Stony Wold Hall, 1947 ,Stony Wold Sanitorium, c. 1925
Courtesy of the Adirondack Experience

The Stony Wold Sanatorium was built in 1901 on Lake Kushaqua on the site of the former Lake Kushaqua Hotel by Elizabeth Wilmot Newcomb and her husband, Dr. James Edward Newcomb.  Dr. Newcomb's first cousin Sarah was also involved in the sanatorium.  The institution closed on December 1, 1955, and in 1958 the property was purchased by the White Fathers, a Catholic order which carries on missionary work in Africa.

STONY WOLD SANATORIUM

Original Text by Pat and Tom Willis

In 1901, Elizabeth Newcomb founded Stony Wold Sanatorium on 1800 acres of a hillside overlooking Lake Kushaqua, just north of Brighton in the Town of Franklin. Her idea was to create a charitable sanatorium for the treatment of underprivileged young women suffering from TB. She was encouraged by her husband, Dr. James Edward Newcomb and by Dr. E.L. Trudeau, and received support from many prominent people of New York City as well as from AT&T, DuPont, Gould, Biggs, Potter, Pond, Morgan, and Rockefeller.

Postcard showing the Hall (or chapel) at Stony Wold Sanatorium.
Undated, but mailed November 5, 1921
Historic Saranac Lake collection, #2021.3.116a. Gift of the Florence Wright Tuberculosis Postcard CollectionThis photograph of the Chapel's Tiffany windows was made by James Rudi Snyder in 1975, shortly before they were removed from the building. 
The windows now belong to the Neustadt Collection of Tiffany Glass.0

George Dodge supervised the construction of the sanatorium and chapel, which was designed by J. Lawrence Aspinwall, junior partner in the New York architectural firm of James Renwick. Saranac Lake architect William L. Coulter, the on-site supervising architect for Aspinwall, undoubtedly worked closely with Mr. Dodge.

At its peak in the 1930s Stony Wold consisted of twenty buildings and a farm, and generated its own electricity. There were more than 150 patients attended by two doctors, many nurses, and a dietitian— in all, a staff of seventy. Over the years, six thousand patients were treated, mostly women and some men and children. They had the convenience of getting to Stony Wold by train, from a station on the Adirondack Division of the New York Central Railroad. Patients benefited from the beautiful setting and the respectful and friendly encouragement of the staff. Many people from the area were employed there and enjoyed the Sans social events as well.An aerial view of Stony Wold, undated
Courtesy of the Saranac Lake Free Library
Elizabeth Newcomb herself succumbed to TB in 1938 and was buried between Stony Wold Hall and the lake, at her request, where she “could look out over the waters of the quiet lake” Kushaqua— Algonquin for “beautiful resting place.”

Stony Wold Hall, used for Episcopalian, Catholic and Jewish services, as well as entertainments. Now a private home. Stony Wold closed in 1955 with the advent of new drugs and was sold to the White Fathers Catholic Order, missionaries to Africa. It then became St. Joseph’s Seminary until 1972. By 1974 the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation became owner of most of the property and the buildings were torn down. Stony Wold Hall and two cottages remain, now (2002) in private ownership.

Frederick J. Seaver, Historical Sketches of Franklin County, Albany, NY: J. B. Lyon Co., 1918, Chapter XVI, Franklin

The name chosen for the institution was Stony Wold Sanatorium. The date of incorporation was April 10, 1901, and eight months later property consisting of twelve hundred and fifty acres, situate near Lake Kushaqua, in the town of Franklin, and having an elevation of over seventeen hundred feet above sea level, was purchased. Building operations were begun as soon afterward as practicable, and the institution was formally opened August 15, 1903. Where there had been only an unbroken forest there have risen an administrative building with dormitory adjoining; Stony Wold Hall, a building for purposes of worship and for entertainments; a dormitory for the help; a woodworking shop; a store and post-office; five rest shacks; Stony Wold, 1947. The main hall and railroad station can be seen at left. one industrial settlement house; seven cottages; a power house for generating electricity for lighting the institution; an outdoor school; and a model cow barn, stable and piggery. A farm has also been developed. The administration building alone cost eighty-four thousand dollars, and the entire property is valued at $302,435.16, and is not mortgaged. The institution has, besides, an endowment fund of $64,258.75.

