Fourth Lake, Frozen

September 3, 1938: The Boulders, Summer Home of Rosenau Family, Consumed by Fire

Shoal Point Lighthouse, Fourth Lake

Survey Map: Uncas Mohegan Lake to Eagle Bay Fourth Lake

More Camp Eagle Cove Memories

Sewage in Fourth Lake: 1907 Letter to NYS Commissioner of Health

FOURTH LAKE 
September 16, 1907

EUGENE H. PORTER, M.D., State Commissioner of Health, Albany 

DEAR SIR:

I have the honor to report that on Friday, September 6, 1907, I visited Fourth Lake on account of statements made to you by A. S. Hamilton, under date of August 26, 1907, and by Hon. Thos. D. Ferguson, under date of August 19, 1907. I find that Fourth lake is one of the larger Adirondack lakes, about five and one-half miles long and about three-quarters of a mile wide, receiving waters from Fifth Lake and from Eagle creek and discharging into Third Lake and finally into the middle branch of the Moose river at Old Forge. The Raquette Lake railroad, running from Clearwater to Raquctte lake, skirts its northern edge and a steamboat line operating three boats makes connection between Old Forge and all the lake points. On account of their easy access the shores are well sprinkled with hotels, boarding houses, and cottages, which are well filled during the summer season. The usual practice of all the houses, provided with modern plumbing, is to discharge the sewage directly into the waters of the lake, in most cases carrying the outfall pipe into such a depth of water that the discharge is not directly objectionable to the senses. There is some evidence of garbage along the shores and it was stated that one of the hotels, the Cedar Island Camp, has been in the habit of regularly dumping its garbage into the lake. The hotels claim to use only spring water for drinking purposes, though they acknowledge that they depend on the lake as the source of general water supply for all other domestic purposes. One of the hotels, the Rocky Point Inn, is said to occasionally use the lake water for drinking purposes, even although its sewer discharges not far from the end of the water inlet pipe. These considerations cannot fail to be prejudicial to the health of the guests of the hotels and might easily lead to a serious epidemic. 

I recommend, therefore, that the Department write to each of the hotels named below, personal letters, calling attention to the existing dangers and asking that, in the interests of their guests, an attempt be made to secure an upland water supply for all domestic purposes.  

I recommend also that they be directed to discontinue all direct discharge of sewage into the lake, and that properly dimensioned sedimentation tanks be constructed on the line of each outfall pipe. I recommend also that the hotels be advised that, failing a proper revision of the water supply system and the sewer discharge charge pipes, the Department will feel obliged to call the attention of the public to the danger of patronizing such indifferent hotels. 

The list of hotels on Fourth Lake is as follows: 

The Arrow Head, Inlet, Hamilton county. 
Cedar Island Camp, Old Forge, Hamilton county. 
The Cohasset, Old Forge, Hamilton county. 
The Eagle Bay Hotel, Eagle Bay, Hamilton county. 
Grand View House, Inlet, Hamilton county. 
Hart's Camp, Eagle Bay, Hamilton county. 
Inlet Inn, Inlet, Hamilton county. 
Kinmore Hotel, Old Forge, Hamilton county. 
The Mohawk Camp, Old Forge, Hamilton county. 
The Neodack, Inlet. Hamilton county. 
Rocky Point Inn, Eagle Bay. Hamilton county. 
Bald Mountain House, Old Forge, Hamilton county. 
Crystal Spring Camp. Old Forge, Hamilton county. 
Manhasset House, Old Forge, Hamilton county. 
Twin Maple Camp, Old Forge, Hamilton county. 

Respectfully submitted, 
OGDEN, 
Acting Consulting Engineer 

A Wedding at Penwood

On August 23, 2008 Robert Gordon Burstein was married to Dajung Chung at Camp Penwood on Fourth Lake.  The Clearwater picked up guests at hotels around the Fulton Chain and brought them to the camp, where a ceremony was performed by Rabbi Sheldon Ezring of the Temple Society of Concord, Syracuse, New York. The bride and groom reside in Fort Lee, New Jersey and recently returned from their second wedding with the bride's family and friends in Seoul, South Korea.  Congratulations Rob and DJ!

A Slow Cruise in the Chris-Craft

Adirondack Serenity

At Rocky Point, Fourth Lake, Early 1900's

The Boulders, Fourth Lake

The Boulders is one of the true great camps on Fourth Lake. It burned down to the ground once and was re-built in the 1920's. This is the main lodge. There is also a wonderful, big boathouse with a great game room above the boat slips. There are wildflowers throughout the grounds, a little garden, a tennis court, guest house, and several tiny cottages that must have been housing for the staff. Two screen porches on either side of the main house provide respite from the sun and elements. The lake is just down the hill, shining in the sunlight. A little island with a lean to sits directly across from the house. It would make a great little hideout for a lucky kid.

Memories of Cohasset

I remember taking walks to Cohasset during my childhood, after dinner, to buy candy from the little store in that charming inn on Fourth Lake. Now, Cohasset has become what so many other of the old, great hotels of the Adirondacks have become - private homes. The old hotel was demolished, killed, really. Now there are a bunch of small and unremarkable houses on the point where the majestic old hotel once stood.

