History of Schroon Lake
Historical Overview of the
History of Schroon Lake
Schroon is the name of a mountain, a river and a lake. The Town of Schroon was formed from Crown Point, March 20th, 1804. It is bounded on the north by the Town of North Hudson, east by Crown Point and Ticonderoga; south by Warren County and the Town of Minerva and west by Minerva. This small popular tourist town contains portions of the Kyaderosseras in the southeast and the Schroon Range in the northwest. Located in the beautiful valley of these two ranges is the Schroon River which on occasion during the springtime overflows its bank leaving a rich alluvial fertile soil. The river flows into Schroon Lake which lies in both Essex and warren counties. This picturesque lake is a probable reason for the origin of the township’s present name SCHROON.
To most natives and many summer residents this attractive tourist town, population approximately 1600 permanent and 4,000 summer residents, it is of interest to know how the Town’s name originated. There is without question a problem of derivation with its name. It has been noted by many writers of this subject that its name is of Indian or French ancestry origin. Most writers are more apt to conclude that the name Schroon is derived from French ancestry, Scaroon or Schroon rather than of Indian origin, however there is no documentary evidence to prove this conclusion.
During the 17th and 18th centuries bands of Indian tribes wandered in search of game throughout the region of the present day township long before an Europeans settlers explored the area. The Algonquians first and later the Iroquois hunted in this region and one of their most prized hunts was for beaver (soft gold). Not only did they hunt for personal survival in the wilderness but for the profits as well.
The Europeans namely the French and the English competed to build an Empire in this region from 1609-1759. The French through the efforts of the exploration of Jacques Carrier and Samuel de Champlain claimed most of the region along the St. Lawrence River Valley and the Adirondacks. The Empire that both France and England wanted to establish in North America would be built on the valuable fur trade. Both countries came into conflict over the control of the fur trade in the Ohio Valley region and the Adirondacks. The Indian tribes referred to this region as Couchsachrage or Beaver Hunting Country.
The French were shipping nearly 150,000 furs per year to France. The beaver population was almost extinct by 1835. The country that controlled the waterways, that is especially Lake Champlain, would control the fur trade. The country whether it be France or England that controlled the fur trade would in fact be the wealthiest. Thus, the wealthiest country would be the most powerful on the North American continent.
France and England Compete to Build An Empire in North America
The English were successful in 1759 in driving the French from the continent by winning the last battle of the conflict on the Plains of Abraham in Quebec, Canada. Both the English general Wolfe and the French general Marquis de Montcalm died as a result of this battle. The Mohawks of the Iroquois Confederation had allied themselves with the English and the Algonquians and the Huron's with the French. Without doubt both these tribes at one time or another had visited Schroon Lake amongst the tall pines. No real permanent settlements were made by them. If so, a fixed name may have been given to the area. The only evidence of permanent Indian settlements were in North Elba near John Brown’s estate in present day Lake Placid and between the upper Saranac and the Fulton chain of lakes.
1609 to 1759 French Occupied The Lake Champlain Valley
1759 The French Lost to the British on Plains Of Abraham in Quebec, Canada
It has been mentioned by various Indian guides such as Sabele that the Iroquois gave the name Ska-ne-tah-no-wah-na to Schroon Lake. On the other hand, the Algonquians gave the name Skoo-na-pus. The first syllable of Skoo-na-pus is reflective of Schroon. One must make his own judgment as to this derivation or the " Madame Scarron" one.
During the 1700’s French soldiers and officers were encamped at Fort St. Frederick. Begun as a military post in 1730 and completed in 1736, the fort served to protect French fur trade interests against the English. While exploring the Great Wilderness region or North Woods these very same soldiers discovered the lake. It provided them with hearty meals of trout and salmon. It is said that the officers of this military installation gave the name SCAROON to the picturesque lake in memory of the widow of the French dramatist and poet, Paul Scaroon.
This poor crippled poet was enlightened by the grace of his young and beautiful wife who after his death secretly married into Royalty thus becoming the wife of Louis XIV. This young lady captured the hearts of many who were entertained at the home of her late husband, Paul. Sacrron. Schroon Lake may very well take its name from Madame Sacroon. Most writers on this subject would most likely agree. Who really was this gracious and beautiful lady who eventually was to be asked into marriage by Louis XIV?
Madame Scarron’s maiden name was Françoise d’ Aubigne. Her grandfather Agrippa d’ Aubigne was a very close associate of Henry IV. Her father Constant d’ Aubigne was imprisoned for killing his wife and her lover. While in prison he married Jeanne de Cardilhac who was the daughter of the governor of the prison. Before completing his term of sentence his wife, Jeanne, had several children, one of them being named Françoise.
After Constant was released from prison, he traveled to the Virgin Islands where he later died in sheer poverty. Françoise along with her mother returned to France and took up residency with the Countess de Neuillant, the godmother of Françoise. There she lived as a peasant caring for the poultry and other farm animals. Little did she know that the poet, Paul Scarron, living on the same street would someday ask for her hand in marriage. Having wealth at the time, he offered to give Françoise enough money for her to be able to finish her education at a convent. Along with being indebted to him, her beauty and charm soon captured Paul’s heart.
Madame de Maintenon
Madame Sacroon
At the young age of 17 she married Paul. He was 34 years of age. Many intellectuals and French philosophers were entertained at their home. Francosie always captivated her audience, even Royalty. Unknown to many Françoise became the secret governess of the children of Louis XIV by Madame de Montespan. It became competitive for her and Madame de Montespan to win the heart of King. Louis XIV . The King had every intention of making Queen Maria Theresa of Austria his mistress, however her death influenced Louis to make the decision of marrying the widow, Françoise. Madame de Montespan had brought embarrassment to the King earlier and thus he had no desire to ask her hand in marriage.
