Program

NYS Historic

Subject

Arts & Culture

Location

2353 Otisco Valley Rd, Marietta, NY 13110, USA

Lat/Long

42.884867, -76.293407

Grant Recipient

Town of Otisco

In 1894, Ruby (Kinney) Heath inherited this waterfront property from her father, Warren Kinney. Following her marriage to George Heath, Ruby and her husband established Heath’s Grove here ca. 1901, which became a popular Otisco Lake resort. Heath’s Grove, or The Grove, featured furnished cottages and boat rentals as well as athletic fields and a dancehall. The Six Town Picnic, believed to have started in 1885 by local farmers, became an annual county-wide event held here and included guest speakers, baseball games, races, contests, music, and dancing. They also hosted events for the Grange, Camp Fire Girls of Marcellus, fire departments, local schools and churches, veterans’ groups, and family reunions. Heath’s Grove closed after the deaths of both George and Ruby Heath in 1955.