Adirondack Living — September 2023

A DIRONDACK Living

FEATURED SCROON LAKE WATERFRONT p.10

DETERMINING RESALE VALUE p.24

Cover Photo: IN House Media

‘FAMILY’REUNION

Wilmington:  Private 22 acre nature park & tourist attraction on the Ausable River, year-round profitable business, Adk style main lodge, gift shop, restaurant, cafe & bar seats for 46, event/ wedding venue, offered turn-key. $8,700,000

Lake Placid: Serene Adirondack retreat offering a perfect blend of history, character & natural beauty. Far Horizon Estate on 11.51 acres within a private 600-acre gated preserve, 4-BR Main Home, and 3-BR Guest Home. $2,995,000

Lake Placid: The Cascade Inn is an iconic landmark on 5 acres in a high traffic, high visibility location. The turn-key restaurant has a loyal following, 11 room motel, 3 BR house. Surrounded by High Peaks with a gorgeous view of Whiteface Mtn. $895,000

Saranac Lake: This charming lake house is nestled in a prime location adjacent to the Upper Saranac Lake Boat Launch & across from the prestigious Saranac Inn Golf Course, 2 BR, 2 BA, 1627 sq. ft., being sold furnished. $785,000

Westport: This stunning 4.3 acre level building lot gently slopes to the 360ft private waterfront on beautiful Lake Champlain with the Adirondacks as a backdrop and a southerly view of the Green Mountains of Vermont. $450,000

Wilmington: Unparalleled Oppt’y to own 18.5acres of Adirondack paradise featuring 2400 feet of stunning Ausable River frontage! Imagine on your own private land. Property includes a 3 BR original main home & 1 BR cottage. $747,000

Lake Placid: 2.4 acre compound on Buck Island with 300 ft. of waterfront, a 2 BR 1.5  BA log cabin, 2 boat houses that feature 2nd stories with fireplaces,4 deep slips, multiple decks & an historic gazebo.   $3,500,000

Lake Placid: Commercial/Residential Oppt’y on 74+ acres bordering NYS land. Established Inn with Owner’s quarters, sugar house, retail storefront, carriage house, garage, workshop, log cabin, sauna, barn, 3100’ of brook frontage. $3,500,000

Malone: Building Lots on the 36 hole championship Malone golf course designed by Architect Robert Trent Jones, divided into “East and West” and known as one of the finest in Northern NY. 700 Member course with bar/restaurant. $395,000

©2023 Engel & Völkers. All rights reserved. Each brokerage independently owned and operated. Engel & Völkers and its independent License Partners are Equal Opportunity Employers and fully support the principles of the Fair Housing Act.

THE NEXT GENERATION OF REAL ESTATETM

REAL ESTATE | CLEANING

Route 186, Lake Clear

Enjoy nearly 5 acres of privacy with this move-in ready raised ranch featuring 3 bedrooms/2 full baths, hardwood floors, attached 2-car garage, and an oversized pole barn. The spacious unfinished basement with fullsize windows offers endless opportunities. Easy access to the Rail Trail and Lake Clear make this an outdoor enthusiast’s dream. $399,000

Canaras Ave., Saranac Lake

Adorable 3 bedroom/1.5 bath village home packed with charm and close to everything! Beautiful hardwood floors and original detailing, all new kitchen appliances, a new furnace, incredible 3-season porches upstairs and down, and spectacular views of McKenzie on a double size lot with fantastic side and back yards. And thanks to charming built-ins and a full-size basement you won’t believe how much storage is tucked away in 1200 square feet! This home surely has it all - See for yourself! $250,000

Old Military Rd., Lake Placid

This nearly 25-acre parcel with subdivision potential on Lake Placid’s Old Military Road, which includes frontage on the Chubb River, has maximum appeal. Central to area schools, hospital and shopping, this large parcel in the Gateway Corridor could be developed into sizeable lots or allow a single owner significant privacy. $749,000

All of the real estate and property services you need for your best home - under one roof.

PEOPLE & PLACES

BELOW: Lake Placid musician and “all-purpose guitar boy” Scott Sileo plays guitar and sings at the Wilmington Farmers Market.

FARMERS MARKETS CONTINUE INTO HARVEST SEASON

By late June, all the farmers markets in the Tri-Lakes region were up and running. Most will be held into September and some into October. As the harvest season approaches, here are some farmers markets in the area.

