Our Stories
How I Came To Schroon Lake
It all began in Paradox and hopefully will end there too.
They arrived at Moe’s Office after 8 hours of driving (no
How could a boy raised in a 9 story apartment building on
Thruway or Northway! Route 9 all the way). Moe had
Queens Blvd, come to love and be tied to the Adirondack
good news and bad news- the bad news was that he only
Park?
bought and old properties in those days- he did not rent
them. The good news was that his friend Walt Fried had a
My Dad and his closest friend Peter Ladderman (Uncle
bungalow which had served as overflow housing at his
Peter to us) made it happen. They were two young
mansion on Birch Hill overlooking Paradox Lake. And he
psychiatrists in their early 30’s. Both had served in the
had bea ch rights on a sandy each on Paradox! Moe called
Army in World War II. My Dad in the Royal Canadian
Walt Fried and Dad and Peter were invited to a cocktail
Army and Peter in the US Army. Both had enlisted early-
party at the Frieds. My family and the Laddermans rented
my Dad in 1938 and Peter shortly thereafter and both
the bungalow for 2 Augusts in 1952 and 1953. I have
were rushed through Medical School in 2 and half years.
spent at least part of every summer since on Paradox Lake.
They went to school every day seven days a week except
Kathy and I bought our own year round house in 1985 and
Christmas and Easter.
we move here from Boston full time in the fall of 2012.
After discharge from the service in 1947, they met during
Two young World War II Veterans brought me to the
their child psychiatry residency in Westchester County,
Schroon Lake Watershed.
-Mark Granger
New York. They trained together at Pleasantville
Children’s Hospital and became friends for life. They
were so close that when the experimental polio vaccine
“I think that ‘Yellow thing is for sale’” were the words
came out in 1954, they gave each other’s children the
uttered by Cheryl that started what will be our lifetime
experimental injection so that the responsibility would be
experience in Schroon Lake. As a couple who was looking
shared if any or their children died.
to make a change from decades of corporate life, we were
looking for a business that we could develop and make
In any event in the spring of 1952 they both realized that
good on our ‘Plan B’ for our professional lives.
their training would end in the end of July and their new
Throughout the demolition, renovation and inauguration
professional positions in practices would not start until
of the old Yellow Coach Motel into the Adirondack Inn,
September. They had the month of August off! It
we underwent a bit of transformation ourselves as we
suddenly hit them that neither had had a vacation since
began to interact with the community. The words of
1938-both assured me that the Army was no vacation!
encouragement and genuine pride that the year round
residents as well as the folks who seasonally come to
Both Peter and my Dad had been outdoorsmen as
enjoy all that our community has to offer, helped
teenagers so they wanted to be out in the woods. But each
transform us from business owners to community
had two young children and wives that wanted a bed and a
members.
bathroom. Luckily they talked with Myra Teider, a social
worker a Pleasantville Hospital who rented a cottage in
While only two years have passed since we made the
the Laymond Colony at the Western End of Paradox
decision to come to Schroon Lake, we realize that we have
Lake.
made the change of a lifetime. Needless to say, the
summers in our community and at our Inn are busy with
Memorial Day Weekend 1952, Peter and Dad jumped into
friends, family and guests coming in from all over the
Dad’s black Olds 88 and hit the road for Schroon Lake.
country and continent, but to really understand this
They were sent to meet Moe Friedman who they hoped
community, is to be here throughout the year. The weather
would help them. Indeed he did.
may be a bit cold for some folks, but the warmth,
openness and genuine compassion of our community
The two young doctors were looking for a 4 bedroom
makes me proud each time I say,
“I’m from Schroon
house to rent for the month of August. Hopefully it had a
Lake”. This past year I celebrated my 55th birthday and,
beach. Running room was needed as they had two 3 year
for the first time in my life, I can say that in Schroon Lake,
olds and two 1 year olds!
I have found my home.
-John Fear