Skip to main content
Be prepared with helpful travel tips!
  • See & Do
    • See & Do
    • See all
      • See all
      • Seasons
        • See all
        • Spring
        • Summer
        • Fall
        • Winter
      • Accessibility
      • Arts
      • Attractions
      • Downtown
      • Health & Wellness
      • History
      • Live Music
      • Parks
      • Shopping
      • Stories
      • Weddings
  • Outdoors
    • Outdoors
    • See all
      • See all
      • Hiking
        • See all
        • Nature Walks
      • ADK Guides & Tours
      • Birding
      • Boating
      • Camping
      • Cross-Country Skiing
      • Cycling
      • Downhill Skiing
      • Fishing
      • Golfing
      • Ice Fishing
      • Mountain Biking
      • Paddling
      • Snowmobiling
      • Snowshoeing
  • Eat & Drink
    • Eat & Drink
    • See all
    • Cafés & Coffee Shops
    • Craft Beer & Cocktails
    • Restaurants
  • Events
    • Events
    • See all
    • Adirondack Snowshoe Fest
    • ArtWorks ArtMarkets
    • Can-Am Rugby Tournament
    • Celebrate Paddling ADK
    • First Night Saranac Lake
    • Plein Air Festival
    • Winter Carnival
    • 3rd Thursday Art Walks
  • Stay
    • Stay
    • See all
    • Cabins & Cottages
    • Camping
    • Inns, Lodges, Bed & Breakfasts
    • Resorts, Hotels, Motels
    • Vacation Rentals
  • First Time Visitors
    • First Time Visitors
    • See all
      • See all
      • Accessibility
      • Downtown
      • Getting Here
      • Greater Region
      • Stories
      • Seasons
        • See all
        • Spring
        • Summer
        • Fall
        • Winter
  • Local
    • Local title-header
      • Live Here
        • See all
        • Meet the Locals
        • Real Estate
        • Town of Harrietstown
        • Town of North Elba
        • Town of St. Armand
        • Village of Saranac Lake
      • Do Business Here
        • See all
        • Chamber Job Board
        • Essex County IDA
        • Franklin County Economic Development Co.
        • Professional Services
        • Saranac Lake Area Chamber of Commerce
      • Community Initiatives
        • See all
        • Arts & Culture Master Plan
        • Downtown Revitalization Initiative
        • Saranac Lake Brand
        • Village Community Development Department
What can we help you find?
  • See & Do
      1. See & Do
      2. See all
        1. See all
        2. Seasons
          • See all
          • Spring
          • Summer
          • Fall
          • Winter
        3. Accessibility
        4. Arts
        5. Attractions
        6. Downtown
        7. Health & Wellness
        8. History
        9. Live Music
        10. Parks
        11. Shopping
        12. Stories
        13. Weddings
  • Outdoors
      1. Outdoors
      2. See all
        1. See all
        2. Hiking
          • See all
          • Nature Walks
        3. ADK Guides & Tours
        4. Birding
        5. Boating
        6. Camping
        7. Cross-Country Skiing
        8. Cycling
        9. Downhill Skiing
        10. Fishing
        11. Golfing
        12. Ice Fishing
        13. Mountain Biking
        14. Paddling
        15. Snowmobiling
        16. Snowshoeing
  • Eat & Drink
      1. Eat & Drink
      2. See all
      3. Cafés & Coffee Shops
      4. Craft Beer & Cocktails
      5. Restaurants
  • Events
      1. Events
      2. See all
      3. Adirondack Snowshoe Fest
      4. ArtWorks ArtMarkets
      5. Can-Am Rugby Tournament
      6. Celebrate Paddling ADK
      7. First Night Saranac Lake
      8. Plein Air Festival
      9. Winter Carnival
      10. 3rd Thursday Art Walks
  • Stay
      1. Stay
      2. See all
      3. Cabins & Cottages
      4. Camping
      5. Inns, Lodges, Bed & Breakfasts
      6. Resorts, Hotels, Motels
      7. Vacation Rentals
  • First Time Visitors
      1. First Time Visitors
      2. See all
        1. See all
        2. Accessibility
        3. Downtown
        4. Getting Here
        5. Greater Region
        6. Stories
        7. Seasons
          • See all
          • Spring
          • Summer
          • Fall
          • Winter
  • Local
      1. Local
        1. Live Here
          • See all
          • Meet the Locals
          • Real Estate
          • Town of Harrietstown
          • Town of North Elba
          • Town of St. Armand
          • Village of Saranac Lake
        2. Do Business Here
          • See all
          • Chamber Job Board
          • Essex County IDA
          • Franklin County Economic Development Co.
          • Professional Services
          • Saranac Lake Area Chamber of Commerce
        3. Community Initiatives
          • See all
          • Arts & Culture Master Plan
          • Downtown Revitalization Initiative
          • Saranac Lake Brand
          • Village Community Development Department

Five Fun (and obscure) Facts about Saranac Lake!

