A picture taken in September 1959 from the Casino. (Click image to see full-scale.)
If you know or can identify any of the people in the picture, please drop me an email.
Learning More About Kitchel Bay’s Name
In regards to my previous posts about the history of Kitchel Bay’s name, a number of people responded with fascinating information.
Mr. Larry Hansen of Lands End Road was kind enough to provide some very valuable genealogical information.
Regarding Kitchel Bay’s name, my mother was adopted in her teens by Dr. James Pedersen, owner of Whileaway. Dr. James Pedersen’s brother, Professor Frederick M. Pedersen, married Gertrude Kitchel. Her parents I believe were one of the first families to summer on the bay now named for them, in the late nineteenth century. Their house was the one that Bob Nephew bought a few years ago from Grace Iijima, next to the Covinos (originally the Kemps, then later the Newels). The Kitchel family geneology is given in detail, I believe, in Hamlet Summers which my mother edited/wrote in 1953 (reprinted by the Washington County Historical Society about 1980). I will try to find my copy. The Washington County Historical Society has a copy in their Fort Edward library.
Best regards,
Larry
Additionally, Mark Stanton provided the many interesting links below, which include information on the tragic death of a young Kitchel.
George,
I did some googling and found some info on the Kitchels. It might be enough to help Douglas find out if his wife is related.
G.H is Gertrude H. Kitchel. I found mention of her here.
There is also mention of a James Kitchel on page 119 of your book, Huletts Landing on Lake George.
There is also more about the Kitchels from Huletts Landing here.
It looks like Dr. Edwin M. Kitchel, the only son of James Kitchel, was killed at Huletts during a game of blind man’s bluff. I found this in the Georgia Journal of Medicine and Surgery, July 1897. (Right side column of link.)
Here is a copy of his obituary (you may have to scroll down the page a bit).
Here’s a final write-up about the death of Dr. Edwin M. Kitchel from the NY Times.
Mark
Last but not least, Lane DeMuro forwarded an interesting newspaper mention from 1892 which coincidentally also mentions a former occupant of his family’s home.
George
Here is a digital copy of the Saturday July 2, 1892 edition of the Lake George Mirror. The owner of the Lake George Mirror was kind enough to grant permission for me to copy it and put it on the internet.
Huletts is mentioned several times throughout, but on page 13, a mention is made of “James T. Kitchell.” (Near the bottom of the center column.) So the Kitchell name can be traced back to 1892. Of special interest to me is the name, Admiral A.C. Rhind, right next to the Kitchell name. I believe Admiral Rhind rented the cottage from Mrs. Marsh or owned the cottage before her. The Marsh cottage is my family home. The cottage was torn town and Mrs. Marsh built the present one there around 1903.
It’s a good read on a snowy morning!
Regards,
Lane
Many thanks go out to all of the “history detectives” mentioned above for going out of their way to answer Douglas Gallant’s original question.
Learning About Kitchell Bay’s Name
In regards to the previous post about the history of Kitchell Bay’s name, I received the following from Lane DeMuro:
George,
I saw the request from Douglas Gallant for information on naming Kitchell Bay. I don’t know if the attached will help, but here are some scans of a little Hymn Book (it measures approx 2-1/2″ W x 3-1/2″ Tall) with the name Kitchell written across the front, and inside is written what appears to be “G.H. Kitchell.” I am not really too sure if it is “G.H” or not, but the Kitchell part is very clear. The book was copyright 1879, (copyright page attached) so we know he or she had to own it sometime after that. I suspect it was probably used when the first Mt. Grove church was in operation up on top of the hill. I also scanned a work ledger from D.W. Philips with what appears to be “Mrs…..Kitchell.” It is from 1910, so I can trace Kitchell back that far at least. If I come across any more as I look through my collection I will pass them on to you.
Regards,
Lane DeMuro
The cover of the little Hymm Book.
The copyright page (upper left) showing a publication date of 1879. (Click to see full-scale.)
The initials on the inside appear to be “G.H. Kitchell.” (Click to see full-scale.)
The title page and publisher information. (Click to see full-scale.)
A work ledger from D.W. Philips with what appears to be “Mrs…..Kitchell.” (Click to see full-scale.)
Email to the Editor
Just a curiosity question for someone. I am interested in who Kitchel Bay is named for. My wife is a Kitchell and suspect that there is a relationship somehow a long time ago.
Douglas Gallant
Editor’s Note: If you can help answer Mr. Gallant’s question, please drop me an email or use the contact form and I’ll post the answer.
Remembering the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics
The moment the U.S. Mens Hockey team defeated Finland for the gold medal in the 1980 Winter Olympics at Lake Placid. (Photo courtesy of Russ Considine. Click image to see full-scale.)
Whenever the winter Olympics come into view, I always remember the excitement of the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid. Although, like most, I only watched on TV, the excitement of those games is not easily forgotten by those who watched.
That’s why I’m happy to pass along this link: http://www.lakeplacidwinterolympics.com/.
It’s a personal reflection, with pictures of the 1980 Winter Games, by Russ Considine, who was there as a photographer.
Russ grew up in Huletts Landing and has some unique shots and great recollections. It’s worth the entire read. Perhaps it will bring back memories for you too.
Where Did Clemons Get Its Name?
An advertising flyer apparently made from an ink blotter for the George L. Clemons Store.
