

1808 was the year that the West Bay to Hopkinton Road was begun. This state route was planned to run from West Bay, which is now called Westport, to Hopkinton, which is in St. Lawrence County. A crude dirt road was laid out but barely used and quickly fell into disrepair. An act was passed on April 5, 1812 to restore it but, after an inspection, it was discovered that the wooden bridge on the Saranac River, near where the Pine Street Bridge now stands, had been carried away in a flood and that so many trees had fallen across the road along the northern section that it was virtually impassable. The refurbishing was put on the back burner due to of lack of funds. On April 17, 1816 another act was passed to renovate the road and within the next few years it was completed.
This route happened to run through the "Old Military Tract" near West Bay, which had been set aside by the government for homesteading by Civil War Vets. There were no takers! Because of the proximity of the road to this tract, the locals began calling it "The Old Military Road". This name stuck and was carried down through the years and some still hold the romantic notion that this road was used for military travel during the War Of 1812. Some still believe that American troops had traversed the road during the War Of 1812 and they envision hundreds of soldiers pulling cannons and supplies over the mountains and struggling to ford the Saranac River on their way North to Plattsburg. The troops, of course, never used this route during the War Of 1812. There were easier routes north.
One of the soldiers who fought in the war of 1812, however, did travel that road and he was destined to be the first settler in what is now known as Saranac Lake.
Jacob Smith Moody was born in Keene, New Hampshire, in 1787 and had participated in the War Of 1812. He fought in the Battle Of Plattsburg on September 12, 1814. Two days later, the British, who badly outnumbered our forces, hightailed it to safer ground. Four months later the battle of New Orleans was fought with the same results. The war was over and Jacob returned to his home in New Hampshire!
As with all pioneers, the Moody's were an independent breed and were well equipped to deal with the rigors of Adirondack living. They were prepared to hand craft all the items necessary for long-term survival in a potentially hazardous environment. Between them, the Moody's were skilled in every facet of survival, including making clothing, trapping, hunting, fishing, collecting herbs for medicine, raising livestock, gardening, carpentry, canning and creating from available resources virtually every item required to simply maintain a day-to-day existence in the Adirondacks.
Included in the possessions they packed for the venture were, two horses, a milk cow, a pair of oxen, a crate of chickens, fishing and hunting supplies for fresh meat, carpentry tools for building a cabin and crafting the items the family needed to survive and Jacob's small library. The Moodys traversed the new West Bay To Hopkinton Road, which had just been completed and in the spring of 1819, Jacob and family arrived at an area that suited them. The abundance of wild game and the beautiful scenery provided by the lakes, mountains and forests were even more than they had expected. This would be their new home.
The family first settled near where Park Avenue is now located. This area was later called Highland Park. Unable to gain title to that land, the family cleared 16 acres in the area now known as "The Pines". This parcel included Moody Pond and the lot where Pine Ridge Cemetery is now located. The Moodys built a modest cabin and tended the family garden, which was located where the cemetery is now.
This time their claim went through and shortly thereafter, Cortez Fernando Moody was born. Cort was the first child born in the new settlement, which would eventually be known as Saranac Lake.
Jacob was an avid reader and history was his main interest. He was a big fan of Cortez, the conqueror of Mexico and that's why Cort was blessed with a strange name for an Adirondack Mountain boy. It appears that Cort wasn't bothered by this name, because he passed it down to his first born son. Jacob and Sally bore three more children after Cortez. They were Eliza, Harvey and Smith.
Jacob and Sally, The first settlers of Saranac Lake, were eventually blessed with twenty three Grandchildren.
Life was difficult in those early years of the settlement and Eliza and Franklin both died young and had no offspring.
Harvey fathered eight children; Simeon, Phineas, Polly, William, Alonzo, Fayette, Richard and Robert.
Smith had five; Armedie, Benjamin R., Hiram S., Sarah and James.
