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The Balsams, Northwood School and the Lake Placid community

Historical photographs line the walls of Northwood School, but one in particular harkens back to its very beginnings. The photo is of the Hillside Cottage on the Lake Placid Club. The dates 1905-1907 are penned in black ink below the photo. Those years marked the first two of Northwood’s 111-year history.

Northwood School has always had a connection to the Lake Placid Club property. English teacher and alumnus Don Mellor (’71) wrote in “A Century Outdoors” for the Centennial Edition of Northwood’s Reflections magazine, “Few realize … that the name ‘Northwood’ refers, not to the North woods, but to the northern sector of the Lake Placid Club property where the school buildings were built. For many years the school was a part of the sprawling Club, and its boys were granted the privileges that went along with membership.” Northwood students have been housed in many club residences over the years. The aforementioned Hillside Cottage, Theonoguen and the Mohawk Clubhouse were just a few of the residences used by Northwood students. When the school’s female boarding numbers increased, the school once again turned to the club property for a solution.

The Balsams property is an ideal location: It is close to the school, it is secluded on a private road, and it connects Northwood to its historic club roots. A generous alumni family, who were also club members, donated the property to honor their connection to both institutions and to provide a home for some of the school’s female students.

Northwood School has consistently maintained that the intended use of the Balsams property has been as a single-family residence. The Town of North Elba/Village of Lake Placid Planning and Zoning Code (established in January of 2011) defines a family as “a group of people, related or not related, living together as a common household, with numbers of persons and impacts typical of those of a single family.” The students will live in the Balsams home with a faculty family, where they will be supervised like any other teenager in a single-family residence.

Northwood’s proposed use of the Balsams is a better option than the way many residences are used in the neighborhood. A number of homes near Northwood School are de facto commercial properties. These homes are rented 20 times or more per year to any individual or entity willing to pay. Other neighborhood homes are secondary residences that are used sparingly. The Balsams proposed use would ensure that invested year-round residents would live within the neighborhood.

Northwood’s students are active community members. Many reside in Lake Placid for two or more years, and they integrate themselves into the larger community through service. Northwood students have worked with the North Elba Christmas Fund and Families First to purchase toys and clothes for up to 20 local children during the holiday season. The effort is one of many completed each year. Since September, Northwood students have volunteered at the State Trooper Hockey Tournament, St. Agnes After School Program, the Ecumenical Food Pantry, the Uihlein Living Center and the Humane Society. Student initiatives like “Pink the Pond” have raised money to help local families facing life-threatening illnesses. Northwood students are not required to complete community service. Students volunteer because they find value in giving back to the community in which they live.

Northwood students are active participants in the local economy. Many of our residential students travel via foot or taxi to town where they eat, shop and go to movies at the Palace Theatre. Their parents regularly visit and similarly partake in Lake Placid’s hospitality. There are even a few families who have moved to the area and purchased homes so that their children can attend the school.

Northwood School is well positioned for the future. The 2016 Northwood Fund broke a fundraising record, raising over $840,000 in annual giving, and the school currently has raised close to $2 million for the Northwood School on Main project. The gift of the Balsams to the school rounded out one of the best fundraising calendar years in the Northwood School history. The Northwood School on Main project has energized the alumni base and garnered interest from several universities, local leaders and community organizations. Admissions inquiries have increased, and the school has begun a new strategic plan to better position itself as a 21st-century educational leader. Additionally, Northwood hopes that by turning back to its club roots via the Balsams property, it will be able to take a necessary step in securing its long-term success.

Northwood School remains a vibrant economic engine for the village and town both in direct and indirect ways. The school is one of the largest employers in the community, with over 60 full-time faculty and staff. Northwood faculty contribute to the community as residents, volunteers, coaches and board members. For the past 38 years, Northwood has hosted an annual invitational hockey tournament. The 39-team tournament in January will have a direct spending impact in excess of $300,000 on food, hotels and shopping. Northwood School is one of the largest clients of the Olympic Regional Developmental Authority, and the school hires numerous local contractors and businesses to help maintain its property and manage daily operations.

The school is committed to helping the broader community grow and thrive. The acquisition of the With Pipe and Book property will help strengthen Main Street. The multi-million-dollar academic center for innovation and entrepreneurship will provide educational opportunities for local students and visitors alike. Academic programming in robotics, coding and innovation will bring 21st-century learning opportunities to the entire community. Finally, Northwood is committed to granting scholarship funds to local students so that the school can continue its long tradition of educating the future leaders of the community.

Thomas Broderick is assistant head of school at Northwood School in Lake Placid.

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