A Birthday for a Piano?

Cooperstown-Richfield Springs: The guests arrived at the Lake House in September 1912 to unveil the new Milton Baby Grand Piano built and purchased in New York City for the entertainment of the guests at this famous resort on the shores of Canadarago Lake just outside of Richfield Springs that was famous in that era for its Sulfur Baths. Little would these guests imagine that the Lake House would be planning the Piano’s 100th birthday party in 2012. When Frank Chiodo from Richfield Springs heard about the party, he said “It sounds fun and funny. Do you bring a piano a present? Will there be cake? Does the piano play “Happy Birthday” to itself?”

But in the end, there is much more to the story than that- since the Lake House opened in 1843, it has become the home of great music and entertainment in the Cooperstown area. Many guests were delighted by Tommy Dorsey and his band with singer Frank Sinatra and Nelson Riddle on the trombone with Dorsey playing Boogie Woogie in 1940 at the Lake House. Then there is the story of Benny Goodman playing at the Lake House. Joann and Teresa Maneen from the “Balloon Farm” in Frankfort tell the story about how their dad met their mother. Their mom had come with a group of girlfriends to dance at the Lake House. Her dad was popular with the girls because he was such a good dancer. “He was such a great dancer that the ladies would pay him a nickel for a dance with him,” says Joann, “that old fox always loved to dance.” He said it was love at first sight when he saw their mom. He was so enamored that he went outside and blocked in the Dorsey bus so that the evening would last longer. She was his favorite and only dance partner from that moment on. The Lake House was famous for the Big Bands of the 20’s, 30’s and 40’s.

The Milton Baby Grand that has been a part of the Lake House for 100 years has been there for Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey and many other local musicians since 1912. Now the Lake House is keeping with its made in America pledge, plays the American Songbook through its affiliation with ASCAM with royalties going to American composers such as Burt Bacharach, Hal David, Cole Porter, Johnny Mercer to name but a few. The American Songbook is played every day at the Lake House. The Lake House’s own singer/songwriter Alison Stewart of Sharon Springs keeps the tradition alive of delighting guests with live music from the American Songbook and other popular music every weekend.

Please be sure to make a Holiday Memory around the 100 year old Milton piano this year and listen to the American Songbook. Remember the Lake House has been making memories since 1843. Stop in and make your own memory soon.