Before the death knell of the lake was sounded as a summer playground to become a future source of urban drinking water, picturesque Hemlock Lake was the scene of a bustling summertime activity in July and August.
Steamboats crowded with sight-seers and picnic throngs plied importantly the seven-mile length of the lake where now only an occasional fishing boat is seen. There was a metropolitan flavor about its hotels that catered to a thriving summer tourist business. Attracted by th fame of the scenic resort many New York City residents summered here with their families and summer boarders and cottagers froom other large cities of the state trekked here for seasonal stays.
The summer resort began about 1850. Its lush, tree-fringed shores knew a mushroom growth. Summer cottages sprang up in quick succession, three-storied hotels were built, and farm houses became summer boarding places. In the heydey of the lakeside community more than 160 cottages, boarding places, and hotels formed the resort representing a summer population of from 1,500 to 2,000 persons.
Passenger boats were placed upon the lake in the transportation enterprise and the crowds of vacationers, as well as mail and provisions were carried to cottages and camps on the steam-operated craft. In 1861 during the Civil War the Jaques House, a well known hostelery of the day, entertained its first guests. In 1872 the farm house was enlarged to accomodate 100 guests.
The launching of the Seth Green, first large steamboat here, from the Lake Shore House, drew crowds of onlookers. The countryside as well as the summer colony turned out for the event, cannons were fired, speaches were made, and the Lima Coronet Band played martial music as the little steam-propelled passenger boat started proudly down the lake on its maiden voyage. The launcing of the boat, which took place June 25, 1874, marked the beginning of a new era for the lake and the starting point of profitable business venture for backers of the project. Built in Buffalo, its engine made in Corning, the 38-foot boat proved an instant success and was followed closely by the Corabelle. The Mollie, constructed on the style of the large lake steamers with a pilot house on top, measured 60 feet in length and accommodated even larger crowds.
There was no brilliance of electric lighting edging the shores at night but lanterns and torches hung aloft by cottagers and campers shed a soft illumination on the lake remembered pleasantly by former residents here. There was no heavy chug of motor boat heard. Sailing was the popular summer pastime and trim-masted craft dotted the surface of the lake, it was recalled. When forced to evacuate their summer playground some of the cottagers had summer residences removed to Conesus Lake. Several houses and barns of the Hemlock locality started life as cottages on Hemlock.