CICERO, N.Y. -- "The old pier is still over in the south shore where the trolley used to come out from Syracuse and turn around. And the ferry used to come in and pick up the people and bring them out here," said Cicero’s Vern Conway.
Conway would know. His family has been in the Town of Cicero since 1911. He runs the long-time family-owned Aero Marina and is very familiar with this state park treasure, Frenchman Island.
In the 1880s, a hotel was built. It was called the Sylvan House. And it attracted many to the island.
“I think we found the foundation of old hotel where that was," Conway said.
There was a fire and the hotel burned. Another one was built in 1876. It was razed sometime in 1906. Now the only structure that remains on the island is a lighthouse, one that's seen its share of brutality.
After years of vandalism, the state closed the island to the public, a decision Rob Hiltbrand, the Central Region State Parks Director said was necessary.
It's been roughly 25 years since Frenchman Island in Oneida Lake has garnered much attention. Now New York State has reopened it to the public. Our Joleene Des Rosiers has the story of an island that's seen many changes and a local man who can tell you all about them.
"It had seen several different phases over the years of usage. It had been heavily vandalized in the late 80s, early 90s. And it was decided that for safety reasons that the Island would be closed to the public," said Hiltbrand.
"After awhile, they took and they destroyed the prism up on top of the lighthouse, and they threw the batteries off and they kind of destroyed it so they locked it up and kept people out," said Conway.
That was almost three decades ago. Now the state is reopening the island.
"We did some cleanup work. Took care of some hazardous trees that were on the island, cleaned up some trails and this spring got it open to the public," Hiltbrand said.
"At this point it's a small piece of tranquility on the Western Edge of Oneida Lake."
It’s just a quiet, green, 28-acre island with veins of trails and endless green. But Conway hopes there's more.
"If they do something every year, maybe we'll get some picnic tables out here and fireplaces and portable toilets and get it so everyone can use it," he said.
At this point if you come out to the island, it's clear that some trails have been forged and signs have been put up so you can find your way along the trail. But is this it? Is this where it ends or is there more to come?
"At this time we have no other plans for it," said Hiltbrand.
That means no picnic tables, no fires and no camping. So it stays just a quiet island with a bit of mystery and a lot of history.