Guest Book | Harvey's Lake

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197 entries.

Marguerite Arnone Walton from Pittston-born/Los Angeles, Cal wrote on September 25, 2011 at 10:18 pm:

Love the website! Thank you for the history you provide on your website. I was able to see pictures and posters of Fern Brook Park and Dance Hall where my mother and father danced to big bands in the 30's! Got to see posters of those bands that they've talked about, Paul Whiteman, Ernie Shaw and was glad to see Ozzie Nelson also there back then.

Don Bara from Centermoreland pa wrote on September 21, 2011 at 10:47 pm:

I am looking for information on the ski slope that was at harveys lake somewhere near present day woodlawn ave. I believe it was in operation in the 60's or70's any info would be appreciated

Ken Schwall from Tennessee wrote on September 9, 2011 at 12:39 pm:

Enjoyed the site. I often heard my dad, Carl Schwall, talk about the hot dog stand he and Harry Powell operated at Harvey's Lake back in the 1920's.

Trina & Donna Gimber from Aston, PA wrote on September 8, 2011 at 10:53 am:

Our parents are from Wilkes Barre and both grandparents had homes at Harveys Lake; one up the street from Sandy Beach and the other had a summer cottage near Warden Place. We sent every summer there and enjoyed fishing and the amusement park. It was a great time and these pictures bring back many memories.

Marlene from Harrisburg area wrote on August 30, 2011 at 10:08 pm:

I was born in the 1950's and we had a boat when I was growing up.. We spent several boating vacations at Harvey's Lake and we stayed at a very beautiful old hotel (I CANNOT remember the name of it no matter how hard I try) with long porches and in the dining room you were served family style. I am sure it was one of the two hotels mentioned in the site--perhaps the one where the chicken dinners were famous 🙂 I never forgot Harveys Lake and the great times with my parents there. I was hoping to take my family there for an extended weekend... Sad to think its not like it was.. but it still has to be as beautiful as I remember. I LOVED this website.. The history of Harvey Lake was very very interesting!

Patti from Hazleton wrote on August 29, 2011 at 8:20 pm:

So many nice memories of Hanson's and the drive-in movie. My neighbor was Nate Straley amd he owned the drive-in and I used to go with his niece, Janet Turner.He also owned the Noxen Movie Theatre. I used to love the old roller coaster.

Renee Warner from Canandaigua, NY wrote on August 8, 2011 at 5:06 pm:

My parents, 2 sisters & I spent time @ grandparent' (Peterman)'s cabin on a wooded hillside. We enjoyed it so much & swimming in the lake. We were warned about the dreaded drop-off. This was in the late 40's - early 50's when time was slower. We got drinking water from a spring, light from akerosene lamp & experienced a privy. We were from a small town Attica, NY which no-one had heard of back then. Happy times for us @ H.L.

Tricia Akowicz from Waltham, MA wrote on August 7, 2011 at 10:35 am:

My family and I used to vacation in Harvey's Lake every year. We rented a cottage right up the hill from the general store. What wonderful, wonderful memories...the lake, Hanson's Sandy Beach, Sandy Bottom, Joe's Grotto...it's so sad that it's no longer the same place it was...but I have some amazing lifetime memories!

Kim Killeri from Philadelphia, PA wrote on July 10, 2011 at 10:04 pm:

This was a great site that I really enjoyed! My parents took us there when we were kids more than 30 years ago! We have relatives that lived in Luzerne County. I won a ring playing skee-ball that I still have and cherish. It was good times.

Jim Curran from Manahawkin New Jersey wrote on June 14, 2011 at 12:02 pm:

Hello everyone. Isn't this a great website. Really brings back great memories. My Grandparents had a cottage on Carpenter Road. They lived in Wilkes Barre in the winter. The best memories of my life were at Harvey's Lake. We would spend the day swimming at Old Sandy Bottom beach and having cook outs over by the covered picnic tables. At night we would go to Hanson's. The cottage was in a great location since we could walk to Grotto pizza. I have driven there a few times just to check out the old cottage and get pizza from Grotto. I was hoping the Carousel from Hanson's would be brought back but I think it was sold. It had been operating in Kissimmee Florida at a small park called Old Town. I visited the site of Hanson's and walked the grounds. Not too much left. I stood in the old bumper car building and had my picture taken. It's amazing that any of the buildings are still there after all this time. It would be nice to see public access to the lake increased. They have the boat launch but that is about it. The swimming area is now a private beach club. This summer I plan on staying at the Stone Hurst cottages. They are the only place left if you want to stay on the lake. From their website they look pretty nice. Thanks Joe for creating thid web site and giving us a place to remember a wonderful place.

