Historic Train Depot Mayville NY

This train depot located at 16 Water Street depicting the railroad tracks located on the site of the Chautauqua Lake Pops was originally the Pennsylvania Railroad Station.  The station was constructed in 1925 and is a 1 1/2 story, brick structure with an overhanging hip roof.  The building measures 117 by 29 feet and replaced a building constructed in 1871. The depot is on a prominent spot along the shoreline at the head of Chautauqua Lake, close to one end of the historic "Portage Trail" used by Native Americans and later by French explorers and soldiers.  There was a trolley stop by the Chautauqua Traction Company with service beginning in 1906. Notable visitors to the station included Harry Houdini, magic's greatest showman, daredevil and escape artist; President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the 32nd President of the United States and the Liberty Bell.  The Liberty Bell came through Chautauqua County in 1915 aboard the Liberty Bell Express on its last display journey that took it into Buffalo from Pittsburgh and Mayville, across NYS and eventually to its permanent home in Philadelphia PA.



"After traveling from Youngstown Ohio to Pittsburgh PA, the Liberty Bell Express headed North on the original Allegheny Valley Railroad through Kittanning PA and Oil City PA.  After those stops, instead of heading Northeast toward Warren PA on a track that may have taken the Liberty Bell through Cattaraugus County, the train traveled North through Titusville PA to hook up with the Chautauqua branch of the Pennsylvania R.R. on a more direct route to Buffalo.  According to a story in the November 24, 1915 Buffalo Evening News, the train left Mayville for Dunkirk at 6:21 a.m. well behind schedule due to the crowds clamoring to see its priceless passenger at every stop.  Scheduled to arrive in Buffalo at 7:30 that morning via the Lake Shore track, the train didn't show until almost 9 a.m."



The former Pennsylvania R.R. can be traced back to 1867 when the Buffalo, Oil Creek and Cross Cut Railroad ran through the village from Corry PA to Brocton NY.  The original station was built by the Buffalo, Corry and Pittsburgh Railroad as a means to get the large influx of summer tourists to the area.  Sadly, it later burned on May 24, 1923.  

Through many mergers, consolidations and acquisitions over the years, the rail lines became owned by the Western New York and Pennsylvania Railroad which later began using simply Pennsylvania Railroad.  After the original station burned, PRR appropriated money to build a new station on the same site as the original and subsequently opened it for business during the summer of 1925.

The last passengers arrived at the station during the summer of 1949 and the building was abandoned by the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1950.  The property was purchased by the Village of Mayville in 1968, but the Chautauqua Town Historical Society did not start leasing part of the station for a museum until 1977. 

Today's historic train depot was added to the National Registry of Historic Places on August 6, 1993.

Train Depot 1871

Circa 1874

Be Safe.

Pat Locke

Maestro Muse 

Gail Gagnon, Pops Volunteer 2019

Gail sent me a wonderful volunteer response about visiting the county when she was growing up, eventually raising her family and traveling to Bemus Point for the Pops. Gail knew she wanted to be a part of the Pops organization when it relocated to Mayville during the summer of 2019.  Thank you, Gail.



"My family spent many summer vacations in Chautauqua when I was a kid so I grew up with many great memories of the area.  When I had my own family, we rented a home on the lake and decided that we had to spend time here.  Actually, we ended up in Fredonia on Lake Erie, but always drifted to Chautauqua Institution, Bemus Point and the quaint towns along the way."


"Loving music and enjoying the socializing .. when I heard the Pops was coming to Mayville, I knew that I wanted to be involved in some way. Volunteering at the performances was the perfect combination.  The guests were receptive to the new venue and many were curious about the history of the former train depot.  Dan's crew was enthusiastic, kind and helpful people .. coupled with determination.  We all worked together to get the first year off with as few glitches as possible. We had repeat guests during the summer and learned more and more about each other every time.  Giving the guests a memorable evening was our goal .. good music and a friendly reception when arriving."

Gail has eloquently expressed her love of the Pops while ushering patrons to their seats, answering questions and providing an overall fun Pops experience!  Gail looks forward to seeing everyone in 2021 .. familiar faces and new faces!


Be Safe.  Make It Mayville!

Pat Locke
Maestro Muse

Thank you to all who served and to all who are currently serving.  God Bless.

Be Safe.

Pat Locke

Maestro Muse

Introducing the 2012 season for the Bemus Bay Pops concert series was tribute performer Donna Huber as Shania Twain. Huber took to the floating stage on Sunday, June 24 at 2:30.  The show, sponsored by Star Media Group, brought one of the best-known and most well respected Shania Twain tribute acts to the Bemus Bay Pops.

Donna's childhood was not a typical one.  Her father was in retail and was transferred frequently.  Because Donna traveled often as a child, this type of life became normal for her and she continues to travel to this day because of the entertainment business she has chosen.  After leaving home, Donna settled in the small village of Thessalon, Ontario.  She resided there for 3 years and was extremely successful with her small bakery business which she operated from her farm house situated on 160 acres of land.

Later, she moved to Sudbury to live and work with her sister.  It was here that she was surprised and pleased to receive compliments from strangers commenting on how she looks like Shania Twain.  Even Shania Twain, herself, had commented after seeing a poster of Donna ..  "I thought that was me!  Donna is the best "Shania Twain' Tribute out there."

