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Photographs: Grand Island History
William Cleveland Allen's Villa at River Lea

Bedell House history beneath illustrations


Click on illustrations for larger size -- and additional information

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Parmelia Bedell, owner of the Bedell House

Ossian Bedell, owner of the Bedell House

Bedell House.
See
Bedell House history
beneath illustrations on this page.

Bedell House

Bedell House, circa 1880s -
1 of 9 pen and ink drawings by Albion Ende,
artist and reporter for the Island Dispatch.
The prints are on display and available for purchase at
deSignet International.
The set of nine prints sell for $75.00

Bedell House

The Ossian Bedell,
the steamer to the Bedell House, circa 1900
- pen and ink drawing by Albion Ende

Buffalo Launch Club, circa 1915 - pen and ink drawing by Albion Ende

Richard Pettit Country Store
and the 1st Post office, circa 1902
- pen and ink drawing by Albion Ende

Edgewater

Edgewater - pen and ink drawing by Albion Ende

Falconwood Club House

Falconwood Club House, circa 1880 - pen and ink drawing by Albion Ende

A panoramic photo of the
dedication of the Grand Island Bridge, July 15, 1935

Huth Road School #3
- pen and ink drawing by Albion Ende

Home of John Nice,
Grand Island 1st supervisor, circa 1880 - pen and ink drawing by Albion Ende

The Oakfield Club

Ortner's business in Buckhorn

Tinted picture of the Pierce Farm gardens

The Pierce Farm Pagoda boat house

River Lawn

River Lawn

Boathouse built by
James W. Tillinghast at River Lea.

SS Corona

Whitehaven Settlement and Sawmill,
circa 1837 - pen and ink drawing by Albion Ende


Bedell House

For those who could not afford exclusive club membership, Ossian Bedell, a Vermont native, built the Bedell House on land purchased from Allenton Farm. This hotel was very famous and had a large farm to supply dairy products and produce. It had a laundry, livery stable, lovely rose gardens, croquet lawns and some cottages. The 1877 building was destroyed by fire on New Year's day. Ten years later it was rebuilt and stood until 1935 when fire destroyed it again.

An interesting story about the 1935 Bedell House fire is that the South Grand Island Bridge had just been completed, but was not yet open to the public. They had not yet had their official opening ceremonies. The Grand Island Fire Co. obtained permission for the Sheridan Park Fire Co. to use the bridge to come across to help fight the fire. They didn't save the building, but were the first ones to use the bridge.

Again it was rebuilt and stood at the water's edge until fire destroyed it a third time, in March 1988. All that remains presently is Rose Cottage, a house in Ferry Village, and a hot dog stand.



Special thanks to Grand Island Historical Society President Curt Nestark for his cooperation
and
Grand Island Historical Society Historian Dottie Roehrig for her assistance


Photos and their arrangement © 2006 Chuck LaChiusa
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