Seniors Drop By Endwell

 The 2016 Little League World Series has a winner… from Endwell, New York.  Senior travelers, let’s pay a visit to Endwell and see what we can find.

With a population just over 11,000, Endwell is a hamlet situated between the villages of Endicott and Johnson City,  52 miles north of Scranton, Pennsylvania and 135 miles northwest of Newark, New Jersey.

A few big names in sports have lived, or were born in Endwell, including Mike Dunham, longtime NHL goalie, now goalie coach for the New York Islanders, and Isaiah Kacyvenski, starter for the Seattle Seahawks for 5 years, and  Special Teams captain for Seattle during their most recent Super Bowl appearance.

The high school girls field hockey team was ranked as high as 19th in the nation in 2007.  Today, the Little League World Series has put Endwell on the map once more.

 Seniors Enjoy Interesting ‘Name Story’

Endwell used to be known as “Hooper,” but the name had to be changed in 1921 because of post office regulations. There were simply too many locations in the state with the name Hooper.

The most likely story, shared by an elderly man who attended the meeting to change the name: Endicott Johnson Corporation was producing a line of shoes called the “Endwell”, thus the name. An advertisement for the shoes read, “Wear the Endwell shoes and your day will End Well.”

During the 1890s, significant commercial and residential development began along the East Main Street corridor (State Route 17C), including a horse-drawn streetcar line, which connected the growing villages of Johnson City and Endicott.

These villages grew very rapidly between 1890 and 1920 because of the success of the Endicott Johnson Corporation, that shoe manufacturer. Wealthy residents of Binghamton in this horse-and-buggy era also maintained numerous weekend/summer homes in what is now Endwell.

 Seniors Find A Classic Carousel

A popular spot in Endwell is Highland Park, well known for its classic carousel, the Highland Park 1925 Carousel. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1992.

Senior golfers can enjoy a round at Endwell Greens, Ely Park Golf Course or at the Binghamton Country Club. Opportunities for higher education are offered by SUNY at Binghamton, Ithaca College and Broome Community College.

The Sons of Italy Duca Degli Abruzzi lodge in Endicott hosts activities which include an Annual Clambake, Deer and Rabbit Parties, Wine Party, Scholarship Dinner Dance and a Children’s Christmas Party to name a few.

Anyway you slice it, Endwell is a great little town. Seniors, stop by when you are traveling through New York. -jeb