Watch Video
Be prepared with helpful travel tips!
Pamela Merritt
March 29, 2016
Saranac Lake has been a fascinating place for a long time. I never know when I'll run into a fun and interesting bit of trivia about its moments of fame. These interesting items can turn up anywhere along the town's history. Here's some from the first half of the twentieth century.

revolutionary mop patent

“Be it known that I, EDWARD DoBBINs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Saranac Lake, in the county of Franklin and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Handles for Mops.”

This quote from US Patent #627746 (dated 1899) signals a whole new world for the moppers of floors. Mr. Dobbins had come up with a self wringing mop. While Mr. Dobbins seems equally thrilled by the ability of his invention to work with “mops, brushes and similar articles,” I am captivated by the then-new ability to squeeze the water out of the mop without having to wring it by hand.

(l) the 1899 patent - (r) the version we use today
(l) the 1899 patent - (r) the version we use today

We can clearly see how this 1899 design, which pushes a ring down the length of a string-type mop, is still operating over one hundred years later.

There is no record of Edward Dobbins continuing his invention career, though he was variously a railroad laborer, blacksmith, and builder and owner of the hotel known as the Dobbins House. He assayed the first ore on Mount Pisgah, attempting a gold rush.

But that's another story. Find out more

Saranac Lake history.

the von Bernstorff scandal

One of the most distinctive and lovely of the Adirondack Great Camps is White Pine Camp. Its hostess was a former actress who was famous for her large and convivial parties, attended by celebrities, artists, show business personalities, and political figures. One of them was Count Johann von Bernstorff, the German Ambassador to the United States.

Count von Bernstorff had married a New York heiress and was very fond of all things American. He was a common sight around Washington, DC, in the years leading up to the First World War, tooling around town in his open car while wearing a straw boater hat. He had high hopes for reconciling the United States and Germany, and thus, keeping the US out of the brewing world conflict. He was a guest at White Pine Camp in 1914.

Fate took a turn at the boathouse. There he was photographed with his arms around two young ladies while they were all in swimming attire. This photo fell into the hands of the British Secret Service, who distributed it to all the newspapers. The resulting uproar resulted in the Count's return to Germany... and possibly sealed the US entry into World War I.

I could not find the original photo, but this is a picture of two young ladies in the bathing suits of the time.

women's bathing suits in 1915 (Wikipedia Commons)
women's bathing suits in 1915 (Wikipedia Commons)

Scandalous! Read our blog post about White Pine Camp Tours.

Veronica Lake

I discovered this fun fact while visiting a local B&B. A famous movie star of the forties was a St. Bernard's School alumna!

Officially, Constance Frances Marie Ockelman became Veronica Lake because a Paramount producer thought it suited her blue eyes. But rumor has it that it might be her connection to Saranac Lake, where her stepfather was curing in the late 1920s.

Veronica Lake made her peek-a-boo hairstyle famous
Veronica Lake made her peek-a-boo hairstyle famous

Veronica Lake was known for her work in both comedies and film noir, often alongside leading man Alan Ladd. Her trademark was her famous peek-a-boo hairstyle which draped over her right eye. The style became so popular that she changed it as part of the war effort in World War II. Young ladies, seeking her "look," were blocking their vision and risking their long hair getting caught in the machinery. Not many people can say they had to change their hairstyle for public safety reasons.

Theater arts are still a big thing in Saranac Lake. See our upcoming live performances.

the Bartok bathtub

Music students come from all over the world to sit in Bartok’s bathtub.

this violinist mimes her instrument in the famous Barktok bathtub
this violinist mimes her instrument in the famous Barktok bathtub

In 1945, the last summer of his life, composer Bela Bartok lived in a little cabin in Saranac Lake. He loved it there, inscribing in its guest book: "Very happy indeed to stay in this wonderful quiet place." It was here that he composed his Third Piano Concerto and Viola Concerto.

