Sacandaga Park Amusement Midway

In Spring 1889 after the fire which burned 111 of the privately owned cottages, the FJ&G went to work on the vision of an Amusement park. Adding 750 acres to the project. Rebuilding cottages to lease or rent adding water and sewer and electric to them. They replaced the railroad platform with an actual train station (the first of two) which included a post office. The venture was named “The Adirondack Amusement Company.” Many local people were employed during construction of the project and local lumber company’s boomed with the business.

Upon arrival at the park by one of the steam engines, imagine your picnic basket laden with whatever your favorite food items might be. Departing the station, it was a short walk to the picnic grounds that had seating for 900 people. The grounds around you are beautifully landscaped with rustic bridges, ponds, and lovers lanes. The smell of the pines. And maybe E. W. Prouty’s playing on the lawn at the Adirondack Inn.

by L.L. Decker

A stroll through the Midway must have been blend of enlivening sights and sounds. Ladies in their long dresses. Children shouting and racing to get to the next game or ride. Men in suits with straw boater or derby hats standing together in groups. The music of the carousel. The smell of popcorn and peanuts roasting. Maybe an occasional barkers voice filled the air to “Step right this way!”

One might want to stop at the ice cream concession where a freshly baked waffle ice cream cone shell was griddled then quickly rolled into a cone shape with a scoops of ice cream and served warm. Or try a new confection called “Fairy Floss” which later was renamed Cotton Candy. Maybe a walk through House of Fun with it’s un-level floors and crooked mirrors ending with a big blast of air from underneath. Or stop at the palmistry booth to see what the future might hold.

At the time the park also had what was called an electric theatre and where you could watch a silent movie. Another electrically operated ride was Hales Touring Train car. Bought in 1907 and used as a ride to simulate a ride in the countryside. With offset weights on both sides it rocked back and forth by an electric motor as scenery on large revolving rolls passed by the windows. The ride was 10 cents for adults and 5 cents for children.

The carousel with it’s 44 elaborately carved wood animals, mostly consisted of horses, but if you were quick you could also ride a tiger or lion as there were a few of these. This was an ornate steam powered ride with a separate building for the motor. Rain or shine it could operate as it was enclosed in it’s own building. It also had and organ music accompaniment. And if that was to big for some of the little ones there was also a smaller merry-go round.

A figure eight rollercoaster was called Dip the Dips a thrill ride for everyone. A fire in the spring 1918 burned the existing roller coaster and part of the midway, but was quickly rebuilt before the opening summer season. The rollercoaster was located where the Sport Island pub and Park Association beach is currently.

An enclosed roller skating rink provided couples and singles alike with a place to glide across the floor with an opportunity to hold hands or pick each other up off the floor after a fall. Another venue to meet or take someone special the enclosed dance pavilion. Used both in the day and at night, the dance pavilion provided a place to socialize and fill your dance card that were so popular in that day.
Riding the burros was a favorite attraction for the young. There was a track for smaller children to ride around or the older more adventurous set could ride up the hill to High Rock were an entire view of the valley could be enjoyed. Most of the summer jobs were held by students on vacation with the exception of the rollercoaster, steam powered carousel, miniature train, and the burros. Those jobs required a little more expertise.

Visitors could buy souvenirs of all kinds inscribed with “Sacandaga Park NY” to remember their trip. Most ceramic souvenirs were made by the Wheelock Company in Germany. Images of places in the park like the Inn , boating scenes, rides, and the entrance were applied to plates, teacups, toothpick holders, drinking glasses, and many other items Some stayed in keeping with the Adirondack design of wood. Others were made of glass with etching . Postcards were available by the hundreds of images to send home or keep as a reminder of time spent at the resort. Felt pennants were another favorite.

The Mann Brothers Photo Gallery could also provide a more personal souvenir. A tintype photo of your time spent at Sacandaga Park.

