Our Genealogy Helper
Introduction ...
We have a couple of goals for our Gazetteer:
- That it be a tool which helps us with planning our trips.
- We're trying to shape our Gazetteer as a tool to help us understand the community in which our ancestors lived, the community that was part of their daily lives.
- On our trips, we try to visit those places where our ancestors left their footprints.
By learning about Melody Lake (and the surrounding area) during the time that our ancestors lived, we hope to have a better understanding of both their community and its relationship to their lifes. We hope that this tool helps to give us an insight into their world.
As we add data and organize our Gazetteer to help with our family research, we will be adding to this our Genealogical Helper for Melody Lake. While we don't have information that is specific to any given person or family, we intend to expand our understanding about where and how people lived.
Name Variations for Melody Lake ...
When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.
For example, a typical abbreviation for Melody Lake: Melody Lk.
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Melody Lake. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Melody Lake.
If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.
Neighboring Counties ...
When searching for family records, we have frequently made the mistake of not checking the neighboring counties.
For example, we have great-grandparents who lived in the southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals were in the next county to the east. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the county to the south.
So when searching for records, we had our best success by looking in neighboring counties instead of the county in which they lived: their home county contained property and probate records; the county to the east contained birth and death records; the county to the south contained their burial records. If we hadn't included the neighboring counties, we would have missed many valuable sources of information.
If you're in a similar situation, we hope that the following information helps.
Melody Lake is located in Sullivan County.
To see how the shape of New York's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Sullivan County: Delaware, Orange, Ulster, Pike (PA) & Wayne (PA).
Below are the counties that are near Melody Lake. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Melody Lake:
- Sullivan County (The home county of Melody Lake)
- The following are listed by their distance from Melody Lake, with the one closest to Melody Lake listed first.
- Monticello
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Rock Hill
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Squirrels Corners
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Squirrels Corners is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Squirrels Corners
- Thompsonville
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Glen Wild
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Yankee Lake
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Yankee Lake is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yankee Lake
- Mongaup Valley
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Harris
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- South Fallsburg
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Wurtsboro
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Hurleyville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Woodridge
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Smallwood
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Delaware County
- The following are listed by their distance from Melody Lake, with the one closest to Melody Lake listed first.
- Cooks Falls
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Cooks Falls is located in Delaware County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooks Falls
- Rock Valley
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Rock Valley is located in Delaware County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Valley
- Butternut Grove
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Butternut Grove is located in Delaware County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butternut Grove
- Orange County
- The following are listed by their distance from Melody Lake, with the one closest to Melody Lake listed first.
- Paradise
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Paradise is located in Orange County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paradise
- Port Orange
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Port Orange is located in Orange County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Port Orange
- Cuddebackville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Otisville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Huguenot
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Finchville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Finchville is located in Orange County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Finchville
- Shin Hollow
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Shin Hollow is located in Orange County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shin Hollow
- Sparrow Bush
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Port Jervis
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Washington Heights
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Washington Heights is located in Orange County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Washington Heights
- Middletown
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- South Centerville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- South Centerville is located in Orange County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Centerville
- East Middletown
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- East Middletown is located in Orange County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Middletown
- Ulster County
- The following are listed by their distance from Melody Lake, with the one closest to Melody Lake listed first.
- Spring Glen
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Cragsmoor
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Cragsmoor is located in Ulster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cragsmoor
- Walker Valley
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Ellenville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Crawford
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Crawford is located in Ulster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crawford
- Ulsterville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Ulsterville is located in Ulster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ulsterville
- Napanoch
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Port Ben
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Port Ben is located in Ulster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Port Ben
- Wawarsing
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Dwaarkill
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Dwaarkill is located in Ulster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dwaarkill
- Rutsonville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Rutsonville is located in Ulster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rutsonville
- Kerhonkson
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Bruynswick
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Bruynswick is located in Ulster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bruynswick
- Sussex County (NJ)
- The following are listed by their distance from Melody Lake, with the one closest to Melody Lake listed first.
- Colesville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Colesville is located in Sussex County (NJ)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colesville
- Libertyville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Libertyville is located in Sussex County (NJ)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Libertyville
- Vernon Valley
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Vernon Valley is located in Sussex County (NJ)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vernon Valley
- Layton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Layton is located in Sussex County (NJ)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Layton
- McCoys Corner
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- McCoys Corner is located in Sussex County (NJ)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McCoys Corner
- Normanook
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Normanook is located in Sussex County (NJ)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Normanook
- Pellettown
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Pellettown is located in Sussex County (NJ)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pellettown
- Roys
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Roys is located in Sussex County (NJ)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roys
- Wykertown
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Wykertown is located in Sussex County (NJ)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wykertown
- Armstrong
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Armstrong is located in Sussex County (NJ)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Armstrong
- Beaver Run
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Beaver Run is located in Sussex County (NJ)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver Run
- Highland Lake
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Highland Lake is located in Sussex County (NJ)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland Lake
- Pike County (PA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Melody Lake, with the one closest to Melody Lake listed first.
