On Lake Ontario’s eastern shore, surrounded by forested bluffs and deep, navigable water, Henderson Harbor and Henderson evolved into a fishing and boating paradise. The lucrative smallmouth black bass fishing attracted visitors and continues to draw fishermen to this day. Members of the National Electric Lamp Association enjoyed their encampments at Henderson Harbor so much in the early 1900s, they purchased an island that became the summer retreat for thousands of General Electric executives and employees. Lake Ontario’s stormy weather required a rescue station on the sandy beach near Henderson Harbor and, during Prohibition, the Big Sandy Coast Guard captured some of the most notorious rumrunners on the lake. In Henderson, the Army’s rifle and gunnery range became the private reserve for a beer baron and his son and is now a jewel of the New York State Park system. Henderson Harbor and Henderson chronicles the history and charm that has drawn residents and visitors alike to this area for decades.
