The Beachcomber was a weekly newspaper published by the Payne family in 1946 and 1947.
The publication did a excellent job of documenting life at the resort in those years. Feature stories on personalities, issues and businesses bring the history to life. Details about who was staying in what cottage or lodge, what properties sold and the menus at restaurants provide details that add texture and form to this history.
A bound volume of all known Beachcombers was recently discovered in the archives of the Geneva Public Library. Working with archivist Mary Schneider, the Summer Fun Heritage Trail committee will be making available online PDF files of all Beachcombers in the archive.
Digitization of the pages had to be done with a high-resolution digital camera and macro lens rather than a scanner because of the way the pages were bound. On even-numbered pages, the binding obscures part of the page. We have done our best to provide as much of the page as possible.
The files and the content may not be used for any commercial purpose, in keeping with our agreement with the library.
If you are searching for a business name, pay particular attention to the “Splashing” column on page 1 of each issue and the “Shopping with Suzette” on page 3. References in these columns have not been included in the synopsis lines below.
Special thanks to the Ashtabula County Board of Commissioners for making available the manpower to digitize and put these resources in the hands of researchers, our guests and GOTL residents.
1946
Topics include Construction of the new movie theater, numerous real estate transactions, Walter Banig Jr., Murray Cook, Carlisle’s/Shopping with Suzanne, Crest Court, The Deck, Smorgasbord, Skyway Drive-In, Francis Breen, Golf Course, Chatterbox. Six pages, 5.5 mb download.
Note: The Beachcomber published a Memorial Day edition, then did not publish again until June 23, 1946.
Dancing at the Pier, Lake Erie Land Conference, Chicken Dinners, Pen’Bryn, Driftwood, Old Tavern, garbage, Motorettes, Restort Theater, Hollyhock Hill Gift Shop, James Miller, Peterson Cottages, Bonnie View, Spaghetti House, Pee-G speed boat, P.G.’s Playland, Culver’s Popcorn Ball, Worthington Cottages, the Jollys/Youngstown Manor, Breen Allotment.
Discussion of what to do over the July 4 holiday, Case-Waters development, Waffle Shop, Golf Course, The Pier, Indian Creek property sales, Breen’s Guests, Crest Court, William Heasley beekeeper, public phones, Pittsburgh guests listed.
Resort tour emphasis on US/Canada relations, Homestead, police, Lakewood Lodge, Crest Court, Bill Regner, Fuzz, Jerry Sacha’s Dude Ranch, Warner’s grocery store, reappraisal, Ford’s hosts Cleveland Orchestra conductor’s relatives.
New Theater to change program daily, Charles Burt oldest resort visitor, Italian war bride on honeymoon, Ella Mar, Cook’s Waffle Shop, Lohrey’s cottages, Crest Court guests.
The Deck, Bud and Ella Evans, movie roles, fee collections, John Soderstrom antiques, Hillside Beach, Tom Thumb Drive-in, G.G. Clark, shell shop, Gressles, Mercer Restaurant and Lodge, Wines, tennis court at Eagle Cliff.
Secretary for chamber toured in USO unit, Joyce Thompson, appraisals, Gypsyland, Mapleton Beach, Hotel Colonial, Alta Vista.
H.L. King vacationing at resort, Stegner’s Homestead, J. Earl Miller, Breen sells five lots, Mrs. Warner, birdie at the course, Ella Mar Trailer, Alta Vista, beaches the lifeline, glass problem on beaches, wine lemonade, Argonne Club.
Mayor wires president about beach erosion, Tony the hound, Mrs. George Spies/Joe E Brown’s aunt, Alvino Rey at Pier, Mrs. Rose’s Pink Dress, Breen expects 25 parties of vacationers, So Big cottage, pretty waitress at Spaghetti House.
Jennie Gregory talks about her house, Arcole Shore Estates, C.E. Jolly heads chamber, Dutch Club, Sally Spencer birthday, Alta-Vista.
Golf tournaments, Pier 1/Alvino Ray performance, council considers beach problem, wine history, James Casey, vandalism.
Photos of Geneva Theater, Cook’s Waffle House, Skyway, Stegner’s, Ella-Mar and Pen’Bryn; cottages/rooms remain open in September, Spencer amusement park history, Stegner’s, Wavecrest sold, police report quiet season, Eagle Swift.
1947
Cook appoints police, New Street work, Flag Day tournament, Miller predicts resort’s best season, new chamber building, Bob-Kit, Cannon’s Court, 79 lots sold by James P. Casey, Ondercin, John Burns, Fess and Alves, G.E. Putnam dies, Warner L. Keyes death, Briseben Lower/Edgehill, Gladine Shop, Martin and Ernest Voris.
Broadway Inn, Leonard Baldwin, village debt, Arcole history, Old Tavern, Breen’s cottage’s 90 percent rented, bicycles, Ladie’s Social Club of GOTL, Shupp’s new grocery, Lloyd and Nina Shupp, John Narhi, Rose Groves, cottage fire at Ninevah Beach.
Resort’s 78th birthday, Burgess home from trip, Grandview, Syracuse golf team plays at GOTL, Jack Meyer, Burns opens store, Fess property sells, Lloyd Shupp, The Dog Stand, Arcole history.
Bus service between Ashtabula and resort, Smorgasbord, Turney’s Ranch, Old Glenullan Home converted to restaurant, Hayes, Carpenter Food Market, Bill Regner, golf pro.
Driftwood Inn, glass breakage on beach problem, Jimmy Joy, Lake Diner, Norman Harper, raft rentals at Roy Shupp’s, golf course sets record for crowds, Jerry Breen’s guest.
The Nitapat, Lake Shore Inn, Jack’s Eat in a Hut, dipped dogs, The Dog House, bus service resumes, N.E. Kocher, Little John and Indian Creek, pet ducks.
Shatto Grill, Robert Morgan, water pressure woes, first summer resort guests, Jennie Warner Keyes, Warner family history, Breen buys back his first cottage, parade, golf course news, beach erosion.
Council water question, Goettel sells Maple Manor, Banig buyer, Burns Texas Barbecue, Jimmie Linhart Lodge Snack Bar, Eugobode stand/old Bird Cage, L. H. Smythe, Maple Acres, Pee Wee sold, Resorter speed boat, golf course news.
Konold/Madsen run for mayor, council cuts off Lake County, Regners purchase Cleveland Inn, Linhart’s Lodge, beach erosion, village property tax rate reduced, Beachmore Penthouse, Bill Tourney’s Diamond T Ranch.
Snell’s Midway, Chamber directors, Tommy Tucker, Hazel Swan buys cottage.
New Street history, KDKA advertises GOTL, erosion woes/solutions, Jiggs comes home, Zimmermans throw party, Herbert killed, cottage names.
$100,000 theater question goes to voters, Burns on council, Realtors report sales, Virgil Bogue, Novotnys buy Shupp cottages.