LG tourism — Fall 1888

The Fort George Hotel and Horicon Lodge had closed for the season the previous day, as Lake George tourism season wound its way to a satisfying close.

“The summer guests have left most of the Lake George hotels, and ere many days most of the houses will have closed their doors for the season,” The Morning Star of Glens Falls reported on Sept. 12, 1888. ”While the season has been short, the bonifaces have done a fairly remunerative business.”

A group of hotel employees, after toiling all summer, stuck around for a few days’ respite of their own.

“A party of young men who have been acting as waiters at the Marion House came to Glens Falls yesterday to purchase camping equipment, intending to go into camp for a couple of weeks at Lake George, after which they will return to their respective homes.”

Tourism at Saratoga Springs, to the south, was still in full swing, where the National Wholesale Druggists Association was holding a convention of about 300 druggists and their spouses.

“On Friday the association will excursion through Lake George on the steamer Ticonderoga, lunching at Roger’s Rock Hotel and returning to Saratoga at night,” The Morning Star reported. “The druggists evidently proposed to know all about Lake George and to become thoroughly posted, the organization having purchased three hundred guides published by Charles H. Possons, the well-known Glens Falls publisher, and furnished one to each of the members attending the meeting.”

The steamer Horicon made its last voyage on Lake George for the season on Oct. 6.

Tourism season was winding down, but not wedding season.

“Cupid seems to have established his headquarters at East Lake George,” The Morning Star reported on Oct. 6. “That section has been the scene of several weddings of late, and four more of the Gordian knots will be tied in the near future.”

A.P. Scoville, owner of the Kattskill House, went to Washington D.C. to manage the Howard House for the winter, The Morning Star reported on Oct. 9, 1888.

On Oct, 29, The Morning Star reported that the last of the Lake George cottagers had left for their winter homes.

But there still would be more than one visit from Landlord Pardo, owner of The American House Hotel at the corner of South and Glen streets in Glens Falls.

“That prince of nimrods, Landlord Pardo, of the American House, returned yesterday from a few days’ fishing at East Lake George with a fine string of bass, the largest weighing about seven pounds. His guests will feast on fish today,” The Morning Star reported on Oct.26.

Pardo was back in a few weeks for more fishing.

“Landlord Pardo has gone down the lake for a few days’ fishing. He will make his headquarters at the Hundred Islands House.” The Morning Star reported on Nov. 15.

It was a restful time.

“Landlord Pardo of the American House returned yesterday, cheerful and smiling, from an enjoyable fishing trip down the lake.” — The Morning Star reported on Nov. 19.

Click here to read my most recent previous Lake George tourism history post.