Raquette Lake, New York has a rich, exciting history. It has long been a
favorite destination for adventurers, nature-lovers, and tourists. During the
late 1800's and early 1900's the area enjoyed an incredible heyday of popularity
with wealthy Captains of Industry. Several of these men, sometimes referred
to as Robber Barons, built huge rustic retreats called "Great Camps":
Camp Pine Knot, Uncas, and Sagamore. William West Durant started the Blue
Mountain and Raquette Lake Steamboat Line to carry train passengers from the
Village of Raquette Lake to various inns on the lake and to Marion River Carry
and Forked Lake Carry where travelers could continue there journeys north.
This was how people traveled in and around the area before there were hard
surfaced road systems.
No matter where your interests lie: early settlers, boating, railroads, artists,
or architecture, this is the place to start. This pathfinder will help
researchers of all skill levels to locate materials and information concerning
the history of Raquette Lake and the vicinity. There are numerous books, videos,
encyclopedias and bibliographies dealing with this subject. The intention of
this pathfinder is to assist the user in deciding where the information they seek
is located and which ones are the best to use.
Call numbers in bold are items that are located in the Raquette Lake Library. The notation
Adk Room means that the item is located in The Raquette Lake Library's Adirondack section.
The following is a key to the marks following annotations:
- A = an excerpt from the authors introduction or preface.
- R = a review from a published journal (i.e., Booklist).
- C = catalog description.
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Frequently Mentioned Books:
When first approaching the subject of Raquette Lake
history there are a number of texts that are considered 'classics'. The texts listed
below are just a few of these. While not a comprehensive list of the literature,
they are considered seminal works in the study of the history of Raquette Lake.
Many of them also include good bibliographies, which provide access to further
readings.
Aber, Ted (1981, 1961). History of Hamilton County. Prospect, NY: Prospect Books.
[Adk Room] 974.752 Abe
This tome is dry reading, but it is a great starting point. It will introduce you
to the major events and people that made the history of the area.
Hochschild, Harold K. (1952). Township 34: a history, with digressions, of an Adirondack
township in Hamilton County in the State of New York. Published by the Author, 1952.
Gloversville - Adult [HRR] R 974.752 H68 NonCirc/NonReq
Township 34 is considered the best source for information on Raquette Lake history.
As it is no longer in print, most libraries do not allow it to circulate. The copy that
the Raquette Lake Library owns is kept in a locked display case.
The following six books are in a boxed set produced by the Adirondack Museum. They are a selection of chapters, with revisions, from the authors Township 34 (see above). These volumes have some of the best information about the history of the Adirondack Mountains and the Raquette Lake area in particular that is available.
Hochschild, Harold K. (1962). Adirondack steamboats on Raquette and Blue Mountain Lakes.
Blue Mt. Lake NY: The Adirondack Museum.
[AdkRoom] 386 Hoc
Hochschild, Harold K (1962). Doctor Durant and his iron horse.
Blue Mountain Lake, NY: Adirondack Museum.
[AdkRoom] 386 Hoc
Hochschild, Harold K.(1962). Adirondack railroads, real and phantom.
Blue Mountain Lake, NY: Adirondack Museum.
[AdkRoom] 385.09 Hoc
Hochschild, Harold K.(1962). An Adirondack resort in the nineteenth century, Blue Mountain Lake, 1870-1900; stagecoaches and luxury hotels.
. Blue Mountain Lake, NY: Adirondack Museum.
[AdkRoom] 917.475 Hoc
Hochschild, Harold K.(1962). Life and leisure in the Adirondack backwoods.
Blue Mountain Lake, NY: Adirondack Museum.
[Adk Room] 917.475 Hoc
Hochschild, Harold K.(1962). Lumberjacks and rivermen in the central Adirondacks, 1850-1950.
Blue Mountain Lake, NY: Adirondack Museum.
[AdkRoom] 634.98 Hoc
De Sormo, Maitland C.(1974). The heydays of the Adirondacks.
Saranac Lake, NY: Adirondack Yesteryears inc.
