I have only read snippets of Alfred L. Donaldson’s volumes on the history of the Adirondacks.

However, If you find and read the book our centennial committee published, the historical content by John J. Duquette is, in my opinion, also one of the best Adirondack/Saranac Lake historians. Unfortunately, John’s interesting, detailed stories were never published in one volume, so, they it lays in bits and pieces in the Adirondack Room of the Saranac Lake Free Library.

“Saranac Lake: A Centennial” is a treasure filled with history and early Saranac Lake photos. The double truck centerfold carries a striking photo by Mark Kurtz of approximately 850 Saranac Lakers with this caption:

“On Sunday, Feb. 2, 1992, members of the Saranac Lake area community gathered in front of the Winter Carnival Ice Palace for a portrait to commemorate the village’s centennial celebration. Braving the subzero temperatures of a traditional Adirondack Winter, these residents came to pay homage to the village known as the “Little City in the Adirondacks.”

What is really a kick, the next four pages carry the names of everyone in the photo, including my son, daughter-in-law and granddaughters — Kasey, Renee and Amber Riley.

Short takes from Mr. Duquette

First settlers:

“To Jacob Smith Moody belongs the honor of becoming our first settler. He came from Keene, N.Y., in 1819 and built a log cabin in the Highland Park (later Park Avenue) area with his wife and four children. Five more children would be born in Saranac Lake. In this latter group was a son, Cortez, who became the first child to be born in the area. Jacob did not own the property at Highland Park but later acquired 160 acres in the extreme northwest corner of the Town of North Elba. This grant included ‘the Pines’ and the general region including Moody Pond. His second home was built in the eastern end of River Street near the Pine Ridge Cemetery.

“At the time of his arrival Jacob found a complete wilderness which still contained moose, wolf and panther in a forest where the sons could roam in pursuit of game. It was inevitable that the boys would become expert woodsmen and eventually very popular guides.”

The early years:

“While the hamlet struggled through its formative years a fixed name for the place had not yet been established. It vacillated through several means of identification, used by both residents and visitors, with such appellations as Baker’s, Harrietstown, or simply ‘the River’. When the name Saranac came into usage a problem existed with the Town of Saranac some 30 miles downstream on the road to Plattsburgh. Confusion in the postal system [Mark Twain, in one of his stories written while in Saranac Lake, said in his exaggerated humor something like, ‘you can’t even get a postcard in the mail because there are about ten Saranacs’] caused mail to be sent to either address. Both postmasters tried to get the other to change their name but neither would concede. When Martin received the earlier mentioned appointment [as Postmaster] the fact that the P.O. was situated in the Saranac Lake

House [the hotel owned by Martin] on Lower Saranac Lake, rather than on the river, the word ‘Lake’ was added to the identity and it has been Saranac Lake ever since.”

We become civilized:

“As the growth of the community spread rapidly in several directions it became apparent that some sort of management would be necessary to provide municipal services. A local attorney, Frederick A. Isham, and postmaster, Milo B. Miller, were strong advocates for the formation of the incorporated village. This proposal was quickly approved and Saranac Lake became the first incorporated village in the Adirondacks. An election placed the following men in office: President, Dr. Edward Livingston Trudeau; Trustees, Milo B. Miller, Francis M. Bull and Dr, Charles F. Wicker; and clerk, Frederick A. Isham.

“The first board meeting was held in Isham’s law office on June 16th, 1892, and ensuing meetings appointed a street commissioner, a constable, and a night watchman. Of special interest were the rates for ‘hawkers and peddlers.’ On foot, $2 to $5 per day; one horse, $10 per day; and two horses, $15 per day.

“A notice was also posted to stop sliding on three village hills. Civil administration was under way!”

From past to present:

“With the official act of incorporation out of the way, Saranac Lake began a rapid growth period that would witness many changes in the structural appearance of the village as well as industrial priorities. The reputation as a health resort was, at the turn of the century, a viable and respected product of those times, but there was also a strong swing toward the possibility of becoming a leading resort area. The big question was; Could Saranac Lake be both? The health industry was an established source of income but additional tourist dollars would be welcome, indeed.

“Resort hotels were springing up n the village and the surrounding areas to accommodate the ever increasing number of tourists. Some of the hotels stated in their brochures that invalids were welcome, while others said no tubercular persons need apply. The Saranac Lake Board of Health claimed that, due to strict sanitary enforcement, contagion was not, and should not, be considered to be a deterrent.”