An Adirondack Settlement

In America's early years settlements preceeded villages, towns and cities. Several families moved into an area, sometimes on land they received as “land grants” or “patents”. As the number of neighbors grew the need grew for services such as a church, a school and stores and, of course, a saloon. Some north country settlements grew (ie Saranac Lake), some changed (ie Wings Falls became Glens Falls), and some faded away (ie Griffin NY which can still be found on Rt 8 on some NY state road maps).

The areas changed solely due to economic forces. The largest businesses included lumbering, mining and tanneries. As the natural resources became depleted and as changes in technology changed these operations the people turned to other services, such as tourism, which brings us to today!