THE BRIGHT SIDE
Mansion-peeping is a huge draw to Geneva Lake.
The mansions are lovely to behold, but the only way to actually see them is from the water, and the best way to do that is aboard the Mailboat. About 70 waterfront homeowners have their summertime mail delivered via boat, a route that was established in 1916. Because early roads were primitive, wealthy Chicago residents living in lakeside mansions relied on boats for supplies. The Wisconsin Transportation Company (now Lake Geneva Cruise Line) launched the first official mailboat, the Walworth, in 1916.
The boat was built by Tilford Stuyvesant and could carry 75 passengers while dropping off daily mail. Today, it remains one of the last remaining marine mail delivery routes in the United States. Lake Geneva Cruise Line will hold tryouts on June 11 for its famous Mailboat Jumper team. Candidates will compete for one of four spots delivering mail from the moving U.S. Mailboat Walworth to homes around the lake. The job requires crew members to jump on and off private piers without the boat stopping, while also entertaining passengers with stories about Lake Geneva history. Only returning crew members with at least one year of experience are eligible to audition. Mailboat tours begin June 15 and run daily through Sept. 15.
Place of the Week
Natural Grocers located on Edwards Blvd. is now open!
