FLEMING - It's been said that most New York City residents have never visited the city's most famous landmarks - they've never climbed the steps at the Statue of Liberty, never seen the view from the Empire State Building.

The same is true with the Ward W. O'Hara Agricultural Museum of Cayuga County at Emerson Park. Although it has one of the most interesting collections in the Finger Lakes region, not enough locals sing its praises.

George Komer was never one of those people. Komer recently retired as the museum's director and a retirement party was held Sunday at the Springside Inn to recognize his hard work over the past eight years.

“He's just fantastic. We're just thinking we'll never be able to replace George. We've been very lucky,” said Jackie Komanecky, daughter of Ward W. O'Hara and an organizer of last night's dinner and one of 15 volunteer members on the museum's board of commissioners.

Komer, 83, was humble in accepting a plaque and gifts, saying he was surprised at the large turnout. He started as a volunteer at the museum in spring 2000.

As for his retirement, Komer believes the job now demands more from the next person.

“The job has grown so large now, and we've done so many new things, that it was time to get somebody that can work more hours than I was willing to,” said Komer, who is officially a part-time employee even though he often worked more than 40 hours a week during the summer.

“I love that museum. It's a wonderful place to work, and it has the potential to become a top-class museum,” Komer added. “But there's a lot more that needs to be done.”

Hiring a full-time professional museum director would be on the top of Komer's to-do list.

“That needs to be done,” he said. “We've just scratched the surface of the potential for this museum.”

Norm Riley, president of the Board of Commissioners, gave Riley some good-natured ribbing to start the evening's award presentation. He also gave a brief overview of Komer's work history prior to coming to the museum - including the management of a dairy and poultry farm, driving milk tankers, and working in factories before taking a job as an agriculture specialist with the state.

“He's truly a jack of all trades,” said Riley, who also told the Cayuga County Legislature's Planning Committee recently how important Komer has been to the growth of the museum. “George has brought our museum from a barn full of machinery to an educational monument dedicated to the industrial and agricultural history of Cayuga County.”

Carlton Brier worked with Komer at the museum.

“He's done the highest quality job that could have been done. He's put in water heaters, done electrical work,” Brier said. “Planning is his forte. A very wise manager and a good encourager of other people.”

The Komers raised their family in the New Hope area when he worked in Syracuse. Komer and his wife, Joyce, have 15 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

“Yes, we're very proud of him,” said one of his five children, Beth Komer, of Locke, who was accompanied Sunday by her four children who range in age from 13 to 18. Three of her siblings were also at the dinner.

Cayuga County Park Service Supervisor Gary Duckett has worked alongside Komer for the past four years and said he will be sorely missed. But the amazingly spry octogenarian won't be a total stranger.

“You just keep up the good work,” he told the audience, “and I'll keep poking my head in the door.”

To learn more

The Ward W. O'Hara Agricultural Museum of Cayuga County, located across the street from the front entrance to Emerson Park,�is open from mid-May through mid-September. Each second Sunday in December, the museum holds its annual Christmas Open House with sleigh rides, Christmas music and lots of other activities.