19th Century Schroon Lake — Prosperous tourism season

It was a prosperous tourism season.

“This has been the most successful season for hotels we have had for many years,” the Schron Lake correspondent reported in The Morning Star of Glens Falls on Sept. 8, 1894.

It would not be long before hotels began preparing for the next season.

“The Leland will be managed this season by C. T. Leland, who had charge last season,” the Schroon Lake correspondent reported in The Morning Star on Feb. 16, 1895. “Timber and other lumber are being prepared to rebuild the Root Hotel of Schroon River, recently destroyed by fire. Work will be commenced as soon as the weather will permit.”

“The popular Ondawa Hotel of Schroon Lake, Maurice O’ Connor proprietor, will open for the reception of guests on May 1,” The Morning Star reported on April 23, 1895. “This will be pleasing information for the many gentlemen who go to Schroon Lake to fish for trout every spring.”

In other 19th century Schroon Lake news collected from historic newspapers of the region:

• Schroon Lake was a multi-lingual community in the 19th century, as evidenced by Dr. J. H. Potter’s advertisement in the Ticonderoga Sentinel on Dec. 13, 1878 offering free consultations in French, German, English and Spanish.
• “John Wright, a farmer of Crown Point, is doing Uncle Sam’s mail business between here and Pottersville,” the Schroon Lake correspondent reported in the Ticonderoga Sentinel on Feb. 9, 1877. “John is shaped so much like a snow drift that they have fraternalized well and avoided accident thus far.”
• “Bark pulling has commenced in earnest,” the Schroon Lake correspondent reported in the Ticonderoga Sentinel on June 15, 1877.
• “Ice harvesting has commenced. Excellent ice about thirteen inches is being cut in large quantities,” the Schroon Lake correspondent reported in The Morning Star on Jan. 19, 1895.

“Ice harvesting is nearly completed. It is of the best quality, about fourteen inches in thickness. The Leland House has upwards of 200 tons and other hotels in proportion,” the Schroon Lake correspondent reported in The Morning Star on Feb. 16, 1895.

• “About 499 interested spectators were on the ice last Friday to witness the long talked of race between five of as fine colts as anybody wishes to see. Maurice O’Connor’s bay mare, Evangeline, won first money, taking three straight heats,” the Schroon Lake correspondent reported in The Morning Star on Feb. 25, 1895.
• “Marketman Edward Kelso is building a new meat market on Main Street between his building and the drug store. It’s a good location and he will have a model market,” the Schroon Lake correspondent reported in The Morning Star on April 27, 1895. “G. W. Taylor has the foundation for a building one door south of the drug store ready for the carpenters, who will commence work immediately for a two-story building to be used as a harness shop and town clerk’s office.”
• “Mrs. Thilo and Miss Josie Bostwick will next week open a first-class millinery establishment in the parlors of the Ball House,” the Schroon Lake correspondent reported in The Morning Star on May 9, 1895.
• “The baseball game between the Schroon and Pottersville nines, which took place at Pottersville recently, was a walk-over for our boys,” the Schroon Lake correspondent reported in The Morning Star on May 9, 1895 “A return game will be played here in short time. Henry Thayer is more than an ordinary pitcher and to him is due in a great measure the victory.”
• “Mrs. Putnam, wife of the well-known New York publisher, and her friend, Miss Davenport, who have spent several seasons at Paradox Lake, are guests at the Adirondack Inn,” the Schroon Lake correspondent reported in The Morning Star on May 9, 1895.

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