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Uncle Tom's Cottages
Motel & Apartments
5266 Lake
Road
Geneva-On-The-Lake, Ohio 44041
440-466-8791 or 239-394-5139
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Uncle
Tom & Maggie
Family
owned and operated since 1936 |
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History of Uncle
Tom's Cottages
When Thomas Kainaroi
first visited Geneva-on-the-Lake seventy years
ago, the resort village was a popular spot for
vacationers, as well as local residents, but the
lake front was still largely undeveloped.
While growing up in
Pittsburgh, Tom first visited
Geneva-on-the-Lake in 1934 in a Model T
Ford. It was at that time he decided to
invest in the area when the opportunity
was presented. The young teenager explained
what started out as a fun thing turned into
a business. At the young age of twenty,
Kainaroi was business-minded and he realized
the resort would need more lodging for
tourist. He invested every spare cent in
real state. It was July 6, 1936 he paid $5
down and committed himself to $5 per month
for the purchase of a cottage and four lots
on Francis Drive. It was a big deal for the
son of Greek immigrants born and raised in
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was working as
a short order cook at the time.
In 1938
Uncle Tom
built his first cottage, and shortly
thereafter he was drafted into the army in
1942. There were a total of four cottages
at this time. His girlfriend and family
agreed to manage the rental units while he
was away.
After WW II,
Kainaroi returned (Thanksgiving of 1945)
to Pennsylvania and his manager's job
with Gulf Oil. He continued to work and
live in Pittsburgh and
purchased
additional units on the lake. He and
Maggie
both were from
"The Burgh"
and were married in 1947. The couple
was childless for over seven years, and
it was during this time, Kainaroi became
known as
"Uncle Tom"
to the family and townspeople. The
couple and owners of the rapidly growing
business
assumed
they were not going to have children of
their own to carry on the business's
name.
Many of the original cottages needed
updating throughout.
The cottages quaint, beckoning, original
names such as "Sunset", Water's Edge",
and "Lake Breeze" remain the same to
this day. In the former years tourists
expected to "rough it" when they rented
a cottage lake side. An iceman made
daily rounds to provide everyone with
refrigeration. There was no hot water.
Everyone would take turns at an outside
shower stall. People didn't seen to
mind the lack of amenities.
Reservations were made well in advance,
even at that time. The entertainment
centered at the west end of the strip
where there was a bowling alley, skating
rink, hot dog stand and some amusement
rides for children. Several dance halls
attracted the
Big Bands,
like Jim and Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman
and Glenn Miller. Vacationers would
cruise the strip on rented motor
scooters, or take a speed boat ride on
the lake. Foot long hotdogs were 15
cents and ice cream cones sold for a
nickel!!!
Lake front
property was first purchased in 1946,
and each year Kainaroi's had another
child they either built or bought
additional property or cottages.
It was in 1954 the couple had their
first child. Three children followed.
The Kainaroi's made unusual sacrifices
to keep the business going while raising
four children. Tom operated a service
station in Pittsburgh while
Maggie
stayed at
Geneva-on-the-Lake all summer to manage
their rental properties. The family's
summer home was constructed in
1953-1954 in and around the time of
their first child
(Vula).
For many years the building housed the
family as well as guests. (A misfortune
occurred in June of 2001 when the family
lost everything in a fire when it burned
to the ground). In 1958 when the
Kainaroi's had their second child
(Harriet)
they built the first lake front motel to
exist at Geneva-on-the-Lake. So this
was a real
marking stone! At that time the rooms
rented for $21 per night. In the 1960's
and around the birth of their son
(Tommy)
the Kainaroi's invested $15,000 in
jetties
recognizing the value of the private
beach to their business. In retrospect
this has proven to be a wise investment
to this day, yet one the family hopes to
address once again. Additional cottages
were purchased off the lake side with
their son and their last daughter
(Tammy)
in 1963. In 1978 the family began to
renovate their old
hotel on the lakefront renaming it "New
Haven". The building is noted as one of
the first
homesteads built at Geneva-on-the-Lake
in 1828. Today it exists of three
separate apartments, one of which the
family lives and operates out of.
In 1994 Mr. Kainaroi loss his wife and
it was at that time the children and
their Aunt
Ann became
active and committed to the business.
After the sale of the family's private
home residence, Kainaroi once again
invested in lakefront property in 1995.
Four new lakefront units were built. In
2000 the family loss their Aunt Ann.
The children were always active in the
business while growing up and all
learned a good work ethic at an early
age. The oldest child remembers when
the couple would comment about the
possibility of the family sleeping in
the car if all the units were rented!
They all continue to work the family
business and sacrifice personal time
away from their separate homes and lives
aside from the business.
Uncle Tom's
continues to be strictly a family owned
and operated business and it keeps the
family working together as a team. As
in any business they have suffered many
growing pains,
but the rewards they receive from their
appreciative customers they feel are
worth the gain. To date there are eight
grandchildren.
Moving into this stream of "fourth"
generations the business also continues
to serve some "fourth" generations of
family customers. There is a continuum
of guests and memories, as well. There
are families that have been coming to Uncle
Tom's
for over Forty-five years! Many
repeated reservations and customers
exist a year in advance. Most
advertising is either by word of mouth
or through the Geneva-on-the-Lake
Chamber of Commerce.
Tom often
commuted for years, as his "day" job had to carry
the burden of cottage payments,
insurance, taxes, utilities and
maintenance. Especially, during the mid
to late 1960's when the motorcycle gangs
and riots scared clients away. The
press hurt the business with their
threats of "contaminated" Lake Erie.
Even then and having traveled the world
three times over Kainaroi kept the faith
in Geneva-on-the-Lake. He said it would
return and that it certainly has! But
to quote, Mr. Kainaroi, "Success isn't
guaranteed without hard work" and I have
the children who work and know the value
of the dollar. It remains to be a
"risky business" at best. (Knowing
there are eight good weeks July 4
through Labor Day to Mid September and
if you don't make your money then you
lose).
Uncle Tom
continued to keep the faith in
Geneva-on-the-Lake and his family.
There will always be those who return
for the nostalgic stroll down the strip
and a dip in good old "fresh water" Lake
Erie. Tom spendt every summer of his
adult life on
the lake. Uncle Tom Passed away
December 2005. During the off season he resided in
Marco Island, Florida with his youngest
daughter,
Tammy and
her husband Jeff. His son,
Tom
and his daughter reside in
Geneva-on-the-Lake all year round and
hold down the fort. His daughter,
Harriet
resides in Ohio with her husband Mick
and five children. His oldest daughter,
Vula
lives in Virginia, and has two adult children
and a grandson and a granddaughter.
Today,
Uncle
Tom's
host as many as 186 people per day.
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