Daniel had four; Alarie, Delbert, Vertner, and Lizzie.
Cortez fathered six; Jacob S., Cortez, James, Frank, Abe and Milo. (Jacob S., Son of Cortez & Martha, died July 5, 1852 at age 5 yrs 5 mo 5 days. His monument is the oldest at Pine Ridge Cemetery. His grandfather died ten years later.)
As the Moody family grew, Jacob built a house at 154 River Street, I believe that later this was the site of the River Street School, and lived there for the duration of his life. He eventually passed the home on to his Grandson, Benjamin.
--EARLY ADIRONDACK GUIDES--MY GREAT GRANDFATHER, JOHN Q FOSTER (1) AND MILO MOODY (2)-1889-
--JOHN Q FOSTER AND MILO MOODY -1889-
JOHN Q FOSTER DONS HIS STEALTH MOCCASINS TO PREPARE FOR THE HUNT.-1888-
JOHN Q FOSTER PAUSES FOR A PIC BEFORE AN OUTING IN THE WOODS
JOHN Q FOSTER IN HIS YOUTH-1876-
JOHN Q AND MY GREAT GRANDMOTHER, ALVIRA-1920-
John Q wasn't the first Adirondack Guide in the family. My Great Great Grandmother, Cynthia Rogers Stanton, also married an Adirondack Guide. His name was Samuel Dunning. Sam was a friend of Jacob Moody and was a very well respected Adirondack Guide. He worked for Verplanck Colvin doing the original survey of the Adirondacks. Below is a picture of Sam and his interesting obit from an 1895 Elizabethtown Post. They really wrote GREAT obits back then!! John Q Foster's obit is from a 1924 Adirondack Enterprise.

Without the benefit of TV, radio, or the web, this unofficial P.R. man for the Adirondacks single-handedly publicized Saranac Lake, at that time an insignificant little logging village, to the extent of causing it to rise from virtual obscurity to attaining an overnight reputation as a stellar tourist destination and health resort.
W.H.H. MURRAY, better known as ADIRONDACK MURRAY, was truly a great P.R. man for Saranac Lake and a convincing writer. In his 1869 book, "ADVENTURES IN THE WILDERNESS" or "CAMP LIFE IN THE ADIRONDACKS", he romanticized life in the Adirondacks to the point of creating a phenomenon known as "MURRAY'S RUSH". The "SPORTS" who thronged to Saranac Lake were often called "MURRAY'S FOOLS" by the locals. Saranac Lake benefitted greatly from the sudden demand for living accommodations, food, outdoor clothing, etc., which were required by these overenthusiastic hunters and health seekers. Stores, hotels and guides were quickly established to accomodate the throngs of visitors.
Adirondack Murray's stories extolled the benefits of fresh air and exercise in maintaining good health and promoting healing of the body and soul. Smog suffering city dwellers came in droves to take the cure. Murray's publicity provided a pivotal point for the future of Saranac Lake and formed the catylyst which eventually led to the era of "The Golden Age Of Saranac Lake".



