Buckeye Beach

Buckeye BeachBuckeye Road

Buckeye Beach can refer to a collection of cottages on New Street or the beach itself, which was well developed with a boat launch and, according to an Aug. 11, 1924, story in the Geneva Free Press, diving platform into the lake.

According to the story, George Wright of Pittsburg was fighting for his life some two weeks after being injured while diving into the lake from tower. As Wright sprang from the board, he noticed a log floating in the lake directly below him. He turned himself in the air, hoping to miss the log. Rather, his back hit the water and the back of his head came down on the log.

His injury lead to spinal meningitis.

That same edition reported a near drowning at Buckeye Beach. A girl and male companion ventured beyond the diving board into deeper water, when she was sucked into the undertow. The girl went down and came back up three times; only one of the men in the area, Roy Denholm, went to her rescue. He pulled her up by her hair and lifted her into a canoe that had been paddled to the near-drowning site. The canoe was beached and the girl, Ruth Heckleson of Pittsburg, was resuscitated.

 


Our guests remember:

Pirl Beach

I spent the summer of 1942 in Pirl Beach (at age 16) and worked part time for the manager pulling weeds and such. Also swam every day. My Pittsburgh relatives had reserved a cottage there for many years. My aunt and cousins stayed. My uncle commuted weekly in his Buick. The Pirl Beach manager used a Model T Ford truck for his chores.

Ken Ford

Memories of Ford's

Most of my summer childhood memories are at Ford’s! My parents met there right at the picnic table. We vacationed there every summer along with my grandparents and great aunt and uncle until they passed away. We made amazing friends there that we still vacation with on Putnam Drive!! I could never thank the Payne’s enough for my childhood memories. Playing Indians in the huge back yard, solving make-believe mysteries, playing release and listening to everyone playing penny poker when my sister and I should have been sleeping. I now bring my son to Geneva every summer. He is the 5th generation at Geneva!

Sara Turner Campos

Chestnut Grove

My extended family and I vacationed at Chestnut Grove from 1948-1964. Being from McKeesport, it was a dream come true to go there every summer. I currently live in Michigan but go back occasionally. Not too long ago, I found a post card of some of the cottages where the swings and horseshoe pit were and a local artist is making me a 24×36 painting of it. I can't wait to see it! So many wonderful memories and so few things left as reminders. It is nice to know that others still remember and care.

Michelle Turner ( a Chestnut Grove Kid)

Idle-A-While

We vacationed every summer at Idle-A-While in the late '50s and early '60s, partially because my aunt was the receptionist there. I often got to ring the bell summoning guests to breakfast, lunch and dinner in the dining room, which was staffed by co-eds from various universities. Evenings were spent playing bingo, fascination and other games on the strip or bridge and poker back at Idle-A-While. Great memories.
John Bloom

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