Born: March 10, 1831 [Note: it is not certain that this bio is for the William Rush Dunton of Saranac Inn.]
Died: May 14, 1911
Married:
Children:
William Rush Dunton was a Civil War Union Army Surgeon. He served as an Acting Assistant Surgeon, US Army at the US Army Hospital in Germantown, Pennsylvania. He owned a camp near Saranac Inn on Upper Saranac Lake.
An early image of the log cabin near Saranac Inn, c. 1900, known in later years as the Blagden Cabin.
Courtesy of the Adirondack Experience.From Church of the Ascension: The First 100 Years, 1884 to 1984
"...We would, however, know nothing about the early days of the [Church of the Ascension] had it not been that in 1903, the first Chairman of the Committee started to write for historical details to individuals who were then alive and had been active in the affairs of the summer community when the church was built. The first reply was from Dr. William Rush Dunton and was dated January 6, 1904. Dr. Dunton owned the log "Cabin" which subsequently became the property of Mr. Thomas Blagden.
"When Dr. Dunton first went to Saranac Inn (then known as the Prospect House), the hotel was owned and operated by Mr. and Mrs. William Derby. It was in the year 1879 that Dr. Dunton first noted the beautiful view of the lake from the hill where the church is now located. In the summer of 1880, Dr. Dunton was abroad and Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. Chandler occupied the "Cabin" as his guests. They also visited the "Cabin" in 1881 and 1882. It was during the latter year that Mr. Chandler died. Also in that year Dr. Dunton talked with Messrs. Daniel W. Riddle, Quincy Riddle and also Mrs. Edward L. Trudeau about building a summer chapel. In a letter to Mr. Firth, dated September 21, 1905, Dr. Trudeau said that his wife had suggested to Dr. Dunton the site for the building. In a letter dated December 8, 1905 Mary Chandler Lewis, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C. W. Chandler, stated that her father had also participated in the choice of a site as well as Mr. Derby, the proprietor of the hotel.
"Dr. Dunton's letter says that in 1882 he and the Messrs. Riddle interested the summer people in the church project "who, by liberal contributions, fairs, etc. gave enough to start the enterprise..."
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