Early settlers in the Glimmerglass area were struck by the beauty of the rolling hills, the clear lakes and streams, and the fertile, green valleys. They worked hard to build the houses, farms, and villages that sustained their way of life. Their lifestyle was dominated by toil and the uncertainties of frontier life. Modern residents and visitors enjoy the land's same natural attributes, but have the advantage of well maintained roads, quality schools and medical facilities, and a stable local economy.

The Village of Cooperstown is at the heart of the Glimmerglass area. Famous as "The Birthplace of Baseball," it is much more than just a tourist attraction for millions of fans worldwide. It is a "small town" in the best sense of the term. Having just one traffic light and a main street named Main Street, it typifies the American ideal of the hometown experience.

It's also a great place to live in the real world. The schools are among the best available anywhere, with a high percentage of graduates going on to colleges and universities. Students bloom in small classes within a safe, intellectually stimulating environment.

The local medical facilities are far more than would be expected in a town of this size. Bassett Hospital, the flagship of the regional Bassett Healthcare organization, is located within the village. Affilated with the Columbia University School of Medicine, it offers state-of-the-art quality care with advanced equipment and facilities. Patients are drawn to this high level of medical attention from a large surrounding area.

OK, so there's good schools and medical facilities, but is there any fun here? Well, yes, actually, there is. For the outdoor sports crowd there's boating, swimming, water skiing, hiking, snow shoeing, cross country skiing, biking, baseball, soccer, golf...the list goes on. Indoor athletes can workout and play at the Clark Sports Center, an amazingly well equipped gymnasium complex on the edge of the village.

To balance all that physical activity, there's lots to wrap the mind around too. With two colleges just a short drive away, there's an endless schedule of films, plays, discussion groups, live music, gallery shows, and just about any other cultural activity. Within the village there are two other major museums besides the world-famous Baseball Hall of Fame: The Fenimore Art Museum and The Farmers Museum. At the north end of the lake is the Glimmerglass Opera, offering world-class productions in a beautifully designed modern opera house.

But is Cooperstown the only village around? What about Cherry Valley? Or Springfield, Westford, Hartwick, Milford, or Richfield Springs? All of these villages, and the dozens more in the Glimmerglass area, share this same hometown ethic, while the homes and farms between the villages are part of the "country neighbor" community.

So, what's the local lifestyle? Well, like everywhere, it depends...

To the local farmer, it's striving to make a living on the land and be his own boss. To the village resident, it's the privilege of living in a dynamic community with safe streets and schools. To the young couple buying their first country house, it's taking charge of their lives in an environment of their own choosing. And to the aging citizens who are ready to take a rest from the toil of earning a living, it's the dream of an interesting and hospitable place in which to retire.

We've compiled a small list of local websites to help explore the local lifestyle. Please e-mail us with any further questions you may have about the Glimmerglass area.

Bassett Healthcare
New York State Historical Association
Glimmerglass Opera
National Baseball Hall of Fame
School Report Card - Otsego County School Districts