have been excerpted from the early minutes by Francine Stayter.
Tidbits from the Past - # 8
Fish, Roads, and the Dam: 1934 - 1937
For members of the Goodyear Lake Association, the lake provided a seasonal place for fishing, swimming, and getting out of the city of Oneonta, especially during the summer months. Ken Yager served as president and C. W. Southworth as secretary from 1934 - 36. In 1934 the Association voted to stock the lake with bass, pike, pickerel, and perch. Walter Getter and N. Platt were responsible for putting the fish in the lake.
As before, the Association was concerned about the swimming facilities and the cleanliness of the waters. Elwyn Radley was paid $34.60 for cleaning the beach, putting sand on the beach, and repairing the diving board so that it extended over deeper water. Additionally, a $.10 fee was voted on for the use of the bathhouses. The money collected would be used clean and maintain the bathhouses. Elwyn Radley also notified the group that, since the lake was state water, it was against the law to throw rubbish in the water and that people who did so were subject to arrest. Parties found to be disposing of rubbish and garbage down the banks would receive a letter from the secretary.
It’s hard to imagine Goodyear Lake without the roads we now take for granted, but many of these roadways were either non-existent or dirt pathways in the early to mid 1930s. Approval of the roads on the Cliffside by the town of Milford began in 1934. Mr. C. T. Waters did much of the early work on the roads before they were taken over by the town later in the decade.
During this time, winter meetings were held in Julian Jackson’s office in Oneonta, and the summer meetings were held in the Grove at Cliffside. Membership was an issue. Members in arrears for two or more years would be suspended and would have to go through the approval process to be granted membership. In 1935, 90 new applications for membership were approved. John Young was responsible for canvassing the Cliffside portion of the Lake and C. W. Southworth was responsible for the west side of the lake. Of the 90 new members, John Young brought in 77. Each canvasser was awarded $.25 for each new member brought into the Association. Among the new members listed were Vito Molinari, Maurice Barnett, and Jay Utter.
At a well attended meeting in July 1935, Mr. McElwain and Mr. Thompson of the Associated Gas & Electric Company came to speak to the members of the safety of the Collier’s Dam. The representatives assured members that the dam had been inspected and would be inspected regularly again by an expert engineer and that the results would be published in the paper. Plans were underway to recoat the surface of the dam. To reassure the members, Mr. McElwain explained that the dam was 70 feet thick at its base and anchored 6 feet below the bed of the river in solid rock. The dam was 200 feet long and anchored in solid rock on each side. As most of the members of the Association lived in Oneonta, they were concerned not only for Goodyear Lake, but the effect the failure of the dam could have on Oneonta.
During this time period building around the lake must have flourished as membership in the Association grew. As the membership grew, so too did the work of the Secretary. By unanimous vote it was decided that the secretary would receive an annual salary of $10 to recognize the work involved in the office.
In 1936 leadership of the Association was passed to Elwyn Radley. Nine members were appointed as directors: C. W. Southworth, J. Bookout, M. C. Riley, J. B. Jackson, Horace Stanton, Roger Coyle, Claude Mitchell, W. H. Lunn, and J. M. Bennett. Thirty-six members were appointed to the 7 active committees. During the 1936 and 1937, Radley remained as president. While no firm decisions were made, the Association spent much time discussing sale of property owned at the point and the possible purchase of property at the Grove. Neither issue was resolved. Members remained concerned about the roadways around the lake at Cliffside, the improper speed of boats on the lake, and boats without lights on the lake at night. Roads around Cliffside were named during this period. A committee was appointed to determine the names of the roads. Elwyn Radley was the president of the Association which led to Radley Road and Silliman’s Cove was already named, but there is no information in the minutes of how the other streets came to be named.
In 1936 – 39 the Association sponsored annual summer clam bakes. Members and their families paid $1 each for the clambake with any deficit in the cost being made up from the Association’s treasury. Membership in the Association numbered around 70. Members were solicited by direct contact, rather than by mail.
Despite the Depression, the Association remained active and involved in the improvement of the Goodyear Lake community through this decade.