Strolling by Moonlight through Lake Luzerne History

It was fun to see Veronica Lake, famed for her seductive peek-a-boo hairstyle and femme fatale roles, in Lake Luzerne. She told us about her storied film career and about the fun she had with Hollywood friends who would fly into the Adirondack estate she owned with her husband Joe McCarthy in Hadley.

And there was Anne-César de La Luzerne, the French diplomat who was instrumental in securing French support for the colonists in the Revolutionary War. "You used to be called Fairfield," he told us. "In 1808, you honored me by renaming your community for me. Merci."

We were there on an unseasonably warm October evening in the Lake Luzerne Historic District for the fourth annual Lantern Walk, a character-driven, history-oriented interpretation of Halloween organized by the Community Events team of the Hadley-Lake Luzerne Historical Society. It’s always scheduled in close synchrony with October’s Harvest Moon.

Planning for the first Lantern Walk in 2020 started shortly after the team completed the popular online walking tour of Hadley and Lake Luzerne, says Sue Wilder, president of the Hadley-Lake Luzerne Historical Society. “We started exploring the lives of those who lived here before us and what their lives must have been like, and we decided to spotlight ordinary folks doing extraordinary things to carve out a place in time for the betterment of their family and neighbors.

“We can't let their stories be forgotten. They need to be told.”

Research for their scripts included a deep dive into Lester Thomas's book Timber, Tannery and Tourists and ancestry websites. “We also would interview relatives who might recall hearing stories from years ago,” Sue adds.

For the actors, she adds, “The only rule is always to have fun.”

Veronica Lake

Sandy Cofffey delighted us with her impersonation of the sultry Veronica Lake, the actress who married lyricist Joe McCarthy, whose family in the early 1900s bought the Elijah Ellis Farm on the south side of the Sacandaga River on Dean Mountain Road in Hadley. This property is now owned by Chandler Askins, who has named it Mountain Airstrip Farm. A pilot, Lake had her own airplane and often flew in and out of there. She was born in 1922 and died in 1973.

Peek-a-Boo is my nickname. In Hollywood, everyone needs a gimmick, and mine is derived from my unruly, impossible hair that's always falling over my face, especially covering one eye, which gives the appearance that I’m playing “Peek-a-Boo. Beauty shops all over the country began advertising the Veronica Lake hair style, even the Fuller Brush company promoted one of their hair brush lines with my name. Before I knew it, the world would know Veronica Lake used a Fuller Brush.

I was in! My familiar name was a hit with movie goers and Hollywood producers loved it.

The McCarthy family purchased many acres in Hadley in the early 1900s. They were the second owners of the property belonging to one of the earliest settlers in 1800s. It was the Elijah Ellis Farm on the south side of the Sacandaga River on Dean Mountain Road. When my lyricist husband Joe McCarthy brought me to the farm, I understood how his dad and he were inspired to express their feelings in the lyrics they wrote, such as “Rambling Rose,” “I’m Going to Laugh,” and “Just for Old Times.”

The former Ellis Farm became a respite for us and for many of our Hollywood friends. I enjoyed cooking and well known entertainers sat around our table -- friends like Marlon Brando, Debbie Reynolds, Alan Ladd, and Mickey Rooney; musicians Nat King Cole and Perry Como; and chess champion Bobby Fischer.

When I had 75 hours of solo flight under my belt, my secretary Marge and I decided to fly from California to New York in my Navion, an unpressurized, single-engine four-seat aircraft. The large flat pasture worked fine for my little plane, which I flew often. I even flew across the country with other Hollywood stars like Bob Hope to support War Bonds.

Today, the third owner of the Ellis Farm is Chandler Askins, who has named the property Mountain Airstrip Farm. He has designed trails for ATV-riding and the farm house has been restored to accommodate guests once again.

Thanks for stopping by. Autographs, anyone?

Anne-Cesar, Le Chevalier de La Luzerne

*Roger Allan as Le Chevalier de La Luzerne*

Roger Allan was superbly costumed as Anne-Cesar, Le Chevalier de La Luzerne.