Lake Kushaqua Station, c. 1901-04 The corporation has fifteen auxiliaries with a total membership of nineteen hundred. In the beginning each auxiliary contributed six hundred dollars to build and equip a room, and pledged itself to support thereafter an occupant, the charge for which is fourteen dollars per week. Further funds for building, equipment and maintenance were realized from subscriptions, and also considerable amounts from fairs and entertainments given at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel and other places in New York and at the institution itself.

Color postcard showing St. Joseph's Seminary in White Fathers, NY, formerly Stony Wold Sanatorium.
Captioned "St. Joseph's Seminary, White Fathers, N.Y. Situated on Lake Kushaqua in the Adirondack Mountains, the former Stony Wold Sanatorium has now become a training center for boys preparing for the African missions under the direction of the White Fathers."
Postmarked Onchiota, NY, White Fathers Rural Station, April 8, 1963.
Historic Saranac Lake collection, #2021.3.88. Gift of the Florence Wright Tuberculosis Postcard Collection.Mrs. James Edward Newcomb is the president of the board of trustees, and has served in that capacity from the beginning. She was the originator of the enterprise, and devised the plan of organization. She spends a good deal of time at Lake Kushaqua, and is constant and untiring in effort on its behalf.

Stony Wold has a capacity for twenty children and ninety-three adults and is practically always full. No children under the age of six years are admitted. The staff includes the physician in charge (who is at present Dr. Malcolm D. Lent), an assistant physician (Dr. W. G. Milan), a number of nurses, a dietician, a storekeeper, an outside superintendent (Albert E. Paye), and other workers averaging between ninety and one hundred in number.Adirondack Daily Enterprise, April 6, 2013.

Stony Wold Hall is used by the Episcopalian, the Catholic and the Jewish denominations, though none of them has a resident preacher. The Episcopalians and the Jews use one room in common, and the Catholics have a part of the structure separately. When the hall is wanted for a card party or for a dance, the seats are removed, and a room nicely adapted to the purpose is available.

The institution is doing a magnificent work, and hundreds who have enjoyed care in it, gaining strength and vigor, and enabled to return to life's duties and labors with new hope and courage, bless daily the philanthropists who have given so fine an institution to the world, and who cause it to be managed with such care and loving kindness.

From The Journal of the Outdoor Life, April 1915.

Adirondack Daily Enterprise, February 15, 2002

Lake Clear News

By DEBORAH J. DONALDSON Enterprise Correspondent 1960.

I recently had a delightful conversation with Carl and Tom Jacobs that started out to be about the one room schoolhouse that was located at Kushaqua.

Lake Kushaqua is one mile wide and two miles long. Kushaqua, an Indian name, was the village where the TB sanatorium was located. Another name for the sanatorium was Stony Wold. Kushaqua is two and a half miles from Onchiota and four miles frpm Loon Lake.

The main building was built in the 1890s and held the hospital, kitchen, laundry room, offices, dining room for the workers, painting, plumbing, electrical shops and beds for 100 patients. What was called the new building of infirmary was built in 1902.

This was a self-contained community as they had their own dairy farm and raised vegetables. The mill cut lumber for maintenance, repairs, etc.

They had their own post office. In the 1890s, a church was built. This was a very unusual church as it could hold a protestant and a catholic service by closing doors between the two rooms. It could also be used as a dance floor or to show movies on Wednesday- night. There were twin projectors for the movies and a stage for plays.

The clock in the tower had to be wound so the chimes would ring, Carl said you wound it using a crank like the old fashioned cars had and the chimes would run for a month.

There were also cottages at Kuushaqua where the supervisor lived. Doctors and their families lived in some. Maple Cottage was for the nurses and Woodside was for single WWI veterans. Up until 1937 there were only women patients at Kushaqua and after that men were allowed.