Donna put in countless hours practicing to sing like Shania, watching her videos over and over, studying to emulate her moves and the way she presented herself.  Donna met with an agent in the music business and after listening to her sing and not to mention her uncanny resemblance to one of country music's most beautiful and successful women, it was obvious that Donnia was about to embark on something that would change her life forever.

They worked to put a band together, practiced for a few months and the rest is history! Donna has been on the road since March of 1996 as the most successful tribute act in Canada and throughout the United States and Europe.

I would imagine that her most requested song might be .. Man! I Feel Like A Woman! Here is the real Shania Twain singing .. Man! I Feel Like A Woman!

Be safe.

Pat Locke
Maestro Muse

Bemus Bay Pops .. "It Benefits Everybody"

Segments of this story were written by Emily Wynn, Jamestown Gazette writer during the time of the Bemus Bay Pops in Bemus Point NY.  Take time out of your day and return with me to a magical time in Bemus Point's musical history.

An economic impact study showed that Bemus Bay Pops brought 12 million dollars of economic development to Bemus Point and the surrounding towns. The floating stage and the Bemus Bay Pops concert series “not only had a cultural impact on the region, it had an economic impact,” said Dan Dalpra, owner of the Italian Fisherman restaurant and Founder of Bemus Bay Pops.

Bemus Bay Pops started in 1998 on the roof of the Italian Fisherman, when Dalpra wanted to put on an end-of-summer event. He believes that music and art bring people together regardless of socioeconomic class, political party or religious beliefs.

“A lot of people don’t get the opportunity to hear a symphony and to hear them play music they’re familiar with,” Dalpra said. He and his wife, Sue Dalpra wanted to create a show that appealed to many people presenting them with a symphony orchestra which plays both classical and pop music.

For five years, the group called the Bemus Bay Pops performed on the roof of the Italian Fisherman. Daplra wanted to expand the program and bring new excitement to Bemus, so he started brainstorming. “No one had ever heard of a floating stage before.” Dalpra and his associates developed the floating stage to take advantage of normally underutilized space: the shallow water of Lake Chautauqua.

The floating stage itself, at 3,600 square feet, has no trouble holding a full orchestra. In fact, it can support over 70,000 pounds, approximately the weight of an 18-wheeler semi-truck. Waves rock the stage slightly, but many air-filled pods underneath keep it stable and afloat.

During Winter the stage goes on vacation. If it stayed anchored near the edge of the lake, ice would form around the edges and slowly crush the stage. Instead, it is floated down the lake at the end of each season to Holiday Harbor in Celoron, NY, where it resides until Spring.

Dalpra refers to his concert series as “a nice new addition to the area that benefits everybody.” And benefit everybody it does. The 12 million dollars of economic stimulation came from what Dalpra terms “the trickle-down effect.” Short-term revenue is created when performers and concert-goers stay in hotels, eat at restaurants and bars and visit local establishments.

Many people fall in love with the area, like Dalpra did. Families make vacation plans, buy or rent summer homes and keep boats along the lake. Though the Pops draws people in, what makes them stay are the other attractions in the area: skiing, wineries, microbreweries, the Lucy Desi Museum and the National Comedy Center.

Family drives Dalpra’s dreams for Bemus Point. He and his wife raised their family in Chautauqua County, where they have lived for 34 years. Consequently, he is invested in the future of his own children and the future of the community. He hopes that the massive economic spinoff of the Bemus Bay Pops will make young people want to move back to the area to start careers, businesses and families.

The Italian Fisherman employs more than 150 people, many of whom are students funding their college educations. Bemus Bay Pops offers Cultural Excellence Scholarships to high school seniors who show promise in a discipline of the arts.

Popular tribute bands and national recording artists grace the stage with all genres in more than 50 shows throughout the summer. The Labor Day finale, on September 3, features fireworks and a celebration of Frank Sinatra’s 100th birthday. The Bemus Bay Pops Symphony Orchestra will perform a variety of music.

The floating stage doesn’t just present concerts. It also presents Lake Night at the Movies which are free Tuesday night screenings presenting family-friendly movies on both sides of the stage to accommodate audiences on both land and on water.

Chautauqua Lake Choice, a vocal competition, gives local vocalists a chance to compete for cash and studio recording time. The contestants receive professional mentoring and the opportunity to perform in front of live audiences. The competition’s round of performances begins on July 11.

Come see the Chautauqua Lake Water Ski Circus Show, featuring the award-winning Chippewa Lake Water Ski Show Team. Circovation! — a theatrical street-type performance that fuses vaudeville and traditional circus entertainment — accompanies the Ski Show Team from the floating stage.

The Pops sponsors free waterski lessons at the Lawson Center on the morning of both performances. These lessons are open to anyone over the age of five, no experience needed. One student will perform in each Water Ski Circus Show.

Nineteen years after its conception, Bemus Bay Pops is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. “We could’ve never done any of this without the generosity of the sponsors we have,” Dalpra said. Many local businesses donate time and money to help make the various shows happen. The concert series unites these businesses in the community under a common goal .. bringing arts to the people .. it's what we do.

Be Safe.  See you in 2021!  Make It Mayville!

Pat Locke
Maestro Muse