Beaver Park
Beaver Park is a half-acre park between Dorsey Street and the Saranac River just north of NY Route 3.
Adirondack Daily Enterprise, February 3, 1981
'Vandal’ prompts work on VIS park
SARANAC LAKE - Mrs. Paul Hogan of 36 Dorsey St., reported a vandal on the Village Improvement Society property near her home this past summer.
With the help of neighbors and friends, especially Earle Colby and Marshall Brown, she identified the culprit who had been felling trees on the property, one landing on a shed in her yard.
The offender? A large renegade beaver, who, by beaver code, was an outcast from beaver society either because he was too old or too lazy to do his share.
The beaver had apparently been wandering up and down the river, eating where he could. He had previously been spotted at another park on Bloomingdale Avenue by Colby. "To tell the truth, Colby admitted, "he was nibbling along the river at Denny Park last fall, but I felt so sorry for him I just didn't mention it."
Meanwhile VIS observes noted that some of the brush had been moved to a small sandbar near the lot. Mrs. D. Mott Chapin, president of the VIS, thought the beaver might be building a home. It was decided not to take any action against the animal, and, in fact, a concerted effort was made to, keep him out of the limelight. It was hoped that he would continue to build his home.in peace.
Both Colby and Mrs. Hogan maintained that renegade beaver do not build homes, preferring to live off the land as best they can. I;
Whether they were right, or whether increased summer traffic on the adjacent highway and activities on the river, made him feel his privacy was being invaded, the beaver departed as suddenly as he had come. The renegade's presence on the river had, however, focused VIS attention on its Dorsey Street lot. Incoming president Mrs. Jacques DeMattos appointed Ms. Nancy Cannon chairman of the area this fall, and its improvements will be a feature of the 1981 VIS calendar.
Ms. Cannon, Citizen Advocates greenhouse manager, holds a masters degree from Cornell University in floraculture and ornamental horticulture.
Despite these high qualifications, she accepted her appointment with the understanding that her committee, without prior notification, may include one nonconsulting landscape architect; Mr. Beaver himself.
At the final 1980 meeting, members of the VIS, by formal vote, christened the property Beaver