Lake Clear, New York facts for kids
Lake Clear is a small community, called a hamlet, and a beautiful lake in Franklin County, New York, United States. The area gets its name from Lake Clear itself, which is about 940-acre (3.8 km2) big. This lake was once part of a famous canoe path called the Seven Carries. Lake Clear is located within the town of Harrietstown.
In the late 1800s, Lake Clear was a very popular place for tourists. Many rich and famous people visited the area. Some of the first and most fancy vacation homes, known as Adirondack Great Camps, were built near Upper Saint Regis Lake, which is only three miles (5 km) north. The well-known Paul Smith's Hotel was also close by, about five miles north. Other popular spots like Saranac Inn on Upper Saranac Lake and the village of Saranac Lake were also just a few miles away.
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Lake Clear's History with Trains
A Busy Train Transfer Point
In 1892, a railroad called the Mohawk and Malone Railway reached Lake Clear. This made it much easier for people to travel to the area. Later, in 1906, Paul Smith built an electric train line that connected Lake Clear to his hotel. This railway eventually became part of the New York Central Railroad (NYC) in 1913.
Lake Clear became an important stop for trains. Passengers could travel from Montreal in the north or New York City in the south to Lake Clear. From there, they would switch trains to go to places like Saranac Lake and Lake Placid to the east.
The End of Train Service
After World War II, most trains coming from cities further west and south would travel through Lake Clear on their way to Lake Placid. They no longer went north to Malone. Train service by the New York Central north to Malone stopped in 1956.
The very last train on this route ran on April 24, 1965. In 2021, the train tracks through Lake Clear were removed. This was done to build a new path for walking and biking, called a rail-trail. This new trail will connect Lake Placid and Tupper Lake and is expected to be finished in 2024.
Lake Clear Today: A Quiet Tourist Spot
Today, Lake Clear is still a place for tourism, but it's much quieter than it used to be. Many of the old "great camps" and cottages are still used by visitors. Other guest houses also welcome people.
The nearby Saint Regis Canoe Area is a big attraction for people who love to paddle canoes. The state of New York now owns a lot of the land around Lake Clear, including most of the lake's shoreline. The state also runs a fish hatchery at a nearby pond called Little Clear Pond.
The Adirondack Airport is located about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) northeast of Lake Clear. Even though it's officially in Saranac Lake, many local people call it the "Lake Clear Airport."
