The Governor

, July 3, 1902

Undated subdivision map, showing the Governor

, c. 1905 at the Governor. No caption. The sign reads "Fancy Groceries, Candies, Souvenirs, Mineral Waters, Tobaccos, Sporting Goods, Stationery, Notions, and General Merchandise"

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George and Henry Leis' cure tents, c. 1901

Address: 255 George LaPan Highway

Old Address: 33 Algonquin Avenue

Other names: Algonquin Bar (after the Algonquin Hotel was torn down in the 1950s) See Cure Cottages, p. 108. It was diagonally across the road from the Esperance House.

Year built: c. 1900

Post card of the General, Courtesy of Leslie Hoffman

Post card of the General, Courtesy of Leslie Hoffman

The Governor was built by Henry P. Leis and his brother George Leis after soon after they moved to Saranac Lake to cure their tuberculosis in 1899. Henry bought the land from the Ampersand Hotel which was selling parts of its golf course to meet financial obligations. The brothers lived in two tents on the property on the north-east corner of the property, and began building a large boarding house and barn. The barn was built first, and they lived in it while the house was built. The house could hold eight to ten boarders. An ad of the time read "Open All Year. Accommodations for Sleighing Parties." There was also a bowling alley; according to Marie Leis Pearce the floor boards were curling "like the toes of a leprechaun's shoes" in her childhood, c. 1920.

 

Source: Marie Leis Pearce, Henry P. Leis: the man from Saranac Lake

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