I am very honored that the good folks of Luzerne, New York, named their town after me in 1808 (17 years after I died). I am pretty sure I know why they had to change the town’s name - it was Fairfield since 1792 but since there was another Fairfield in New York – mail was getting delivered to the wrong town. But what I don’t know exactly is why they chose my name. It will probably always be a mystery. And there was Anne-César de La Luzerne, the French diplomat who was instrumental in securing French support for the colonists in the Revolutionary War.

I was born in France in 1741 a member of a noble family. After an early career in the military, I entered the diplomatic service. My most important assignment was the French Minister to the United States from 1779 to 1784. The Americans would not have won their independence from Great England without French financial and military support – and I was the King’s representative in the critical years of the American Revolution. You might even consider me an American Revolution Hero! I worked closely with all the Founding Fathers and especially enjoyed my close relationship with General George Washington.

I worked hard to cement the French-American Alliance forged after the Battle of Saratoga. Although France was still a monarchy under the reign of Louis the 16th, the interests of our two nations were the same: we both wanted to defeat the British! American victory depended on Lafayette, Rochambeau, De Grasse, me and thousands of French sailors and soldiers.

After my service in Philadelphia, I returned to Paris to await my next assignment. The capstone of my diplomatic service was being appointed Ambassador to London in 1788 where I died in 1791. Of course, the world changed dramatically while I was in London – The French Revolution swept away the monarchy and led to a period of European upheaval.

In 2023 the Hadley/Lake Luzerne Historical Society organized a program to commemorate the town’s namesake - me - Le Chevalier de La Luzerne and hung my portrait on the wall of their meeting room.

Friedrich ‘George’ Roider

Tanner Brooks, a high school student at Hadley- Luzerne Central School, gave us Friedrich Roider, a machine operator who worked for Albrecht Pagenstecher, who transformed paper-making with his wood pulp mill. Roider was born in Germany 1849 and died in Luzerne in 1922. Hear this read with a German accent.

I am Friedrich Roider (Roy-deer), but all my friends call me George. You can, too.

I was just a lad in 1866 when I came to America with my parents and brother, Philip. I was only 17 years old and I had to have many physical tests before I could leave Saxony, Germany. If I do not pass tests, I would not be allowed to leave Germany with my family. I was afraid they would leave without me.

We come to America at Lenox, Massachusetts with friend Felix Gritzner. Felix and me, we work hard at grinding wood into pulp for making paper. We know how to turn trees into fiber-like material called pulp.

Everyone wanted paper. The technique and supply of using rags to make paper for nearly 2,000 years had reached its all-time low and it was very slow process. By 1838 inventors and scientists had began experimenting for a way to produce paper in huge quantity and quickly. In Germany, where I was born, a weaver and a machinist Mr. Keller and Mr. Voelter had invented the process of extracting fibers from wood to make a substance like oatmeal called pulp to be used for paper making.

Mr. Albrecht Pagenstecher come to America with two patented Keller-Voelter wood grinders to set-up at Lee, Massachusetts. Me and Felix work hard, Mr. Pagenstecher brings us to come to Luzerne. He finds lots of spruce trees here and we can make pulp for him, and the girls are pretty here, too. The ideas and plans of a wood grinder found its way to the Bagley and Sewall Company, a machine fabrication shop in Watertown, New York to make a special eight-pocket wood grinder, powered by an over-shot water wheel and manual gears at the top to crunch the wood onto the grinding wheels, chewing the wood into pulp fibers.

When me and Felix see that monstrous machine inside the building on Wells Creek, our eyes are big like saucers. Mr. Pagenstecher asked if we could operate that machine and we say, “We are good workers”. We are first in the great United States to manufacture commercially viable ‘ground-wood’. In 1870, the Manufacturer’s Pulp Company was formed, and by 1898 moves to Corinth to become the Hudson River Pulp and Paper Company and later one of the twenty mills forming the International Paper Company.