[Adk Room] 974.75 DeS
This is a great book to read if you want to find out when, why and how the Adirondacks came to be a popular recreational area.
Donaldson, Alfred L.(1978). A history of the Adirondacks, with a biographical sketch of the author by John J. Duquette.
Saranac Lake, NY: Adirondack Yesteryears.
Crandall - Adult 974.753 Don v.2 and v.1
This is an early work attempting to gather scattered previously recorded histories of the area into a two-volume work. The work was originally published in 1921 but is very readable and informative. The section devoted to Raquette Lake is in Volume II. There are not many photos it is mainly text.
Brown, Henry A. L.(1988). John Brown's tract : lost Adirondack empire.
Canaan, NH: Published for the Rhode Island Historical Society by Phoenix Pub.
[Adk Room] 974.7 Bro
"This book is about one of John Brown's best known, though least successful, efforts in business speculation. The story of his famous 'tract' in what we now cal the Adirondacks." -A
This is a good book about one aspect of Adirondack history; however, the writing can be somewhat heavy handed.
Kaiser, Harvey H. (1996, 1982). Great camps of the Adirondacks.
Boston : D R. Godine.
[Adk Room] 974.753 Kai
Beautifully photographed and written this book describes all the Great Camps.
"The Great Camps of the Adirondacks represents a unique episode in American architectural history. From the end of the Civil War to the beginning of the Great Depression, a group of industrialists, financiers, and railroad builders came to northern New York to build family vacation retreats. The Adirondack mountains regions provided them with the opportunity to assemble large private holdings enclosing lakes, ponds, rivers and forests set within a region on the verge of exploitation.' -A
Verplanck, Colvin (1997 reprint). Adirondack explorations: nature writings of Verplanck Colvin.
Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University Press.
"Colvin (1847-1920) served for 28 years as the superintendent of the Topographical Survey of the Adirondack Mountains. A dozen of his essays, talks, and survey reports document his love for the outdoors and advocacy of preservation. Many of his drawings are also included. No index or bibliography." -R
Brumley, Charles (1994). Guides of the Adirondacks, a history : a short season - hard work - low pay.
Utica, NY: North Country Books, 1994.
[AdkRoom] 974.75 Bru
Horrell, Jeffrey L.(1999. Seneca Ray Stoddard : transforming the Adirondack wilderness in text and image.
Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University Press.
Crandall 508.747 Hor
"The life and career of Seneca Ray Stoddard (1843-1917) spans the early development of the photographic medium and parallels the 'discovery', exploration, and exploitation of the Adirondack Region of New York State as an area of great scenic beauty." -A
De Sormo, Maitland C. (1971). Stoddard, Seneca Ray (1882). Old times in the Adirondacks : the narrative of a trip into the wilderness in 1873.
. Burlington, VT: George Little Press, 1971.
[Adk Room] 917.475 Sto
Stoddard, Seneca Ray (1881). The Adirondacks. Glen Falls, NY: Published by the author.
Stoddard, Seneca Ray (1997). Early days in the Adirondacks: the photographs of
Seneca Ray Stoddard. New York: H.N. Abrams.
Gilborn, Craig A.(2000). Adirondack camps: homes away from home, 1850-1950.
Syracuse, NY: The Adirondack Museum/Syracuse University Press.
[Adk Room] 974.753 Gil
This is one of the newest works about the Great Camps. Many excellent photos and easy to read text.
Gilborn, Craig A.(1981). Durant: the fortunes and woodland camps of a family in the Adirondacks.
Sylvan Beach, NY: North Country Books ; Blue Mountain Lake, NY: Adirondack Museum.
[Adk Room] 92 Durant
Cadbury, Warder H. (1986). Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait: artist in the Adirondacks.
Newark: Associated University Presses.
[Adk Room] 759.13 oversize
This volume contains an account of the artist career and a checklist of his works. During the summers from 1860 to 1869 Tait camped along the shores of Raquette Lake and completed some of his most famous work.
For example:
- Camping in the woods- "A Good Time Coming"
- Brook Trout Fishing- "An Anxious Moment"
Tatham, David. (1996). Winslow Homer in the Adirondacks.
