Mexico Parks

Mexico Community Park                  

Richard Diehl, Manager
64 South Jefferson Street
PO Box 98
Mexico, NY 13114

315) 963-8977

To reserve the Community Park for a party, picnic or any
special event, please call Rich to schedule usage to
guarantee your spot.

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 Mexico Point State Park                  

Bessie Maude, first                  Walking Trail                         Picnic, Swimming,
  of the "Park People"             to Historic Spy Island                     Family fun

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History

Today, all that remains of the original Mexico Point summer resort are
the thick stone walls, the fireplace, the heavy chains that connect the pillars
at the entrances, and the memories. 

 The original Mexico
 Point Club was built
 before the turn of the 
 century. William Wight
 was the proprietor for
 many years. The hotel
 was badly damaged by
 fire, and a few years
 later it was acquired by
 the Hungerford estate.
 Mexico Point Club
 was rebuilt in 1906 and quickly became a thriving summer resort.

 Prior to the advent of the automobile, the resort was popular with
vacationers who stayed for several weeks, with some staying for the
entire summer. Guests were met at the railroad station by a
horse-drawn bus, which took them to the lake.  Reservations were
always necessary.

The Hungerford’s rebuilt the resort and operated it for many years until
it again suffered a damaging fire.

Frank Davis purchased the property and built Mexico Point Club.  During
the 1930’s, Mexico Point Club was a popular destination for many who
enjoyed boating, swimming, clambakes and a "nightclub" atmosphere.  
The "Club" was noted for its dance floor which was said to be the best
one around.

In 1930, William Casey, a professor at Columbia University, and Severin
Bischof, an artist, turned the carriage house into an 11the Century manor
house. 

 During the 1930’s, Mexico Point
 Club held weekly clambakes. The
 ninety-foot sandy beach was used 
 by townspeople who enjoyed swim-
 ming and sunbathing.  The 90-foot
 beach also had a hot dog stand 
 and row boats to rent.

 Art Magnuson, a retired school
 teacher from New Jersey, built a
cottage on the bluff on the west side
of the Salmon River.  He ran the hot dog stand and rented Thompson boats. 

Later he worked at the Sherman Hardware store and his wife, Mary, became
a school librarian in Mexico. He also started the first Laundromat on Route 3
in the village.

Mexico townspeople could drive down through the park past the hotel and
leave their cars on the beach.  It was always full of swimmers on warm
summer days.

During the 1940’s, Carmen Basilio and Joey DeJohn, used the hotel as a s
ummer training camp. It remained a popular place for dances, clambakes,
and other social gatherings until the fire.

In the 1950’s, the Mexico Point club was sold to Joseph and Frank Marano
and Joseph DeSalvo of Fulton.  They operated the Mexico Point Club until
the fire in 1952.     

 In the 1960’s the property was purchased by     the State of New York.  The mouth of the
 Little Salmon River was diverted to the east,  break walls were built and the Mexico Point Boat Launch was established.  The western side of the Little Salmon was closed to the public. 

     
       Mexico Point Club Fire - 1952
 

In 1992, Grace Roop and a group of dedicated citizens were able    to negotiate   a Cooperative Agreement between the State of New     York and the Town of Mexico.  This agreement allows the Town of Mexico to operate and maintain the 122 acre site as a public park known now know as Mexico Point State Park.

For over 100 years Mexico Point was “the place to be”, and now, thanks to the creation of Mexico Point State Park, it still is.

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Casey's Cottage

Casey’s Cottage, nestled among the giant oaks beside the beautiful beach at Mexico Point, is truly a “gem.” Across the lush lawns to the west of the cottage are the stone foundation and magnificent ship chains along the entryway, all that remains of Orville Hungerford’s elegant Mexico Point Club House (1906).

Guests were met at the train station in Mexico and brought to the Clubhouse by a horse-drawn carriage.  The horses were returned to the carriage house.  With the advent of the automobile, horses were no longer necessary so that building was no longer needed.

The carriage house was transformed into Casey’s Cottage by two close friends, Dr. William C. Casey and Severin Bischof.  Bill Casey provided the means and Severin Bischof provided the designs.

William C. Casey (1891-1978) was a professor at Columbia University for 28 years.  His lectures attracted standing- room-only crowds. Year after year, graduating students voted his courses the “most valuable during their four years.”

Dr. Casey spent his summers at the Mexico Point Club House and during the 1930’s arranged to “take over” the three- story barn and turn it into an 11th century manor house. Seventy-nine thousand man- hours went into the building’s renovation!

They created an English manor house with many unique features. The porch was added to create a moat effect and a mariner’s compass was embedded in the concrete.  The moat’s windows are crude leaded stained glass.

The Great Hall is an L-shaped room with a magnificent fireplace. The huge fireplace, complete with chains for the hounds, are in keeping with an 11th-century manor house. Dr. Casey invented a heatilator, some say before it was manufactured in Syracuse. The heat ducts are in the firebox and in the upstairs in the hall.

Small arched windows are set in larger wooden windows.  Each opens separately.  They have wooden hinges and locks, and are weather stripped with leather.

The life-sized carvings were the creations of Severin Bischof (1893-1982).  Born in Germany, he was a master painter, who had apprenticed in Germany.  He learned to restore religious paintings and worked in the great cathedrals in Europe.  He also learned the art of cutting glass and was a decorative painter of furniture. 

In 1928, when Bischof was an art student at Syracuse University, he met Dr. Casey.  He worked for Syroco, an ornamental woodworking company.  In 1971 he exhibited his “House on the Lake”, a watercolor of Casey’s Cottage.

