For those who attended last month’s Annual Meeting, we don’t have to tell them what fun it was! And for those who could not hop on board–we missed you!

Yes, we did some organizational business at the meeting, but steeping ourselves in times gone by was surely the highlight. We cruised Lake Geneva, held our breath for the Mailboat Jumper (who was spectacular!), and enjoyed being special guests at an estate that echoes a unique history of life on the lake.

We had the privilege of riding on the Lake Geneva U.S. Mailboat as it left the dock to begin its 100th anniversary. Captain Neil Frame, who not only piloted the boat for us but was an entertaining and informative guide, has been driving the boat since 1969 and has been a great supporter in carrying its history forward. To this day, the U.S. Mailboat makes about 50-70 deliveries each day, all summer long, and it is still delivered the same way as it was back in 1916. Captain Frame must carefully navigate the 60-ton boat within 4 feet of each pier so the Mail Jumper can leap from the boat onto the pier, drop off the mail, pick up the occasional outgoing mail, and then jump back onto the boat; the challenge for the Mail Jumpers is that the boat never stops moving. Fortunately, there were no splashes made during our tour on June 15th!

We then reached our destination of Black Point Estate, where we had lunch, heard from site director David Desimone, and witnessed for ourselves just what FWHS support has contributed–and continues to contribute–to the site. Mr. Desimone has laid out a plan to continue allocating the funds raised from our 2014 auction to Black Point restoration projects, including restoring and renewing the weathered finish of the benches and tables on the veranda and dining porch, re-adhering detached wall coverings in the stairways, and painting the second floor doors in the dollhouse area. He thanks the FRIENDS for being “a great group of people,” and adds, “Let’s fix up this old house!”

Here’s to another year of preserving history!