Keuka Lake sights and stories from Depot Park in Hammondsport NY
By Janie L. Ferguson
It rained all morning, and there weren’t too many people around at the 43rd Annual Classic Boat Show, at Depot Park, on the lovely Keuka Lake in Hammondsport, NY. It stopped just about noon though, and it looked like we would have a few hours without rain, this past hazy Saturday, July 18, 2026.
Many people began to gather together to enjoy the boats, the lake, and time together, too.
Sally Botelho was one of the first people I spoke with. You can see her standing here by her boat that is on shore under a tent. She was proud that she was a woman, among so many men, that had a 1946, Ed Link, 12′ Row Boat, Linkanoe.
I watched as Ted Hall was talking to long time friends Donna & Jim Glogowski that he hadn’t seen for a long time. When police officer Hevey walked by Ted asked him to take a picture of them all together alongside his boat, and he dutifully responded.
I let Hevey know that I was behind him taking a picture of all of them, too, and suggested he get in the next shot, also. So he did, and you can see them all here together.
Hevey is with Village of Hammondsport Police Department. Ted’s boat is the Oben One, a 1950 Antique Outboard No Steering, Restored, 12′, Thompson TVT Hydroplane Runabout with a mercury 6 HP engine. Ted’s home port is North Canton, Ohio. Later on in the show Ted let a young boy who was there with his grandfather get up in the boat. He also let him try on his life preserver that Ted owned as a boy, and showed him the engine, too.
In this next shot you can see some of the many boats, people, and the back of a couple of the judges, as they sat going over their list of boats they had examined already. Due to the morning rain the judging was delayed, and also the boat parade that was originally scheduled for 3:00 pm was moved back to 2:00 pm, as more rain was due to come in later in the afternoon.
Michael Yonker from Fairport, NY is known for his fantastic WCCB chapter support and innovative boat restoration. He has been judging with the Wine Country chapter for nine years. Mike Jocubowski from Hammondsport started his collection in 1998 and currently owns Chris Craft, Century, Gar Wood, and Penn Yan. He has judged at the Finger Lakes, Niagara, and Wind Country Chapters’ shows.
Here is the boat Whisper driving by during the boat parade in the first shot, and the 2nd time around a little faster. With happy boaters waving to us all. As the boats went slowly by the dock Lynn Ramsey, Show Committee Chair, announced each one, and along with her was Commodore Pam Gratzer Bornholdt, helping to cheer them all along. They were looking for the numbers on the flag that the boat owners held to be able to give out the correct information for each one. It was an enjoyable time at the lovely Keuka Lake.
Jack Hehlig, from Hammondsport, let James and his mother Erica Grzebielucha get onto his boat Just Tootlin’. He said, “I let the children get on the boat, as long as an adult is with them.” You could see that James enjoyed sitting up in the captain’s chair with his mother close by.
Then there is a group shot with all the family, and Jack. That sure was kind of him. Just Tootlin is a 1955 Chris Craft, 27′, Sedan Cruiser, with a Chris Craft 105… 6 (x2) engine.
Then there is Olive Oil driving by in the parade from the front, and a back view, too.
A lady named Elizabeth Dowell stopped and asked me if I’d like my picture taken by the boat. So she took this photo of me standing by the Chinook, a 1911 Historic Launch, Faye & Bowen 22′ Torpedo with an Albin 5 HP engine. It is owned by the Finger Lakes Museum in Hammondsport, NY.
Having grown up in my childhood in Naples, FL, three blocks from the ocean, my dad owned a boat, and we as a family enjoyed going out on it. So, I have a natural love for boats, and the water, too.
I chatted with two couples, Larry & Joann Wallace and Maggie Field & Ford Knight as I walked along the dock.
Maggie said, “Ford was one of the founders that helped start the boat show. Ford said he had a boat, too, but didn’t enter it today. They were just there to enjoy seeing the others. Here is a photo that she sent.
Ford says, “This is a 1954 Morehouse Custom Utility that was purchased from the original owner, local Seneca Falls car dealer Al McMahon in 1977. It was the reason why in 1978 Ford and some of his friends decided to contact the Antique and Classic Boat Society to become the Finger Lakes Chapter. He says, “Over the years I have refinished my Morehouse three times, replaced seats, and the transom and bow stem. In 1984 I chose to repower the boat from the original Hercules/Chris Craft flat head 6 cylinder to a Chevy V-8 engine. Upon this transition the boat became known as the Wild Thing! The boat continues to provide much enjoyment, and is now mostly used on Seneca Lake.”
There was quite a crowd that came out to enjoy the lake, the vendors, and the boats as well. It was good that the rain held off long enough to continue with the day’s outdoor events. Their night ended with a Buffet Dinner at the Finger Lakes Boating Museum, with awards presented following the dinner.
To live, and have special events like this in the Finger Lakes Region of NY sure is a delight. Hammondsport on the lovely Keuka Lake is a great place to live, and visit, with many different events planned throughout the years, as well. Come out and visit the “Coolest Small Town in America.”
Janie Ferguson is a Cameron Mills NY writer, photographer, nature lover, and family oriented young lady. You can reach her anytime, spencejaniefergie@gmail.com