• The Keene Valley Farmers Market is being held from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays until Oct. 8 at Marcy Field, state Route 73.

• The Lake Placid Farmers Market is being held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesdays until Sept. 13 in the Green Goddess parking lot, 2051 Saranac Ave.

• The Saranac Lake Farmers Market is being held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays until Oct. 14 at Riverside Park, River Street.

• The Tupper Lake Farmers Market is being held from 2 to 6 p.m. Fridays until Oct. 21 at 320 Park St.

• The Wilmington Farmers Market is being held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays until Sept. 5 at Heritage Park, 5753 state Route 86.

• Also, visit the farmers market at the 2023 Adirondack Harvest Festival on Saturday, Sept. 23 at the Essex County Fairgrounds in Westport. Learn more about farmers markets and find local food and drink producers using the online map at Adirondack Harvest, adirondackharvest.com.

Photos – Arthur Maiorella

ABOVE: Bryan Briscoe chats with Bridget Hinman while selling produce and plants from his Bucksberry Farm.

ABOVE: Emily Brown and baby Izabelle Ickowski buy fresh peaches.

ABOVE: John Peck, the Wilmington artisan behind “Grandpappy’s Adirondack Barn,” sets up his stall at the Wilmington Farmers Market.

ABOVE: Manon Mullane poses with her wax dragon candle collection while selling at the Wilmington Farmers Market on June 20. She harvests beeswax from her own bees.

7.3 acres APA-approved building lot with views of Garnet Lake. Currently includes 80 feet of water access (subject to change with replacement of dam). Public access to the lake just a short distance away and state land half a mile away with launching access. 200 amp power and 12’x20’ garden time basecamp. Several lake view building sites to choose from.

4-Season home sitting on just under

of

Close to snowmobile trails, Schroon Lake, and Gore Mountain.

3 acre building lot w/ covered boathouse on Beautiful Brant Lake. 194’ of lakefront, driveway in and building site has been cleared. Dock w/ sundeck, lakeside garage & older tennis court on property.

Commercial location with incredible traffic count in the Hamlet zone just off the Adirondack Northway exit 26. 2,200 sq. ft building with endless possibilities. Ample parking and town water. A great investment opportunity.

$249,900

21 Laflure Lane, Chestertown Charming 3bed/2bath Cape Cod style home on Chester Creek! Large open bedrooms with closets. Quiet street walking distance to local restaurants & stores! Close proximity to all the local lakes & hikes! 15 minutes from Gore Mountain!

AMAZING SCHROON LAKE WATERFRONT

Sitting on level land are 2 gorgeous custom built homes having 275 ft. of lakefront with sandy beach. Gaze across the lake to the mountains beyond. The original home built in 1994 has 2 BR’s and a bath on the main floor with the master suite in the loft. The open loft is used as a TV and gathering room. A large entry leads to the beautiful kitchen looking thru the dining room to the lake. A magnificent 2 story stone fireplace opens to the Dining Room & Living Room. It is a show stopper! Next door is the 2nd. 3 BR home with 2.5 baths. The main BR is on the 1st floor with 2 BR’s & full bath in the loft. It is an open concept chalet. A 2 story garage has 1064 sq. ft. of usable space upstairs. There is an office, full bath and game room. Call for more info. This is a must see!

Details:

Address: 19 & 20 Rowe Way, Schroon Lake, NY 12870

Bedrooms: 6

Baths: 5

Acres: 4.2

Appox SF: 4,604

Year Built: 1994

School District: Schroon Lake Central

Fireplaces: 1

View: Mountains & Lake

Garage: 4 spaces

Other details: Generator

MLS ID: 202321191

Listing Price: $2,500,000

Photos IN House Media

TOP 5 Saranac Lake Bike Routes

Split Rock Loop

DISTANCE: 17.4 miles

ROUTE: Follow Route 3 East to Bloomingdale. Go straight through the stop sign in Bloomingdale (Route 3 goes right) and bear left onto the Bloomingdale-Gabriels Road. Take that to Split Rock Road in Gabriels and go left. The Split Rock itself is on the left and soon you’re on Route 86 heading back to Saranac Lake.

