Anne and Bob Deming were recent guest speakers at the Chautauqua County Genealogical Society in Fredonia on “A History of Bear Lake.” Submitted photo

FREDONIA — Bob and Anne Deming, authors of the book “A History of Bear Lake,” were guest speakers at the recent Chautauqua County Genealogical Society meeting held in the Barker Library.

Their book was the culmination of more than a decade of research involving interviews with twelve long time family members of the Bear Lake area, which lead to their journey of writing the book. Bear Lake is partly in the town of Stockton and partly in the town of Pomfret.

The Demings have been residents of Bear Lake for more than 40 years, and during that time, they have accumulated much history of the area. Deming himself even attended a family reunion once to learn of more history. Bear Lake was formed by a glacier and is some 30 feet deep in its deepest part. Weeds were a problem for many years and Mrs. Deming acquired some grant money to fight the weeds naturally with tiny weasels and tiny moths.

“It took some years, but we have seen the change.” said Mrs. Deming. Bear Lake, which acquired his name from some years ago when two young boys found bear subs in a tree, but when the mother bear ambled along, the cubs escaped, and the story told by the boys lead to the name.

Old photographs were shown of the Bear Lake hotel, and the Bear Lake weather station. Advisement for the book was given by the late Helen Piersons, town of Stockton Historian, Lois Barris, Virginia Barden and minutes of the association meetings written by the late Chautauqua County Historian Elizabeth Crocker.

Gail Dash is the president of the Genealogical Society and welcomed all, with a go-around for all to introduce themselves. Mrs. Dash said that the annual open house will be held at the Barker Library research room on Tuesday, July 16, from 1-8 p.m. Secretary Margaret Ann Curtis read the minutes of the previous meeting, and treasurer Debbie Kotar gave the financial report. Newsletter editor Wayne Leamer of Busti said that the August issue of the newsletter is getting ready for printing. Andrew Kolstee of Jamestown talked about the web-page for the genealogical society.

The next meeting will be on Tuesday, July 16, at the Barker Library in Fredonia at 6:30 p.m. The genealogical society maintains a reference room for those doing genealogy research. New members and guests are always welcome.