It was a simple curing cabin, so it fell into disuse, and then, disrepair. So much so that it was cited for demolition in late 1995. Fortunately, a visiting Romanian pianist, Cristina Stanescu, led a successful quest to save the cabin. Fund drives included many summer concerts and a donation from the son of the composer. Today, it is shown by appointment or on tours, through Historic Saranac Lake.

It has become a place for pilgrimage by adoring fans of Bartok. Since so much of the little cabin had to be replaced, musicians took to having their picture taken in a place that had not changed since Bartok sat there: the bathtub.

Catch a historical tour by checking our events calendar.

premiere of The Silver Chalice

"The Silver Chalice" is a film famous for many reasons… most of them wrong.

It was a bestselling novel in 1953, about a silversmith who traveled Israel and the Roman Empire. He was creating a silver holder for the Holy Grail, carved with the faces of Jesus and his Twelve Apostles. The book held a lot of appeal for the movie industry; presold popularity, plenty of good roles, and a "sword and sandal" setting that was very popular at the time.

It was Paul Newman's first movie. He had made a splash that same year in the Broadway play "Picnic" and Hollywood was calling enough to melt his phone. So why would a New York-based actor who won acclaim for a gritty and realistic role choose a costume drama in an ancient setting? Under pressure from his agent to accept a film role before his phone cooled off, he was sent a copy of the book. He said, "I got talked into it. I knew that it was going to be a bomb.”

And it was. So bad it is now a famous bomb. It had its world premiere in Saranac Lake.

(l) Paul Newman in wardrobe test - courtesy cinemagumbo (r) Jack Palance rocks his sorcerer costume
(l) Paul Newman in wardrobe test - courtesy cinemagumbo (r) Jack Palance rocks his sorcerer costume

The studio had run a countrywide contest for the honor, granting a splashy launch for the film in the town who sold the most Christmas Seals (a fundraising stamp for tuberculosis research.) There was a gala premiere at the Pontiac Theatre. Stars Virginia Mayo, Pier Angeli, Jack Palance, and director Victor Saville joined the Winter Carnival parade.

Paul Newman was notably absent. Before (see above photo of his wardrobe test), during (I've seen the movie, and there's hardly a frame where he looks happy, even when he's supposed to), and after (in 1966 the film was first broadcast on television, and Newman got an ad in Variety to make a world apology for his performance) this iconic actor regards his film debut as a career low.

While the Franz Waxman musical score was Academy Award nominated and remains critically celebrated to this day, the production design made the bold choice of going minimal and abstract with the sets, using suggestion instead of realism. While this works well onstage, it is not what the public expected in a Biblical epic. Paul Newman struggled with his naturalistic style when the role calls for a mannered, classical, acting approach. A stodgy script gives none of the actors a chance to shine.

The only award it won was a ‎Golden Turkey Award, which is bestowed upon the worst films in history.

Be they fine or merely infamous, we love the arts in Saranac Lake! Browse through all our art venues.


This week in related ADK news:

Eat ADK

Tupper Tinman

Mmm maple 

Putts & Pints

Spring into action

Bread and beans

Baa, baa, baby

(l) the 1899 patent - (r) the version we use today
(l) the 1899 patent - (r) the version we use today
women's bathing suits in 1915 (Wikipedia Commons)
women's bathing suits in 1915 (Wikipedia Commons)
Veronica Lake made her peek-a-boo hairstyle famous
Veronica Lake made her peek-a-boo hairstyle famous
this violinist mimes her instrument in the famous Barktok bathtub
this violinist mimes her instrument in the famous Barktok bathtub
(l) Paul Newman in wardrobe test - courtesy cinemagumbo (r) Jack Palance rocks his sorcerer costume
(l) Paul Newman in wardrobe test - courtesy cinemagumbo (r) Jack Palance rocks his sorcerer costume