By Lorraine Frasier

Mayfield History

Mayfield was settled in 1760 it was locally called Philadelphia Bush as most people who settled there were from that city. Sir William Johnson called it Scotch Settlement trying to lure hard working European Settlers there. It was part of the Mayfield Patent of 1770 A land patent is evidence of right, title, and/or interest to a tract of land, usually granted by the federal, state or foreign government to an individual or private company. In this case granted to Sir William by the King of England. The town was established in 1794 from the old Town of Caughnawaga" ( Mohawk for at the rapids). The name Mayfield is an English name for “from the warriors field”. Anthonyville, Riceville, Wilkens Corners, Cranberry Creek, Vail Mills, Tolmantown, Dennies Hollow, Woods Hollow, Munsonville, Jackson Summit, Red Bunch Corners (named after red tipped hay that grew there), and Summit View were all part of the town.

Four fairly substantial creeks ran into the Mayfield. The Kennyetto, Cranberry, Mayfield, and Stony. Mostly a farming community important crops were hay, buckwheat, and potatoes. Natural resources were lumber and limestone which was later used by tanneries to remove the hair from hides. Mayfield was abundant in hemlock trees also used in the tanning process.

In 1773 Brothers Solomon and Selah Woodworth bought large tracts of land from Sir William and Solomon built what was known as “Mayfield Fort” or the “Sacandaga Blockade”. Selah left to go back to Connecticut before the Revolutionary War as he wanted to save his family from the fighting. Solomon was, however, a passionate patriot. Soon many others came together who supported him against the Tories and the Indians. The blockade suffered repeated raids by the Indians and the Tories in the winter of 1780. In March of that year a small band of Indians tried to burn the fort down. The next day they were given chase and all the Indians were killed. It prompted a group called the “9 months men” in which Solomon Woodworth was made a lieutenant and eventually became a captain at which time he formed a company of rangers in 1781.

The rangers, able bodied and well armed, would comb the area around the fort looking for Indians. An Indian was found one day in an ambush position and was fired upon. The shot in turn provided a signal. Appearing from their hiding places a large band of Indians set themselves upon the rangers. They outnumbered the rangers 2 to 1. Of the rangers fifteen escaped, forty-one were killed, wounded, or taken prisoner and Woodworth was killed.

In the late 1700’s to late 1800’s was a time of growth for the town of Mayfield especially in the hamlet of Riceville. Two tanneries, two taverns, four stores, a grist mill, sawmill, iron foundry, distillery, skin mill, school house, and a fulling mill. A fulling mill was place which involves the cleansing of wool to get rid of oils, dirt, and other impurities, and thickening it. Riceville was named after Oliver Rice who was a revolutionary war soldier and businessman. He built a clothiers mill in 1795 and ran the business until 1830. In the early 1800’s he built the Rice Homestead which still stands today.

In 1785 The Methodist Episcopal Church was built. Encountering some problems due to drunkenness, unchristian like conduct and the like some members were banned from the church. In 1823 the Presbyterian Church was built. Before 1840 there was a Quaker place of worship. The “Friends Meeting House” still stands today and is used as a private residence. Many churches formed and then disbanded throughout the years.

. The late 18th century Greek Revival was the home of a Civil War Captain by the name of Robert Shaw. Another true patriot He was also an abolitionist and community activist. He raised many companies of men whom he turned over for the civil war. He served with the 115th NY volunteers in 1862. He was injured in North Carolina spent five weeks in the hospital then returned to his regiment. He spent time as a prisoner of war. In 1865 he returned home . One of the slaves he aided in the underground stayed in the area and gained employment as a hotel porter. In the years that followed Shaw worked as a clerk, served as a supervisor, was active in Methodist church, co-editor, newspaper correspondent, and editor. His life was cut short by Brights disease in 1891. After his death the area he lived in became known as Shawville.

By 1878 there were nine stores in town. Mayfield incorporated in 1896 had 17 schools.
Unknown dates of history follows: At the end of Summit View road there was a tuberculosis sanitarium where patients could be treated and isolated. The mountain air was touted as a remedy for tuberculosis patients and many came to spend time there. And in Jackson Summit there was also reported to be a gold mine.


By Lorraine Frasier

Sacandaga Maple History

The Sacandaga valley and surrounding hills were abundant with maple trees. The Native American Indians had been making sugar from the sweet sap of the maple tree for many years as early as 1609. There are many Indian legends about how maple sugar was first discovered.

