The McComb House on the West River was an imposing hotel for its day. The tract of land on which it was situated consisted of a ninety-acre farm with wooded park lands extending to the river. The Huntress was the steamer that brought the guests from Buffalo.
Sheenwater, situated at West River and Love Roads, was a popular resort during the 1890's and the first part of this century. There was a hotel set in a pleasant wooded park and various amusement devices.
Many steamers, among them the Silver Spray and the Island Belle, left Buffalo, usually somewhere near the foot of Main Street, for the resorts during the summer months. The comfort of travel provided by these steamers, as well as the excellent food and amusements waiting at journey's end, induced many political and social organizations to charter one of the boats for the day. The various German singing societies used to make such trips. They were accompanied by their own bands.
Sometimes these parties stopped at Eagle Park, Edgewater Park and Sour Spring Grove, also called Eldorado.
The Bedell House on the East River was the scene of many a gay picnic and dance. The little steamer Ossian Bedell carried the guests down river from Buffalo. The grounds were especially lovely, and boasted fine old trees and a beautiful rose garden.
Bedell House, as it appeared before it burned, was one of the flourishing hotels on the Island.
Most of these resorts went out of business just before or after World War I. The causes that contributed to the decline of this type of business were varied and complex. The growing popularity of the automobile enabled people to travel many miles in a short time to other areas along the Canadian and American shores and to inland regions. The opening of the Canadian lakeshore resorts, especially, took away much of the trade.
Sometimes disastrous fires destroyed resorts on the island. In the case of Eagle Park, the collapse of the dock on June 23, 1912, causing 37 deaths, seemed to mark the end of the era of gay river parties. The Buffalo Launch Club, however located on East River Road, still is functioning. It is the host for many racing events each season.
1887 -- McComb House built, later opened as the Island Club.
C. 1900 -- The largest club in the early 1900s was the Oakfield, with over 400 members.
The McComb House on the West River was an imposing hotel for its day.
Summer resorts included the Sheenwater,, Bedell House, Eagle Park, Edgewater, and Sour Spring Grove (Eldorado), Oakfield Club. Most of these resorts went out of business just before or after World War I.
1912 -- The Eagle Park resort dock collapsed on June 23, 1912, causing 37 deaths.