“Dear Sir:

The so deeply lamented passing of John F. Delahant has caused many old residents to turn back the pages of their Book of Memories to that period of 30 years ago when the Stevenson Society and Cottage were in their heyday.

“At that period in the late twenties and early ’30s, the annual meeting of the Stevenson Society was one of the highlights of the social season for the entire Adirondack region, the guests coming from all the leading resorts. Many came from Canada and some from abroad. A really international gathering.

“While most of the guests were sincere admirers of the beloved R.L.S. there is but little doubt many were also attracted by the fame and quality of the speakers, among whom are recalled Duncan MacInnes, Royal Chief of the Scottish Bands of America, who was played into and out of the meeting by his own personal Piper in full clan regalia. Also, the Rev. Charles R. Erdman of Princeton; Will H. Low, noted artist, author and intimate friend of R.L.S.; President E.A. Alderman of the University of Virginia; Poultney Bigelow, famous writer and speaker whose recent death was noted by newspapers throughout the entire nation. Also Col. Walter Scott, long the ‘angel’ of the Society, also its president, whose interest, in the Society and its welfare continued until the day of his death, as well as Rabbi Stephen S. Wise, sterling friend of Saranac Lake. There were other speakers of like distinction.

“Old timers also recall highlights of the meetings such as the little groups of avid R.L.S. lovers gathered about and so eagerly questioning old Andrew Baker who was sometimes close to being overwhelmed. Of the so stunningly uniformed pipers provided by Col. Scott to give a real Scott background and music to the meeting. Of the announcement by Dr. Lawrason Brown, president of the Society, of the gift of one thousand dollars by J. Pierpont Morgan, to pay off the last bit of debt owed by the Society at that time. Of the beautifully dressed groups of guests gathered beneath the trees and on the lawn drinking tea provided and served by our ladies of the Reviewers Club. Of the attendance at the 1929 meeting of the Baron Nobile Giacoma de Martino, the Italian Ambassador to the United States, spending the summer at Saranac Lake. With him were some of the ladies of the Embassy.

“They can close their eyes and see others in the crowd who for a long time had been interested in and working for the Society. They again see so clearly William Morris, Livingston Chapman, Walter Cluett, Maurice Feustmann, Dr. Hugh H. Kinghorn, Dr. J. Woods Price, Peyton Clarke, Harry H. Gay, Stephen Chalmers and others who had an abiding interest in the Shrine for R.L.S. They are also aware of how many missing faces there would be if they tried to assemble that same group today.

“One will never forget how thrilled the townsfolk were when it was announced by Col. Scott that he had signed up more than 30 new Life Members for the Society, some of them being internationally famous, such as Sir Thomas Lipton and Sir Harry Lauder to say nothing of various millionaires and multi-millionaires.

“But with the passing of the years and the passing of most of the wealthy supporters, the shrine in the little white house above the rushing Saranac came upon evil days. The interest of the townsfolk in the Society dwindled to almost nothing compared to the old days and the cottage became badly rundown.

“However, conditions were not hopeless, as there always remained a small group in the village who realized to the full the great value of the Shrine and Society to the community. One of the leaders of this group was Tony Anderson, who as village president was in a position to do something about it. He worked on the Village Board until he persuaded them to purchase the Cottage and to start immediate work to restore the Shrine and its surroundings to its former state. He has had the wholehearted support of the Village Board. The village got a real bargain.

“Tony Anderson was also mainly responsible for the securing of John F. Delahant as curator. No better choice could have been made. With his love for and special knowledge of R.L.S., the new curator proved a real mine of information to the many visitors at the Cottage. His friendly and courteous manner and real affection for Saranac Lake quickly endeared him to all the townsfolk. His sudden death tugged heavily on the heart strings of the entire community. He will be sorely missed and hard to replace.”

— Albert I. Evans