LITTLE RED - THE FIRST CURE COTTAGE
TRUDEAU SANATORIUM
TRUDEAU SANATORIUM 2
TRUDEAU SANATORIUM 3
TRUDEAU SANATORIUM 4
TRUDEAU SANATORIUM LIBRARY
TRUDEAU CHAPEL
TRUDEAU SANATORIUM FROM ABOVE
TRUDEAU SANATORIUM POST OFFICE
ANOTHER TRUDEAU SANATORIUM AIR VIEW
E.L. TRUDEAU'S FUNERAL--1915--ST.LUKE'S
RLS COTTAGE
1800'S ST LUKE'S CHURCH
EARLY VILLAGE OF SARANAC LAKE-1800's
THE SARANAC LAKE DAM (around 1827)
EARLY HARRIETSTOWN TOWN HALL
ANOTHER VIEW OF EARLY HARRIETSTOWN TOWN HALL
ADIRONDACK GUIDES AT TOWN HALL
TOWN HALL
I.MERKEL & SONS, BOTTLERS
THE NATIONAL GUARD 1950
WOODRUFF HOSE COMPANY NO.1 DRILLRESOLVED, That the members of the Woodruff Hose Company No. 1 do deeply and sincerely mourn the loss of our faithful friend and brother and that we extend to his deeply afflicted wife and family our heart felt sympathy in this, their bereavement, and be it
RESOLVED, That in the death of First Assistant Ladieu, this company has lost a worthy and honored member whose memory will be cherished in our hearts not only as a friend and comrade, but as a brave and valiant fireman, and be it further
RESOLVED, That the bell, hose-rooms and equipments be draped in mourning for 30 days, and that those resolutions be placed upon the minutes, a copy be sent to the family of the deceased,, and that they be published in the Adirondack Pioneer, Essex County Republican and Elizabethtown Post.
MILOTE BAKER, A FOUNDING FATHER 
It seems a memorial of some sort would be appropriate to honor these stalwart drivers. They were an important facet in the history of Saranac Lake and shouldn't be forgotten.
Here is a list of the drivers: Fitch O'Brian, George Meserve, John J. Miller, Gabriel Manning, William Harper, Ed Harper, Henry, McQuillan, Phil McManus, Matt Miller, Charley Reynolds, Fred Cook, Dan McKillip, Billy Hinds, George Derby, Charles J. Greenough, William G. Burt, Tuffield Latour, Al Bronson and Isaiah Vosburgh.
Interestingly, Tuffield Latour later operated a large livery in the village and in the early 1900's owned the first "horseless carriage" in Saranac Lake. It took four or five hours to travel from Saranac Lake to Malone in this vehicle. The debut of this high-back Franklin eventually ended the days of horse drawn transportation in Saranac Lake and led to Tuffield establishing The Latour Fuel Company. SOMEONE had to fuel up these infernal gas-guzzling tin Lizzies!
THE SARANAC LAKE STAGECOACH
TUFFY LATOUR AND HIS STAGECOACH AT THE HOTEL AMPERSAND
THE SARANAC LAKE STAGECOACH ENTERING THE VILLAGE
THE SARANAC LAKE STAGECOACH AT MARTIN'S HOTEL
SARANAC LAKE STAGECOACH DRIVER, GEORGE MESERVE
STAGECOACH DRIVER, CHARLIE GREENOUGH AND WIFE IDA
THE SARANAC LAKE STAGECOACH AT THE TOWN HALL
GRIMMESEY COTTAGE / VILLA DORSEY 1914
THE LINWOOD COTTAGE--1900'SThe following year Susan B. Nelson bought the Linwood from Blood for $8,000. In 1894 it was sold to Almina G. Mantz for the same sum. In 1899 Lillian F. Angleman bought the cottage for the very same price. Richard and Lillian Johnson bought it in 1901, again paying $8,000. (No inflation in those days!) The Johnson's added a livery stable and barn in the rear, as you can see in the background of the pic. In 1920, Rose Bruzzo purchased the Linwood and ran it as a boarding and rooming house for another thirty years. Mrs. Bruzo was the one who gave the Linwood it's name. Her son-in-law, Pascal and her grandson, who was the only child ever born in the building, both had the same name and she used their middle name, Linwood, for the cottage. Pascal Linwood Jr. died serving in WW2.
In 1950, Mrs. Bruzzo died leaving the building to her son-in-law, Pascal "Patsy" Urgo. Patsy had earlier owned and operated an Italian Restaurant where the Vet's Club is now located. He had sold the restaurant building to the Veterans Club for one dollar after his son, Pascal Jr., was killed during WW2.
In 1953 the cottage was gutted and in 1954 the remains were finally burned and all that wouldn't burn was bulldozed into a hole and covered. Eventually the whole area was blacktopped for use as the Newberry's parking lot.
