Historic Saranac Lake facts for kids
Historic Saranac Lake is a special group that works to save and share the history of the Saranac Lake area in New York State. This area is located in the beautiful Adirondacks mountains. The group is a non-profit organization, which means it uses its money to help the community, not to make a profit. They focus on protecting old buildings and stories from the past.
Contents
Discovering History in Saranac Lake
How Historic Saranac Lake Started
Historic Saranac Lake began on January 15, 1980. Since then, they have done a lot to protect the area's history. They have helped over 170 buildings and places get listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This list includes important places across the United States.
Saving Important Places
Since 1987, Historic Saranac Lake has also hosted talks about local history. They even put on concerts featuring traditional Adirondack music. The group has worked with others to save several important buildings.
Famous Buildings Saved
- The 1894 laboratory of Edward Livingston Trudeau: He was a doctor who did important research.
- The 1904 Union Depot: This was a train station for the Delaware and Hudson Railroad and New York Central Railroad.
- The cottage where Béla Bartók stayed: This famous composer spent his last summer here in 1945. He wrote two important music pieces, his Third Piano Concerto and Viola Concerto, in this cottage.
They have also fixed up several old houses that were almost torn down.
Who Leads the Organization?
Historic Saranac Lake is led by Amy B. Catania, who is the Executive Director. Chessie Monks-Kelly is the Museum Administrator, and Emily Banach is the Museum Specialist. They all work together to keep Saranac Lake's history alive.
Programs and Activities
Exploring the Village
The organization offers fun walking tours of the village. These tours help people learn about the historic sites and unique stories of the region. They also hold educational events that teach about the area's past.
A Rich History
Saranac Lake has a fascinating history.
- In the mid-18th century, it became popular with people who loved sports and nature.
- From 1890 to 1950, it was a very important place for treating tuberculosis. Many people came here to get better.
Sharing Knowledge Through Books
Historic Saranac Lake has published many articles and books. These books tell stories about the lives of people in the region and its special buildings. One famous book is Cure Cottages of Saranac Lake by Philip L. Gallos. It talks about the unique houses where people with tuberculosis stayed to get well.
The Saranac Lake Wiki
Since 2008, Historic Saranac Lake has run a special online encyclopedia, called a wiki. This wiki has grown a lot! It now has more than 8,000 pages and over 13,000 photos. It covers a large area, including places like Coreys, Loon Lake, Paul Smiths, and Gabriels. The wiki was even mentioned in an article by the Smithsonian Institution in 2010 for its great work in "crowdsourcing" history.
See also
- Adirondack Scenic Railroad
- Adirondack Cottage Sanitarium
- Church Street Historic District
- Cure Cottages of Saranac Lake
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Essex County
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Franklin County
- Saranac Lake Union Depot
