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Duane Eddy lived in Guyanoga seven miles west of Penn Yan for part of 6th, 7th and 8th grades.
Guyanoga was above Branchport at the top of the west branch of Keuka Lake, the Finger Lake that is shaped like a "Y".
His parents owned a grocery store with gas pumps at this tiny crossroads. Duane said they lived in the back.
They left Bath mid-way through his 6th year, so he attended a 2 room school house in Branchport for his second semester, and has fond memories of bird-watching.
He went to school in Penn Yan for 7th and 8th grades at Penn Yan Academy at public school.
7th grade
8th grade
He made his on-air debut playing the guitar during this time. On a Hornell radio station.
He loved spending summers on the lake. Swimming and floating in the water looking at the fluffly white clouds and beautiful hills. His last summer between 8th and 9th grades was spent on a farm in Yatesville before they moved to Arizona.
We don't know the exact farmhouse. Duane says it was across from the church in one interview. Photos by BHBlumer from 2024 Yatesville is a tiny place, just a crossroads with a church, a couple of farmhouses and a cemetery.
Yates Chronicles
2014 Publication by Rich MacAlpine includes an interview of Duane in 2012.
Read the 2012 Interview of Duane by Rich MacAlpine
Note from Barbara Blumer of Corning's Duane Eddy Circle: Reprinted with permission from the author, Rich MacAlpine. Interview took place in 2012. It was first shared in the Yates County Historical Center chronicles then it became a chapter in his book, Yates County Chronicles, published in 2014
Photo of Rich MacAlpine
Other books by Rich MacAlpine
List them here or show covers
A special thank you to the YCHC Yates County Historical Center and Rich MacAlpine for assisting us with this research.