Many notables visited the Linwood during it's heyday, including Ernie Burnett (Melancholy Baby), Christy Mathewson, Jack Dempsey and Governor Roswell Flower, who acquired state funds to dredge the river and produce what is now known as Lake Flower.
ORIGINAL SARANAC LAKE TRAIN DEPOT Thanks to Robert Reid
ENGINE #3050 IN MALONEThanks to Jack Vivlamore
SARANAC LAKE LOCOMOTIVE 4459
SARANAC LAKE LOCOMOTIVE 4515
CALVIN COOLIDGE ARRIVES AT SARANAC LAKE TRAIN DEPOT Thanks to Robert Reid
CALVIN COOLIDGE AT THE SARANAC LAKE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH,1926
LOGGING ON THE SARANAC
RIVER STREET
BLOOD HILL VIEW 1
BLOOD HILL VIEW 2
BLOOD HILL VIEW 3
BLOOD HILL VIEW 4
BLOOD HILL VIEW 5
BLOOD HILL VIEW 6
SKI JUMPING ON BLOOD HILL IN SARANAC LAKE-1918
A VIEW OF THE SARANAC LAKE SKI JUMP FROM BELOW
ANOTHER VIEW OF THE SARANAC LAKE SKI JUMP
LOGGING
A VIEW FROM LAKE FLOWER
SARANAC LAKE AD FROM TIME MAG 1938
CURLING CLUB OF SARANAC LAKE
VIEW FROM MT PISGAH/PREACHER'S HILL
THE REVENGE OF THE FOXESBear, deer and the occasional moose still roam the mountain and make life a little more interesting for the residents from both sides of Pisgah. Lately many of us have been pleasantly surprised to see deer grazing on our lawns and I witnessed a herd of eight young deer strolling casually down Catherine street one morning last summer. A nice way to start your day.

LEFT VIEW
RIGHT VIEW
LOOKING DOWN HELEN HILL
HAASE BUILDING
WATERHOLE #3 WHEN IT WAS A TIRE HOSPITAL
WATERHOLE #3 WHEN IT WAS A SMOKESHOP
DEDICATION DAY OF THE OLD SLHS
THE BERKLEY HOTEL, POST OFFICE, BIJOU THEATER AND WINE SHOP
1890 BERKLEY
DOWN BERKLEY HILL
THE BERKLEY ON THE FOURTH
LATER BERKLEY HOTEL
A VIEW FROM THE BERKLEY HOTEL
A DETAILED VIEW FROM THE BERKLEY HOTEL
BERKLEY SQUARE CHRISTMAS TREE-1940-
ANOTHER VIEW OF THE BERKLEY SQUARE CHRISTMAS TREE-1920's-
BERKLEY SQUARE IN THE 70's
BERKLEY HOTEL FIRE-1981
BROADWAY FROM THE HOTEL SARANAC ROOF-1984
PONTIAC THEATER--1950
KATHERINE HOCTOR DRESS SHOP--1940
EARLY LOOMIS BUILDING
RYAN FRUIT COMPANY TRUCK--1940
Jack Shelly, treasurer of Shelly Tool Co., also built an amazing ice airplane in 1916 and flew it on Lake Flower, although not at a great altitude.
Jack's brother, Nate Shelly, president of Shelly Tool Co., and Jack's wife were both killed in a spectacular toboggan accident near Saranac Inn in 1924. The Shelly Machine Shop and Garage building was later the site of the LaTour Fuel Co. then, for many years, Northland Motors. It is now the location of the SARANAC LAKE ADULT CENTER.
