Great Escapes

Great Escapes. Niagara River Greenway. , By the late 1800s industry had overtaken the Tonawandas. Lumber piles covered all available space along the river and the sounds and smells, dirt and dust of manufacturing filled the air. Men and boys worked 10-14 hour days, six days a week in the mills and foundries. To escape the drudgery and noxious environment people were drawn to the natural beauty of the "Grand Island" across the river., Multiple cruisers were booked week after week throughout the summer months to accommodate businesses, organizations and churches planning their annual outings. Throngs of revelers boarded excursion steamboats for tours around the Island often stopping at one or more resorts along the way such as Edgewater, Eagle Park and the Bedell House. These outings were important social events for both the families and the sponsors who hoped to develop camaraderie among their employees or members., Over a dozen public and private resorts sprung up around the Island to provide visitors with sumptuous meals, dancing and entertainment. Resorts also provided picnic groves, croquet lawns, bath houses, athletic fields and amusement rides. Trails for biking and hiking and carriage rides added to the island pleasures. One of the most memorable resorts was the Bedell House whose pleasure cruiser, the Ossian Bedell, regularly transported up to 275 passengers to the elegant destination. In 1871, the Buffalo Commercial Advertiser declared Grand Island the healthiest place in the country., Great Fun, Power boat racing has been a tradition on the Niagara River since the early 1900s. The Niagara (pictured at right) was a 31-foot wood inboard with a Herschell-Spillman 6-cylinder 4-cycle engine. On September 22, 1906 the boat blew away the competition on the Bedell House course with a record-breaking speed of 25 mph., Races often found local enthusiasts Vandervoort, Spillman, DeKleist, and Perew at the helm. Many racers designed, built and drove their own boats., Improved engine and hull design generated increased speeds and by the 1940s hydroplanes (pictured below) were skimming the water at speeds in excess of 100 mph - igniting crowds with the deafening sound of power and the thrill of competition.