Carol Fabbo from Belchertown, MA wrote on June 9, 2011 at 10:40 pm:

It was wonderful to read about everyone's memories of Harvey's Lake. I was born in 1944 and from the time I was 2 years old until I was about 13 I spent every summer at Ben Rood's campground. We had a very large tent (probably 20 x 20) and every year we built a wood kitchen next to it. We had an icebox and an iceman would deliver the ice twice a week. What a great childhood! All we had to do was walk down the hill and cross the road and we were at Sandy Beach. We spent many nights sitting on the benches at the drive-in. My very first job when I was 12 was running the kiddie rides there (they would never let a young person that age have that responsibity today). I also babysat for the family who owned Sandy Beach. After we paid to see the movies on the benches, the other nights we would all go on the hill and see it again without sound. I have great memories of Hanson Park and the dances there. The pizza was also great. We also had dances at the pavillian at Sandy Beach. I took a ride around the lake two years ago. It was wonderful to remember everything. I did find Rood Street and figured that was where the campground was. Sandy Bottom was also a favorite swimming place. It's a shame that the lake is so private now. Everyone should have a chance to swim there. Thanks for the memories! Carol Fabbo

Kay-Ann Eike-Coviello from New Jersey wrote on June 2, 2011 at 6:32 pm:

I have commented before on this site.I go back to it once in a while, checking for any familiar names from my childhood spend at the Lake. One person I am looking for in particular, Patty Murphy, lived at the Lake year round. We were good friends, and penpals when the summers ended, but we lost touch. Patty, if you are out there, hope you connect on this site. I would love to know how you are doing and what life has brought you.

Bob McNeil from Cinti, Ohio wrote on June 1, 2011 at 3:31 pm:

This is the place we will always call home.Growing up at the Lake, with all the great people and fond memorys of a time when life was good ....

MICHAELANGELO MULE from CLEVELAND OHIO wrote on May 31, 2011 at 6:28 pm:

GOING TO H.L.WHEN I WAS A KID GROWING UP IN PLAINS PA.LIFE WAS MUCH MORE SIMPLE PEOPLE WERE KINDER,GOING TO H.LAKE WAS A PIECE OF HEAVEN MICHAELANGELO MULE CLEVELAND OHIO

Barbara dunleavy from Philadelphia wrote on May 16, 2011 at 10:22 pm:

This place was my best childhood memories. The first roller coaster I ever went on, amazing! I loved the old time air plane ride my mom always took me on, scary but fun. The old carousel and catching the gold ring. With all my heart I wish this place would come back to life. Good times.

David M. Rosenstein from Montgomery, Pa wrote on May 8, 2011 at 10:57 am:

I've seen a number of 'magic' places of charm over the years and I'd like to add Harvey's Lake to the list. Missing a turn in Dallas towards 118, I drove there by accident. The immense charm and historicity of Harvey's Lake immediately impressed itself upon me. Though I hurried to get back on route, I kept on thinking of how beautiful it was. I look forward to returning when I have more time.

Sharon Butchko from Rochester, NY wrote on March 15, 2011 at 9:27 am:

I remember going to a dance there, and The Four Seasons were playing live! They sang "Sherry Baby", and I felt they were singing to me! I was about 12 or 13, so it was a really big deal

Scott Holdredge from Folsom Pa wrote on March 3, 2011 at 8:36 pm:

I live in Deleware County with wife and kids who all love to visit Grandparents and Havery,s Lake. I remember all the great time I spent there in the 1960's at Hansons Park. Also all the Parties when I got older. Great Site, And Good Luck, Thanks

Grace Honeywell Kotcella from Round Rock, TX 78681 wrote on February 24, 2011 at 4:12 pm:

I remember boat rides on the lake back in the 50's with my cousins and Uncle John Honeywell who worked at Hanson's park. I still cruise the lake with my sister everytime I am in Penna and eat at the Grotto.

Phil Dress from Macungie Pa. wrote on February 10, 2011 at 1:02 am:

what a great website.I spent my entire summers from about age 8 to 16, camping with friends at Ben Roods campground at Sandy Beach.We fished, swam,rode bikes around the lake and enjoyed the drive-in movies from the hill next to the Martha Wash. Later,my kids learned to water-ski there. We launched at Mayers grove . Still return on occasion to have pizza at the grotto.What a great place!