westfield

In 2019 on our way from Wisconsin to Niagara Falls we stopped at the Thompson/ Grand River KOA in Thompson, Oh. It was a nice large campground in proximity to some very nice rail trails. Unfortunately it was booked for the weekend so we made reservations in the Westfield Lake Erie KOA for 3 nights. While setting up it rained which is always a downer but it was an on and off rain so we completed our task without getting soaked. when the rain let up we walked in the campground and Ottaway Park. A small park across the
street
Bridge over campground stream

For years this Obelisk along the park road was a mystery. We couldn't really read what it said "Jack's Road" However Debby researched and found that Jack was a beloved barber in Westfield, The mystery was solved in 2011 by Marybelle Beiugh the town historian. You can read about it here in the Westfield Republican http://www.westfieldrepublican.com/page/content.detail/id/511884/Ottaway-Park-provides-another-history-mystery.html?nav=5065

The next day we went back to Ottaway Park to walk and look for a Geocache There was also a Geocache along on the road bumper guards on the way to the Barcelona Harbor which we went to on Sunday when the rain stopped .

Since the park only afforded us a quarter mile walk we continued our walk by going along the road about a mile to the Barcelona
Harbor, beach and Light House,
Barcelona harbor

After walking to and around the harbor we drove to the town of Westfield and continued our walk.
Dr Thomas Welch created Grape Juice in Vineland, N.J.in 1869. His son Charles moved the company to Westfield NY grapes being the biggest product in the area in 1893. The headquarters building in Westfield was built in 1910 and is currently on the market. In 1956 the Company was sold to The National Grape Growers Association located in Concord Massachusetts although they still grow grapes and bottle juice in Westfield.Two statues stand in a small corner park in Westfield depicting Abraham Lincoln and 11 year 0ld Grace Bedell. On October 15, 1860 11 year old Grace Bedell wrote to Mr Lincoln advising him that whiskers would improve his image. Lincoln took her advice and by the time of his inaugural tour he had a full beard. The tour included Westfield, NY upon arrival he asked to meet Grace. In July of 1999 the park was dedicated to commemorate the event.
Welch Grape Juice building

After our stay in Westfield we were planning to return to Thompson for 4 nights but while driving past it I realized I didn’t want to drive back 90 miles and looked around for an alternative. It turned out that the Chautauqua Lake KOA had spots available so I booked it. As I wrote above I do like the convenience of the KOA web site and reservations system and this was one of the times it paid off. While the Westfield Lake Eire and Chautauqua Lake KOA are only 18 miles apart the Chautauqua KOA was closer to walking paths and a nicer park then the one in Westfield and we had full hookups.