HILL FACTOR: Relatively flat until just before Gabriels. From there it’s a steady uphill until reaching the high point. That’s when it’s time to tighten your helmet for a roller coaster ride back into Saranac Lake.

Lake Clear Loop

DISTANCE: 20.8 miles

ROUTE: Take Route 3 West, turn right on Edgewood Road (just after high school). Edgewood turns into Ampersand, then take a left on Forest Home Road. Ride up Forest Home for about 8.5 miles to Route 30 and turn right. Bear right onto Route 186 and

after four miles, you’ll be on 86 heading back to Saranac Lake.

HILL FACTOR: Hilly would be an understatement. The climb between 4 and 5 is challenging. Pretty steep coming back down 86 too.

Mount Pisgah Loop

DISTANCE: 7.4 miles

ROUTE: Route 3 West to Edgewood Road (just after the highschool). Right on Ampersand Ave. Left on Broadway (Route 86), then bear right on Old Lake Colby Road (Upper Broadway) to the T with Trudeau Road. Once you reach the top, Mount Pisgah Road to the ski center is on your right. Continue on Trudeau down to Route 3 and turn right to get back into town.

HILL FACTOR: Once big hill –you go up, then down.

Fish Creek Ponds Loops

DISTANCE: 36 miles

ROUTE: Take Route 3 west for about 15 miles then turn right on Route 30, Stay

on 30 for about 11 miles and turn right onto Forest Home Road which will take you back into Saranac Lake.

HILL FACTOR: Very hilly on Route 3, generally gaining elevation until you reach Route 30.

Mirror Lake Loop

DISTANCE: 20. Miles

ROUTE: Head west on Route 86 (River St.) and go straight through the triangle until you reach Pine Street. Turn right on Pine, which becomes McKenzie Pond Road. Turn left on Route 86, after about three miles and you’re on your way to Lake Placid. Stay on this road for about 5.5 miles until you get to the intersection with Mirror Lake Drive where you want to go left. This will take you around the lake and back out on the other end of town in front of the Olympic oval. Go left and then right onto Route 73, then take another right on Averyville Road which leads you to Old Military Road and back to Route 86.

HILL FACTOR: Hilly

Here to Help You Reach Your Goals Faster

1850 Farmhouse with Pond

Renovated and updated, 3 bedrooms, 3 full baths on 4 acres. Accessible NYS easement lands on 2 sides connect with the Jack Rabbit Ski Trail.

Additional 16 acres available.

Exclusive $458,000

roCkledge CamP

Enjoy the lake from your own private patio at this great, 2 bedroom, Adirondack cottage with 80’ of waterfront. This property offers boat access to Upper Saranac Lake as well as Fish Creek.

Exclusive $599,900

SALE PENDING

saranaC lake VaCant lot

Come and see this wooded, vacant lot on McIntyre St. McIntyre dead ends on this block, it’s a quieter street.

Exclusive $29,000

ClassiC FrenCh hill

Historic, Saranac Lake cure cottage. 3 bedrooms, 1.5 bath. Original woodwork, hardwood floors, tall ceilings. Large, enclosed porches on 2 sides. New roof summer of 2021, On-Demand hot water heater. Convenient to downtown Saranac Lake and listed on the National Historic Register.

Exclusive $275,000

Christopher W. Covert, Jr., Lic. RE Broker

Carol Urquhart, Associate Broker, Patricia “Penny” Curran, Lorraine Kelley, Grace McDonnell, Carol Marie Vossler and Peggy Lynn, Licensed Real Estate Salespersons Over 100 Years Combined Experience

New era for Lakeview Deli

By Aaron Marbone

Lakeview Deli has been a lunchtime staple in Saranac Lake for decades, but July 7 was the public’s last chance to stop by and order a sandwich from the deli counter before the business transitioned into a catering service amid staffing shortages.

“After 37 years, a lot of our customers are

really our friends,” Lakeview Deli co-owner Buffy Van Anden said.

This was not a decision to be made lightly. For the adult children, Katy and Johnny, the restaurant across the street from Lake Flower has practically been their home growing up. For their mother Buffy, it’s the business she ran with her

The Van Anden family, from left, Buffy, Katy and Johnny, stand with their Lakeview Deli work family. On July 7, this group was in the kitchen, putting together lunch at the deli counter for the last time before t he business transitioned into a catering business. Staff Photo — Aaron Marbone

late husband John for years, and one she became more involved in as John’s health declined. John died in 2021.

