Timber Tannery and Tourists by Lester St. John Thomas

Originally published in 1979 as a time capsule from the early days, this is a story of the evolution of a small town in the once heavily forested hills and valleys of the upper Hudson River. Actually starting in pre-glacial times, the chronology brings you though the period of European men discovering the great Adirondack forests, when the lands were an outlying area of Queensbury originally called Westfield. It continues through its birth as a Town called Fairfield, than Luzerne and later, Lake Luzerne. It tells of a world famous tannery and other industries and its surge of popularity as a summer resort. It notes the names of the early loggers to the first town council, down to the present day. Many of these tales are told from the ancestors of today’s local residents.

Exploited for its timber by British loyalists, settled by soldiers of Scotch, Irish, Welsh and English ancestry, infused with the French from Canada and seaports by Manhattan, and strengthened with occasional Germanic and English immigrants, the new town became a melting pot of home-seeking folk from the old country. This typical American mix is reflected in the birth and growth of the town narrated in Timber, Tannery and Tourists. Included is a dynamic collection of original photos from the late 1800’s and beyond.