Community History Day at the Adirondack Museum October 18

Community History Day at the Adirondack Museum:
Celebrate Indian Lake’s 150th Anniversary

Blue Mountain Lake, N.Y. Do you have ties to Indian Lake, New York - past or
present? Do the ups, downs, and surprises of local history fascinate you? Do
you like birthday cake?

If the answer to any of these questions is “yes” - you are invited to join
the staff of the Adirondack Museum at Blue Mountain Lake, N.Y. on Saturday,
October 18, 2008 for a day dedicated to the Town of Indian Lake’s
Sesquicentennial or 150th anniversary.

The Adirondack Museum offers free admission to year-round residents of the
Adirondack Park in the month of October, and is open from 10:00 a.m. until
5:00 p.m.

The special day will begin with a presentation by Curator Hallie Bond at
11:00 a.m. entitled “The Armchair Canoeist’s Guide to Blue Mountain Lake.”
Enjoy the warmth and comfort of dry land as Bond leads a “virtual” canoe
trip to some of the historic sites on the shores of the lake.

Known as the “Koh-i-noor of the smaller wilderness gems” in the 1880s, Blue
Mountain Lake was the most fashionable highland resort in the northeast. The
presentation will include “then” and “now” photographs of landmarks such as
the Prospect House, Holland’s Blue Mountain House, the town library, the
Episcopal Church, and the mighty steamboat Tuscarora.

Bond will ask the audience to reflect on the meaning of “progress” and the
ups and downs of a tourist economy. She will also ask Blue Mountain Lake
old-timers to help in the identification of mystery photos in the museum
collection, and reminisce about days gone by.

At 1:00 p.m., Dr. Marge Bruchac will offer a program called “The Indians of
Indian Lake.” The presentation will include historic anecdotes, photographs,
and family histories of some of the Indians who have made their homes in the
village.

Native peoples such as Sabael Benedict, Emma Meade, and the Tahamont family
were involved in growing the Adirondack tourism industry, promoting and
preserving herbal medicine, and even in developing the image of the
Hollywood Indian. According to Bruchac, these highly visible families were
not the “last of the Indians” in Indian Lake.

Dr. Marge Bruchac is a preeminent Abenaki historian. She is an Assistant
Professor of Anthropology and Coordinator of Native American Studies at the
University of Connecticut at Avery Point. A scholar, performer, and
historical consultant on the Abenaki and other Northeastern Native peoples,
Bruchac lectures and performs widely for schools, museums, and historical
societies. Her 2006 book for children about the French and Indian War,
Malian’s Song, was selected as an Editor’s Choice by The New York Times and
was the winner of the American Folklore Society’s Aesop Award.

At 2:30 p.m. a reception will be held for all in the museum’s Visitor
Center. Caroline M. Welsh, Director of the Adirondack Museum, and Barry
Hutchins, Supervisor of the Town of Indian Lake, N.Y., will offer remarks.
Cake, tea, and coffee will be served.

Artwork created by students at Indian Lake Central School will be displayed
in the Visitor Center throughout the day.

The Adirondack Museum tells the story of the Adirondacks through exhibits,
special events, classes for schools, and hands-on activities for visitors of
all ages. Open for the season through October 19, 2008. For information
about all that the museum has to offer, please call (518) 352-7311, or visit
www.adirondackmuseum.org .