N.Y. Central trains had 12 trains going through Kushaqua a day with four passenger trains stopping at the railroad station. D & H train tracks were across the lake. In 1954 there was a train wreck in front of the church. It was a 100 car freight train coming from Malone. Cars were piled up and down the bank. People lined up on the road to see the wreck and they even had someone selling hot dogs for the occasion. Not much to do back then!

Like most communities at that time there were not a lot of cars so horses were used for everything. At the pond, the ice was cut by men with hand saws and horses took it to the buildings or to the ice house. Horses were used to plow during the winter, deliver groceries, take garbage to the dump.

The last team of horses that Tom and Carl remember were Bill and Bess. Unfortunately Bess expired before Bill, so Bill hauled Bess away. Carl said that when they hooked Bill up to Bess' body, he turned to look at her once, never looked back again and hauled her away.

Around 1950, Bill retired to live in Vermontville. A 1947 International dump truck was purchased with a plow and was used after that.

Water for the sanatorium came from Mountain Pond and was chlorinated before going into the buildings. Some pipes are still there.

In 1943 there was a bad ice storm, but Kushaqua was self-contained so the only problem was no lights. The telegraph wires had ice on them and snapped, along with the power lines and telephone lines.

One last building, Camp Overlook, was for patients who were no longer positive so they could come and stay for a vacation.

In the 1940s Tom and Carl were in the chicken business. They raised chickens in one of the barns and sold the eggs and the chickens. Carl said they had around 1,000 chickens. They used a kerosene incubator to start their own eggs.

In 1955 Kushaqua or Stony Wold closed as a sanatorium. In 1956, White Fathers took over and used it for a summer retreat. That closed in 1965. Sadly for all of us, all the buildings were destroyed, except the church.

Now let's get to the one room schoolhouse at Kushaqua. Carl and Tom's mother Teresa was born in Santa Clara in 1897. She got her education and then went to a place called Morgan's Mill where she taught in a one room school house for two or three years. Morgan's Mill was a hamlet north of Kushaqua about two miles on the N.Y. Central railroad. The only building left now is the one room schoolhouse that is used as a camp.

From there Teresa moved to Kushaqua to teach. She met and married Perley Jacobs and they had four children, Joan, Carl, Tom and Patricia. The one room schoolhouse was built in 1900 at Kushaqua.

When you stepped in the front door, the classroom was straight ahead with one large room. Grades K-8 were taught. There were 12 children most of the time. At one time Teresa got sick, so rather then cancel school, the children came to the barn and she taught there. No sick days for that woman!  Teresa taught from 1920 to 1955 when the school was closed at Kushaqua. From there she went to Onchiota and taught until May retiring then.

The only reason she retired was that her husband was sick and she needed to take care of him.

She was an amazing women. Not only did she teach children all day, she did all the work at the school shoveling snow and cleaning. At one time the school district decided the children should have a hot meal at noon, so Teresa was responsible for that.

She went to summer school to get more education. She didn't drive but took flying lessons. In March 1967 Perley passed away and then in October of the same year Teresa joined him.

Some of the children that Teresa taught were her own four, Dr. Wayne Henriing had two children, Dr. Powers had one child, the night watchman Lee Turner had two children, Elmondorf Brown ran the mill and his two children Morris and Esther. These were just a few of the children that got their education at a one room schoolhouse located at Kushaqua.

A very special thank you goes to Carl and Tom Jacobs for all your information and help with this article.

New York Times, August 23, 1903

HAPPENINGS OF THE WEEK AT ADIRONDACK RESORTS

House Parties at the Various Camps Attract Many from Other Summer Headquarters—FuncWhen the White Fathers gave up the Stony Wold property, everything but the chapel and two cottages, was acquired by the state, which destroyed the huge main building and other accessory buildings. The site is now mostly a part of the Forest Preserve. See detail, below. Adirondack Daily Enterprise, April 6, 2013. tions Which Have Commanded the Attention of the Campers.

Special to The New York Times.

PAUL SMITH'S, N. Y., Aug. 22.—Many people have closed their houses at Lenox, Southampton and Newport and come to the Adirondacks for the various house parties and functions, that are occupying attention at this time.

