Thursday, October 9, 2014

Glenn H. Curtiss Museum - Hammondsport, NY



October 8th - Wednesday - Partly Cloudy, Windy, fall day in New York State.

We arrived at our campsite at Camp Bell in Campbell, NY on Tuesday afternoon and got set up and enjoyed a leisure dinner of escalloped potatoes and pork chops, some of Krista’s homemade apple sauce and fresh green beans.  I had baked some pumpkins bars and brought them along for dessert and they tasted good with some fresh coffee.  With the site that we were assigned we were able to get our dish television to work, and Lou was delighted and right at home.  We were able to get in a nice walk while our dinner baked in the oven.

It was a beautiful evening, it reached 72 degrees and a beautiful sunset that we could view from our window.  It rained during the night and when we awoke in the morning, the sun was out and we had a quick breakfast of Canadian Bacon and eggs and we were off to the Curtiss Museum.  What a delight that was, we spent almost five hours in there.

I have been readying books about early women in aviation and they had a section on that depicting the pioneers in that situation.  Mr. Curtiss was instrumental in the invention of the motorcycle and I was amazed to see an Indian Cycle 1911.

We saw a motor cycle with a side car that Mr. Curtis made for his wife, the car that she sat in was a wicker seat.  Mr. Curtis set a record for the “Fastest Man in the World” in 1907 at 136.36 MPH on his motor cycle.

It showed the Curtis Model June Bug that was build in 1908, many people learned to fly using this model.  He received the first pilot’s license ever issued.  Number 1 in 1911.


As we made our way through the museum, there was a display that was dedicated to World War I and World Was II, as many engines that were used were made in plants from Hammondsport, NY.  He made Seaplanes that were made for the Navy.  We found an interesting fact, that he made the first travel trailer, I think that was in 1919.

He lived 52 years and was credited with over 500 inventions during his lifetime.

Lou got to go back into the Restoration Shop and talk to Norm and they found they knew several people and had worked on one of the engines that was in the museum.

Throughout the museum, there was a display from the Corning Embroidery Guild of their handiwork and it was amazing and I had to take time to look at their work
.

Also on display were hand made doll houses and I am afraid that pictures can not do them justice.  We certainly enjoyed viewing them.

After leaving the museum, we drove into Hammondsport and ate lunch at Luna Mezza.  Lou and I ordered Seaford Bisque and a Reuben Sandwich and we each had coffee.  It was the best coffee that we have had in months.  In fact, our lunch was marvelous, the restaurant was clean and nicely decorated with lovely dining music.  Dave Fice is the manager.  Certainly a stop  worth making.  Our soup was full of tasty seafood and served piping hot.  We split our sandwich and our waitress graciously brought us an additional plate without having to ask for it.

After lunch we drove to Bully Hill Winery, it was getting late when we arrived and it was made very apparent by the staff that we didn’t have much time to taste and select our wine for purchase; however, we did make a purchase and left before they ushered us out.
This is the first travel trailer



It was interesting, as we were going up the step to the tasting room, I met a gal on the steps and she said, “don’t I know you?” I smiled at her and she then continued, she did know me from the office and we chatted for a bit and caught up on five years quickly before we parted.  Retirement is nice, but I do miss my patients!!

The View from Bully Hill was wonderful


It was a nice day and we certainly enjoyed our day at Keuka Lake.

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