The medieval influence is apparent in the life-size wall carvings, including Bischof’s full-length portrait of Hamlet (current location of this painting is unknown)  that looked down from the great chimney.

The thickly-carpeted stairs lead to the balcony, bedrooms and chapel. In the chapel, Dr. Casey kept a candle lit, a memorial to his mother, and often played organ music. A Stromberg-Carlson sound system in the attic scared many a guest “out of my wits” when they heard the voice of the Lady MacBeth come out of the very walls.

Each bedroom has bunks, a cupboard, a bookshelf, and a tiny closet.  The bedrooms lead from one to the other and open into the hall. Each room has a small sink plus there is an elegant marble sink in the hall above the staircase.  The windows once were covered with sateen draperies and the bunks with satin coverlets.

Casey continued to visit the cottage, when his health permitted, until his death in 1978.  In 1982, Severin Bischof’s ashes were placed by his son, John, at the edge of the English-style garden located where the river and land meet in back of the cottage.

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                              Park Usage Information & Application

                                        Park Usage Information

We are happy that you are considering Mexico Point Park as the location for your event.
The following guidelines will help you determine the cost and availability of the park for yourspecial day.  You can find us at www.mexicony.net/parks or on Facebook at Casey's Cottage.

To make a reservation please complete the attached form and return to Friends of MexicoPoint Park, Inc., P O Box 326, Mexico, NY  13114, along with the appropriate donation.

Please call Betty at 963-7657 or our park caretaker at 963-8216 if you have any questions or wish to discuss options in more detail.  We look forward to working with you to make your event a success.

a.  Area Reservation(s) - A non-refundable donation of $25 for Mexico town residents and$50 donation for non-residents for each area reserved.

b.  Pavilion Rental- $500 donation to reserve the pavilion and inside foundation for the
day, or you may reserve the pavilion for $50 per hour.  A fee of $100 will be charged if
garbage is left on the property.  You are responsible for any damage to the facilities that may
occur.  $250 of the reservation fee may be refunded if you cancel the reservation 30 days
prior to the event.

c.  Casey's Cottage:  Donation of $50 per hour for use of Casey's Cottage.  Casey's Cottage
is an unique setting for your business meeting, small dinner parties, birthday or anniversary
parties, or any small gathering.  The size of the cottage limits party size to a maximum of 50
persons. 
d.  Parking - due to safety concerns and limited parking space, no event of over 150 peopleis permitted at the park unless specifically arranged with MPP. Two parking attendants must be provided for events of 50 or more persons.  The park can provide parking attendants for $ 20 per hour.

e.  Limitations-See Park Usage Application.  No reservations are being accepted for the 4th of
July and Labor Day.

f.  All events must end and clean-up complete by 9 p.m. unless previously arranged with the
park supervisor.

g. Only bird seed, or live flower petals may be thrown during weddings, etc.

Your donation should be included with the application to ensure your reservation. 
If the date you choose is not available we will be happy to return your donation.

August 2011

Responsible person/group Name______________________________________________________

Address _____________________________ City _______________State____ Zip Code ________

Telephone # ______________ email ______________________

Date requested: ____________________, Time _________a.m. or p.m.  Estimated # _____________

General Description of Event:  ________________________________________________________

·         Events mustend and guests must leave the property by 9 p.m.  Those responsible
for the event my stay until 10 p.m. to finish cleaning up.

·         All equipmentand garbage must be removed by 10 a.m. the following day unless
prior arrangements have been made with the park manager relating to tents, tables, etc.

·         All set-upmust be done prior to 11 a.m. or after 7 p.m.
                                                                               
                                                                             *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

Please reserve the indicated area of the park for the above event (limit of 2 areas may be
reserved):

___ Flagpole Area…(see Park Usage Information)……………….……. Cost ________

___ Lower Picni Area 1.(see Park Usage Information)..…………..….…Cost ________

___ Lower Picnic Area 2: …(see Park Usage Information)…….……….Cost ________  

___Upper Picnic Area: .. (see Park Usage Information)…..……………..Cost ________

 ___Pavilion: ... …..(see Park Usage Information)………………………..Cost ________

 ___Casey's Cottage:  $50.00 per hour……..# of Hours   _______.......Cost ________

____Parking Attendants (2 @ $10 per hour)..........................................Cost________ 

Total Enclosed……………………………………..…………………..……$___________

I agree to adhere to the rules and regulations of the New York State Park Authority and
Mexico Point State Park .

Signed __________________________________________Date________________

Return application along with your donation to:

Friends of Mexico Point Park, Inc. ,  P O Box 326,  Mexico, NY  13114

Please call 315/963-7657 or 315/963-8216 if you have any questions or need more information.

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Office use only:    ack. receipt ____     Amt. received _____   calendar _____

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CC

You are cordially invited

To a one-day

Mid Summer’s Feast

In the glade at Mexico Point Park

August 16, 2012

At 7:00 to 9:30 PM

You will be transported to the days of Merry Olde England, greeted by Queen Edwina of Mexico Shire, her staff and bold knights while being entertained by actors, singers, harper and flutist.   You will feast under cover on the green, and be served a sumptuous repast of roast pig and skewered foul, accompanied by delights from the king’s garden and libation of grape and grog.

This and more is yours for a mere donation of 30 pieces of silver (20 for children under 12 years), the proceeds from which support maintenance and restoration of Casey’s Cottage.

Seating is limited.  Reserve your place early by contacting Lady B at (315)963-7657.