One Iroquois legend tells how a Chief had thrown his tomahawk into a maple tree one late winter evening. After he removed it the following morning, the weather turned sunny and warm. Sap began to flow from the cut in the tree, and drip down into a container which was at the base of the tree. The Chief’s squaw used the sap to boil the meat for dinner. As the water in the sap boiled away, a wonderful, sweet maple taste was left with the meat.

Native Americans may have also discovered the sweetness of the maple tree by eating "sapsicles," the icicles of frozen maple sap that form from the end of a broken twig. As the ice forms, some of the water evaporates, leaving a sweet treat hanging from the tree.

As winter started to turn into spring, and the days got longer and warmer, the Native American Indians would move their whole families into a spot in the forest where there were plentiful sugar maple trees. There they would establish "sugar camps" for the month or so that the maple sap would flow. The most common early method of collecting this sweet sap was to make V shaped slashes in the tree trunk, and collect the sap in a vessel of some sort. Not having metal pots in which to boil the sap, the Native Americans boiled away the water from their sap by dropping hot rocks in the containers made of hollowed out logs, of birch bark, or of clay.

Maple sap was boiled down and made into maple sugar, instead of the more common maple syrup as there was no easy way to store syrup. There were three types of maple sugar made by the Northeastern American Indians: Grain sugar, a coarse granulated sugar similar to the consistency of brown sugar. Cake or block sugar which was sugar poured into wooden molds to become hard cakes or blocks and wax sugar, which was made by boiling syrup extra thick and pouring it over snow. This wax sugar is what we know today as "sugar on snow” or “Jack wax”

The Native Americans used their maple sugar as gifts, for trading, to mix with grains and berries and bear fat. During the heat of summer a special treat was a drink made of maple sugar dissolved in water.

Early settlers gathered their sap in wooden buckets. The sap was then boiled down in a series of large iron kettles hanging over a long open fire. As the syrup got thicker in one kettle it was ladled into the next one and fresh sap was then added to the first kettle. In this way, they always had the last kettle full of nearly completed syrup or sugar. When it was finally thickened enough, the liquid sugar was stirred until it began to crystallize, then poured of into wooden molds. These blocks of maple sugar could be broken up or shaved later in the year when needed. As early as 1790 it was suggested that slashing the trees was not good for their health, and that a better way was to drill a half inch hole in the tree and insert a "spill" or spile to allow the sap to run out. Spiles were made of sumac in which the centers could be removed the sap would then drip out through the hollow tube or "spile", and into a container.

As containers became available for syrup local people who made their own would use large kettles over an open fire, gather the sap, and keep it boiling until it was a thin syrup by night. It would then be brought back home for cleansing which usually consisted of putting into the reheated syrup a quantity of sweet milk. As the syrup heated and thickened the impurities would rise to the surface to be skimmed off. This process was called “sugaring off” and might be done several times. Children in those days were thankful for a new snowfall or a place they might find unmelted clean snow as they would pour some of the warm syrup onto it, let it cool, and then pull it off to eat the treat called Jack Wax.

Nature pretty much governs the sap flow. The trees produce more sap if the nights are cold and the days are warm. The amount of snowfall also effects the process. This past winter with the amount of snow sap production can be delayed due to the base of the tree being blanketed.

Maple sugar was a valuable commodity from the 1700’s right on through the 1800’s. It is even mentioned in local history when the Sacandaga Valley was raided at Fish House in the days of the Revolutionary War. Godfrey Shew, first settler at Fish House and a patriot, was taken prisoner and it was found in references that there was 500 pounds of maple sugar in the Shews home.

Maple sugar would be confiscated in any home invasion. It could be traded for almost anything; being the only sweetener available in a solid form. It was as negotiable as currency.

One sugar bush that exists currently in the Sacandaga Lake area is Maple Hill Farm on Tennentville Road in Edinburg owned by Guy and Dorothy Edwards. In the acres surrounding the farm are an abundance of maple trees. A springtime drive allows a passer-by a glimpse at the 5000 buckets that hang from the trees gathering sap. The maple trees have been tapped already and sap is boiling.

Across the road from the Maple Hill farm house is the Clarkville Cemetery where names of generations of area families are etched in the stone. It is also Samuel Downing’s final resting place who was also a local Patriot and first pensioner of the Revolutionary War.

