 Lake Otsego - "Glimmerglass"
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The (Click any image for a larger view.) "The shores of the Otsego lake are generally high, though greatly varied. On the eastern side extends a range of steep mountains, that varies in height from four to six hundred feet." James Fenimore Cooper
William Cooper, father of the American novelist, settled Cooperstown in the late eighteenth century. Then as now the area's main industry was agriculture, an activity residents of the area would like to preserve. Many of James Fenimore Cooper's novels were set in and around Cooperstown and celebrate its magnificent wooded hills surrounding the aesthetic centerpiece, Lake Otsego, which Cooper dubbed the "Glimmerglass." Due to its very special attributes, the Otsego area evolved into a summer retreat by the middle of the 19th century. Various estates and houses were built and many still exist today. It was during this time that the Clark family began its ongoing philanthropic interest in the Cooperstown community. Their commitment and foresight provided much of the foundation of the current economy. The Otesaga Hotel was built on the shore of beautiful Otsego Lake in 1911. Now recognized as a "Historic Hotel of America," the Otesaga is the gracious keystone of tourism in the area. Cooperstown is central quarters for the New York State Historical Association, with thousands of members across the state and country. The offices of the Association, a non-governmental educational organization, are in Fenimore House Museum, a mile from the center of town. The Association operates school-based statewide educational programs, and produces publications, including two quarterlies, New York History and Heritage. It hosts the Cooperstown Graduate Program in Museum Studies, with alumni in museums around the country and abroad. It also administers two separate museums, The Farmers' Museum, established in 1943, and Fenimore House Museum, which opened its doors in 1945, built on the site of a James Fenimore Cooper residence, Fenimore Farm. The Museums attract over 100,000 visitors annually. In addition, the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum currently attracts 300,000 visitors each year. Arguably Cooperstown's most famous icon, The Hall of Fame, established in 1939, is located on Main Street as is the equally famous Doubleday Field. Offering tradition, beauty and a variety of historical and cultural offerings, Cooperstown is a tourist mecca for the nation and also increasingly draws international visitors. Cooperstown is also home to Bassett Healthcare. Established in 1922, Bassett has grown to be the largest employer in the County with more than 2,200 employees. It is one of the best known rural teaching hospitals in the nation. It offers state-of-the-art medical services to local residents as well as patients from Binghamton, the Adirondacks, Albany and Syracuse. Bassett Healthcare continues to add many outreach centers in Central New York as the delivery system for medical service changes. The growing use of telecommunications has allowed small and medium-size business to bloom in Cooperstown. Entrepreneurs are establishing consulting, public relations, publishing and importing firms. Modern communications methods allow them to enjoy small-town life while maintaining contact with distant clientele. |
