Tag Archives: James Carnevale

A bit of Webster history: The James Carnevale Bike Route

11 Oct

In this month’s History Bit feature I write for the Webster Museum, I revisited a blog I wrote two years ago about the James W. Carnevale Bike Route. After seeing a sign at the Webster Museum, I’d embarked on a quest to find out who James Carnevale was and where exactly where the bike route was.

It took me a while to discover the answers to those questions, and I had help from a lot of people. I outlined the whole story in the blog I wrote back then, which I edited significantly for the History Bit for the sake of print publication.

So here’s the edited version, but if you’re interested in reading the whole (I think interesting) story, click here. (It has several more photos as well.)

October History Bit: the James W. Carnevale Bike Route

These beautiful first weeks of fall are a great time to go out for a bike ride. If you’re up for a 14-mile ride along some of Webster’s most beautiful roadways, you might want to explore the James W. Carnevale Bike Route.

The route was named in honor of James Carnevale, who lived on Old Farm Circle. He served in Korea as an Army Intelligence Officer, and was awarded a bronze star for photography. He served as Webster’s Recreation Commissioner for many years, and was an active member of the town’s Democratic Party. He passed away suddenly in 1977 at age 47 and is buried at Webster Union Cemetery. 

The bike route which was named after him was originally established in 1968. The 14.5-mile route took riders (in general) west from Holt Rd. to Klem, then along Bay, Volk and Dewitt roads, ending at Inspiration Point. There, the riders would turn around and wind their way back.

In 1986, the route was officially renamed the “James W. Carnevale Bike Route” in honor of his service as Recreation Commissioner. At a ceremony held in November, the Town of Webster presented Carnevale’s widow with one of the signs.   

Most of the original signs seem to be gone, but apparently there’s still one standing at the corner of Drumm and Herman roads, and there might be one at Klem and Five Mile Line. The one pictured in the photo with Nancy Carnevale is still hanging just inside the Webster Museum entrance, next to the antique bicycle. 

The Webster Museum is located at 18 Lapham Park in the Village of Webster. It’s open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 2 to 4:30 p.m.

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(posted 10/9/2023)

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An update on my Carnevale quest

21 Sep

Very few of my blogs have gotten as many comments as the one I posted a few weeks ago about James W. Carnevale. I told the story of my quest to find out who he was and why Webster named a bike route after him.

For those of you unfamiliar with that blog, my search was prompted by a sign at the Webster Museum, seen here. The Museum Ladies didn’t know who he was, so I started doing some research. Eventually — with help from many others — I found out a lot about Mr. Carnevale. Plus, we figured out where the bike route is and have a pretty good theory as to why it was named after him.

It was a really long blog, guiding my readers through the whole story of how we tracked down information, bit by bit. I wasn’t sure many people would be interested enough to read all the way to the end, but clearly many did, because I got a lot of delightful comments.

A few people recalled the bike route from when they were young. Bru B., for example, wrote

In 1968 when I was twelve, I remembered a news report (? channel 8 way back Bob Mills era) that this was one of the first bike trails as an organized function using the side roadway in New York State. It was the first time I noticed part of the road on the side just for bikes.

Back then it was special. It was more noticeable on Klem Rd because we went from Greece through Sea Breeze (after eating a Vic & Irv’s) to go to the cider mills on Five Mile Line Rd. so we used Bay to Klem to Five Mile. I remember those signs well. Some are still around as you have seen.

Cindy F. also reported that she “rode all the routes as a teenager,” and still sees the signs around town.

Others are still making local connections. Deputy Village Clerk Jo O’Neill noted that the village’s chief wastewater plant officer, John Carnevale, might be related (turns out he isn’t, though). Charlene wrote that she never knew James W., but worked with his wife Nancy at the Webster Public Library and went to school with their son Matt.

This adventure may not be over. As more people find the original blog, I might get even more comments, and more connections might be made. I’d love to hear from anyone who might know something about Mr. Carnevale, so we can continue to find more about his life and his bike route.

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Twitter and Instagram.

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Follow Me” link on the right side of this page

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