OUR PLACE

The Wine Walk and the Business Improvement District.
At the most recent meeting of the Business Improvement District (the BID) the results of the Wine Walk were presented. Quietly, and without emotion, Alex, the BID’s executive director, presented the financial results. Last year the BID lost eight thousand dollars ($8,000) in putting on this very popular event. This year the BID made a nine-thousand-dollar profit. What variation of the Wine Walk was different this year from last year?

Alex. This remarkably talented woman put together all the elements of the walk, from wine supplies to security and advertising, to return these stunning results. The BID board immediately went into closed session to discuss personnel incomes and pay. It is hoped by the staff of the Geneva Shore Report that this confidential session resulted in a large pay raise for this quiet astounding woman. Alexandria Binanti is her full name, which you will probably be hearing, seeing, and reading more about as time goes by.

There are very few places left in this world that still deliver mail by boat.
The communities around Geneva Lake, using Gage Marine’s services, are one of the lucky ones that continue this tradition. With over 100 years of mail service the Lake Geneva Cruise Line delivers to about 75 homes along the shoreline of the lake on a daily basis June 15 through September 15th. The ‘Walworth’ became the official U.S. Mailboat in 1916 when a daily route was established, and summer residents signed up for mail delivery by boat. Receiving mail by boat was the most convenient way since the roads were very primitive.

In the early days mail came to the area by train. All of the passenger trains included a mail car. Once the mail arrived at either Lake Geneva or Williams Bay it was sorted for pick up at the local post office. The Walworth carried passengers and mail around the lake, and she became a symbol of Lake Geneva. The Walworth departs promptly at 10:00am every day with a load of passengers, mail, newspapers, and a very unique mail person. Each mail person must try out every year regardless of previous employment. They must jump off the boat, deliver the mail and jump back on all while the boat never stops! The mail jumper also shares a detailed narrative about the history of the magnificent mansions that scatter the shoreline of Geneva Lake. This includes part of Chicago’s history and how Lake Geneva became the ‘it’ place to be. The Mailboat returns to the Riviera Docks after its 2 1⁄2-hour cruise around the entire lake. This is a fun event for the whole family and a great way to see the entire lake in all its glory.