Dr. and Mrs. James Edward Newcomb are much engrossed in the affairs of Stony Wold Sanitarium at Lake Kushaqua, fifteen miles from Paul Smith's, which was opened on Saturday, and where about a dozen patients are now cared for. Bishop and Mrs. Potter, who have a Summer place at Hawk Island in Lake Placid, were also much interested in Stony Wold Sanitarium, where the Bishop delivered an address, and the Bishop also consecrated the new church at Newman, a suburb of Lake Placid, on Sunday. Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Gould and Mrs. Gould's mother, Mrs. George F. Shrady, were at Loon Lake a few days ago and attended the opening of Stony Wold, after which they visited Paul Smith's, returning to Saratoga on Monday. Mr. and Mrs. Anson R. Flower, who are entertaining Mrs. John D. Flower and Miss Flower, at their cottage at Paul Smith's, drive to Lake Kushaqua nearly every day in the interests of the institution. Among others who have come into the mountains and are taking active interest in Stony Wold are: Mrs. John Caldwell Coleman, Miss Edith Brander Matthews, Mr. and Mrs. Sylvan Bier, John Alvin Long, Dr. and Mrs. Herman M. Biggs, Dr. Alfred Myer, Dr. Knopf, Mrs. Fitch, James Swinburne, Mrs. Albert V. Huyler, Miss Doane, Mrs. Frederick Hasbrouck, Miss Utley, Mrs. Pure L. Bouchet, Miss Bouchet, Mrs. G. W. Van Vredenburgh. Lady Swettenhan, Henry Siegel, Homer Folks and H. T. Devine...

The railroad station at Kushaqua, prepared for moving.
A caption in the Adirondack Daily Enterprise, June 20, 1975 states  :
"The old Railway Station at Kushaqua, Stony wold Sanatorium, has been moved to the Pine Grove property at the junctions of Routes 99 and 3. part of the roof was removed so that it could be transported under powerlines. Mickey Laundry, owner of Pine Grove, plans to remodel the building on its original lines. The property on which it stood, formerly owned by the White Fathers, has been acquired by the state."
Courtesy of Reese Fleury

Malone Farmer, October 28, 1908

…The fires at one time were said to have reached within three-quarters of a mile of Stony Wold Sanatorium and the patients were prepared to leave at a moment's notice. About a hundred men were fighting fires in that vicinity. A fire engine and detail of firemen from Utica wet down all the buildings and the grounds for some distance around with water pumped from the lake. Finally the wind went down and the danger was eliminated. At Saranac Lake a public meeting was held to discuss means of protecting surrounding property from fire and a private patrol of 25 men was provided to prevent the starting of new fires,their compensation being arranged for by public subscription. Fire Warden Latour declared at the meeting that it was his opinion that many fires were deliberately set in the hope of securing employment in extinguishing them...

Malone Palladium, December 10, 1908

In an effort to solve the problem of furnishing suitable work for patients, recovering from tuberculosis, Stony Wold Sanatorium at Lake Kushaqua, will soon start an industrial settlement or farm colony. The settlement will consist of discharged persons well enough to do light work, such as flower culture, poultry raising, light gardening, etc. Members of the patient's family can find employment at the sanatorium. This plan places the responsibility of the care of the ex patient where it rightfully belongs, that is, upon their own families. The sanatorium is in hope of teaching practical forestry. A small beginning has already been made, in the Adirondacks pine, spruce and balsam seedlings can be raised, and the demand is much greater than the supply. It is also proposed to start a Willow Holt to furnish material for basketry. This is a profitable occupation.

Brooklyn Daily Eagle, October 28, 1912

FOR STONY WOLD PATIENTS.
Halloween Shower Planned by Brooklyn Auxiliary of Tuberculosis Sanatorium.

There will be a genuine Halloween character to the "shower" planned by the Brooklyn Heights Auxiliary of Stony WoId Sanatorium, for Wednesday afternoon from 2 until 6 o'clock, at the Hotel Bossert. "Mystery, Merrymaking, Music," is the announcement on the cards of invitation, and the committee of arrangements is prepared to fulfill all the expectations of prospective visitors, children and grownups alike.