Buffy said the people who work at the deli became their family. This was their everything. And it’s sort of coming to an end. But Katy said the “sandwich world” is not going away. It’s just changing. And it’s something they hope will bring them closer to customers, make more business sense and allow them to still provide sandwiches for people. This change has been the long-term plan since before John got sick.

“It’s been a life of chaos for a couple of years with staff shortages,” Buffy said. “Our staff is so much smaller than it used to be. When you’re stretched thin, if you’re doing two different things, at some point you have to pick one.”

She said staffing pushed them to make this transition to catering only at this time, and the decision to make the change now happened fast. They saw they had no catering events scheduled on July 7, so they could hold the big party. They announced their plans to the public on July 5.

They knew they needed a big send-off for their loyal patrons.

When the coronavirus pandemic shut their doors, the Van Andens took over the customer dining area to expand the space for more catering work. The catering side of the business grew significantly during the pandemic-related lockdown in 2020. The shop pivoted to window service at the start of the pandemic and stuck with it. Katy said the faceto-face contact was the best part of the business. It’s harder to get that community feeling through the window, she said. They were always in a rush.

The business’ future is as a catering, private chef, special order and prepared meals operation

named Lakeview Catering. Buffy said they love the creativity of catering and will be able to control things more with limited staffing. Buffy said catering is about taking care of people at their happiest times — a wedding or a baptism — and a lot of taking care of people at their worst times. They’ve done a lot of funerals over the years. Funeral catering can’t be planned far in advance, and Buffy said when a call came in, they always said, “We have to do this.” They could never say no.

Trillium Macario washes her hands while working at Lakeview Deli in March, 2020. Above her, the special board describes “The Staycation,” which for an extra $2,50 features a Corona beer and a roll of toilet paper. Staff Photo — Aaron Marbone

Homebuying made easy.

Loans made easier. It may feel a bit overwhelming, especially for first-time homebuyers. But not to worry, we’ve done this before—many times. Our loan officers are committed to making the process as easy as possible. Remember, all loans are handled locally, by bankers who know the area.

When you’re ready to buy a home, the first thing you should be armed with is knowledge of your credit and financial history. Knowing this and ensuring any issues are rectified will allow you to be in the best position to get the home you want.

A prequalification certificate for a mortgage will let you know how much house you can afford. These days, many real estate professionals won’t show houses without one.

Creating a detailed budget of all income sources and livings expenses will also help you know how much house you can afford. You should factor in expenses beyond the mortgage: property and school taxes, home maintenance costs, homeowner’s insurance, and more.

Don’t forget to include any outstanding debts and your plan to pay them off.

Becoming acquainted with the different kinds of mortgages will help you explore your options. There are many options out there beyond the traditional— like our no closing cost mortgage* option. We can help you choose the most appropriate mortgage for your situation.

With Community Bank, you will have a lending specialist who takes the time to explain every step of the process and gets to know you. You’ll make decisions together that will impact your future. So choose us, an expert and partner you can trust.

APPLY FOR YOUR NEXT MORTGAGE ONLINE

Scan the QR code to get started or visit cbna.com/mortgage to explore our family of mortgage products, prequalify, and apply online today.

It pays to bank close to home.

A home is one of the biggest purchases you’ll ever make. So it’s nice to know that if you ever have a question or concern, you can walk into a local branch or pick up the phone and speak to your mortgage banker, one on one. We’re committed to giving you the dedicated service and attention you deserve, meaning your mortgage banker will be with you at every step of the process.

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

• NOW OFFERING FHA & VA FINANCING

• First-time homebuyer programs

• No closing cost mortgages*

• Fixed-rate loans

• Mortgage refinancing

• Home equity loans and lines of credit

• New construction and renovation loans

• Flexible portfolio mortgage programs

SAVINGS THAT HELP YOU DO MORE

• Affordable housing programs

• Conventional and secondary market loans

• Property investment loans

• Land loans

• Double and single-wide mobile home loans

• Government and affordable housing programs

• Insurance and other products

We can save you a great deal in upfront and monthly costs on your next home. Whether your household is expanding or you just want to upgrade your nest, the savings on closing costs and monthly private mortgage insurance (PMI) costs can easily add up to tens of thousands of dollars. You could use those funds for a larger down payment. For firsttime homebuyers, that’s extra cash that can be used to make your new house really feel like home. You can also use the extra money to invest in a home improvement project that will help you sell your home for more down the road.