New York: Syracuse University Press.
[Adkroom] 760 Tat
"Winslow Homer first journeyed to the Adirondacks of northern New York State in 1870, at age thirty-four, when he was a rising star in his generation of American painters." -A
He visited the township of Minerva and he also went to Keene Valley a few times. This book contains beautiful color plates and black and white reproductions of his works.
Ludlum, Stuart D.(1972). Exploring the Adirondack Mountains 100 years ago.
Utica, NY: Brodock & Ludlum Publications.
Crandall - Adult HOLDEN 917.475 L NonCirc
Contains "Highlights from The Adirondack region; Adirondack days, by Henry Vane; Verplanck Colvin's 1872-1879 Surveys; Life in the woods, by J. C. Headley [and] Ampersand, by Henry Van Dyke." -C
Schneider, Paul (1997). The Adirondacks: a history of America's first wilderness.
New York: Henry Holt.
[Adk Room] 974.75 Sch
"In a sense this book is a romance, a story of first love between Americans and a thing they call wilderness. For it was in the Adirondacks that masses of (non-native) Americans first learned to cherish the wilds as a place of solace and recreation." -A
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By Local Authors:
Timm, Ruth(1989). Raquette Lake: a time to remember.
[Adk Room] 974.752 Tim
Oral history of Raquette Lake : part of the Adirondack Curriculum project
/ by the class of Ms. Sue Norris ; Arielle Blanchard, Joe DeShaw, Jennifer Forsell, Jeremy DeShaw, Robert Kessler.
Raquette Lake, NY: Raquette Lake School, 2001.
974.752 Ora
Kirschenbaum, Howard & Schafstall, Susan & Stuchin, Janina, editors.(1983).
The Adirondack guide : an almanac of essential information and assorted trivia.
Raquette Lake, NY: Sagamore Institute.
[AdkRoom] 974.753 Adi
Kirschenbaum, Howard (1990). The story of Sagamore.
Raquette Lake, NY: Sagamore Institute.
[AdkRoom] 974.753 Kir
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Encyclopedias:
The following sources provide useful background information for the study of the history of Raquette Lake. They also provide bibliographies and reading lists that allow users to begin further research. These sources should primarily be used as reference works or as an introduction to the research topic.
Gille, Frank H.ed (1982). Encyclopedia of New York. St. Clair Shores, MI: Somerset Publishers.
R 974.7 Enc 1996 v. 1
Ricky, Donald B. (1998). Encyclopedia of New York Indians: tribes, nations and people of the woodlands areas.
St. Clair Shores, MI: Somerset Publishers.
[Ref] R 970.1 Enc Vol 1
[Ref] R 970.1 Enc Vol 2
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Bibliography:
Bibliographies are an excellent starting point when trying to find good books and prominent authors in a certain field. The following source provides such information on Adirondack literature.
Adirondack Bibliography: A list of books, pamphlets and periodical articles (1973).
). Blue Mountain Lake, NY: Adirondack Museum.
There are two volumes, the first is thru 1955 and the second is a supplement 1956 - 1965. Though obviously dated there is a wealth of information here for researchers. Much of what has been written about Raquette Lake is from the 1960's.
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Subject Headings:
These subject headings may be used when searching for books and other materials related to Raquette Lake History. They are most useful for searching online catalogs, but they can also be used in searching indexes and abstracts as well as the World Wide Web.
- Raquette Lake
- Adirondack Mountains
- Adirondack History
- Railroads-New York State-History
- Adirondack Forest Preserve
- Hamilton County
- Gilded Age
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Browsing Areas:
Sometimes, it is difficult to find relevant information through the online catalog. So, you may opt to browse the shelves that contain materials on the Adirondacks. The Raquette Lake Library has dedicated a special section of the shelves to items related to the Adirondacks. These materials are located in the Adirondack Room (you know… that little room in the back next to the bathroom).
The Crandall Public Library has a Reading Room for Archives and Special Collections. Patrons may examine materials documenting the history and culture of the upper Hudson and southern Adirondack regions.