The farmhouse, 100+ year old, has a welcoming atmosphere with a woodstove and large table in the kitchen were many friends gather to pass the time year round.

In 1883 Guys grandfather and grandmother, Albert and Viola Edwards, moved into the house to care for an elderly blind woman and help run the farm. The house was a two family then. Guys father Walter Edwards was born in the house and later lived there with his wife Ethel. Guy now lives there with his wife Dorothy.

Once dairy cows, horses, pigs, sheep, and chickens kept company on the farm. At one time they had as many as fifty cows . Guy’s mother churned butter and they sold milk. Currently, Guy and Dorothy keep forty chickens and farm fresh eggs are available for sale along with the maple syrup products.

Dorothy is a lover of local history and has many articles and photos of the outlying settlements in Edinburg. Hunting is a pass time for Guy. On the walls of the farmhouse hang trophies of successful trips; he started hunting with his Dad when he was fourteen whenever the family wanted meat.

The Edwards have had a sugar bush in the family ever since Guy can remember. The first sugar bush the family had when Guy was young was rented. They were obligated to pay 1 gallon of syrup for every three gallons they made to the landlord.

Guy also remembers only one season that they made no maple syrup which was during WWII as there was no help to be had; everyone had gone off to war.

The new sugar bush was built in 1969. Their top season yielded 1443 gallons of syrup. Last year they made just over 1410. It takes 45 -50 gallons of sap to make 1 gallon of syrup.

The Maple Hill farm has had visitors from as far way as France, Holland, and Germany. Some of their syrup has also been sent to Russia and the Mediterranean

Dorothy tells the story of an overseas customers who bought syrup to ship back home. The relatives who received it , not knowing what it was, had it analyzed to find out what to do with it.

“I guess they were confused as to whether they were supposed to eat it, or wear it as perfume” Dorothy added “We do supply and orchard in the fall with maple products but most of it goes right out the kitchen door”.

The Edwards have maple cream and sugar candy in addition to syrup.

By Lorraine Frasier

History of Hunter Lake

Northville Little Lake is also called Northville Lake and is rarely referred to as it’s given name: Hunter Lake. Although in researching references how that name came about is unknown.
In it’s humble beginnings it started as a creek on a much smaller scale than the Sacandaga River but was a large contributor to the river providing a place for spring run off from winter melt and the many natural springs in the surrounding hillsides.

Hunter Creek flowed freely from an easterly direction and meandered down under three bridges in the beginning; one built over it at Mechanic St and the other at Washington street a third was built at the south end of main street and named Hogs Back Bridge which is now known as the spillway.
The first Gristmill in Northville was built on the creek in 1790 by Thomas Foster . Abraham Van Arnam operated a tanning and fulling mill sometime around 1800 on Hunter Creek. The creek was substantial enough back then to support these early industries.

There is a story about a man named Michael Newton who sold spring water from the Creek to the south end residents on Main St. This story cannot be crossed referenced.

Apparently lead pipes were run to provide this spring water which came out in poked holes at each residents location in a stream the size of a needle for $5.00 per year. Every winter, of course, the trickle would freeze. Most people had storage containers for water; whether it came from the pipe or rain barrels.

When serious fires ensued it was decided in August of 1890 that something needed to be done about the village being able to obtain water more readily.

The reference becomes a little convoluted at this point ; as it gives no names of the exact locations or names of the reservoirs created.

The first reservoir was made on 6 acres of land one and three fifths miles northeast of the village for at a land purchase cost of $350.00.

The dam was constructed of earth and stone on Hunters Creek and created a 3 million gallon reservoir .The dam may have later become Water Street.

Before Water Street was created a building stood at the Main Street Corner It must have been removed to provide a street that accessed Ridge Road.

Before this flooding there were four streets into and out of the village from Ridge Road; Mechanic, Washington, Prospect, and South Main Street. After the flooding there was the newly created Water Street, then Prospect, and South Main Street . Mechanic and Washington became dead ends. The remains of Mechanic street can be found if one looks closely enough on the opposite bank.
In the early years of Hunter Lakes creation the winter provided a skating rink for residents. There was a warming hut that also was used as a temporary lock up in the summer for any unruly law offenders.
When the valley was flooded in 1930 this changed Hunter Lake.

