historicsaranaclake

[historicsaranaclake]

5 Ws Wednesday

Historic Saranac Lake needs your help identifying the WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, and/or WHY of this photo. This photograph shows a group of doctors and scientists sitting outdoors at Trudeau Sanatorium. We only know that Dr. John Schmidt is seated first at left, Dr. Francis Berger Trudeau is seated fourth from left, and Dr. Edward R. Baldwin is seated sixth from left in the second row. All the rest of the people are unidentified. Do you recognize anyone? Let us know by leaving a comment or sending us a message!⁠

⁠ [Historic Saranac Lake Collection, 2009.8.3.]

Here are the 5 Ws responses we received in June and July:

6/4, 2023.11.55: No responses, but another photo helped identify it as Trudeau's camp 6/11, 2023.11.70: No identification 6/18, 2023.11.56: Little Rapids, Trudeau's camp 6/25, 2024.21.1.181: 302 Lake Street (formerly 141 Lake Street) 7/2, 2025.1.38: No definitive answer, possibly the Broadway School 7/9, 2024.1.448.85: No definitive answer, possibly on Park Avenue near Cedar Street 7/16, 2025.1.2: Some rough translations were provided 7/23, 2024.2.153: No answers 7/30, 2024.2.234: No identification for any of the men

[historicsaranaclake]

Image Of The Week

It's summer, and that means road construction! This photograph shows a crew at work repairing the bricks on Bloomingdale Avenue. It was likely taken sometime in the early 1920s. You can sometimes still spot these bricks peeking out under the blacktop! Watch out for crews working this summer!⁠

⁠ [Historic Saranac Lake Collection, 2025.7.13.]

[historicsaranaclake]

5 Ws Wednesday

Historic Saranac Lake needs your help identifying the WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, and/or WHY of this photo. We are continuing to look at a group of photographs that were developed by Kollecker's Kodak Shop and not picked up. These four men are standing outside of the Prescott House, but we know nothing about them! Do you recognize any of them? Let us know by leaving a comment or sending a message!

[Historic Saranac Lake Collection, 2024.2.234.]

[historicsaranaclake]

Our very first History in the Making Giving Day is kicking off our annual fund drive in a BIG way! For over 40 years, Historic Saranac Lake has been a vital part of our community, offering exhibits, helping with family and building research, and championing preservation—all to connect as many people as possible to the unique history of the Saranac Lake region.⁠ Our challenge donors have set up special challenge gifts throughout the day to encourage our community's support as we prepare for the next exciting chapter in our work, and we need your help! Donations open August 12 and continue through August 13.⁠ ⁠ Then! We're having a party!⁠ ⁠ Beginning at 5 PM on August 13, we're opening up the Trudeau Building and inviting everyone in the community to come by, hang out, and check out our silent auction. At 6 PM, we'll head next door to unveil our new exhibit, "Pet Portraits: Then and Now," which perfectly represents all the work Historic Saranac Lake does to highlight our community's history.⁠

Please RSVP on our website!

[historicsaranaclake]

5 Ws Wednesday

Historic Saranac Lake needs your help identifying the WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, and/or WHY of this photo. Today we have a summery mystery photo! This photograph was among the ones left behind at Kollecker's Kodak Shop. It was likely taken sometime between 1930 and 1950. Do you recognize this woman, or her little tyke? Let us know by leaving a comment or sending us a message!

[Historic Saranac Lake Collection, 2024.2.153.]

[historicsaranaclake]

Image Of The Week

This postcard shows a man putting a guideboat in off Tommy's Rock at the northern end of Upper Saranac Lake. Saranac Inn can be seen on the shore. The card was mailed on July 26, 1910! Where are you paddling this summer?

[Historic Saranac Lake Collection, 2024.1.181. Gift of Ann Pecora Diamond.]

[historicsaranaclake]

This is awesome! We so appreciate all your help!

5 Ws Wednesday

Historic Saranac Lake needs your help identifying the WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, and/or WHY of this photo. This week's 5 Ws is a little bit different! From time to time we receive materials that are not written in English, and we need help translating them! We believe that this postcard from 1932 was written in Latvian. Can you help us translate this message? Let us know by leaving a comment or sending a message! Or, if you can read any other languages and want to help us out in the future, let us know!

[Historic Saranac Lake Collection, 2025.1.2. Gift of Ann Pecora Diamond.]

[historicsaranaclake]

Image of the Week

We're taking inspiration from history for our summer days! This photograph shows an unidentified woman camping at Fish Creek in the 1950s. The photo is part of a group of Kodachrome slides documenting a family's trip to Fish Creek, including boating, cooking, and hanging out by the campfire. We hope you're enjoying the summer (and a good book)!

[Historic Saranac Lake Collection, 2025.3.53. Gift of an anonymous donor.]

