While the farms and orchards prospered, prominent Buffalonians discovered that there was an ideal recreation and watering place, with nearly 25 miles of shore line, right at the front door of the city. This discovery brought [Grand] Island's golden era.

The Falconwood Club was organized in 1858 and took its name from the eagles and hawks which nested in the tremendous trees surrounding it. The site is now part of Beaver Island Park.

The Falconwood Club [clubhouse], built in 1882 and designed by Joseph Lyman Silsbee, was imposing, even by present day standards. Located in a 45 acre tract overlooking the West River, the large main building housed a bar of considerable elegance, a bowling alley, an assembly hall and a number of guest rooms.

A 12 foot verandah ran the full length of this building, providing a view of the well-kept lawn sloping down to a wharf which projected 110 feet into the river. Tremendous trees, with trunks four to five feet thick,dotted the property.

Each of the clubs had its own fast steam launch. Typical of these was the Falcon for Falconwood, with its glass enclosed cabin on the main deck and an awning-shaded promenade deck above.

Families spent their summers at the club, with the man of the house making the daily run to Buffalo and back on a launch which could drop him in the center of the city at the foot of Main Street.

Tired business men of that day found the Island provided them with a vacation each evening and week end.

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Excerpt

Lost Grand Island  (online December 2024)

River Lea

Declared a township in 1852, Grand Island in the half century that followed, changed from mainly farming country to an era that included exclusive clubs and elaborate summer homes. Lewis F. Allen's Falconwood Club opened as a resort on June 19, 1858.

Its design was of the "villa" order or what would later be known as "Queen Anne."

Located on 45 acres overlooking the West River on Grand Island, its twelve foot verandahs ran the full length of the site that boasted an elegant bar, bowling alley, assembly hall and a number of guest rooms. Its wharf projected 110 feet into the river.

The Falconwood Club burned in the 1920s.

Lewis F. Allen, who owned a large farm at the head of the island, decided to build a summer resort on the south west side which he called Falconwood. He gave this name to the place because of the number of hawks and eagles who made the large trees near the river bank their home.

The first guests arrived at Falconwood on the steamer George O. Vail on Saturday afternoon, June 19, 1859. Falconwood later became a popular resort, open to the public. The steamers Cygnet and Arrow transported the vacation seekers the first year.

The Club House was designed by Joseph Lyman Silsbee; the club house burned down in 1882.