Fulton Chain Steamers III: The Fulton Navigation Co. Years, 1901–1932
PART TWO
A few years after purchasing the “Adirondack,” the Company shipped it to Raquette Lake for use with the “Killoquah” and it later burned in 1927 in a village fire that burned both steamers and the “Sagamore.”
The Raquette Lake Railroad diverted the patronage previously relying on the Fulton Chain steamers.
But another mode of transportation would seriously impact steamer and railroad patronage.
In 1908, the boats operating on the Chain lakes were “Clearwater,” “Nehasane,” “Mohegan,” “Old Forge,” “Myra” and “Marion.”
The latter two were later transferred to Raquette Lake. In 1910, the “Irocosia” was shipped from Raquette Lake to the Fulton Chain.
In 1922, Old Forge Village was able to obtain approval for building a dock to the left of the Codling meat plant near the state dam on land leased from the state, twenty years too late for John Sprague.
Agitation for a public dock had been growing for years as campers and motor boat operators had to dock at the Company’s docks or those of private camps.
In 1923, Maurice Callahan and his associates purchased the Fulton Navigation Company steamers from the heirs of the Raquette Lake Railroad and continued to run its operations as well as those of the Raquette Lake Transportation Company.
Continued Next Week…
