Save the Cupola!
The Plan
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Restore the historic Cupola and place it in Angler Boat park along the Keuka Outlet trail to create a sense of place.
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Link to the rich history of Yates County and specifically Penn Yan,
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Provide a historic destination point for tourists and locals.
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Offer school education programs to students - especially 4th grade - and the community.
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Provide a sense of unity between the historic markers along the Outlet and our revitalized downtown.
Preserving Our Past
Since 1990, when the Empire State Winery Cupola was saved from demolition, it has stood silently waiting to be restored to its former glory. In its day the illuminated cupola, atop the beautiful stone building, helped guide steamboats into the Keuka Lake Outlet and the Port of Penn Yan, so that their cargo of grapes could be loaded onto trains and shipped to New York City.
Today, inspired by the vision of those who originally saved the Cupola, and those who are committed to Saving the Cupola today, we are working with architects and local contractors to see this dream come true.
Telling the Story
Thanks to the development planned along the lake near where the cupola now sits, and the extension of the Keuka Outlet Trail from the boat launch to Red Jacket Park, we have one last and wonderful opportunity to save and restore this historic structure and place it on the extended Keuka Outlet Trail. Here it will tell the story of the Keuka Outlet as “Yates County’s Pathway through History", by telling the story of Penn Yan's role in the growth of the wine industry during the Steamboat Era. Between 1865 and 1890 many vineyards were planted and about 8500 acres of Finger Lakes vineyards produced 11,000 tons of grapes a year. The 1890s saw the development of local orchards producing peaches, plums, apricots, cherries and apples. Yates County became the fruit basket capitol of New York State. Factories opened to produce grape boxes and baskets used for picking and shipping. In 1892, Yates County Basket-makers produced about 3 million baskets. Peach baskets made in Yates County were exactly the same shape as basketball hoops and were allegedly the game’s inspiration. With this booming industry, the Fall Brook Railroad, a branch of The New York Central, became the transportation of goods to New York City and beyond.
Forging our Future
Education is the key to forging our future and enriching our community's vitality. Collaborating with our schools to create local history curricula for Fourth Grade students, High School units that tell the story of the settlers in yates County and how they established thriving industries that made Yates County what it is today, will help instill a sense of place and a desire to forge the future in our young people. Programming for adults and families will take place throughout the year in the form of displays and presentations.