The squared designed Hogs Back Bridge was replaced with what we now call the spillway which was utilized as another form of control for the Great Sacandaga or the Sacandaga Reservoir as it was called when first formed.

Writers note: Growing up in a house within view of the little lake is a fond memory for me for as the years passed the trees grew to tall to see it. But the location was (and still is) a front row seat for the 4th of July fireworks.

Although a non-motorized lake an occasional electric kicker might be seen; but doesn’t disturb the peace much. Loons linger there in the spring to early summer until enough kayaks, canoes, and rowboats disturb them enough to find more remote lakes farther north.

All kinds of fish, frogs, turtles, and other small lake inhabitants call Hunter Lake their home. In it’s small, quiet, peaceful, tranquil way it provides a great deal of refuge to wildlife and aquatic plants .
Although not as desirable to be on as the Big Lake it still has concerned citizens and summer people who own homes and camps with lakefront or acreage that have access to it. It is under the same HRRB rules and regulations as the Great Sacandaga. References Russell times past times present.

by Lorraine Frasier

Gifford’s Valley

Just north of Northville on the west side of the lake is the settlement of Gifford’s Valley. Other names it‘s been referred to as are: Winnes Wild Acres, Winnes Valley, and Winnes Pond. Spelling varies for the name Winne. Two areas within the valley were Johnny Cake Hollow and Vean Sweets Clearing. The little valley is nestled in foothill mountains with a large body of water known as Winnes Pond.
In the address roles of 1868 there are 15 families of Gifford’s listed. Looking at the map most of the family names are mentioned there.

Gifford’s valley had it‘s own school; and a sawmill that employed residents. This saw mill is noted on a map in 1856 but by 1868 no noting of it is apparent. There is no idea of size of this sawmill noted in references and the location by 1868 is identified as the residence of I Gifford.
The Gifford’s Valley Schoolhouse was moved to South Main street in Northville 1997 and is now the Northville Northampton Museum.

It’s noted in a references written in 1989 that there is a granite marker in the area of Vean Sweets Clearing with a brass plate attached to in that designates the boundaries of the towns of Mayfield and Northampton and the counties of Hamilton and Fulton. It’s not known if this marker still exists.
Some of the men of Gifford’s valley also worked for John A Willard then later a man named Mr. George Hartwell. Hartwell was an officer who served in the Spanish American War and leased the large sawmill Willard. The sawmill was located in the area of the present Northville Beach and would have been easily accessible to the Gifford’s Valley workers. The is no date in references available as to what year Hartwell leased the sawmill from Willard nor when the sawmill ceased production. If it was still running by 1930 it would have been lost to the lake.

As mentioned in previous history columns the memories of residents who experienced days gone by are very valuable.

Not only the facts dates etc, but the day -to -living .
Below are the memories of Lewis G. Decker Fulton County Historian for 20 years who passed away in 2001. Decker lived for a while in Gifford’s Valley in the area of Johnny Cake Hollow in the early 1950’s as a young man:

“There was a bait shop, located on a hill at the edge of the valley, was owned by a Mr. Arnold . Mr. Arnold also ran a boat livery in summer where boats could be rented for fishing on the lake. In his combination bait shop and Mom and Pop Store he also sold soda candy bars and a few staples, but was only open during fishing season. In early spring he could be seen caulking and painting his old wooden boats to get them ready for the upcoming summer season. He also had a few cabins to rent. The store still stands but is now a private residence.”


As a young boy Decker would visit Mr. Arnold’s shop a lot during summer vacation buying hooks, fish line, and helping with the boats from time to time. Usually the store was a gathering place for many old-timers to come and pass the day sitting on the front porch. Decker happened to be there one summer day when a summer person stopped to ask directions into the valley. His memories continue:

“There are three ways to get to Gifford’s Valley and as long as you knew which way to turn you wouldn’t end up on the main road again. One day a summer person stopped by the bait shop to ask which way was better to get into the valley.

The stranger rambled on and on. Answering more of his own questions than waiting for answers which irritated a native old -timer.