[historicsaranaclake]

5 Ws Wednesday

Historic Saranac Lake needs your help identifying the WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, and/or WHY of this photo. This week's 5 Ws is a little bit different! From time to time we receive materials that are not written in English, and we need help translating them! We believe that this postcard from 1932 was written in Latvian. Can you help us translate this message? Let us know by leaving a comment or sending a message! Or, if you can read any other languages and want to help us out in the future, let us know!

[Historic Saranac Lake Collection, 2025.1.2. Gift of Ann Pecora Diamond.]

[historicsaranaclake]

The summer season started with a bang on June 28, with a wonderful Construction Completion Celebration! Over 200 supporters of the project enjoyed touring the building and visiting afterwards at the Hotel Saranac. Our thanks to the many friends and businesses that generously supported the event, especially Bishop Beaudry Construction. Please check out the online photo gallery to see some of our best photos from the big day. ⁠ ⁠ We are looking forward to a Community Open House at the Trudeau Building coming up this Saturday, July 19. The Trudeau Building and Saranac Laboratory Museum will be open to all, free of charge, from 2:00 to 5:00, with live music, pizza and beverages for purchase from Ragazzi Pizza Truck, and other fun activities!

[historicsaranaclake]

5 Ws Wednesday

Historic Saranac Lake needs your help identifying the WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, and/or WHY of this photo. We have been scouring our collection in search of pet photographs for our upcoming exhibit, and we have found a few mysteries along the way! This photograph was taken by TB patient Charles Swasey Barnet, and shows Mrs. Jones along with dogs Kim, Betsy, and Easter. Barnet labeled his photographs very well, but this one does not say where it was taken! Do you recognize any of the houses behind this charming group? Let us know by leaving a comment or sending us a message!⁠

⁠ You can also find out more about our upcoming Pet Portraits exhibit on our website: https://historicsaranaclake.org/pet-portraits-then-and-now/ ⁠ [Historic Saranac Lake Collection, 2024.1.448.85. Gift of Ann Pecora Diamond.]

[historicsaranaclake]

Image of the Week

This weekend, we hope you'll roll on in to the Cruisin' 2025 car show in downtown Saranac Lake! Grab your friends, see some classic cars, and learn about automotive history in Saranac Lake! This photograph was taken by tuberculosis patient William Schuster (seated at the steering wheel) at Meacham Lake on June 7, 1915. Start your engines!

Find out more about this weekend's fun on SaranacLake.com, and keep an eye out for our posters about history on wheels!

[Historic Saranac Lake Collection, 2021.1.71. Gift in Memory of Tarsilla and William Schuster.]

[historicsaranaclake]

5 Ws Wednesday

Historic Saranac Lake needs your help identifying the WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, and/or WHY of this photo. This photograph shows a man named John Meyer, supposedly visiting Saranac Lake in January of 1908. We can't figure out what building he's standing in front of, though! Do you recognize it? Let us know by sending a message or leaving a comment.

[Historic Saranac Lake Collection, 2025.1.38. Gift of Ann Pecora Diamond.]

[historicsaranaclake]

Image Of The Week

June 29th marked National Camera Day! This photograph shows Blanche Smith standing in her yard on Franklin Avenue, holding a box camera similar to a Kodak Brownie. Blanche kept many photographs from her high school and nursing school years. What's your favorite camera in history?

[Historic Saranac Lake Collection, 2009.2.9.9. Gift of W. Dean Carrier in memory of John Dean Carrier.]

[historicsaranaclake]

Image of the Week

It's hot out! We think you should go jump in a lake, like this person swimming in Lower St. Regis Lake at Paul Smith's Hotel before 1930! The Paul Smith's campus has always been a popular spot for outdoor recreation in all seasons. You can see the main hotel building in the background, left, and the general store, right. We hope you're all staying cool in this heat wave!

[Historic Saranac Lake Collection, 2023.11.68.]

[historicsaranaclake]

5 Ws Wednesday

Historic Saranac Lake needs your help identifying the WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, and/or WHY of this photo. We shared a photo of the house in the background of this photo as a 5Ws a couple of weeks ago, but unfortunately didn't get any hits. Maybe someone will recognize the house next door, though! This photograph was among a group belonging to Dr. Frank Trudeau's family. Have you seen this building before? Let us know by leaving a comment or sending us a message!⁠

⁠ [Historic Saranac Lake Collection, 2023.11.56.]

[historicsaranaclake]

Image Of The Week

Summertime is almost officially here, and we love this vibe! This photograph of an unidentified woman is part of a large group of negatives taken by Mary Ives Baldwin. HSL Collections staff and volunteers are wrapping up scanning and cataloging these negatives to make them available online! Stay tuned for more wonderful photographs from this collection, and stay cool!

[Historic Saranac Lake Collection, 2023.48.337. Gift of Barbara Baldwin Knapp.]