Joseph Stone
20 Park Avenue|. Courtesy of Douglas Stone.]]Born: March 10, 1910
Died: September 2, 1966
Joseph Stone was a jeweler who came to Saranac Lake for the cure from his hometown of Dobbs Ferry, New York as a young man. He cured on Park Avenue, likely sometime in the 1930s. Joseph may have stayed at Smithwick Cottage, as he was close friends with Frances Robbin and Blanche Schofield, who ran the cottage in the 1950s and 60s. He regularly visited Saranac Lake after his cure, and died while staying at Smithwick Cottage in 1966.
Recollections from Douglas Stone. Sent by email to HSL, October 7, 2020.
My father [Joseph Stone] was born in 1910 so I’m guessing he was in his twenties when the photo was taken, but I really don’t know the exact years. We were often guests at the home from the 50’s to 1966 when my father passed away in the main bedroom on the second floor. It sadden me that the house is now broken-up into apartments. In fact, Blanche had willed the house to my father, but he predeceased her. I would have loved to own that special home.
I was fascinated with the history of Smithwick Cottage. I had no idea of it’s rich history and wonderful guests. It has given me a whole new perspective on the house. We dearly loved that place; its rooms are seared in my memory, especially the giant oak dining room table that once belonged to the governor, so I’m told. I remember a great old cuckoo clock on the dinning room wall which always fascinated my brother and I. And, the forbidding laundry shoot, which provided endless speculation for two young boys.
Thank you for your description of the house pictured behind my father in the photo. Maybe that’s where he lived during his convalesce. [W]e were very close to Frances [Robbin] and Blanche Schofield. In fact, we always referred to them as Aunt Frances and Aunt Blanche. I didn’t know Blanche had any relatives in Saranac Lake. I believe she was a trained nurse, who hailed from Baltimore and never married. She did, however, make wonderful homemade jam, which we had every morning for breakfast. Frances was a wonderful cook, so it doesn’t surprise me that she once owned a restaurant. In my mind’s eye, I can see her sitting in the kitchen, smoking a cigarette and peeling carrots for the evening meal. There was an old black gentleman who would take care of the things around the house. His first name was Leander, but I don’t know his last name. I would love to know more about him. I heard said he was actually born a slave and lived to be quite old. He would play the dinner chimes for the household guests – I loved that as a child. I believe he had a sister who lived in town, but I’m not sure.
Bennie Balsam was my father’s best friend in Saranac. They might have cured together. I know he ran a driving school for many and lived most of his life in the Village. I would be interested in knowing more about him. He would often give us rides to the Hotel Saranac where my father was conducting business.
Information provided to Historic Saranac Lake by his son, Douglas Stone, in September 2020.