An article from the Syracuse newspaper from June 1929:

COHASSET ON FOURTH LAKE, BEAUTY SPOT
Consists of Hotel and Group of Small Cottages

Old Forge, June 1 - High on a wooded knoll overlooking the beautiful south shore of Fourth Lake stands Cohasset. Surrounded by towering pines and birches, the cool depths of the forest are brought to the very verandas. Below the grove surrounding the hotel, a wide sand beach circles the point jutting out into the lake, offering a romp or lounging place where one is enchanted by the sparkle of the crystal water in the sunlight.

Cohasset consists of a main hotel and a number of modern cottages all placed within communicating distance and connected by enticing paths through the woods and along the shore of the lake. The lower floor of the main building is flanked by broad verandas whereon one may find quiet seclusion in a shaded nook or join the happy family of guests bound together through the mutual enjoyment of the inspiring natural beauties.

Cottage life at Cohasset offers an ideal vacation for a family with children or a group wishing to stay by themselves. The buildings are clean and attractive, with big open fireplaces and the conveniences of the main hotel.

Cohasset is reached by two trains daily from Utica and two trains daily from Montreal to Thendara, then taking either a train or a taxicab to Old Forge, which makes connections with the steamboat up the lake. Motorists may go by State road from Utica to Old Forge with a good shore road leading from there to the camp, seven miles distance.

Inlet, New York Circa 1925

Inlet, situated on the eastern terminus of navigation of the Fulton Chain of Lakes, is the center of the resort section of the Central Adirondacks, stress is laid on the fact that when the hardy pioneers left that section for fresher fields they made their way to this part of the woods which had never been visited by white men. Nat Foster, one of the beloved characters of the Fulton region had headquarters at the head of Fourth Lake where this village now stands, using it as a half-way house when on his way to Raquette Lake and other lakes of the north. When Robert Fulton first visited this wonderful chain of lakes which now bears his name, he little dreamed that this strip of wild woods and water would later be one of the foremost resort centers of the State. Inlet abounds with points of interest, Rocky Mountain, Black Bear Mountain, Bald Mountain and many other high peaks where hardy hikers may enjoy mountain climbing, are all within a short distance of the village. The Eighth Lake excursion attracts hundreds each season. The Seventh Lake and Limekiln Lake waters are filled with trout and bass, and so much state land surrounds the lakes that they look as primitive as a century ago. Hotels, garages, stores, restaurants, gift shop, in fact everything which the tourist or camper may desire are to be found in this enterprising little mountain village. And last but not least, one finds here the real old time Adirondack pioneer and guide. Those lovable mountain characters, quaint in their ideas and rich in the tales of the early days, can tell stories of the woods so vivid that the listener can almost smell the smoke of the camp fire, and impress him with the fact that the great outdoors breeds men of broadened minds and rare honesty. Good roads from all parts of the State lead to Inlet. A new concrete road leads along the northerly shore of the chain of lakes through Eagle Bay to Inlet. Improved dirt roads are found to Limekiln, Seventh and Raquette Lakes and other points of interest. The boat trip through the Fulton Chain of Lakes is an outstanding feature of a Summer vacation as well as the Blue Mountain Lake excursion; all being easily made in a few hours from Inlet. No Summer itinerary is complete without some of these numerous jaunts through nature's great wonderland, with Inlet as a starting point.

From Inlet Chamber of Commerce Brochure, circa 1925

St. Peter's by the Lake

There is a small, beautiful local church on Fourth Lake called St. Peter's by the Lake. I drive by it in my boat whenever I have the chance. It is like a wise old sentinel, looking out over the lake and watching us grow up and grow old. I have been inside only once. It is simple, but perfect in its simplicity and the way in which it is situated overlooking the lake. The church has a summer pastor who resides next to the church and conducts services. There are a lot of chuches in the area, but this one is our favorite.

Rocky Point, as it was

The Rocky Point hotel and resort on Fourth Lake had a wonderful gazebo, pictured here, at the tip of its little point, connected to the mainland by a bridge. Here, the ladies relax in the gazebo looking out at the lake. Rocky Point was demolished to make way for new condominums in recent years. A gazebo still sits on this spot, but it is not as elegant as this one - unfortunately, not even close.

A Rare View of Cedar Island

Cedar Island, Fourth Lake, near Inlet, New York, is the summer home of former New York City Ballet principal dancer Suzanne Farrell. It has over the years been developed and re-developed for various purposes. Here is a rare image of Cedar Island showing two bridges, a lean-to camp, and a floating dock with slide. These are long gone relics from one of the Island's past lives. Beautiful and classic Adirondack style.

Boathouse near Penwood

We have always liked this little green boathouse. It is outdated and was designed to accommodate small boats, such as guideboats, that could be pulled up a ramp into the structure, but it has a lot of charm and Adirondack style.

Sunset on Fourth Lake

Photo by Joel Levy

Aerial View of Penwood 2004

At the Head, Inlet, New York