Your local mortgage experts:

Alex Nenno, NMLS# 1804677

Mortgage Loan Consultant

alex.nenno@cbna.com

518-523-6500

2166 Saranac Ave

Lake Placid, NY 12946

cbna.com/mortgageoptions

Kylie Martin, NMLS# 2372683

Assistant Mortgage Loan Consultant

kylie.martin@cbna.com

518-523-6014

2166 Saranac Ave

Lake Placid, NY 12946

Member FDIC

All loans and lines are subject to credit approval. *The No Closing Cost option is valid on most owner occupied, 1–4-family residential properties. Property and hazard insurance are required and are the responsibility of the borrower. For mortgages with less than 20% down payment, Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) may be required and customer is responsible for PMI premiums. Other applicable fees/charges, including deed stamps or deed transfer taxes, are not mortgage closing costs and will not be paid by the Bank. If a customer elects to obtain owner title insurance, the customer is responsible for the owner title insurance premium. Condominiums and single-wide mobile homes are not eligible for a no closing cost mortgage. Double-wide mobile homes are eligible for the no closing cost mortgage only if permanently attached to a foundation. Should the no closing cost mortgage be closed or discharged within the first three years, the Bank may collect the third-party closing costs from the customer that were waived when the loan was opened. If a customer selects an attorney to represent him/her, customer is responsible for attorney fees. Community Bank will not pay for a survey, nor any other item that is ordinarily paid for by the seller.

ADDITIONAL “NO CLOSING COSTS”

PRODUCT DISCLOSURE: “No closing costs” means no: origination fee/points; application fee; flood check fee; credit report fee; appraisal fee; mortgage recording fee; abstract update or title search fee; lender title insurance fees; bank attorney fee; mortgage recording tax.

The Mountain Vistas are absolutely stunning from this attractive village home and it comes with 152 feet of river frontage on the East Branch of the Au Sable River. The Kitchen has hardwood cabinets, elegant countertops, and a comfortable breakfast nook. A spacious living/dining area has built in cabinetry and French doors that brighten the interior. A full length covered porch along the back overlooks the Jay Covered Bridge, the cascading river and breathtaking views. Basement recreation room with a stone fireplace and a private office with walls and cabinets hand finished in luxurious Cherry.

Jay Price: $369,000 MLS #177929

FOR THE PERFECTIONIST

4 Bed, 3 Bath ~ 3,232 Sq. Ft. ~ 0.9 Acres ~ Open Concept Kitchen, Living and Dining ~ Granite Countertops ~ Hardwood Cabinets ~ Fireplace and Woodstove ~ Family Room ~ Screened Porch and Deck ~ Heated Garage ~ Inviting and Immaculate

Jay Price: $750,000 MLS# 178944

ATTRACTIVE CONTEMPORARY

3 Bed, 1 Bath ~ 1,024 Sq. Ft. ~ 0.7 Acres Open Kitchen, Dining and Living Room with Vaulted Ceiling ~ Bath just remodeled ~ Main Level Primary ~ Fireplace with Woodstove Insert Walkout Basement ~ Deck

Jay Price: $345,000 MLS# 178997

OLD STYLE CHARM & GRACE

4 Bed, 4.5 Bath ~ 3,822 Sq. Ft. ~ 1.86 Acres Wide Plank Floors ~ Hand Hewn Beams ~ Brick Fireplace ~ Solid Wood Doors ~ Wrought Iron Hardware ~ Covered and Screened Porch ~ Large Yard ~ Stone Patio ~ Meticulously Maintained Jay Price: $698,000 MLS# 200112

AN ACRES INVITATION

2 Bed, 1 Bath ~ 694 Sq. Ft. ~ 0.9 Acres Hardwood Cabinets ~ Woodstove and Electric Baseboard Heat ~ Covered Screen Porch Workshop with Additional Storage ~ Explore the Adirondacks from this Quiet Forested Setting

