Community invited to Help Save Casey’s Cottage at Benefit on June 14

The Friends of Mexico Point Park are fundraising to protect Casey’s Cottage at Mexico Point Park from an ongoing powderpost beetle infestation and repair a foundational stone wall that has collapsed.

The Eis House in Mexico has offered to provide their venue at no charge to host a fundraiser in support of the cause. Mexico alumni Dick Drake and his band 8^th and Lake will also donate their time to provide live music for the event, which is scheduled for Sunday, June 14, from 1pm to 4pm.

This is a wonderful show of the community coming together to save a beautiful historic building rich in history and culture. In addition to the donated venue and music, the event will feature a huge silent auction, raffles, and delicious pizza and wings.

Casey’s Cottage is all that remains of Orville Hungerford’s elegant Mexico Point Club House (1906); it was converted into the medieval-style manor it is today by friends Dr. William C. Casey and Severin Bischof shortly after the advent of the automobile. It is one of Oswego County’s hidden gems, situated at the former mouth of the Little Salmon River at Mexico Point Park. The interior of the two-story building is covered in elaborate carvings, rich furnishings, and beautiful details.

The cost for the necessary fumigation is approximately $30,000, and the Friends are responsible for paying for one-third of the cost—the rest is being covered by Mexico Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation and by the Town of Mexico due to the building’s local significance. So far, the organization has raised roughly $7,000 towards the fumigation. In total, the goal for the benefit is to raise about $5,000 to pay for both the fumigation and the repair work needed on the collapsed stone wall.

Pre-sale tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for kids under 12; at the door, tickets will be $25 for adults and $12 for kids. You can get your pre-sale tickets at river’s end bookstore, the Eis House, or by sending a Venmo payment to @FriendsMPP with the message “Save Casey’s Cottage Benefit” along with the number of tickets.