News came this week that “Glenotia Island” is up for sale (for a mere $91,000). Growing up in Scotia, I never heard it called “Glenotia” — if anyone had a name for it, it was Isle of the Mohawks, and it appeared as such on maps of the time. Maps from around 1905 failed to name any of the islands except Van Slyck, the southernmost of the group of islands in that stretch of the river, which with the filling of the Binnekill has long since ceased to be an island at all, but instead is part of the grounds of SCCC.
This ad from 1917 is for the Mohawk Swimming School, which was located at Glenotia Park, on the Isle of the Mohawks. It sounds like a recreational paradise: “Large Bathing Beach — Big Diving Tower & Floating Tables. Swimming Taught in Scientific Way.” Plus tennis courts, a race track, baseball diamonds, football grounds. Even a roller skating and dancing pavilion, which were the things my grandmother and great grandmother remembered best. There was a set of stairs down from Riverside Avenue and a pontoon bridge across to the island. There was electric light, bands, dancing and romance.
The Mohawk Swimming School was established, according to the Schenectady County Historical Society’s Acadia book “Glenville,” by Werner Gewecke, who ran it from 1915 to 1930. He lived at 151 Riverside Avenue in Scotia. He was a German immigrant who listed his occupation in 1920 as “constructor” for a boat company.
Werner Gewecke is my Great Grandfather..I have many many pictures of him and his family at the swimming School.. His job is listed incorrectly. He was an Engineer at GE. He didn’t have a boat, and was not a constructor.. just thought I would contribute to make sure the history was accurate. he came to Scotia in about 1897ish built is house and then sent for my Great Grandmother in 1902. they had one daughter my Grandmother Ruth Gewecke Perdue.
Thanks for that. The reference to his being a “constructor” for a boat company was simply what was listed in the 1920 census.
Do any of your photos show swimming at the lake? Was there a dock/pavillion? I have a photo of my grandmother that I wonder is from that location.
It is my understanding (from my grandmother and great grandmother) there was a pavilion on the island, which is mentioned in the ad above, and possibly a dock as well as the bridge shown above. I’ll look through my Scotia and Glenville books and see if any of them include further pictures. Swimming was in the river.
The Grems-Doolittle Library at SCHS has posted several pictures which may be of help:
https://gremsdoolittlelibrary.blogspot.com/2019/04/glenotia-park.html
I’ll look through my Great grandmother’s photo album and see what kind of pictures I can dig up. I know their daughter my grandmother gave me two books about Scotia and my great grandfather is mentioned in the books and how he built and started the swimming School. I LOVE the one picture when I scroll down he is the one wearing the hat and holding the life perserver.
If you have pics you’d like to share, you can email them to hoxsie.org[@]gmail.com — forgive the symbol, trying to limit spam.