From Granula to Granola - Skaneateles Historical Society Program

That gorgeous day I wrote about yesterday turned into a wonderful - if breezy - night!  I tried to park for the 7:30 program on Genesee Street at West Lake, but there were too many cars (for the first time, I might add!)  I parked around the corner, across from Tops and followed Bob Eggleston in to the Creamery.

The presenter was Lynn Pascale from Farmer Street Pantry by way of the Onondaga Historical Society.  She started by saying how rich our area is in history - the Erie Canal, the lakes, various communities - and then told us about the Nonesuch company which made mincemeat in Syracuse for many, many years (1885-1981).  I had always used it without knowing it was local.  Just last week I sent in a mincemeat pie to my mother-in-law.  (That one I didn't make - Heart & Hand did.)

On to granola, and its relationship with the Glen Haven hydrotherapy approach.  It was famous for helping people to get well or at least get healthy.  The lake, being sooooo cold, was the perfect place for it to be located.  The hills behind the buildings were perfect for walking.  A typical day for residents/patients was breakfast, a bath in 72-80 degree water, a walk, lunch, another bath, another walk, and rest.  People came and stayed for months sometimes.  A room could be had for $5 a week, or $10 if you wanted a fireplace.

The owners were a man who was a known abolitionist, prominent in the movement.  His wife was one of the first female doctors in New York State.  Together with another female doctor they ran the Cure, opening it in 1847.

The food was not rich - just healthy and minimal.  They depended a lot on graham flour, which was ground at New Hope Mills just up the road.  To make it easier to prepare, they would add milk the night before and it would turn into something else by the morning - our first granula/granola or cereal.  Eventually a Mr. Kellogg came for a stay in their second "spa" in Dansville, NY, and then went back to his home in Battle Creek, Michigan.....the rest is history.

A side note I enjoyed was the description of the clothing the women wore.  Corsets were not going to make it on the regimented hikes up the hill, so they adopted bloomers that could be worn outdoors as virtual pants.  They also wanted the women to be able to breathe, so gone were the tight-fitting bodices, replaced by an over-blouse to match the pants.  The "American Costume" was born.  (My grandmother was chastised for wearing pants in the early 1900s, so apparently it was not fully adopted by the fashion world.)

This was a marvelous 45-minute program and then we were served samples of mincemeat and applesauce from the Farmer Street Pantry.  (http://farmerstreetpantry.com)

For more information about upcoming events at the Creamery at 28 Hannum Street in Skaneateles go to skaneateleshistoricalsociety.org

There are several holiday programs, the Creamery is festive anyway, and it's an excellent place to buy presents.  I am planning to take high tea with the Queen and friends on December 17th!