Guest Book | Harvey's Lake

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199 entries.

Carol Llewellyn Dean from Evergreen, Co wrote on February 6, 2023 at 1:27 am

Summers at Harveys Lake were wonderful when I was growing up. My parents rented a cottage 70 years ago and eventually bought a home and lived the remainder of their lives there. I have very warm memories of all my time at the lake.

Gahrad Harvey from Shickshinny wrote on March 28, 2022 at 7:33 pm

I just stumbled upon the website while looking for information on my ancestor, Benjamin Harvey Sr. who found Harvey's Lake. A cousin had a copy of the history, but the author was unknown to us. I am pleased to have located that important piece of information. My family connections go back to CT through the Harvey and Talcott lines. It was interesting to learn Benjamin Harvey came from New London County (Lyme), CT. Hired by the Susquehanna Company to bring supplies to Wyoming Valley in 1769 & 1770. There were several Talcott's serving as Susquehanna Company officials according to a pocket notebook I discovered at LCHS, [i]Excerpts of Meeting Minutes of the Susquehanna Company. [i] I suspect Elizur Talcott, a grandfather on the Talcott side, may have voted to hire Benjamin. There is a Talcott ST in Swoyersville which may have been the location of Elizur Talcott's land? The Harvey and Talcott line connected when my parents, Charles Reynold Harvey and Iloe Elsie Talcott married. He was from Bethel Hill and she from Pleasant Valley which are north of Harveyville, PA. I remember going to Havery's Lake to visit Uncle Otis and Aunt Bethia Allen. They lived near the Harvey's Lake Fire Company. That was in the day you could drive around the lake and view the lake with sailboats, motorboats, water skiers, swimmers, fishermen and Hanson's Amusement Park. I wish I could have seen it back in 1781. Note, spelling error in the 3rd paragraph - Wyoming settlement. Several of Hervey’s friends and neighbors from

Sandy Lee from Noxen , Pa wrote on April 27, 2019 at 2:06 pm

So much info , great work ! I drive the Lake often & imagine what it was many years ago ... I left area in 1962 & came back in 2009 , so my memories are only from 1940’s & 50’s ... I was born in Wilkes Barre , soon moved to Shavertown , then to Dallas in the 1950’s where I graduated . We had a small cottage on Lake & over the years had many memories of time spent on the lake ... ice skating on the lake was scary because of the sounds of cracking , few visits to Sandy Beach & Hanson’s , but best of all are the times swimming off the dock & SAILING our little ALCOURT SAILFISH SAILBOAT , it was the beginning of my addiction to sailing , which I continued in MI . I’m sure our introduction to HARVEYS LAKE came... Read more

Joseph from Menziff wrote on March 27, 2019 at 11:54 am

Largest Natural Lake in Pennslyvina.

Dennis Shilanski from Stillwater, NJ wrote on August 25, 2015 at 9:19 pm

I just went back to visit the lake and I got depressed seeing that all of my childhood haunts are now gone....nothing but a distant but fond memory.I guess it's true you can never go home again.

john maleski from Allentown nj wrote on July 24, 2015 at 10:42 am

I remember going there in the late 60's early 70's . The lake had planes landing, cars that floated, bingo, where I played when I was 10! ..great pizza , going on the rides was a real treat and driving around the lake with my dad was a special treat with my cousins from Wilks...man where did the time go!

colleen brennan from bloomsburg wrote on July 15, 2015 at 9:09 pm

My mother grew up at the lake when she died we threw her ashes in there,her request. She took us all there often.

Rena from Hummel wrote on July 13, 2015 at 8:01 pm

We spent many days at the beach, bowling, amusement park and eating potato pancakes.We lived in Loomis Park and went to church in Dallas.It was nice to be able to share these with my son as we lived in old farm house by the beach.Watching parents walk around holding hands at the park. So many good memories. Live in Berwick and still go up for pancakes

Ed Fino from Levittown, PA wrote on July 13, 2015 at 4:38 pm

Former resident of W-B and Kingston sent many memorable hours at the lake swimming, I fishing, skating and at Hanson's! So a loss to the kids growing up now and in the future, who will never have those memories!

Jenn Engle from Camp Hill, Pa wrote on June 28, 2015 at 11:48 pm

I was born in 1977 in Wilkes-Barre but my parents had a home on Old Lake Rd. when I was one or two years old, which I lived in with them until I was nine. I have wonderful memories of Hanson's Amusement Park, Our Lady of Victory, Grotto, Sunset beach, the little yellow Italian ice place and the Potato Pancake house. Some of my best years were lived on that lake.

deborah salsburg slocum from Massachusetts wrote on May 18, 2015 at 10:08 pm

My father, born 1904 and reared in WIlkes-Barre, spoke about Harvey's Lake as the most enjoyable place for family vacations. Does your historical research cover the period from 1910-1935? Can we visit the lake during our family reunion this July?