Related Stories

Snowshoe Your Way to Winter Fun
Lovely Lodging
Decidedly Artful
Black History in Saranac Lake
Sweet Indulgences - Saranac Lake's Coffee Hotspots
Five Ideas for Winter Family Fun
The Time Traveler's Guide to Saranac Lake
Three Fantastic Fall Hikes in Saranac Lake
A Fall Vacation with Hot Sara
Lost Among the Rows
A Trip Around the Adirondack Carousel
Lake Kushaqua, A Beautiful Place to Rest
It's All Good at the Saranac Lake Skateboard Park
Finding Fun and Snowfleas at the VIC
The Historic Saranac Experience
More than the center of town
4 Ways to Enjoy Music and More in Saranac Lake
The creation of an Adirondack gem
Summer Scoop: Five ADK Ice Cream Destinations
Two Ways of Exploring the Natural World at the VIC
The VIC: it's luxury hiking!
Walking the Walk: 20 years of ArtWalks in Saranac Lake
Get down! The best low-elevation hikes in Saranac Lake
The Great Adirondack Birding Celebration!
Adirondack Fish Hatchery Experience
Three of Saranac Lake's Best Paddling Routes
'Round the Mountain Canoe Race - An Event For All Paddlers
Family Paddling Day: Planned for You
The art of Pink House
Five decidedly different things in downtown Saranac Lake
So Much Snow! And Some Great March Skiing!
Saranac Lake's Walk of Fame
Family Ski at Dewey
Canoodlers and Lawn Chair Ladies
Woods and Waters Trail, a great ski!
New Year, New Finds
From Your Home To Our Home
A Holiday Ski!
First Skis of the Season!
Downtown Holiday Shopping Guide
Calling All Rock Hounds
Feeling Grateful
The sound of healing
The Great Adirondack Corn Maze
When the twenties roared
4 Go-To Paddling Destinations for Fall Foliage
The hidden fun in Lake Clear
Six Nations, First People
Family fun that's free
Our lodging? It's different.
Sprung!
Rebirth of the Hotel Saranac
To get the trout, get the gear
Three hikes to include everyone
Vroom! Daffest Derby creator shares memories
Get out and art!
Dewey Mountain - Just Wild Enough
2016 Most Popular Blogs
We can dash through the snow
If self-care is naughty, I don't want to be nice
Make Holiday Memories at Moody Farm
Dia de Muertos at Pine Ridge
Don't be afraid of the kayak
Choose to stay... in the past!
Ampersand: A Family Tradition Realized
Village of Boulders
Fall Events: a blaze of glory!
So many hikes, so little time
Tri to stay dry
Puppy's first mountain climb
Coolest Adirondack Chopped Challenge!
Planting seeds
Don't miss the summer's coolest events
History Is Cool: The Lab Museum
Hotel Saranac: Then and Now
Tucker Farms - three seasons of goodness
Some assembly required
Wonderful Weddings in Cool Places
Anti-vaxxers lead to Saranac Lake reopening tuberculosis facilities
Five Fun (and obscure) Facts about Saranac Lake!
Saranac Lake Classic: the Cure Chair
Carl Ballantine, comedy magic
Love among the cure cottages
Cross-Country Skiing on the Bloomingdale Bog Trail
Yeah, we're cool - no matter what we're wearing!
Shops with personality plus
Special Dining Options - Gluten Free & Vegan
Gray Jays!
Fun with Ice: Saranac Lake Creativity
2015 Most Popular Blogs
Trotting for Turkeys
Select seven: Family hikes under four hours
Shopping without the stress
Tubing: the sport to please the masses
Timeless Tubing at Mount Pisgah
Adirondacks' Masterpiece
John Brown's Other Bodies
Brighton: Dusk 'til Dawn
Unleash Your Inner Picasso
A Cool Adirondack Adventure
Enjoying Late Summer Wildflowers!
Dog Days of Summer aka Beach Time!
Martha Reben: Staring down the Great White Plague
Lake Clear: Our Secret Paradise
How to have fun at the Art Opening
Stevenson Cottage - small outside, a world inside
Paddling in the Adirondacks for the First Time!
Hiking with the Crew up Baker Mountain
Riding the Rails, Adirondack style!
Keeping It Local
A Wonderful Wellness Weekend
July is when things heat up!
Finding Lots of Birds Just by Taking a Simple Walk
Great Birding and Loads of Warblers in Madawaska!
Saranac Inn, golf with a taste of Scotland
Free Water Park Ride In Our Backyard
A Spring Hike Up Baker Mountain
Learning to Love Every Season
In Defense of Mud Season
Skiing in April and on Easter - No Foolin'!
Winter Carnival announces Summer Ice Palace
The Joy of Spring Skiing
Adirondack Cure for Cabin Fever
DIY Adirondack style
Newbie Skier Tackles Titus
Memorable Firsts: Carnival & Cross-Country Skis
