River Lea - Table of Contents.........................Grand Island - Links
Grand Island history
Photos on display at River Lea,
the Lewis F. Allen farm house
Beaver Island State Park, Grand Island, NY
Bedell House history beneath illustrations
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Parmelia Bedell, owner of the Bedell House |
Ossian Bedell, owner of the Bedell House |
Bedell House. |
Bedell House |
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Bedell House, circa 1880s - 1 of 9 pen and ink drawings by Albion Ende, artist and reporter for the Island Dispatch. The prints are on display and available for purchase at deSignet International. The set of nine prints sell for $75.00 |
Bedell House |
The Ossian Bedell, the steamer to the Bedell House, circa 1900 - pen and ink drawing by Albion Ende |
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Buffalo Launch Club, circa 1915 - pen and ink drawing by Albion Ende |
Richard Pettit Country Store and the 1st Post office, circa 1902 - pen and ink drawing by Albion Ende |
Edgewater |
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Edgewater - pen and ink drawing by Albion Ende |
Falconwood Club House |
Falconwood Club House, circa 1880 - pen and ink drawing by Albion Ende |
A panoramic photo of the dedication of the Grand Island Bridge, July 15, 1935 |
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Huth Road School #3 - pen and ink drawing by Albion Ende |
Home of John Nice, Grand Island 1st supervisor, circa 1880 - pen and ink drawing by Albion Ende |
The Oakfield Club |
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Ortner's business in Buckhorn |
Tinted picture of the Pierce Farm gardens |
The Pierce Farm Pagoda boat house |
River Lawn |
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River Lawn |
Spaulding - Sidway Boat House |
SS Corona |
Whitehaven Settlement and Sawmill, circa 1837 - pen and ink drawing by Albion Ende |
Bedell HouseFor those who could not afford exclusive club membership, Ossian Bedell, a Vermont native, built the Bedell House on land purchased from Allenton Farm. This hotel was very famous and had a large farm to supply dairy products and produce. It had a laundry, livery stable, lovely rose gardens, croquet lawns and some cottages. The 1877 building was destroyed by fire on New Year's day. Ten years later it was rebuilt and stood until 1935 when fire destroyed it again.
An interesting story about the 1935 Bedell House fire is that the South Grand Island Bridge had just been completed, but was not yet open to the public. They had not yet had their official opening ceremonies. The Grand Island Fire Co. obtained permission for the Sheridan Park Fire Co. to use the bridge to come across to help fight the fire. They didn't save the building, but were the first ones to use the bridge.
Again it was rebuilt and stood at the water's edge until fire destroyed it a third time, in March 1988. All that remains presently is Rose Cottage, a house in Ferry Village, and a hot dog stand.