THE DOODANG
1909 ICE PALACE
1909 ICE PALACE POSTCARD
1909 WINTER CARNIVAL PARADE
1910 parade from same spot as above - note rise in gas price
1910 parade - mounted policeman in front of Kolleckers Photo Shop Thanks to Robert Reid
1910 parade - Saranac Lake Fire Department
1910 parade - "The Eugenic Factory"
1910 WINTER CARNIVAL FLOAT
1913 ICE PALACE
1913 FLOAT
1913 FLOAT
1913 FLOAT
1913 PONTIAC RINK GRANDSTAND
1913 PONTIAC RINK
1913 ICE DANCING
1913 STRANGE "BONDAGE" GAME
1915 parade
1900's float--Old King Cole
1900's float---Tropical Island
1934 KING LOWELL THOMAS
WINTER CARNIVAL PARADE-AMERICAN LEGION WW1 FLOAT
MAIN STREET DECORATED
FIRST CATHOLIC CHURCH FIRE
ST REGIS 1909
LEIS BUILDING
MAYOR SEAVER MILLER AND VILLAGE BOARD-1932
76 BROADWAY-NEUBAUERS MARKET AND PASCAL 'PAT' FINA'S "NEW DEAL TAVERN", WHICH OPENED AUGUST 1,1934. LATER IT WAS "DAGWOOD'S SUBS", THEN "THE BACKDOOR",THEN "SCHUES ADIRONDACK BAR AND GRILL". IT'S NOW TEMPORARILY VACANT.
1936, 80 BROADWAY, NEW BUILDING BECOMES THE HOME OF PASCAL 'PAT' FINA'S "TOWN TAVERN". NOTE TAXI STAND STILL ON THE SIDE.
PASCAL 'PAT' FINA'S "NEW DEAL TAVERN", TAX STAMP
PAT FINA'S RIFLE
PAT FINA'S "TOWN HOUSE" BAR LICENSE.
"SWEENEY'S TAXI", BEHIND THE "TOWN HOUSE"
THE "POTTER BLOCK" WHEN IT WAS KNOWN AS THE "ADIRONDACK HOTEL"
POTTER BLOCK 1969
MOUNTAINSIDE GUN CLUB
SMILE---OR ELSE!
THE FLYING MACHINE
THE FLYING MACHINE
THE ICEMAN COMETH
GIBNEYS MARKET 1800s
HOTEL DELMONTE 1894
PINEHURST CAMP ENTRANCE EARLY 1900s
PINEHURST FROM THE LAKE
THE GREAT WAWBEEK HOTEL
THE CEREMONY
MEETING AT BERKLEY SQUARE
THE PARADE AT CHURCH STREET
A FOND FAREWELL AT THE DEPOT
THE WARRIORS TRIUMPHANTLY RETURN
SLHS BAND IN 1939.
ST REGIS HOTEL FIRE, 1963
THE DOG HOUSE DINER 72 AND 74 BROADWAY (1956)- NOW A PARKING LOT TO THE LEFT OF WHAT WAS ONCE SCHUES ADIRONDACK BAR

1938 DEW DROP INN 1
1938 DEW DROP INN 2
1938 DEW DROP INN 3
THE ALTAMONT DAIRY BAR, 1950's. LOCATED IN THE OLD BOWLING ALLEY BUILDING
BERNIE'S
THE OLD ATLANTIC STATION ACROSS FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT-1943
THE OLD SKATING RINK AT PETROVA-1960
THE OLD SKATING RINK AT PETROVA WITH BING KUNATH AND GEORGE BEDORE
PONTIAC BAY BEFORE HIGHWAY WIDENING-WINTER
PONTIAC BAY BEFORE HIGHWAY WIDENING-SUMMER
SARANAC LAKE BEACH-PRESCOTT PARK FROM TYSON'S DRIVE IN
THE FINAL MOMENTS OF TYSON'S DRIVE-IN - 1978
RIVER STREET SINGS IT'S SWAN SONG
LAMY HOUSE, NOW THE BOAT LAUNCH PARKING LOT, TORN DOWN TO WIDEN RIVER STREET
NORTH FOYER LTD--THE 70's--CORNER OF RIVER ST AND SHEPARD AVE.