The Reading Room is located on Level B of the Library.
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Internet Resources:
There are a multitude of sites on the web devoted to the Adirondacks The following are some of the best web sources for information about the topic. They are not meant to be comprehensive. However, they provide links to many other related sites.
DATABASES
Start right here at our very own databases provided by the Southern Adirondack Library system. The section entitled GENEALOGY & LOCAL HISTORY will provide numerous links to interesting and informative sites. Listed below are a few of their links.
Adirondack History Network - A site for teachers and students across New York State developed by the Adirondack Museum at Blue Mountain Lake, New York, to aid in the study of state and local history. You will find information about Adirondack guides, the timber industry, the establishment of the Adirondack Park, the lives of Adirondack women in the nineteenth century and much more. Illustrated with historic photographs or ephemera.
Archives and Special Collections at Crandall Public Library - Scroll to the bottom of the page you will find the Biographical, Glens Falls, Queensbury, and Regional indexes to the library's vertical files.
Fulton Montgomery Photo Archives - A compilation of historic photos from various repositories, including The Johnstown City Historian, The Johnstown Historical Society, The Johnstown Public Library, and The Montgomery County Archives.
Guide to local/regional genealogy resources and reference books
I Spy Children - Bring history to life in this I Spy game featuring historic sites in the New York State counties of Fulton, Montgomery, Schenectady and Schoharie.
NY GenWeb - Link to each County within New York State, where you will find a wealth of county related genealogy information.
The Adirondack Museum
The Adirondack Museum is the premier source for information on Adirondack history. Their website is informational and easy to use. The History Online page contains links to text and historic photographs from the museums's collection.
Paul Smiths College
is located near Saranac Lake in the Adirondack Mountains. Their website offers an extensive list of links from the Images and Historical Archives page that can be useful to a researcher.
The American Memory Project
of the Library of Congress offers over 7 million items relating to history and culture. A diligent searcher can even locate photos of Raquette Lake and its inhabitants from long ago. American Memory is a gateway to rich primary source materials relating to the history and culture of the United States. Enter the name of the town or region you are researching to find historical images.
The National Register of Historic Places
has several sites in Hamilton County. This website will help you find them.
Historic USGS
Maps can be downloaded from this site.
The Adirondack Park Agency
is responsible for developing long range plans for the park. From this website a researcher can access geographic information.
Great Camps.
This is the only site in this list that is purely commercial. However, since it provided some accurate information about one of the most prominent historic sites on Raquette Lake it deserves to be included.
These two sites are not really about history, but they may provide users with a means of meeting others with their interests.
The Adirondack Mountain Club
is made up of people interested in enjoying the beauty of the Adirondacks by hiking, canoeing and kayaking. It's a great way to meet people interested in preserving and enjoying the natural environment.
The Environmental Protection Agency
is the place to find a listserv where you can communicate with others that are concerned about the environment.
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Videos
America's castles, the grand tour: Adirondack camps
produced by Cinetel Productions in association with A&E Networks. 1996.
New York, NY: A&E Home Video, 1996.
[AdkRoom] VC 728.8 AMER
Visit sprawling palaces of the Adirondack Mountains region such as Vanderbilt's Sagamore, J.P. Morgan's Camp Uncas, and William West Durant's Pine Knot. -C
Adirondack : dawn of the great camps
n.d.
1 videocassette (VHS) : sd. ; 1/2 in.
Adirondack great camps. Media -M- Productions. 1996.
Long Island City, NY: Media -M- Productions, 1996.
[Adk Room] VC 974.753 ADIR
In the late 1800's, the scenic Raquette Lake area became the center of lavish camp building. Here the great camps of William West Durant - "Pine Knot", "Uncas" and "Sagamore" were show places of rustic yet elegant retreat. -C
Christmas in the Adirondacks
WMHT Educational Telecommunications, 1996.
[Adk Room] VC 394.2 CHRI
Restoration of Adirondack fire towers: recreation of a past era.
Jack Freeman (2000).
Lake George, NY: Darrin Fresh Water Institute.
Bolton - Adult VC 634.9 REST
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