Born: c. 1873

Died: August 27, 1914

Married: Herman Prellwitz (died); Fred C. Toof

Children: James Prellwitz, William Prellwitz, Fred Leslie Toof, Kenneth Toof, Louise Toof

Louise Wardner Prellwitz Toof, known as Lulu, established the Garondah Cottage on Rainbow Lake with her first husband, Herman Prellwitz, and continued running it after his death and her marriage to Fred Toof. She was the daughter of James M. Wardner, and grew up at the Rainbow Inn.


Malone Farmer, September 2, 1914

Mrs. Lulu Wardner Toof, wife of Fred C. Toof, of Rainbow Lake, died at the Saranac General Hospital in Saranac Lake Thursday morning, following an illness of several weeks of septicemia, aged 41 years, Mrs. Toof was an Adirondack girl, born and reared at Rainbow, the daughter of the late James Wardner, who for forty years conducted Rainbow Inn on Rainbow Lake. Hundreds of patrons of the hotel a generation ago will remember her as a most comely and attractive young woman who was a general favorite with all who knew her. She developed into a most substantial, industrious and useful woman, a fond and devoted wife and mother, whose home became a popular resort for boarders and guests at Rainbow, in the success of which her genial hospitality and capacity for conducting such a resort played most important part. She was brought up a hotel woman and knew the business so thoroughly that everything about the place over which she presided, known as the "Garondah" moved like clockwork and hers was the hand on the helm which directed it so successfully. She was kind, warm hearted, generous and self-sacrificing. For those who enjoyed her hospitality she could not do too much and there are many who will learn of her death with deep sorrow. Mrs. Toof was twice married, her first husband being Herman Prellwitz, of New York, a guest at Rainbow Inn, who died a few years after their marriage. To them were born two children, James and William Prellwitz. Left a widow about 12 years ago she became the wife of Fred C. Toof, and three children were born to them, Fred Leslie, Kenneth and Louise. Mr. Toof and all of the children of both unions survive, together with two brothers, Chas. and James Wardner, and one sister, Mrs. Katherine Tack. The funeral was held on Sunday; interment in the Ricketson cemetery.

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