W.H. Tippetts: Lake George, June 7, 1890, Part 1

By W.H. Tippetts

Saturday, June 7, 1890

The steamer Horicon

There are thousands of lakes scattered about this globe of ours, each beautiful in its way, but none so beautiful as Lake George, the Queen of our American Lakes. During the last decade, Lake George has become popularized as a summer watering place. For years it was given up to the solitary woodsman, or enterprising tourist fisherman in search of sport. To-day its foliage crowned shores and mountainous slopes are covered with fine hotels and summer cottages nestling in pretty nooks, or hidden away beneath the umbrageous foliage of forest trees. Scattered about its crystal bosom are hundreds of islands. Its shores are indented with bays. Bold capes push their outlines out into the lake from romantic and picturesque shores. Large palace steamers furnish transportation for thousands during the summer months, and when the weather is bright hundreds of staunch row boats and steam pleasure yachts may be seen darting from one point to another, laden with parties out for a day’s enjoyment on the dancing waters.

Two days ago I went through Lake George on board the steamer Horicon, and one day ago I came back through Lake George on board the same steamer. I mentioned the MIRROR to a few of the sixty or seventy hotel proprietors on the lake and they swore that life would prove a howling wilderness without the MIRROR. In order to prevent the aforesaid H. W., the MIRROR will be placed on sale at the Lake George hotels this summer.

Unaccountably, the weather was pleasant. The sunshine came over the mountains and descended in rich, golden sheets upon the water. The light breeze set the ripples dancing, and it needed only a glance to picture the waves covered with millions of shining eyes smiling a welcome to the return of spring. In the spring, Lake George is in its greatest glory, when the wooded slopes put on their garments of green, ribboned with lace-like stretches of darker color from the thousands of pines. At any time of the year, Lake George is as beautiful as a gallery of paintings. And yet, this is hardly a correct comparison, for a gallery of paintings, let them be ever so beautiful, are but masses of dead color, while Lake George, with its shifting, waving cloud stretches, the different phases of its moving surface, scenic effects, hundreds of islands, charming bays and wealth of foliage, is seen to the best advantage in the spring and summer.

The Marion House will unfurl the banner on or about the middle of June. The Roger’s Rock hotel, near the noble ledge of rock known as Roger’s slide flys the flag June 16. H. W. Buckell, of Albany, will act as proprietor of the Hulett’s Landing Hotel again this year. Charles Smart, of Albany, is at the Phoenix Hotel, Hague. He will spend the season at that pleasant resort. Commodore Cramer’s elegant steam yacht, “The Pocohontas,” has been placed in commission. James Newell and family have moved into their summer cottage in Hague; Robert Decker and family have taken possession of their cottage.

General Robert Lenox Banks of Albany, president of the Lake George Fish and Game Protective association, will arrive at the Fort William Henry shortly after the hotel opens. One hundred thousand lake trout were placed in Blue Mountain lake May 27. The fish were taken from the state hatchery at Tupper’s lake. The expenses of transportation were met by W. W. Durant of New York city.

Subscriptions to the MIRROR are now due. Send in your sheckels, we will find use for them.

W. H. Tippetts, Editor and Publisher. – Assembly Point, Lake George, June 7, 1890.

Tags: 1890, Assembly Point, June 7, Lake George, Lake George Mirror, Past Mirror Editors, W.H. Tippetts

W.H. Tippetts: Lake George, June 7, 1890, Part 2

By W.H. Tippetts

Information has reached me that in many instances this spring, trout measuring considerable less than six inches have been taken from the brooks of Washington, Warren and Essex counties. Any one guilty of catching fish of one or two ounces in weight should be triced up by the thumbs and severely castigated.

The New York Sun says in a general article on fishing: “Black bass anglers are already arriving at Lake George and taking ‘em in.” For truthfulness and news we must go away from home. Game Constable Burnett will be pleased to learn that black bass are being taken from the lake. Up in this neighborhood it is supposed that the open season for black bass in Lake George does not begin until August 1. Perhaps the Sun has later and more reliable information than the MIRROR regarding this matter.

John B. Simpson’s new steam yacht Fanita made its trial trip this spring. With the new unpolished machinery she developed good speed, but much better is expected of her. She went to Caldwell, ten miles, in fifty minutes. Mr. Simpson is a wealthy New Yorker, vice commodore of the Lake George Yacht club, and one of the proprietors of the Sagamore Hotel, who does not stand on the dollars and cents, but will have the best. The yacht is sixty-five feet long, handsomely finished in mahogany and fine plush upholstery. It has one of the modern engines of over a hundred horse power with a keel pipe condenser, so that with all in proper adjustment it is expected to be the fastest boat on Lake George. The steamer will cost over $15,000 and will constitute one of the now quite extensive flotilla belonging to the Lake George Yacht club, whose new club house is being built at Basin bay.

