I’d like to start today with this very interesting History Bit from the Webster Museum, which tells a bit of history of the Forest Lawn neighborhood, on the very northern end of town.
WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE!
(submitted by Kathy Taddeo)
Webster is very fortunate in its location. Not only is it bordered by Lake Ontario on its north and Irondequoit Bay on its West, but it is blessed with numerous creeks and streams. All add color, texture, sound and wildlife to our daily lives.
It’s not surprising, then, that waterfront property has been prized since Webster’s pioneer days and that there are several cottage enclaves along lake, bay and streams. One of these is Forest Lawn on Lake Ontario and Shipbuilders Creek.
By 1857, friends Samuel Pierce and John Forsyth had completed a plan for a summer community in the northwest corner of Webster. Later, Horace Pierce and George Forsyth talked the local trolley company into extending its line so residents could hop a trolley after work and meet their families at the community known as Forest Lawn. The definitive history of Forest Lawn was written by yet another Forsyth, Judge C. Benn. His FOREST LAWN 1888-1988 is available to read at the Webster Museum library and to borrow from the Webster Public Library.
By 1888, the Forest Lawn Club was incorporated, the cottage lots claimed and the clubhouse had become the center of social activity. The clubhouse burned down for the second time in 1908 and never rebuilt. However, the spirit of community was strong and for many years, the neighbors carried on the Forest Lawn Field Day with croquet and softball and dancing behind the store. One Forest Lawn song was sung to the tune of “Harrigan.”
F-O-R-E-S-T-L-A-W-N, Forest Lawn
That’s the place we like to praise, sir.
That’s the spot which we most craze sir.
F-O-R-E-S-T-L-A-W-N, Forest Lawn
Ring the bell, let it swell
Wake the echoes through lawn and dell –
Forest Lawn, that’s here!
Around 1914-1918, Isabella and Thomas Dorsey rented a home in a Forest Lawn farm, likely the Glasser farm. There they cared for orphaned African-American children. Their neighbors commented that the Dorseys were doing “excellent work.” In need of more space, the Dorseys moved the children to the current site of McQuaid High School.
Around this time, residents apparently could not get enough of their summer place and seasonal cottages became permanent dwellings. Forest Lawn turned into a neighborhood and a hamlet with its own post office. Though likely few remember much less sing the old field day songs, Forest Lawn remains one of the many beautiful places to live in Webster, New York.
The Webster Museum’s map collection, which sparked this “Bit of Webster History,” is available to you on Tuesday, Thursdays and Saturdays from 2-4:30 pm at 18 Lapham Park.
The Caring Community Concert series at the United Church of Christ (570 Klem Rd.) is back, and this summer’s lineup is a great one.
These concerts benefit local nonprofit organizations through free-will donations. The first one, scheduled for Wed. July 20 will feature the Rochester Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra, and proceeds will benefit Meals on Wheels.
The next concert, on Wed. July 27, features the Gate Swingers Big Band, with proceeds going to the Webster Public Library BookBox. The last, on Wed. Aug. 3, features 8 Days a Week, and will benefit the Webster Community Chest.
The concerts all begin at 6:30 p.m., and food concessions begin at 6. You can bring a picnic or buy dinner or snacks there, served up by church volunteers. The concerts are held on the United Church of Christ front lawn, at 570 Klem Rd. (In case of rain it’s moved indoors.) Bring your own lawn chairs and come enjoy some great music for a good cause!
For more information about the concerts, click here.
Fun stuff coming up in the village in the next few weeks.
- The Rochester Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra comes to the Veterans’ Park gazebo this Friday July 22 for a concert beginning at 7 p.m.
- The next Family Games and Beer Garden Night is Friday July 29 from 6 to 9 p.m. Plans are to introduce even more games for the older kids this time around.
- On Friday Aug. 5, It’s My Party will perform at the gazebo, beginning at 7 p.m.
- Tuesday Aug. 9 is the next Movie in the Park, featuring Flight of the Navigator
And that’s only the beginning. There are more bands, the Jazz Fest, another movie, another Games Night … and you can check out details about all of these on the Webster BID website.
Don’t forget about the Joe Obbie Farmers’ Market’s latest addition: the Evening in the Park market at Charles Sexton Park (formerly North Ponds) every Wednesday from 4 to 8 p.m. Lots of vendors, food trucks, and live music. So don’t just come ro shop for great crafts, flowers and fresh vegetables; bring some lawn chairs and make an evening out of it.
Check out the poster below for information about the entertainers.
Finally, you don’t want to miss this great event coming up at Miracle Field on Saturday July 23, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
It’s Hero’s Day, when Challenger athletes take the field to play some ball games with — and against — our first responders. There’s lots of refreshments, a dunk tank, kids’ obstacle course, and baseball games all morning. Your kids will also get to meet many of our first responders and check out some of their equipment.
There’s no charge, but there’s plenty of fun and excitement.
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(posted 7/19/2022)
webster on the web 
Great article about Forest Lawn… so much history..Is there a story why do they call it Ship Builders Creek?
Hi Jim. I think I know where to find the answer. Visit the Vossburg Hollow trail in Webster. Adjacent to the parking area, at the trail head, you’ll find an ‘information board’ covered by a roof (I think this might have been built as an Eagle Scout project.) On the board is an essay giving the history of the trail, and the area. As I recall, a few paragraphs explain the origin of Ship Builder’s Creek name. I could not find this essay on the Friends of Webster Trails site, but I may have overlooked it.
Forrest Lawn was also the site of a terrible train derailment in the late 19th century. (10 August 1889, just before 6 am) The old HoJack line (now a walking trail) ran close to the neighborhood. Many years ago, Richard Batzing wrote an article on the derailment. [ http://www.webstertrails.org/hojack/story.php ] Photos of the accident were on display at the Webster Bill Gray’s restaurant, and perhaps at the Webster Museum as well. While lives were lost, some good did come from this tragedy. If I recall, developments were made both in railway breaking systems and also railway signaling technologies to prevent future loss of life from similar events. There may have even been some connection between the old RIS (Rochester instrument Systems) and GRS (General Railway Signal) company histories related to this event.