Daily Archives: March 1, 2012

Herr-Story by Charles Herr

The Forge House: Owners, Proprietors & Managers, Part IX

The Old Forge Company Years: 1896-1915, cont’d

The first meeting establishing the Old Forge Company was held in February 1896 and the syndicate determined to raise funds to enlarge the Forge House, doubling the footprint constructed in 1890-1891.

In a transaction dated April 13, 1896, Garmon and Crosby conveyed the Forge Tract’s 1358.62 acres to the new Company, excluding thirty lots totaling 16 acres purchased by others prior to the October 1895 meeting, for $1.00.

Earlier, the Richfield Springs Mercury in November 1895 reported that Adams paid the two men $25,000 for his 50% interest in the Company.

The deed still included the illegal right to raise the dam taken over by the state in 1879.

Contractor Charles D. West of Little Falls directed the Forge House construction team’s forty workers.

A new wing was built, matching architecturally the renovated wing rebuilt by Garmon & Crosby. Broad piazzas were built to surround the hotel’s front and sides.

Every room was repainted, repapered and refurnished. Continue reading →

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Gary Lee’s Daybreak to Twilight

Cold nights, warmer days start maple sap running early

Bog Sunrise

Winter finally arrived this week. It’s still white outside my window, while many in other areas are still looking for their first snowfall.

Of course it all started with rain, then some freezing rain. But then it snowed and snowed.

This made for a beautiful scene with ice on the trees covered with snow.

The wet snow the day before made a good base but then beautiful powder dropped with the lake effect storm.

Frosty Spirea Flower

The conditions pushed many birds to my feeders, some that were already migrating back north due to the spring conditions we have had.

A Red-winged Blackbird showed up on Thursday morning (2/23) after the wet snow came.

But then on Friday morning there was a flock of over 50 birds on the ground under my feeder.

Among them was a White-throated Sparrow, Tree Sparrows, Juncos, Siskins and Goldfinches.

A beautiful Bald Eagle was on the pond getting his fill on Saturday morning until I disturbed him when I went out to clear the driveway.

Then this morning (2/26) a Mourning Dove was snacking under the feeder.

The Turkeys have been coming in like gang busters all week. Each day I have more than the day before. Continue reading →

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Just Call me Mrs. Lucky by Jan from Woodgate

Don’t be trackin’ me! Some people just need a little privacy

Two thousand and twelve. By now, most of us have a fairly justifiable fear of government surveillance.

Thanks to modern technology the details of your life are openly accessible to pretty much anyone who wants them.

That is, of course, if you choose to be “connected,” which probably ninety-nine percent of us are in some way.

It just cracks me up how many folks sacrifice personal privacy for personal safety.

Take, for instance, the OnStar® device installed in so many vehicles.

For the low-low price of hundreds of dineros per year, some creepy stranger travels with you everywhere you go.

In the event that you tragically suffer a vehicular breakdown, or God forbid an accident, the Voice Knows.

A speaker located somewhere near your windshield immediately (and quite creepily) starts speaking to you, demanding a response, and then spews out your exact location, followed by the details explaining what has caused your vehicle to malfunction.

“Oh Mr. Jones, you are on the corner of First and Second street, and your gas gauge is reading empty. According to our records you reside way down on Tenth, and your wife will be very curious to know why you are so far from home when you should be sitting down to a pot roast dinner right now. We’re calling her right now, so may I suggest that you start composing your alibi immediately?” Continue reading →

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Work continues on ‘Anything Goes’ set; musical to open in three weeks

Jeff Evans, in charge of the set design and construction for the musical production of "Anything Goes," cuts out additional stairs leading ot the Captain's bridge. Merle Fenton and Jeff Rockhill are also participating in set construction. Photo by Carol Hansen

The Town of Webb School’s Drama Depart-ment is just three weeks away from presenting their production of the Broad-way musical, Anything Goes, and teams of volunteers are busy behind the scenes constructing sets and pulling the wardrobe together for the young actors.

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NYS Alpine Championships: McKenzie Liddle, Daniel Heroux receive Sportsmanship Awards

Standing, from left, are Daniel Heroux, Griffin Kleps, Coach Tom Down, Jessica Hannah, McKenzie Liddle, Lauren Holt, and Corey Down. In front is West Tickner

The Town of Webb School Alpine Ski Team began their competitions at the High School Alpine State Champion-ships on Monday, February 27th at Whiteface Mountain in the Slalom event.

There were seven sections represented from across New York State for a total of 60 girls and 61 boys.

The girl’s kicked it off with McKenzie Liddle placing 11th overall and Jessica Hannah placing 32nd.

Lauren Holt had to relinquish her 14th place when she had a DNF on her second run.

For the boys, West Tickner placed 9th overall, Daniel Heroux had a DSQ on his first run and Corey Down had a DNF on his second run leaving them both without combined placements. Continue reading →

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Letter to the Editor: Believe it! Travel Corridor a do-able proposition

To the Editor:

Some folks have hesitated to join www.theARTA.com, fearing the Old Forge to Lake Placid Corridor may be broken up if the rails were removed.Not true.

The 1996 State Land, Unit Management Plan, classified the land as a “travel corridor” with some variations. There were two main options: a railroad (needing a five-year review that has not happened) or remove the rails for a multi-use Recreational Trail. A UMP is essentially law. New York State has Fee Title (deeds) to the Corridor without reversionary clauses or easements. Continue reading →

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Damon Kull earns Dean’s List honors

Damon Kull, a freshman at Florida Gulf Coast University, has been placed on the Dean’s List for the fall 2011 semester.

To qualify for this distinction a student must be full time and attain between a 3.5 and 3.99 semester grade point average.

Damon’s major is Professional Golf Management. He is the son of Diane and Randy Kull of Old Forge.

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