ANOTHER VIEW OF THE LAMY HOUSE-ARMORY IN BACKGROUND
LAKE FLOWER, SUMMER 1956
LAKE FLOWER WINTER 1956
PERUSE THIS 1937 "MEET THE TOWN"! THANKS, STEVE.
SARANAC LAKE FROM THE AIR--1940
HERE'S ANOTHER ANGLE---1940

SCHROETER'S RESTAURANT
VIEW THE LEFT SIDE
VIEW THE RIGHT SIDE
MARK'S GRILL AND DEW DROP INN WITH PONTIAC THEATER AND BERKLEY HOTEL IN BACKGROUND
"POP" WALSH'S, WESTERN AUTO AND THE BOOKSTORE--NOW THE OWLS NEST, GRIZL-T'S AND THE BLUE MOON
TEMMING ART STUDIO--NOW MORGAN'S 11
REMEMBER THOSE ROMANTIC GONDOLA RIDES TO THE BELVEDERE RESTAURANT?
OLD SARANAC LAKE TOURIST STICKER
DEL'S LIQUOR STORE AD
ANOTHER VIEW OF SARANAC LAKE
WHITE FATHERS AT STONYWOLD ON LAKE KUSHAQUA
WHITE FATHERS CHAPEL
INSIDE WHITE FATHERS CHAPEL
WHITE FATHERS MAIN ALTAR
CLOSEUP OF TIFFANY WINDOWS AT WHITE FATHERS MAIN ALTAR
ANOTHER CLOSEUP OF TIFFANY WINDOW IN WHITE FATHERS MAIN ALTAR
WHITE FATHERS SIDE ALTAR
CLOSEUP OF TIFFANY LEFT SIDE WINDOW IN WHITE FATHERS CHAPEL
ANOTHER VIEW OF TIFFANY LEFT SIDE WINDOW IN WHITE FATHERS CHAPEL
CLOSEUP OF TIFFANY RIGHT SIDE WINDOW IN WHITE FATHERS CHAPEL WITH ST LUKE
THE TIFFANY WINDOWS AS INSTALLED AT THE NYC HISTORICAL SOCIETY
WHITE FATHERS BLACK JESUS
LAKE KUSHAQUA SANATORIUM
GABRIELS SANATORIUM CHAPEL AND CONVENT
GABRIELS CHAPEL
ST JOHN'S IN THE WILDERNESS AT SARANAC INN
HERE'S ANOTHER ANGLE OF ST JOHN'S
SARANAC INN
HERE'S ANOTHER ANGLE OF SARANAC INNMrs. Derby sold out in 1886 to Dr. Samuel Ward and he and a group of associates formed "The Upper Saranac Association" which bought Township 20, McComb's Purchase, Great Tract 1, which included fifty lakes on 26,880 acres.They dammed up Big Clear Pond and put up a sawmill and renamed "Hough's" as the "Saranac Inn".
GROVER CLEVELAND'S COTTAGE AROUND 1890 (MOST LIKELY A STODDARD PHOTO)
GROVER CLEVELAND'S COTTAGE AROUND 1910
1000 ANIMALS BROCHURE
THE 1000 ANIMALS 1
THE 1000 ANIMALS 2
THE 1000 ANIMALS 3 (RUDI'S VERSION)
THE ELK INN - 34 ALGONQUIN - EARLY 20'S - R.C. WILSON, PROPRIETOR
RAY BROOK GOLF LINKS
LEANING PINE OF PAUL SMITH'S
PAUL SMITH'S HOTEL
Paul Smith's Electric Railway
THIS UNIQUE BUILDING IS LOCATED IN ONCHIOTA
HOTEL RILEY IN GABRIELS
RAFFERTY'S GENERAL STORE IN GABRIELS
METHODIST CHURCH IN BLOOMINGDALE
EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN BLOOMINGDALE
BALDWIN'S STORE IN BLOOMINGDALE 