Skiing the Fish Pond Trail
February Fun and Games in Saranac Lake
Wedding planning with the pros
Two sides of the Trifecta
Adirondack Traditions, then and now
An Evening Sleigh Ride in the Adirondacks
Skiing - and Falling - in a Winter Wonderland
A night on the town in Saranac Lake
Where to find hot beverages
The First Ski of the Season!
Healthy Holidays, Adirondack Style
A picture's worth a thousand words - epic winter events
Eat 'n Meet: a community-minded neighborhood joint
Birding Along Lake Colby
Saranac Lake Remembers the Great War
A Guide to the Great Indoors
Adirondack Firetower Challenge: Climbing the Fire Tower Peaks near and around Saranac Lake
New fun at Titus Mountain Ski Area
The Blind Owl Band: A true Adirondack band
Norman Bethune, the hero, the artist
An Apt Pair: Ampersand Mountain & Follensby Clear Pond
The biggest Cure Tour of them all
History Comes Alive in Saranac Lake
Learning to Identify Fall Leaves
The Horse Knows The Way
Mount Pisgah getting ready for winter ski season
Paddling and Snorkeling Little Green Pond
A Red Phalarope at Little Clear Pond!
Searching for Fall Warblers and Other Songbirds
Forks, Fests, and Flatwater: 3 Featured Fall events
Paddling Little Clear Pond
3 Short Paddles found in the St. Regis Canoe Area
Paddling Lake Clear Outlet
See artists at work in the mountains
Hiking and Exploring Azure Mountain
An Evening Paddle on Moose Pond
A Great Place to Break Down
The Art Walk is a path to art, music, and fun!
A cure cottage tour, a step back in time
Mid-summer events in Saranac Lake
Frankenstein Lives! In the old laboratory in the village
Birding at the Spring Pond Bog
“One Particular Island” all to ourselves
Roughing it in style: a tour of White Pine Great Camp
The Great Adirondack Birding Celebration
Spring Paddling on Lake Colby
One Magic Canoe: The Seven Carries Canoe Route
Roadside Gems, Paddling the Saranac Lake Region
5 Hidden Gems for Hiking, Paddling & Trail Running
Art Event or Fun Party? BluSeed blurs the line
Daffest is just around the corner
Our lakes were born for boating
Top 10 Spots for Paddling in Adirondacks
Waterhole Wednesdays Feature Free Music
Winter Foodie Scene
BluSeed Studios planning for busy spring
Spoken Word: Poetry on Stage
Thursday Night Music Jam
Breakfast & History
Night Skiing at Mt. Pisgah
Mid-Winter Events 2014
Top Five Winter Break Activities
Best Ice Fishing Holes
Building the Ice Palace
Tubing Adventures at Mt. Pisgah
Snowshoe Shopping
Lost and Found
The Art of Gifts
Intimate Studio Tour With Sandra Hildreth
Art & Dining
Short & scenic hikes
Less than two weeks to Sparkle Village Craft Fair!
Saranac Lake Art Attraction Nov 22 - Dec 28, 2013
Discover the Art of Saranac Lake
Muskrats!
Goodman Mountain
Saving Einstein
Hiking St. Regis Mountain
Holistic Guiding: Immersing Yourself in ADK History & Culture
Fall at the VIC
A Fall Paddle on Jones Pond
Going to Church
Painted Landscapes, Clay Demonstrations, and Chickens...all a part of the Artist at Work Studio Tour
Where the leaves are on fire with color
Artist at Work Studio Tour this week
The Colors of Late Summer
Fun family events for fall foliage season
Fifth Annual Hobofest: Music, Food and Fun on the Tracks
Stomping out the Saranac 6 – Week 2 – St. Regis Mountain
Hobofest tops the calendar this weekend
FlavorFest at The Wild Center
Hobofest Returns to Saranac Lake
Pianist Eugene Sirotkine performs August 6th concert to benefit Bartok Cabin
Entertaining events will keep you hopping this weekend
From carousels to magic lamps - events to tickle your Spring fancy
Historic Saranac Lake "History Matters" series continues with "Clara's Rib"
Historic Saranac Lake "History Matters" series continues with "The Art of Guideboat Building"
What can we help you find?
Sign up to receive more information.
Enter Email
Do•Stay•Eat•Shop•Events
Work Here•Contact Us•DEI•Media Kit•Privacy Policy
39 Main Street, Saranac Lake, NY 12983
Powered by the Regional Office of
Sustainable Tourism
THERE’S MORE TO EXPLORE
We’ve got the best ideas for things to do on your next Adirondack adventure, and we will deliver them right to your inbox! THANKS FOR SUBSCRIBING! Your next adventure awaits you in your inbox! Tell us more about what interests you, and we can help you plan your next trip.
MANAGE YOUR PREFERENCES