- Millrift
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Millrift is located in Pike County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millrift
- Matamoras
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Parkers Glen
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Parkers Glen is located in Pike County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkers Glen
- Lackawaxen
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Westcolang
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Westcolang is located in Pike County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westcolang
- Milford
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Masthope
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Masthope is located in Pike County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Masthope
- Rowland
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Conashaugh
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Conashaugh is located in Pike County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conashaugh
- Lords Valley
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Kimble
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Kimble is located in Pike County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kimble
- Wilsonville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Wilsonville is located in Pike County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilsonville
- Blooming Grove
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Blooming Grove is located in Pike County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blooming Grove
- Wayne County (PA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Melody Lake, with the one closest to Melody Lake listed first.
- Milanville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Milanville is located in Wayne County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milanville
- Damascus
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Boyds Mills
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Boyds Mills is located in Wayne County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyds Mills
- Calkins
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Calkins is located in Wayne County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calkins
- Hawley
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Laurella
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Laurella is located in Wayne County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurella
- Carley Brook
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Carley Brook is located in Wayne County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carley Brook
- Dyberry
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Dyberry is located in Wayne County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dyberry
- Honesdale
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Siko
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Siko is located in Wayne County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Siko
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Melody Lake, see our County-by-County Page for Melody Lake.
Cemeteries Near Melody Lake ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Melody Lake.
This is a new section and is likely to have errors. If you find an error, such as a missing cemetery or we have the wrong name, please let us know. If you know of them, we would also appreciate learning about previous or alternate names.
Although we don't have the information ourselves, if you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our list of websites on our Genealogy Helper Page for Melody Lake - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Melody Lake covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Melody Lake, with the one closest to Melody Lake listed first.
- Rock Ridge Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- St. Peters Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- St. Johns Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- St. Thomas Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Forestburg Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Congregation B'nai Israel Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- General Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Mongaup Valley Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Brookside Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Belle Terre Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Sylvan Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Hillside Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (164 more) ...
- Stanton Memorial Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Fallsburg Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- New Vernon Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
Nearby Communities in 1895 ...
We've built the following list with information that came from an Atlas published by Rand McNally in 1895. The Atlas had details such as the population of the community (which appears to have come from the 1890 Census) and whether there was a post office and/or railroad service available. We also indicate if the community no longer exists and is now historic.<4>
While we didn't find Melody Lake in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Melody Lake.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Melody Lake, with the one closest to Melody Lake listed first.
- Bridgeville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Bridgeville is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bridgeville
- Monticello
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Hartwood
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Hartwood is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartwood
- Rock Hill
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Forestburg
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Forestburg is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forestburg
- Glen Wild
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Thompsonville
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Oakland Valley
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Oakland Valley is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland Valley
- Paradise
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Paradise is located in Orange County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paradise
- Maplewood
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Maplewood is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maplewood
- Mongaup Valley
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Port Orange
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Port Orange is located in Orange County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Port Orange
- Continue List (18 more) ...
- Westbrookville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Haven
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Haven is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haven
- South Fallsburg
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Melody Lake. See our List of 1890's Communities around Melody Lake.
Newspapers Published in Melody Lake ...
An ongoing effort between the Library of Congress and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has resulted in the National Digital Newspaper Program (NDNP).
To share their results, the partnership has created the Chronicling America website. The goal of this partnership is to assemble a database about the current and historic newspapers of the United States. This includes a growing collection of scanned images from selected papers. All of it available to the public on their website.
Using information that we've taken from the Chronicling America website, we've identified 51 newspapers that have been published in the area around Melody Lake.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Melody Lake, there are papers which were published within 18 miles [29 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Melody Lake.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we like to start with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These helpful websites offer the information directly or else point to where you can find it. Their information is open to everyone.
To help you get started, the following links will take you to the pages that are relevant to Melody Lake:
- Websites specific to New York
- Pages specific to Sullivan County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Delaware County
- Orange County
- Ulster County
- Sussex County
- Pike County
- Wayne County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for New York
Footnotes ...
| <1> | While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program. |
| <2> | The Find-a-Grave website is an excellent research tool with information about a cemetery's location and interments. They also offer a forum for their members which can provide additional help. More information about Find-a-Grave can be found on their website: findagrave.com. |
| <3> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Melody Lake) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <4> | We use the term 'Historic' broadly and it generally means that the community no longer exists. However, it can also mean that the community might still exist, but was significantly larger or had a more 'official' existence in the past than it does now. Unfortunately our sources of data have proven to be unreliable. If you can provide us with more specific information about Melody Lake, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |