Warners Lake

Location

Warner's Lake refers to the lake and surrounding community in the north central part of the town near East Berne.

History

WARNER’S LAKE HISTORY

Mathais Warner Family from Schoharie moved to Beaver Dam by 1765 when Warner's Sawmill was built on the Foxenkill halfway between what are now the hamlet of Berne and East Berne
1765 - the first settlers on Warner’s Lake were Christopher Warner and his brother Johannes, who built a log cabin in 1765 and in 1790 built the original farmhouse. The large hickory trees there were grown from hickory nuts brought from Europe, hence the name Hickory Grove Farm. In 1849 Christopher Warner's son Abram J. built a second farmhouse on the north end of the lake. Both homes are still owned by Warner descendants Warner homes
1899, Henry Binns purchased the whole south end of the lake from Sussana Gallup, widow of Moses Gallup, who was the first to provide a swimming area with picnic tables. Henry Binns eventually built cabins for rent. At this time the farm was known as Binn's Grove, Binn’s Landing or Pine Grove. 1920’s the grove was sold to Mr. Pitcher and it became known as Pitcher’s Camp. Mr. Pitcher then sold his lakefront property to the Roberts family from Ravena, and the property was known as Robert's Grove for the next 28 years. The property changed hands a few more times, to owners George Vunck (1946), John and Teresa Cocca (1950), and Dave and Betty O’Hanlon (1955). The property was finally purchased by Mary and Patricia O’Hanlon in 1987 and is maintained as their private residence.
1906, Mr. George Tompkins built a large home at the north end of the lake on land purchased from the Warner Family. He ran his Lake View Cottage as a boarding house for many years. Mr. Tompkins owned a small covered Steam Launch "The Sarah E." which was brought from New York City to Altamont by train. The launch was then delivered to the cottage by Mr. Warner’s wagon. Mr. Tompkins gave people rides around the lake for 10 cents. In 1950 the property was sold to Karl and Hilde Zwicklbauer and became a popular German-American restaurant. In 1976 the restaurant was purchased by Reinhold and Adelheid Scholz, who sold it to the present owner, John Pleat.
early 1900’s, Jay and Lydia Engle built Engle’s Fur Trading Post on the east side of the lake. Jay was a rather eccentric character known for his tall tales and the bear he kept as a pet. This property is now owned by the Osterhouts, who purchased it in 1970.
around 1900 until the mid 1970’s a girls’ camp known as Camp Orinsekwa operated on the west shore of the lake. In later years the property expanded to become a co-ed camp known as Orinsekwa-Sonnekwa.
In the 1930’s Arthur Warner sold camp lots along the east shore. From 1946-1950 many of the rental camps on the south end were sold to private owners. A large portion of the west shore remains undeveloped.
From the 1940’s through the 1970’s, Warner’s Lake was a very popular tourist area with three public beaches, three boat launches and many camps for rent. At present, the lake community is mostly private residences, with only one restaurant and one boat launch remaining.

Learn more about Warner’s Lake and surrounding areas in a book entitled Life Along the Way on Route 43 available at local libraries.

Original source: Willard Osterhout (since modified)

Sections of the lake

Special Events

Churches

St. Mary's of the Lake, (Don't you just love that name?), the first Catholic Church in the Town, was established in 1916.

St. Mary's of the Lake Catholic Church

Businesses

This section will have the history of each business beginning from its establishment, through various ownerships and name changes. Pictures may be used provided you have authority to post them.

Former businesses

Lake View Cottage was a summer boarding house
Warner homes were summer boarding houses
Steam Launch "The Sarah E."
Fur Trading Post
Binn's Grove
Engle's Store
Camp Orinsekwa
Camp Woodstock
Robert's Grove
Harvesting Ice
Camp Solo
Abram J. Warner Home
Christopher Warner Home
Warner Lake Improvement Association
Newspaper Articles

Current businesses

The Hofbrau Restaurant - serving German specialties in an historic resort on the shore of beautiful Warners Lake at 141 Warners Lake Rd., East Berne; Tel. (518) 872-1016 / 872-9912.
Maple Inn - a restaurant in an historic building in East Berne. 64 Main Street, East Berne. Tel. 518-872-9433.