John K from Reading Pa wrote on May 10, 2015 at 1:31 pm

Great memories of summers at the lake as a child in the late 60s and early 70s. Learned too scuba dive there from my Uncle Chaz or better known as Tommy Obrien at the Harveys Lake dive school and taking pontoon boat rides too Hansons. Still try too visit as much as I can for boating and eatin at Grottos Thanks for reading

John Grutta from New Jersey wrote on June 16, 2014 at 3:06 pm

My family use to visit friends in the 60's at the lake. I recall walking around the entire lake one day as my big adventure as a kid! Does anyone know the name of the dead end street (at least in the 60"s it was a dead end!) off of Lakeside, on the east side of the lake, that had houses on the left side of the block and an open field with an old stone silo in it on the opposite side of the block. I recall a beer/soda distributor nearby on Lakeside also. Thanks.

JAMES O'BRIEN from WILKES BARRE, HAZLETO PA. wrote on June 4, 2014 at 4:47 pm

I WAS AT HARVEYS LAKE EACH YEAR SWINNING AND VISITNG FRIEND JOHN GONDA'S STAND.BEST HOAGIES EVER MADE. I ALSO WAS A BARTENDER FOR NICK ARNONE AT JAY'S HARVEYS LAKE FOR OVER 6 YEARS, I CALLED NICK POPPOP AND LOVED JULIE ARNONE TOO AND ALOS JOHNNY AND HIS FAMILY.SOPIE GONDA, GRADUATED WITH ME AT G.A.R. HIGH SCHOOL. WENT TO ALL THE DANCES AT HANSON AND THE LAKE. ALSO CAMPED OUT THERE. GREAT MEMORIES, ADN WONDERFUL PEOPLE. ONE TIME AT THE GROTTO I WAS WITH JOHN GONDA HAVING A BEER, AND THE OWNER WANTED TO HIRE ME AS A BARTENDER, SAID I WORK FOR NICK AND JULIE AT JAY'S LOVE NICK AND JULIE, GREAT PEOPLE, AND SAD WHEN I WENT TO THEIR WAKE ADN ALSO WHEN I FOUND OUT ABOUT JOHNNY DYING.IN FLORIDA. KNEW ALL THE KIDS WHEN THEY VISITED THEIR GRANDPARENTS AN DEVEN YOUNG NICKIE AND JOHNNY ONE TIME WE WERE... Read more

CJ from New Jersey wrote on May 17, 2014 at 7:32 am

Not a word of the ski area that used to exist at the lake. The last time I hiked up there (10 yrs) the walls of the all stone lodge were still standing.

Joseph from Mt Top wrote on March 26, 2014 at 6:28 am

Sunday morning, the air heavy, the water still like a mirror, and the smell of Howie Jones, of Jones's Potato Pancakes, making his donuts. My grandparents, Joseph and Bridget Giunta, had a small but comfy cottage between Jones' and Burke's, at pole-4. Walked to Puterbaugh's with a list grandma made up. Took me hours, as I'd skip stones, watch the fisherman, see Tommy O'Brien getting ready at the dive school. My cousin and I would hitch a ride on the Purvin Dairy truck at 6:30AM, from Wilkes Barre, to get our chores done at the lake, so we could have the rest of the day to look for things to do, LOL! All the fun we had in the late 1950's and mid 60's. Too bad the state developed Moon Lake instead of purchasing Sandy Beach and having it available for the public.

Bob Lynch from Corolla, NC wrote on March 19, 2014 at 6:21 pm

Hello to All, Just a few memories I might share. My parents, John & Loine Lynch ,lived in the summer time at Harvey's Lake since 1949 and then permanently at Pole 84 from 1960 on until they passed in the late 80's. Subsequently, I spent every summer since 1949 at a small cottage that my parents had next to the then camp grounds in Sandy Beach. I remember the out door movie theater where for 25c you could pay to sit on a bench and watch a movie. My Dad started the first Bingo at Sunset in 1949, then opened the one in Sandy Beach before returning to the location at Sunset.which he operated until the 80's. Very fond memories including my marriage to Mary Davision in 1964 at the Queen of Peace Catholic Chapel. We will celebrate our 50th this yr. I'll provide more later. An extremely enjoyable read... Read more

Richard (Dick) Ague from Sugarloaf PA wrote on February 28, 2014 at 11:24 pm

Great pictures and information on the website. I have a few old family photos that I have discovered, and wonder if anyone in your group could identify what I have?

Joseph Andaloro from New York, NY and Los Angeles, wrote on February 22, 2014 at 9:58 pm

My father was the famed Big Band Leader "Russ" Andaloro Sr who was responsible for having introduced me to my notable status in the Entertainment Industry. I am disappointed the article about Fernwood Park was removed along with the picture of he and his orchestra and story along with other famous big bands that appeared there. Regards, Joseph Andaloro Sr.

Marty Garinger from West Virginia wrote on February 18, 2014 at 9:21 pm

Spent great times there. My Dad was born and raised there.