Jay Price: $245,000 MLS# 178414

MOUNTAIN VISTAS on COUNTRY ROADS

4 Bed, 2.5 Bath ~ 2,360 Sq. Ft. ~ 0.66 Acres

Combined and Open Living, Dining and Kitchen Knotty Pine Interior ~ Hardwood Floors Fireplace ~ Covered Porch ~ Three Bay Garage Private ~ Stephenson Mountain Range Views Jay Price: $380,000 MLS# 175206

ORCHARD LANE OPPORTUNITY

3 Bed, 1 Bath ~ 1,267 Sq. Ft. ~ 0.3 Acres

propane heating unit ~ New appliances

countertop and sink ~ New bedroom carpet ~ New Ext. Paint and the list goes on. Presently used as a vacation rental

Jay Price: $219,000 MLS# 178948

Determining Resale Value

You might be ready to level up, or maybe to downsize. Perhaps your job is taking you to a new town. Or maybe your local market is simply so hot that it just makes sense to sell. That’s when it’s time to determine the resale value.

HOW IT WORKS

A professional appraiser is the best person to give you an estimated resale value on a property. They’ll take into consideration a range of elements including square footage, structure quality and any improvements you’ve made. Their expertise is also critical when you are ready to purchase in order to ensure that you’re not overpaying. Real estate agents and related websites can provide context in the form of prices for comparable homes in your area. Visiting local open houses and private agent showings may also help you get a better idea of how your property stacks up.

RED FLAGS

If you’re purchasing a property with an eye on its resale value, there are a number of red flags you should be on the lookout for. Beware of homes that have been on the market for

an extended amount of time. There could be issues with the property, or it may simply be overpriced. Stay away from the highest-priced home in a neighborhood. It’ll be harder to get a return on your investment. Buying a property with an eye on making some specific improvements may ultimately help with its resale value, depending on the work that’s done. But don’t buy anything that needs extensive renovations — in particular, if they’re required to make the home suitable to live in. Research area schools, crime rates and related taxes.

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION

You’ve probably heard the familiar saying that real estate is all about location. That’s because it’s true. You can make improvements to the physical structure, and decorate everything nicely. But a home’s value will inevitably suffer if it’s too far away from desirable amenities, in a faltering school district or in an economically depressed area. Take these factors into account before you buy, since you may not get your investment back. On the other hand, if you are already in an area that’s experiencing growth and the associated influx of homebuyers, it may be time to sell.

Even the property considered a ‘forever home’ might sell one day

STOP IN SOON TO SEE OUR NEW KITCHEN CABINET DISPLAYS

IMAGINE THE POSSIBILITIES AT LEE’S

LEE’S HAS A LARGE SELECTION OF IN STOCK CERAMIC TILES AS WELL AS DISPLAYS FOR CUSTOM ORDERS AND INSTALLATION SUPPLIES

LEE’S IS HAVING A DISPLAY SALE ON HIGH END APPLIANCES.

STOP IN FOR DETAILS.

Saranac Lake Lending Office

68 Main Street, Saranac Lake NY12983

Low Down Payment Options

As low at 0% down ***

10% down for vacation & secondary homes!***

In House Lending

NO minimum credit score with 20% down!

Loan decisions based on local underwriting Satisfactory alternative credit accepted!

Construction Loans

Up to 95% if total cost of project OR as completed appraised value (whichever is the lesser amount)

Sweat equity is considered for approved owner builder towards the cost of the project One closing, NOT two

Purchase Plus Improvements

Up to 95% of cost to purchase property PLUS cost of improvements OR completed appraised value (whichever the lesser amount)

Home Equity Line of Credit

Owner occupied residence ONLY

Borrow up to 90% of equity based on your credit score

Borrow up to $400,000

NMLS # 1806780

jbradish@ncsb.bank

518.304.1101 Megan Simmons Loan Originator

NMLS# 2495533

msimmons@ncsb.bank

518.304.1000

St. Lawrence, Jefferson, Lewis, Franklin, Essex, Clinton, Washington, Saratoga, Warren, Hamilton

Panthers drill team hosts

‘family’ reunion

By Andy Flynn

More than 40 people attended the Lake Placid Volunteer Fire Department’s firematic drill team reunion on July 22, enjoying a hamburger lunch, swapping stories of their glory days, looking at old photos and posing for a photo underneath the competition tower at the end of the track with one of the old race trucks. The team — known as the Panthers — was

formed in the summer of 1932, and it hosted its final firematic races in the summer of 2018. While there are plenty of Panthers in Lake Placid, the team no longer exists.