Cemeteries

The Warner Family Burying Groundis the burial ground for the Warner family for which the Lake is named.

Photo Gallery

This section is for scenic photos and post cards of the hamlet. Photos of people and families should be posted on biography or family pages.

Postcard 2
Postcard 4
Postcard 3
Postcard 6 1929
Postcard 8 "Sarah E."
Postcard 10 Scene looking from Engel's Beach
Postcard 5 along the highway
Lake View Cottage, photo from Life At The Lake
Lake View Cottage 1930, photo from Life At The Lake
Pitcher's Camp 1920, photo from Life At The Lake
Camp Binns 1930, photo from Life At The Lake
Binn's Camp 1912, photo from Life At The Lake
Osterhout Family at Warner's Lake
Air Raid Poster, photo from Life At The Lake
Willard Brownell
Early sailors on Warner's Lake, photo from Life At The Lake
Early swimmers, love the suits, photo from Life At The Lake
Swimming at the lake in the early 20s, photo from Life At The Lake
Which group has priority, photo from Life At The Lake
Diving at Warner's Lake in the 1930s, note the use of a hand operated air pump, photo from Life At The Lake
A ride around the lake, note the chain driven rear wheel
Fishing at the lake, you can even see the worm on the hook
Badgely Family from Voorheesville camping at Warner's Lake in the 1920s
Lucy(Warner)Hinman and Edna(Talmadge)Hinman at Warner's Lake, photo from Life At The Lake
Zwicklbauer's Hofbrau, formerly Mattics and Tompkins
Sholtes and Wood families camping at the south end of Warner's Lake in 1895
Advertisement for Zwicklbauers
The first lot sold on the East side of Warner Lake by Arthur and Minnie Warner in 1925
A description of lot #1
Ice patterns in front of Osterhouts on March 31, the day before the ice went out.
Mt. Grippe after the ice storm Dec. 2008
Pictures taken from the porch of Osterhout's home.
L-R Friend Sholtes, Alta Mae Sholtes Ball, Clyde L. Ball Warner's Lake in the background. Photo courtesy of Allan Deitz
Virginia Sholtes at the flag pole. Photo courtesy of Allan Deitz
Luther League, photo from the Willard Osterhout collection
Bin's Grove, photo from the collection of Willard Osterhout
Black Bear at Engel's Fur Trading Post.jpg

Black Bear pet, from the collection of Tim Albright
A scenic view of the lake looking towards the West side in 1914, from the Willard Osterhout collection
Warner Lake in summer
Geese observing sunrise on Mt. Grippee, photo courtesy of Willard Osterhout
No coffee on the deck this morning, photo courtesy of Willard Osterhout
Sunrise on Dyer Rd. West side of Warner Lake, photo courtesy of Willard Osterhout
Two boys swimming at Warner's Lake 1931 - Courtesy Timothy J. Albright
The 1958 Blizzard at Warner Lake
Ode to Warner Lake by Willard Osterhout
50# Carp caught at Warner Lake, from the book "The Final Journey"
A view of the lake looking North when most of the land was still pasture
The three people most responsible for createing the book"Life at The Lake."
A home made wooden boat"The Blue Goose" built by Thomas Arcolano and launched by him and his son Frank at Osterhout's, photo courtesy of Willard Osterhout
Will Osterhout and his daughters in the Blue Goose,photo courtesy of Willard Osterhout
Ebb Osterhout in his wheel chair aboard the"Baby Huey" a pontoon boat owned by Howard Kinnicut, photo courtesy of Willard Osterhout
Ebb enjoying the ride while Blossom Marchand does the driving,photo courtesy of Willard Osterhout
Bonnie Kinnicut, Blossom Marchand and Jerri Osterhout, photo courtesy of Willard Osterhout
Looking towards the east shore, courtesy of Willard Osterhout
The old wooden dam in 1921 covered with ice
Post card showing a boy with a big fish, courtesy of Willard Osterhout
Girls from camp pinnacle having a picnic on the lake shore,courtesy of Willard Osterhout