Finally the stranger asked “Does it make any difference which way I drive to get into the valley?” whereupon the old-timer replied: “Not to me it don’t”

He also recalled another favorite comeback for these local men was when a summer person would ask: “Have you lived here all your life?” they would respond with “Not yet I haven’t”.
Another story of times past: “Two riders from the stables rode up the bait shop from High Rock Lodge. dismounted, and threw their reins over the porch rail .

“ As they entered for a soda one of the riders a woman rudely directed Mr. King (who only had one leg) to “Watch the horses” without so much as a please. The riders stayed inside a while browsing.
When they were done looking around they stepped outside only to discover their horses were gone”.
“The annoyed female rider barked at Mr. King “I thought I told you to watch those horses!”

In his own defense he raised his hand , pointed, then replied “I did lady - and they are both just going around that corner”


Another memory of Lewis Decker about living in Johnny Cake Hollow:

“Mr King had a fishing buddy named Mr. Maybe. Night time Bullhead fishing being one of their favorite pastimes the two would put a boat in at dusk in Winnes pond with their long bamboo fish poles, lanterns, and of course a big jug of spirits then fish till it was just dawn. After bringing the boat ashore they would walk home.”

“On their way home, having their belly full of spirits, they would sing. Very loudly. Every once in a while during a song they would belt out an extra loud shout of “Halleluiah!” waking the neighbors that slept.

If you happened to be standing at a vantage point in these wee morning hours, you could follow which way they were traveling. As a light would go on in each house they passed by.”




by Lorraine Frasier

The Fourth of July in Sacandaga Park - golf links laid out

In April of 1900 the reference below tells of preparations for the 4th of July in Sacandaga park. Although it was four months before the holiday would be celebrated; careful planning went into every season year round to insure visitors would have an enjoyable day. The park was growing rapidly and the railroad never spared expense when it came to additional cottages, concessions, and amusements. Preparations for that year follow:

The officials of the F J & G Railroad company have arranged to hold a gala day at Sacandaga Park and will provide amusements of a most enjoyable nature for all who will spend the day at the delightful resort.

One of the best known aeronauts of the state has been engaged to give a balloon ascension and the contract has been closed with a representative of the Payn’s Fireworks Company of New York to give a grand display in that line. The latter will be a special feature of the day.

A list of sports of a varied nature will also be provided and there will be splendid music during the day, both by bands for concerts in the park and by orchestras in the dance pavilion.

The program as prepared by the railroad company will give pleasure to all those who visit the park and together with the Texas burros which will give visitors rides to high rock; the deer in Deer Park and the famous bear everyone should be able to have a good time.

The year 1899 appears to be when a major push for the visiting the park started by the railroad:
President J Ledlie Hees of the FJ and G railroad has just issued a very attractive twenty page pamphlet with filled with beautiful illustrations of the attractions of this unique summer resort. Whatever Mr. Hees attempts is sure to be well done and no one can glance through it’s pages without a desire to visit the park. The Adirondack inn which is it’s principle hotel will be opened on June 15th.

This hotel will be the charge of C.J. Hamlin who is one of the best known hotel men in the state. He is the proprietor of the Winney house of Northville and for fifteen years was connected with the old Delavan Hotel in Albany. They have every prospect of having an unusually successful season.
Golf at the Park

In 1899 P.S. Honeyman of Lennox Mass arrived after being contracted as the designer for golf links in Sacandaga park. This reference gives a description of this task:

A noted Golf Expert has completed his work at Sacandaga Park this morning May 11th.
For the past two days Honeyman, a noted golf expert ,has been at Sacandaga Park laying out the golf links in that place. The grounds collected were the athletic field and the large lot south of Gifford’s Corners.
The starting point will be at the northwest corner of the athletic grounds , with the with the finishing point in close proximity. The distance covered by players is nearly a mile.

The greens will be from 165 to 250 yards in length and will cross and recross the ravine which separates the two lots and which forms a most desirable hazard.

There will also be 4 foot bridges over the ravine for the convenience of golfers.
Mr. Honeyman has laid out the grounds for nearly all the prominent golf clubs in the country, and claims the park grounds as natural for a course as any he has ever seen and the links will be desirable as those to be found anywhere.

