Early-20th century tourist steamboat resurrected

BLUE MOUNTAIN LAKE | In 1900 William West Durant — known for building the first of Adirondacks' Great Camps and grand schemes — commissioned A. C. Brown of Staten Island to build a coal-fired passenger steamboat on the shore of Blue Mountain Lake. Beginning that June, the "Tuscarora" traveled from Marion River Carry through Utowana, Eagle and Blue Mountain lake, delivering visitors to "gilded age" hotels and lakefront estates. For nearly three decades it operated much as did the other excursion boats on the Fulton Chain, the Saranacs and across the Adirondacks. When better roads were created and ended their usefulness, those vessels were burned or scuttled. The "Tuscarora" escaped that fate and took on a new life in 1934 when it became the Graham family's camp, complete with bedrooms, a lounge, a kitchen and bathrooms. As cozy as the cottage was, to all appearances, it retained the essence of the "Tuscarora." This 75-foot-long double-decker steamer is a rare relic of the heydays of Adirondack tourism and a glimpse of how a summer family repurposed this unique structure. "Tuscarora" is an important part of the history of Blue Mountain Lake, bridging the Victorian era and modern times. "Tuscarora" owners Donna Gingell and Peter Halsch, plus a committee of boat experts and historic preservation advocates, have been discussing what the future holds the boat. It is currently perched on shore in a quiet cove and is not accessible for viewing. Much work is to document and stabilize the vessel and develop interpretation that will bring this unique story to life. Plans are to move the boat to a site where visitors can see the restored steamer and learn about its key role in Adirondack transportation long before the age of motor vehicles. The first step in the next chapter for the "Tuscarora" was made possible by a grant from the Connecticut-based 1772 Foundation that will facilitate creation of a feasibility study and high-tech documentation of the structure. This historic preservation grant is administered by Adirondack Architectural Heritage, Keeseville, N.Y., an organization that sees the value of saving this unique artifact as part of its overall mission of recognizing the importance of the region's built environment. In early November a team from Historic American Engineering Record (HAER), which is a program of the National Park Service based in Washington, D.C., used large-format photos and laser plotting to make images that show the "Tuscarora" from all directions. The HAER documents will provide digital measured drawings of the vessel, which will be enormously important for the preservation project and engineering studies to enable moving the vessel to a new location. This winter, the task is to determine how best to relocate the "Tuscarora." Cranes and trucks like a house mover used over land may be unfeasible due to the location; building a cradle to support the hull as it is hauled over the lake is one option to explore. There are grant opportunities to facilitate this work, though matching funds are required for federal and state proposals. As plans emerge, the Friends of the Tuscarora intend to offer progress updates via social media, press releases and other venues. Funding for the "Tuscarora" is currently managed by Adirondack Architectural Heritage, which can accept tax-deductible donations on behalf of the project. Becoming an independent nonprofit organization is a goal of the "Tuscarora" group in 2024.

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Early-20th century tourist steamboat resurrected

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