Following is most of the Page 1 story carried in that July Enterprise 97 years ago, about the groundbreaking for Will Rogers at a cost of $250,000. Now I love this stuff from my artificial but real intelligent pal Gordy Google: By today’s evaluation a quarter-million dollars translates to $4,295,579 — how about that?

“Ground will be broken this summer for a quarter million dollar sanatorium for the National Vaudeville Artists [N.V.A.] at Saranac Lake, according to plans announced by Henry Chesterfield, secretary of the N.V.A., who was here this week to complete arrangements.

“The building will be erected at Spion Kop, the fifty acre estate purchased by the association last fall. The project of making this a great national center for tubercular patients of the theatrical profession was conceived a long time ago.

“Purchase of Spion Kop as the most suitable and attractive site available was the first step in its realization. The erection of the big sanatorium follows out the original plans for which the property was secured.

(From the Adirondack Research Room, Saranac Lake Free Library)

“Building plans were submitted to various builders for estimates this week, and it is anticipated that ground will be broken within 14 days, at which time the business of letting the contract is expected to be finished. It is estimated that the exterior of the building will be completed by September so that work on the interior may be done during the cold weather and the sanatorium made ready for occupancy next spring.

“The fund which has made the sanatorium possible was raised entirely by vaudeville artists of the United States by means of a great drive all over the country carried out in the form of entertainments for one week known as Jubilee Week. The drive was staged after extensive preparations during the Easter holidays in April.

“The sanatorium is to be modeled after the Elks National Home. It will be two stories in height, 110 feet by 65 feet, with a solarium on the roof. The building will be erected 100 feet west of the present main building. It will contain 75 rooms and each room will have adjoining it a private sleeping porch and private bath. All newest appliances in plumbing, electrical fixtures and especially in the heating system are to be installed.

“Expert decorators will have charge of planning the finishing of the interior and harmonizing furnishings. The chief objective will be to keep away as much as possible from any regulation style, so that the sanatorium will not give the impression of an institution, but will have the atmosphere of a great home.

“Comfort combined with attractiveness will be considered chiefly in providing the furnishings, with cheeriness and brightness expressed in design and color tones, to give surroundings that will be one of the chief factors in effecting the patient’s cure.

Saranac Village at Will Rogers (Photo provided)

“The estate was developed years ago by the former owner, W. F. Fowler. Sloping gently on all sides from a central eminence, the site has an ideal location as a home for health seekers. One of the finest groves of white birch in this vicinity has been cultivated at Spion Kop. A landscape specialist has been engaged to lay out flower beds and bordered drives with a new fence to enclose the property.

“At present there are about 25 N.V.A. patients in Saranac Lake. Twelve are at Spion Kop now. After the new sanatorium is completed it is planned to hospitalize all tubercular N.V.A. artists at this home, bringing patients from other health resorts to Saranac Lake. This will enable the association to centralize efforts and facilitate the methods of providing treatment and care or the N.V.A. patients.”

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Will Rogers today

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The paragraph above, which begins with “At present,” means, of course, 1926. So now …

At present, 2023, Will Rogers has been operating as an independent living retirement community for 23 years. Apartments can be rented on a permanent basis, but some people rent for only the winter and others for only the summer.

But get a load of this: The community provides three daily meals, weekly laundry and housekeeping, an activity and entertainment program, 24-hour staff, an emergency response system, safety checks, a personal shopping service, and scheduled transportation for errands, health appointments and outings. All utilities are included except for phone and cable.

Jamie Whidden, executive director, and Debbie Kanze, activity director, are now celebrating 23 years at the Will Rogers helm.