Honeyman has given golf lessons for 15 years before coming to this country from England 6 years ago. He has taught many a champion in this country.

Columnists’ Note: References for articles in 1899 foretold of the growth the park was gaining. At summer’s end a report from the railroad released information regarding ticket sales and safety issues.
In 1897 the total amount of tickets sold was 17,299 The New York Central contributing 537. And in 1898 there were 25,000 tickets sold.

In 1899 the total number of ticket sales: 43,510 of which 32,915 were sold at local stations and 10,595 at points along the New York Central. Total number of passengers including free business approximated at over 50,000. In the report the claim is made that there was not an accident to a single passenger. But that wasn’t the parks biggest season.

by Lorraine . Decker

Burros at Sacandaga Park

History Articles written originally for the Sacandaga Express - by Lorraine Decker

In the early 1900’s the Sacandaga Park would be a hub of activity due to preparing the park for visitors.

More than likely repairs to buildings from winters harshness would need to be done: maybe a hole made in the roof by a fallen branch to the enclosed carousel, or more paint on a concession stand. Stairs to the Shoot the Shoot toboggan slides and others repaired and made sound. And any rides that ran by engine power such as the roller coaster, carousel, trolley ride, and others would need to be cleaned, oiled, and safety checked.

Outside work would be plentiful. Clearing and raking pine needles and picking up dead fall branches to prepare the many pathways and gardens. The Adirondack Inn’s expansive lawns and gardens would be an important focus: along with the Old Orchard Inn and High Rock Lodge.
The Circle Cottages would need to cleaned , windows washed and opened to chase away the stale smell of winter’s closing. Private cottages like Corbett’s and others would be preparing rooms to rent and stocking food items.

The Sport Island Bridge may have been brought out from under the grandstand ready to be reassembled for another coming summer season. The Rustic Theatre would be the location where local schools would be planning their end of the year plays, and maybe even the Catholic church would have held one of their first Sunday services, depending on the weather.

The park kept many local people employed. Summer after summer they would be rehired if they proved to be hard working and capable. Some local people would start out as teenagers and still find themselves there for the summer in their later years.

Soon the burros would be led across the Sport Island Bridge where they would spend summer evenings grazing and sleeping and the days giving rides to the many visitors who would frequent the park.

There is some information about these burros in references although nothing has been found regarding where they lived in the winter. It can be assumed that they might be returned by train at the end of the season to Gloversville where they would be looked after and tended to by a railroad employee. Or maybe a local farmer might have a financial agreement with the Railroad to take care of them in the winter months closer to the Park. Whatever happened to them in winter is unknown.
Their first arrival heralded a new novelty to the park. The following information was found in references regarding them:

March 1900: The Texas Burro: His music will awake the echoes at Sacandaga Park.
The cheerful bray of the gentle Texas burro will be heard at Sacandaga Park before many weeks pass by. The arrangements of the FJ &G Railroad Co. to have ten of the patient little beasts at the park this summer for the amusement of children, as well as grown persons have been completed. Notice has been received from the company’s agent in Texas that he secured eight suitable burros and will send the animals north. The burros will be a feature of the amusements at the park, as the approaching season will be first that the resort has offered that form of entertainment, and novelty will be greatly appreciated especially by the younger portion of the parks visitors. The stocking of Deer Park will also provide another place of interest, and the bear which achieved a reputation in upsetting the theory of the annual hibernation in February will be on exhibition.

April 1900: The Little Burros

The ten little burros recently purchased in Texas by the FJ&G and C. will be used at Sacandaga Park during the summer are now in New York and it is expected that they will be taken to the park tomorrow. The animals are in splendid condition and are excellent types of that class of beasts and will probably afford much pleasure to visitors at the park who have never seen or had a ride one of these little animals.


Columnists note: A quick recap of an earlier column about the bear: It seems Ground Hog Day afforded a get together for local people to see if the bear might also come out of his den to predict the coming spring. Wagering ensued that day and the bear didn’t come out until a week later. No photos have been found in references or elsewhere of the bear.
As for the “stocking” of Deer Park: Where or how or what kind of deer the FJ&G procured is unknown, or again, where they were kept in the winter.

by Lorraine . Decker