The 1891 prospectus (written by Ephraim Myers) announced that Fred Hess’s new hotel soon to be completed would be the terminus for those taking the steamers from Old Forge after departing from Dr. Webb’s new railroad.

Membership was limited to 120 members who would pay $500, providing them a lot for a camp, use of the lodges and a revenue share of the timber harvested by Hess.

Though similar in policy to the neighboring Adirondack League Club, it failed to attract members.

By August 1892, James Galvin began subdividing the shore lots on the tract’s lakes and advertised one-acre lots on Fourth Lake for $200, promoting the region as a health resort.

The extension of Dr. Webb’s railroad to Fulton Chain (Thendara) in July 1892 brought an increase of travelers through the tract and the need for accommodating them.

Charles Bennett of the Antlers (Raquette Lake) began a stage and steamer line from Fourth Lake to Brown’s Tract Inlet and purchased the right of way from Galvin through the tract’s lands for carries between the lakes.

He was reported to have also purchased lots on Sixth Lake.

Fred Hess’s hotel opened in 1893 on Fourth Lake’s shore at the inlet. 

On June 12, 1893, Galvin sold land for $2500 to Ella Holliday, Emeline Crawford and James Niles who would soon build Rocky Point Inn.

Sales were delayed during June 1894 when James Galvin became critically ill and was temporarily comatose.

He shortly recovered and returned to the tract in August bringing wife Jennie for her first trip.

Shortly afterward, Galvin finalized a series of sales such as with David Frank Sperry for land on the channel that Charles O’Hara later obtained to build the Inlet Inn.

Other sales were to Dwight Sperry, Elmer Sawyer and Stephen W. Burdick.

In 1895, Galvin sold land to Fred Kirch who opened a tourist camp on Fourth Lake and to Archie Delmarsh.

During the years 1895 to 1899, lots were sold to Homer Traffarn, Frank Tiffany, Wellington Kenwell and Fred Woolsleger and other Inlet and Seventh Lake pioneers.

According to Fred Hess’s 1896 deposition in favor of the Fulton Chain Railroad, the Club still planned to build a lodge at Limekiln Lake.

Also that year, Ephraim Myers started a transportation company to compete with Bennett’s line.

Myers also obtained Hess’s sawmill, now the Fulton Chain Lumber Company, for his son Henry to run, though a Peter Rohr probably did most of the work.

To be continued…