Donaldson's Campsite

This large stone boathouse at the entrance to Fish Creek Bay sits at the north end of the campground's beach.

Donaldson's Campsite is a 700-acre parcel west of The Narrows of Upper Saranac Lake south of Fish Creek Bay and east of New York Route 30; it has some 1.7 miles of lake frontage. 

The property was originally some four thousand acres owned by Talbot Taylor, who planned a luxurious camp there. But in 1916, financial reverses led to the land being sold to Pennsylvania Governor [H. Earle, Jr.] who built two camps there.  The stone boathouse was part of one of the camps.

---

Lake Placid News, September 1, 1916

An estate of 4,000 acres on the Upper Saranac Lake known as the Taylor property, situated between the camp of Miss [Ballantine] and the [Inn] highway, has been purchased by George H. Earle of Philadelphia.

---

Adirondack Record, March 30, 1917

CAMPS COSTING $150,000 TO BE BUILT

George H. Earle of Philadelphia, who already has extensive camps on the [Regis] and [Lake]s, has begun the construction of a series of camps on the Upper Saranac Lake, which, when completed, will have cost upward of $150,000. The camps of Mr. Earle on the Upper Saranac Lake will be located on [Creek Bay] on the [Taylor] property, which he recently purchased.

---

1. 1. Comments

Marc, What can we find out about the stone boathouse?