The wedding between Françoise and Louis XIV took place at mid-night on June 1684 at the Palace of Versailles and thus Françoise became the Queen of France. The uncrown queen became known as the Marquise de Maintenon, a title bestowed on her by Louis XIV who placed her in charge of his estate Maintenon. For many years thereafter she continued to have an influence over the history of France.
Estate of Maintenon was bestowed on Madame Sacroon
By Louis XIV
Whether the township’s name was a derivation of Indian origin or French ancestry is a matter of opinion, however most writers on the subject would probably lean toward the Madame Scaroon theory. Both are mere legend. The name Schroon today without question has been a subject of distortion over the years by its very own settlers. The town’s name Sacroon remained on its records until 1837.
The Town of Schroon was settled in 1797. The names of the first settlers were Samuel Scribner, Moses Pettee, Thomas Leland, Simeon Rawson, and Benjamin Bowker. In 1800 Simeon Rawson started a small tannery which processed hides into leather. In 1835 there were 45 sawmills in the confines of the town and by 1855 the population of the town was 2085 a number never reached in modern times.
The first school was taught by Clark Rawson, son of Simeon Rawson, about one and half miles north of the present Schroon village. A sawmill was built at the foot of Paradox Lake by Joseph Richards , and a gristmill by David Stowell. Most of the area was covered with thick forests and many of settlers turned their attention to lumbering. Logs were cut in great numbers and were sent down the Schroon River and through the lake. Their destination was Glens Falls and Sandy Hill to be manufactured into lumber.
In1813 the Fox Brothers were the first to ship their logs down the Schroon River. One law on the books stated that if any person was caught falling a tree in the river the consequences might result with that person having to stand in the river for 24 hours. The logger’s worst nightmare was a log jam which might be created by a fallen tree. The lumbering industry reached its peak between 1830 and 1845. In 1835 Professor Ebenzer Emmons had completed the first geological survey of the region and called it the Adirondacks.
Iron ore was found in the town and a forge was built in the town before 1830 at the Schroon falls, by Horace Hall. The ore was mined in the Paradox area at the Schofield Ore Bed which Horace Hall opened in 1828. Bar iron was made from the ore of this mine. This ore bed was worked until 1870 by John Roth. The quality of the ore in the Paradox area was very good but high transportation costs soon made it unprofitable to mine. Prices dropped and as a result the ore beds had to close.
Another important industry centered on the manufacture of leather in the many tanneries located throughout the town. The hemlock forests provided the bark necessary for the production of leather. Schroon Lake tannery was established by Lorenzo Hall in 1852. It produced sixteen thousand hides a year.
By 1855 the population of the town reached 2085. With the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861 every town was forced to contribute its share of fighting soldiers to defend the Union. The institution of slavery was an evil and many were determined to see its termination. The war cost our nation over 650,000 lives, more than all of the combined wars our nation was engaged in throughout its history.
After the Civil War the region of the Adirondacks became known to many through the efforts of the writing of the book Adventures In The Wilderness by William H. Murray. His book created a stampede to the Adirondack region. He mentioned in his book how beautiful the region was with its many mountains , lakes and rivers. Even though many enjoyed the region many did not. If you were to visit the Adirondacks in the spring the Black flies and Mosquitoes were there to greet you making your stay uncomfortable. The decision for many was to return back home and speak their mind to Mr. Murray who portrayed the region as glorious paradise everyone should visit however he failed to mentioned the other elements. As a Congregationalist minister he was forced to resign his position and later found himself working in a kitchen of a Restaurant in Montreal.
Between 1875 and 1910 the Adirondacks was flourishing as a tourist resort area. This was the Gilded Age of the Adirondacks. Many Hotels such as the most famous Leland House on a 6 acre parcel built by Thomas Leland accommodated nearly 300 quests. Trout and Venison were highlights on the dinner menu. After the main meal Sherbet Ice Cream was served as a favorite desert. The price for your week's stay would be at a cost of $12 to $17. The Leland House was built in 1872 and could accommodate up to 300 quests. On October 31, 1914 on Halloween Night pranksters were running in an out of the churches on main street and ringing the church bells. One prankster threw a cigar in the leaves and the Leland House became engulfed with flames that could not be extinguished because the water system have been turned off for the approaching winter months. Thus the memorable Hotel on Schroon Lake burned to the ground.
In 1915 Emerson instructed his workforce that he wanted the Leland House to be rebuilt which it was done in a one year period at the cost of 125,000. The New Leland House added the Windsor and the Adirondack Inn as annexes and increased the room capacity to 600. The Hotel operated until 1952. Many fond memorable experiences with remain with many who visited the Hotel and vacationed on beautiful 9 mile Schroon Lake. The steamship Evelyn and the Effingham operated during the vacation months offering scenic tours of the lake. In the off season the steamboats would pull the log booms from the inlet to the outlet of the lake where the logs would continue to float down the Schroon River until they reached the sawmills in Warrensburg and Glens Falls, New York . The fox brothers were the first to float logs down the Schroon River which remained a public highway until 1953 when the last log drive ended. The loggers nightmare was the Log Jam. The log drivers were paid $3.50 per day to break up the jams.
From Saratoga the Visitors to Adirondack Region would arrive by train to Riparius. They would then board the Stagecoach and travel to the southern end of the Schroon Lake at Pottersville and board the lake Steamer called the Eveyln which would proceed in a northerly direction of the lake and stop at the Grove Point House and from there later arrive at the Leland House . There were many Hotels and Boarding Houses on Schroon Lake. The Ondawa House where Stewarts is presently in operation is where the Ondawa House existed which accommodated 300 quests. One evening it caught fire and burned to the ground.
Wayfarer Motel
603 US RTE 9
Schroon Lake, NY 12870
Phone: 518-532-7661