Me and Felix settle in Luzerne. I become United States citizen at Lake George, Warren County in 1879.

We marry sisters. Felix marries Sarah Taylor and I marry Amelia Taylor. Me and Amelia have four sons. Amelia dies in 1881 from typhoid fever. With four small sons, I marry in 1883 to Florence Wright. We are married for 15 years and have three more sons and two daughters. When Florence dies, I marry for time number three to Esther Storer.

In 1936, Helen Smidt, daughter of Albrecht Pagenstecher, gave the property owned by the Manufacturer’s Paper Company to the town of Lake Luzerne to be used for park purposes. The restored mill, which houses the first wood grinder made in the United States is now used as a museum. It is opened weekends in the summer and staffed by Town Ambassadors. Please come visit us.

Mabel Ogden Garnar

*Barbara Brewer LeMere as Mabel Ogden Nash*

Barbara Brewer LeMere portrayed Mabel Ogden Garner, who married into the Garner family with her wedding in 1898 to William T. Garner. He was the son of Edward Garner, who joined his brother Thomas in developing the Garner Leather Works Company into the world's largest producer of book-binding leather. Edward and his wife Grace raised William in the building that in 1969 was made the home of the Rockwell Falls Public Library. That's why Barbara performed as Mabel here. Mabel was born in 1878 and died in 1956.

Hello, I am Mabel Ogden Garnar, a former high school teacher of the newly formed Hadley-Luzerne Union Free School. In 1898, I married William T. Garnar and in the lovely Victorian Home we know today as Brewer’s Funeral Home, we raised our daughter, Elizabeth. Sadly, our son William Thomas, Jr. died in infancy.

William’s dad Edward and his Uncle Thomas were born leather dressers. With adventure in his leather-tanning genes, Edward as a young man joined the Australia Gold Rush of 1851. When my William was only 6 years old, his Uncle Thomas beckoned Edward to come to Luzerne to manage the leather tannery he had purchased. His father began expanding the Garnar Leather Works Company from one building to a block-long plant with two- and three-story buildings on both sides of Main Street over Wells Creek to the corner of Mill Street.

William’s brother Edward, who we call Ned and his wife Grace, raised their son in this home here on Main Street. What are the odds that the home of the tannery manager and co-owner of the Garnar Leather Works Company, the company that produced the finest book-binding leather from 1869 to1907, would become the home of the Rockwell Falls Public Library, 100 years later in 1969?

Has anyone seen William? He is detained right now, probably working on tomorrow’s deliveries. He owns the William T. Garnar grocery and yard goods business located between the Presbyterian Church and Riddell’s drug store on Bridge Street. A very fine store for over 50 years! He takes pride in his service to the fine folks who come into his store, he knows them all by name and where they live, groceries and supplies are taken right to their door by his friendly deliveryman. With our draft horse and box wagon, we deliver door-to-door twice a week if you live in the village, and once a week to farmers and summer people back in the hills. He’ll hook up the buckboard for out-of- town deliveries. I recall (chuckle) The buckboard was usually pulled by a lighter, more spirited horse, in one summer’s instance a frustrated pacer whose favorite trick was to back the wagon into someone’s fence or into a ditch or creek. What fun they had getting that pacer back home.

Customers provided a shopping list in the morning. It was filled and delivered by horse and cart before the end of day. When the number of boarders increase in summer, a grocer boy will do the rounds with his bicycle. Local deliveries were made on weekdays because farmers came to town with their families on Saturdays for their weekly supplies: groceries, grain, candy or peanuts for the children and perhaps dress material for the wives. In later years, they might spend an evening at the movies. When telephones came into more general use and automobiles more common, “order days” went out of existence.

William provided a good life for us. We had a housemaid and we traveled often to Europe and Australia. He died in 1941 at the age of 83,

In 1956, Arthur and Connie Brewer purchased the home to be used as Brewer’s Funeral Home. They raised two children, Barbara and Jim, before moving to a home a couple doors north. Art retired from the funeral business in 1986; it is now owned by Michael and Patty Miller. Interestingly, having lived in the Garnar home where William and I lived, Connie was on the committee that initially worked to establish the library here in Edward and Grace Garnar’s home.

