BEMUS POINT - What was once a child's toy boat kept at L-S Aero Marine has been painstakingly and beautifully restored to a 1920s barkentine merchant ship for permanent display at The Lawson Boating Heritage Center on Chautauqua Lake.
John Wysard, Lawson Center charter member, retired 747 captain and Westfield resident, dedicated more than 1,100 hours on the restoration over the past 12 months. Heritage, very appropriately named, was presented to the Lawson Center on Oct. 5.
In addition to the ship's restoration, Wysard presented his research library of more than 20 books along with a custom display cabinet and table he built in his wood shop. Bill Soffel, of ERA Vacation Properties, assisted with the delivery of Heritage from Westfield to The Lawson Center in Bemus Point.
Article Photos
John Wysard of Westfield dedicated more than 1,100 hours to restoring Heritage over the past year.
Submitted photos
For information on the Lawson Boating Heritage Center on Chautauqua Lake, visit www.thelawsoncenter.org.
The Lawson Center will open to the public in the spring of 2012.