“People have a lot more going on now, and if something better comes up, they do it today,” said LPVFD Chief Mike St. Louis, who competed on the drill team for decades. “Back in the day, you

Chip Draper sits in the driver’s seat of the old C truck from the Lake Placid Volunteer Fire Department Panthers drill team, which he owns, on July 22 during the Panthers reunion. Staff Photo – Andy Flynn

knew we were racing the middle of May every Saturday and Sunday until the end of September.”

LPVFD volunteer Joe Smith, who was also a longtime drill team member, helped organize the reunion and learned something new that day about his family. When he asked 100-year-old former fire chief Dusty Smith to identify the Panthers from a 1950 team photo, Dusty said one of the members was Merrill Smith — Joe’s grandfather.

“I was in a state of shock,” said Joe, who knew his father, Charlie, raced on the Panthers team. “(But) I never knew my grandfather raced.”

Firematic drill teams compete in a number of events, such as the three-man ladder, B Ladder, C Ladder, B Hose, C Hose, Efficiency, Motor Pump and Buckets. This was old-fashioned team building — for the competition and to fight fires.

“We did a lot of training. We worked a lot with the hoses. You worked a lot with targets,” St. Louis said. “And that’s what we normally do when you fight fires. You work with hoses, you work with water.”

“The main reason I bought this was to keep it in the area,” Draper said. “I want to be able to put it in parades for the Fourth of July, take it to car shows so people don’t forget what we’ve done in the past, what has built this team, why we did it. I want people to remember the Lake Placid Panthers. ... I miss it every day.”

For St. Louis, the fire department — and the Panthers racing team — was a family affair. His uncle James worked full-time as the head driver at the fire department.

“It was a family thing, it really was. One big family,” he said. “It was a part of our life, the backbone of the department for many, many years.”

The team had a B truck and a C truck, which were both sold after the Panthers disbanded. Former Panthers driver Chip Draper bought the C truck and brought it to the reunion for the group photo.

For Steve Fell, the fire department and Panthers were also about family. In the same 1950 team photo where Joe Smith saw his grandfather, Fell saw his father Bernie Fell and uncle John Fell. Steve joined the fire department and the team at age 24 in 1987 and was active until 2005.

“The kids around here always called it the redneck Olympics, but it was exciting,” Steve said.

Joe Smith, left, talks to Lake Placid Volunteer Fire Department Chief Mike St. Louis on July 22 during the Panthers drill team reunion. Staff Photo – Andy Flynn

Steve Fell looks at old photos and news clippings on July 22 during the Lake Placid Volunteer Fire Department Panthers drill team reunion. Staff Photo – Andy Flynn

2276 Saranac Avenue, Lake Placid, New York

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Voted

THE ADIRONDACKS CHOICE FOR ROOFING

CHARMING OFF-THE-GRID CABIN

BEAUTIFUL WATERFRONT COTTAGE

This rustic retreat offers a unique opportunity to escape the hustle and bustle on 22.85 acres and embrace a simpler lifestyle surrounded by nature’s splendor. A custom built wood stove, two bedrooms, 1 full bath and outside fire pit. Don’t miss this hidden gem.

Exclusively listed for $229,900

Call Benjamin Kline at 518-572-6132

Exclusively listed for $799,000

Call Benjamin Kline at 518-572-6132

ST. REGIS RIVER CABIN

This Adirondack Property has something for everyone. This 2-bedroom cabin has solar panels. running water, a wood stove and gas heater. The surrounding 50-acre forestland and ¾ mile waterfront is great for the outdoor enthusiast.

Exclusively listed for $325,000

Call Emily Fogarty at 518-524-4733

Lovely rustic cottage located on Lake Flower. The new 2 car garage has a one bedroom apartment upstairs. The property has a successful vacation rental history accommodating up to 8 people. Featuring 170 feet of waterfront with a kayak dock to allow for easy access to the water. Call Benjamin Kline to schedule a showing. MLS#177482