Rev. William Platt Harmon

*Michael Goodhart as Rev. Willard Platt Harmon*

At the Rockwell-Harmon Visitor Center, Mike Goodhart gave us Willard Platt Harmon, who arrived in Luzerne in 1896 as the new minister for the Presbyterian church, earning a salary of $700 per year and free use of the manse.

For a bachelor, the manse was pretty quiet until I met the great-granddaughters of Jeremy Rockwell, Edna and Elizabeth Rockwell. I married Edna, the daughter of George Henry Rockwell. My father-in-law was proprietor of the renown Rockwell Hotel and its four cottages right here on Main Street. Tonight I am standing on the porch of the last remaining cottage circa 1834 of the Rockwell Hotel.

Edna and I had one daughter, Miriam, who became an art teacher, and taught in the Fort Edward school district for nearly 25 years. Upon her death she willed to the Hadley-Lake Luzerne Historical Society this cottage. The Historical Society maintained the cottage for a few years with an artists’ consignment studio until 2002 when Papa’s Ice Cream Shop, the business next door, burned.

The two buildings were so close that Miriam could have ordered a hot fudge sundae and Papa could have served it to her though the side window. Heavy smoke damaged the south side of the cottage. The historical society was unable to restore the cottage to its early luster and not wanting to demolish the building they sold it to the town for a few dollars. The town was able to obtain funding from Assemblywoman Therese Sayward and other funding as well was provided, thereby preserving this historic building for public use. Today the cottage houses the Lake Luzerne Regional Chamber of Commerce, provides handicapped public restrooms, and allows the overflow of Adirondack Folk School students to use the downstairs as class rooms.

Today when you visit the Rockwell-Harmon Cottage and Visitor Center you’ll be greeted by a friendly Town Ambassador during the Summer season. Plan to pop-in to say “hi” and take a keepsake selfie on the porch facing the Hudson River.

Larry Bennett

The role of educator Larry Bennett was performed by his youngest son James. Larry Bennett was born in 1938 and died in 2021.

Ring the bell -it’s time for class to start!

A remarkable concern for public education can be credited to my family and neighbors living on Gailey Hill. I want to tell you about some hard-working people who not only built homes and discovered ways to feed and clothe their families, but also spent considerable time establishing a school house and educating their children for a prosperous life.

Families in a remote area would erect a building for their neighborhood school children, thereby creating several school districts. The Gailey Hill one-room schoolhouse was number 2 in a district of 12 buildings. The building behind me, built in 1865 is the original one-room schoolhouse. There never was any electricity nor running water. One teacher taught grades first through eighth until 1937 when the New York State Board of Education granted funds for a consolidated school district.

There is something to be said about teachers teaching students in one room with multiple grades. Perhaps the repetition of the lessons instills a desire to learn more. I’m Larry Bennett, the oldest of 14 children. When I went to college I needed to pay my own way, I worked in the cafeteria for my board and with Bess Rockwell Winsor’s generous weekly support I was able to pay for my room.

After graduation I taught history in the Glens Falls School District for 33 years.

Through the efforts of the town board and myself we were able to secure this corner property. The Hadley-Luzerne Lions Club provided the funds and manpower to move the Gailey Hill One-room schoolhouse, first to the bank parking lot and then to its permanent home here, creating a historic district to be proud of.

The schoolhouse is open during the summer months. You are always welcome to visit and ring the school bell.

First United Methodist Church

Former Town of Hadley historian Judy Hughes introduced us to the First United Methodist Church, built in 1852 by James Hegman of Glens Falls and Silas Dayton of a local family. She took us into the church to show us historic artifacts.

You are standing in front of the oldest house of worship in town, built in the architectural style of this church building is roughly similar to that of the New England colonial churches. It is modest in design. The vaulted ceiling is trimmed with simple wood gingerbread as it has stood for over 200 years.