The Americans, as a nation, like to be in a crowd, and a summer hotel that is crowded is sure to be the favorite. There is no question but that a crowded hotel will always draw. As proof of this, our summer hotels are, as the years roll by, becoming more crowded every year. The population of America is ever on the increase, and the natural outcome of wealth and social culture is such that there are thousands who prefer the quiet life of the cottage. This increase in the cottage system does not, nor will it, interfere with the summer hotels. There are thousands who prefer a cottage life near a large hotel, and Lake George hotel proprietors are beginning to realize this, and as successive seasons come around build new cottages.

With Lake George well supplied with hotels,boarding houses and cottages, there is no reason why every kind of taste should not be gratified. There is ample room for all. Some hotel proprietors labor under the mistaken idea that other hotels near them are injurious to their business. This is a fallacy, which can be proved without much argument.

When you find a solitary hotel, you are apt to find a lonesdome lot of guests, unless there are picturesque walks, beautiful bits of scenery, and ferny nooks to be admired and explored. Summer guests like to row and visit from one hotel to another when they are nearby. Picnics, lawn parties, social dances, etc., can be varied by holding them now at one hotel and now at another. Any hotel proprietor on Lake George if he relishes the truth will or could make the same statement. There is no danger of Lake George ever becoming over crowded with hotels, ot cottages. The greater the number of hotels, the larger will be the increase in summer travel.

W. H. Tippetts, Editor and Publisher. – Assembly Point, Lake George, June 7, 1890.

Tags: 1890, June 7, Lake George, Lake George Fishing, Lake George History, Trout, W.H. Tippetts

W.H. Tippetts: Lake George, June 7, 1890, Part 3

By W.H. Tippetts

For some years there has been a good deal of talk about organizing a colony on the shores of Lake George. After a few preliminary meetings of those interested, it was decided to secure control of West Point, on the east shore, and only a few hundred feet from the southern extremity of Sanford’s Island. This done, the name was changed to Assembly Point. Dr. D. S. Sanford, owner of Sanford’s Island, is interested in the Assembly, and has consented to take an active hand in the management.

The Lake George Assembly means summer rest for families, children included; refreshment, health and strength, contact with nature in her most intimate moods, in the woods, among rocks and trees, with grass for carpets and mosses for rugs, with sunshine, shade, society and solitude, shut within sheltering foliage, or with long vistas of mountain and lake, complete giving up of the too short summer to lengthening, strengthening life. The Lake George Assembly is a wise provision for a summer’s outing, neither public nor private, but a little of both; enough to secure agreeable people and keep the other sort out. The object of the Assembly is to develop a little colony of those who in their summering wish to enjoy a combination of education, religion and pleasure. A few acres will be cut up into building lots and purchasers will be limited as to the cost of their residences. One feature of the Assembly is the preservation of the lakefront in the interest of all. Along the shores, on the east and west sides, will extend a pleasant public promenade (named respectively Sunrise and Sunset Promenades), winding and turning with the indentations of the land, fifteen or twenty feet from the water’s edge. At convenient distances, summer houses and rustic seats will be set down in shady nooks. A forest walk extends the length of the point,full of sudden surprises and quick turns, crossing little bays over rustic bridges. A large pier has been built on the west shore, and two large row boat coves will be built, where residents can leave their boats, assured that they will be properly cared for.

By the way, speaking of cozy, romatic nooks, I was prompted to ask Dr. Sanford if romance and sentiment were to find a place on the grounds of this latest born Assembly. His reply was characteristic. The doctor is something of a ladies’ man, his manner, however, is “grandfatherly;” hear what he says:

“Romance and Sentiment? No better place for it. We once were young ourselves so belive that it is a good thing, in its place, of course; not too much of it, just about the proportion of the sweetening to a cup of coffee, so we propose to provide rustic rambles, lover’s walks, etc. Yes, and even cozy nooks where ‘the old, old story may be told again.’ Why certainly, those three charming sisters, Romace, Sentiment and Refinement, are to be permanent cottagers with us, but there are three other sisters who we do not care to have. I wish you newspapermen would tell them that they are not wanted in our colony. Their names are Miss Terrible Extravagance, Mrs. Extreme Fashion and Madame Growling Grundy. There, I must go and lay out another Lover’s Lane, they will be the most popular walks on the point, especially if they lead to the Marion House. Whew! After that terrible joke, I must go. Good Bye!”

A part of the grounds will be reserved as a pleasure park, with base-ball grounds, lawn tennis courts, croquet lawns, etc. The improvements will be made to harmonize with nature as much as possible. While it is the intention of the founders to hold religious services, these will only take place on Sunday. On week days, lectures will be delivered by prominent speakers. There will be strict rules for government of the grounds. Nevertheless, it is expected that each cottager will live up to the requirements of humanity and good fellowship. People given to gossip, or those who pass the time trying to injure their neighbor’s character, are not wanted on the grounds, nor will they be admitted as purchasers. There is no doubt that the plan will be carried through successfully, as many wealthy men are interested in the success of the L. G. A.

W.H.Tippetts – Assembly Point, Lake George, June 7, 1890.

Tags: 1890, Assembly Point, June 7, Lake George, Lake George History, W.H. Tippetts