Well thanks to Lane DeMuro, and this very rare piece of local memorabilia, we now know.
This looks to be an advertising ink blotter, as the back has script writing in a mirror image, as it would be if it blotted up ink from letters or something of that sort.
It is for an all-purpose store run by George L. Clemons, in Clemons, NY. The picture is of Lake Champlain.
“Wholesale and Retail Dealer in Wood and Lumber. Groceries and Provisions, Flour, Feed, Dry Goods and Yankee Notions.”
I would date it around 1860-1870.
Many thanks again to Lane DeMuro for sharing this rare artifact from his collection.
Click image to see full-scale.
Rare Historical Find: Frederic F. Durand Cottage Addition Blueprints
Lane DeMuro recently unearthed a document: “Specifications for Addition to Cottage of Frederic F. Durand at Lake George N.Y.”
Many thanks to Lane DeMuro who found this document in his David Philips collection. He believes David Phillips was the contractor for Frederic Durand.
He is unsure which cottage was Mr. Durands’ but believes it was down Land Ends road.
If you can shed any light on where this cottage was located, please let me know.
Many thanks to Lane DeMuro for sharing this historic find.
Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays
The Feast of St. Nicholas
(Around 1665)
by Jan Havicksz Steen
Rijksmuseum
(Click image to see full-screen.)
Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas.
Mike Foster: R.I.P.
Mike Foster with Kathy Huntington.
I am very sorry to report that Mike Foster died on Saturday, November 30th at his home. Mike was the cousin of former Dresden Town Supervisor, Sue Foster Ives and the partner of Kathy Huntington, the Dresden historian.
On a personal note, Mike provided me with critical information and the only known photograph of his great grandfather, Willis C. Foster, who discovered the Hulett Hotel fire in 1915 and which can be found in my book, The Hulett Hotel Fire on Lake George.
Mike was a “bear” of a man, with a heart to match, who loved talking about the history of Dresden and Huletts Landing. He will be sadly missed.
Our condolences and prayers go out to the Foster and Huntington families for their loss.
“May God support us all the day long, till the shades lengthen and the evening comes, and the busy world is hushed, and the fever of life is over, and our work is done. Then in His mercy may He give us a safe lodging, and a holy rest and peace at the last.”
I will post additional info once I hear more. (Photo provided by the Foster family.)
Now For Some History: 1871
Caption Reads: Mt. Defiance, from Ft Ticonderoga, 1871.
I have my brother, Al, to thank for this picture of Mt. Defiance from 1871. My brother’s infinite Borgesian library of local history items was started before I even became interested in history, which should say it all. Since we were children, Al was collecting everything local that he could get his hands on. He pulls things out now and then to let me know he’s been doing this longer than I have!
Fort Ticonderoga was still in ruins when this picture was taken.
Click on item to see full-scale.
Now For Some History: Unknown
The above picture is a Stoddard but when looking at these old pictures I always try to envision what the spot it was taken from looks like today.
Does this picture show the intersection of Routes 6A & 6B by the old firehouse or was it taken a little closer to the present day Post Office from what is now the golf course?
Was it taken someplace else, perhaps farther down toward Bluff Head?
If you have any thoughts please let me know.
Click on the image to see full-scale.
Five Years Old
Well, here it is November 9, 2013 which is the day I celebrate the “birthday” of the Huletts Current. It has been exactly five years since my first post in 2008. The news ebbs and flows but I’ve been happy to share the “goings on” around town with you for the last five years.
So thank you for continuing to read the Huletts Current and know I appreciate sharing the “news” with you. Hopefully you’ve learned a thing or two while checking in periodically. It seems like the pictures, history, and other short items are informative also, because I get comments on those too.
As is my custom, here are the most read posts from the past year.
1.) Breaking: Mountain Dam Rupture Causes Flash Flood
2.) Arthur Borin, R.I.P.
3.) Berry/Clayton Wedding Takes Place in Huletts
4.) Kerry A. McNelis Memorial Draws Large Crowd of Family and Friends
5.) 2013 Day to Remember: Race Results
6.) Congratulations to Mr. & Mrs. Luke Smith
7.) Interview with Dresden’s Frank Barber, School Board Candidate
8.) Surprise Birthday Party Held for Mrs. Aiken
9.) Rare Historical Find: 1958 Video of Diane Struble Swimming Lake George
10.) Gettsyburg 1863: Washington County’s Heroic Fight
Now it’s on to year six!
Email to the Editor
Thanks for posting the great picture of Hughy the “iceman,” sure brought back memories of following his truck and getting some (ice) shavings on a hot July day. I remember him and his big tongs bringing in a cube of ice to the “box” in our cottage (Happy Hour and then Villa Van). Hughy was a Huletts icon, as was Mrs. Scott (I think I have her name correct), the postmaster.
Always a Huletts guy…..Don Bennet
Editors Note: This is the original post with the picture that Mr. Bennet refers to.
Now For Some History: Unknown
I was rummaging around in the basement a few days ago and this item caught my eye. It was upside down with a bunch of boards on top of it. I took it outside, leaned it against a tree and took this picture of it.
It appears to be the top of a school desk, complete with ink holder and pen cutout. It also has some initials carved into it.
While I can’t say where it came from, it very well could have come from the Huletts Landing one room school house, which I profiled here some time again.
Click image to see full-scale.