Before this house of worship was built the early settlers felt a need for religious instruction and spiritual inspiration, as in every pioneer settlement throughout the colonies. Sunday services were held in various homes and other suitable gathering places. In the early 1800s Methodists organized and made plans for a church building which was erected on the west side of the River Road some distance from Darling’s Ford.

“The Old Church” as it has been referred to was built of pine lumber. The Old Church was used for a number of years as a union church in which all faiths could come worship. The large door lock is on display inside this church. The bell you see to the right of me was given to the church. When the Presbyterian Church burnt in 1937 there was no fire alarm siren. The preacher at the time had two sons, one went with his dad to fight the fire and the younger son was told to alert the sleeping people by ringing the bell. In the excitement he rang it so hard and so often that the bell cracked causing the clanger to fall off.

Social activities in the community were centered in the churches with their suppers, summer picnics on the lake, lectures and musical groups. The churches were a place where farmers and villagers could gather, talk over the happenings of the week, discuss births and deaths and goings-on in the town, compare crops and livestock and in general enjoy the company of their neighbors.

For over 200 years the Methodist Church has been steadfast in its service and dedication to the community by meeting the needs of the needy, performing marriages, baptisms and funerals. The church is now called the First United Methodist Church Lake Luzerne.

The Bridge of Hope

And there was Sue Wilder, stirring up a batch of cookies knowing how important it is for our troops to receive letters, cards and care packages. She portrayed a member of the Operation Pride, a Golf War / Desert Storm support and action group based here in Hadley and Lake Luzerne.

In late 1990 US Troops were sent to the Persian Gulf to defend Kuwait from an Iraqi invasion. Fears mounted and tears flowed as we all said our good-byes to our soldiers.

But back home moms, wives, sweethearts, and other family members couldn’t sit idly by, so we joined together to form Operation Pride, a Gulf War / Desert Storm support and action group based here in Hadley and Lake Luzerne.

The bridge that spans the Hudson River connecting Hadley and Lake Luzerne was dubbed "The Bridge of Hope." Members of Operation Pride bedecked the bridge with yellow ribbons and flags with the promise they wouldn’t come down until our troops came home. Each ribbon and flag bore the name of a local soldier in the Gulf region.

Knowing how important it was for our troops to receive mail, members of Operation Pride worked tirelessly to raise funds to send letters, cards and packages of homemade baked goods to our local soldiers. In one of those packages a small, postage-stamp sized present was included. Each little present contained an attached poem written by an Operation Pride member, which read:

“This is a special box,
that you can never see inside,
The reason that it’s special is because it’s just for you from me.
Whenever you are lonely, or ever feeling blue,
You only have to hold this gift, and know I think of you.
You never can unwrap it.
Please leave the ribbon tied.
Just hold the box close to your heart. It’s filled with love inside.”

It was a glorious, bright, sunny day in the spring of 1991 when I beheld the excitement of the many, many supporters waving American flags in anticipation of the words of US Representative, Gerald H. B. Solomon dedicating the new Rockwell Falls Bridge as the “Bridge of Hope”. The high school chorus under the direction of Elaine Racette sang Lee Greenwood’s song “Proud to be an American” and the flags waved even higher. It was a day I will remember for the rest of my life.

In the words of Glenn Trackey, retired Air Force Master Sergeant active for 22 years:

“I was stationed in the Gulf during Desert Storm. Believe it or not, after 32 years, I still have that little package with the poem attached and I still have my flag from the Bridge of Hope. The support from home while I was deployed kept me going. Many thanks to my wife Janet, Marika Jones, Helen Hedger, Linda Mistretta and the many, many others who sent cards and letters of appreciation and encouragement along with care packages of food and homemade cookies that were so much appreciated."

The American Flags on the bridge today show me, we still care and support our troops at home and abroad.

Each time you cross the Bridge of Hope and see the flags, whisper a little prayer for our brave men and women wherever they may be.