New book benefits Lawson Center | News, Sports, Jobs

Fletcher “Ned” Ward, author of “Other Boats” from Chautauqua Lake, presents the book to Maureen Stahley of the Lawson Center. Also present are Craig Butler and David Wesp, former TLC presidents.

Fletcher Ward, a local historian and author, has published his seventh book.

Chautauqua’s Other Boats is a compendium of the history of 34 boats that served on Chautauqua Lake. Famous boats such as the Ossabaw, the schooner Mink, the Adonde (Seahorse), Ralph Sheldon’s Seasled My Girl, and the legendary Onosee are among those featured. Also discussed are some of Chautauqua’s workboats, such as Nathan Brown’s supply boat, Erastus Sands’ ferry, the ferries at Fluvanna and Greenhurst, the two ferries at Bemus Point, the “horse boats” of Chautauqua Lake, and the three different versions of the gadfly. For those who enjoy learning about more unusual boats, there are chapters on “cycle boats,” a “folding boat,” and even a boat made of hoods.

The book is the second Ward has written, and 100% of the proceeds from the sale were donated to the Lawson Center. Ward was the author of The History of Chris Craft Corporation’s Jamestown Division, which tells the story of the mahogany boat maker in Falconer. The printing of that book was funded by a donation from the Chautauqua Regional Community Foundation, so 100% of the book sales benefited the boat museum.

The Lawson Center has only printed 200 copies of this book, and the first edition should sell quickly. If the book is well received, the author will write Chautauqua’s Other Boats, Volume II this winter and also donate that work to the boat museum.

Chautauqua’s Other Boats is available exclusively at the Lawson Center at 73 Lakeside Drive in Bemus Point. The center is open Wednesdays and Sundays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.