The Candle of Destiny and Witches Cave is one of the announced attractions that has aroused considerable interest, and the pumpkin clipping party is an-other. One of the best-known prestidigitators in the city is to be in attendance, and the decorations of the different tables will be in keeping with the traditions of the festival—witches, pumpkins, cats, lanterns, etc., figuring conspicuously.

A tearoom is to be a feature, and the grown-up guests are expected to be particularly attracted to the pitcher table, where, suspended from a giant pitcher and grouped about its base will be pitchers, little and big, and of every desirable ware.

The members of the auxiliary will be assisted  by several young girls, and the entire proceeds of the "shower" will be used to send Brooklyn working girls or children suffering from incipient tuberculosis to Stony Wold Sanatorium, which is located in the Adirondacks region on the shores of Lake Kushaqua.

The different attrractions and those in charge are as follows.
Pumpkin clipping party—Mrs. Winthrop M. Tuttle, Miss Mary Noyes, Miss Dorothy Noyes.
Candle of Destiny and Witches Cave—Miss Grace Hornby.
Candy and cake table—Mrs. Charles S. Peabody, Mrs. Frank Melville. Jr.; Mrs. Thomas Lauderdale, Miss Antoinetti Reeve Butler, Miss Althea Jagger, Mrs. Louis F. Prankard.
Utility table—Mrs. Frederick Bates, Mrs. Edward A. Freshman, Miss Insa Louise Hinrichs, Mrs. Clarence H. Riggs.
Pitcher table—Mrs. George W. Davison. Mrs. John M. Perry.
Nut table—Mrs. Richard M. Dorsey, Mrs. Frank Steven, Mrs. Edith Dunham.
Fancy articles—Mrs. Thomas R French, Mrs. Frank Howard, Mrs. Edward Hinman, Mrs. Charles Edgar Newton, jr.; Miss Helen M. Shope.
Tearoom—Miss Carolyn W. Peters, Mrs. Horace P. Gould, Mrs. Ruel Ross Appleton.

Stony Wold Sanatorium, newly completed, c. 1901-04

The Guild News, February 26,  1943

Guild Resumes Stony Wold Classes; Torpedoed Norsemen Study English

A special appeal to the War Rationing Board from Dr. Wayne Henning, medical director of Stony Wold Sanatorium, and officials of the Saranac Lake Study and Craft Guild has led to the resumption of Guild classes at Lake Kushaqua. A supplemental gasoline ration for transportation of the teachers was issued last week.

On Friday, February 19, the first contingent of teachers was driven over the eighteen miles of snow-packed roads from Saranac Lake to Stony Wold. The trips will be made each Friday evening for the balance of the winter term which ends on March 26 and presumably during the Spring term beginning April 12.

On the opening night twenty-two students were registered for classes in Spanish, Russian, and Americanization English. It is expected that weaving and drawing  will be added to the available subjects in the near future.

Among the students is a group of Norwegians who are studying English. They are all merchant seamen who were torpedoed while serving the United Nations. they are the particular concern of the Social Welfare Committee for Norwegian Seamen in New York City. The Guild is offering instruction to them at the request of the committee.

The names of the teachers and students at Stony Wold follow:

Americanization English, taught by Mrs. Edward H. Levy: Karl Aarsheim, Sverre Andreassen, Markus Jakobsen, Osvald Kristoffersen, Johan Olsen, Jostel Stavane, Toralf Toresen, Ejoakam Ulvestad.

Russian, taught by Mrs. Nadia Slack: Margaret Blocher, Mrs. Grover Clark, Agnes Hart, Vivian Jensen, Florence Kerr and Elizabeth Vreeland.

Spanish, taught by Alfredo Gonzalez: Mrs. Lowell Decker, Edna Herman, Florence Kerr, Jane Larson, Marion LeJeune, Dr. T. B. Merner, Anne Moscatello, Lucille Pardee, Carmen Wightman.

Adirondack Daily Enterprise, September 17, 1948

Appeal Campaign For Stony Wold Opened in Area

LAKE KUSHAQUA, Sept. 17 —

The second year of the appeal letter for funds for Stony Wold in the Adirondacks has now started with illustrated folders and letters on their way to Saranac Lake, Lake Placid and other communities surrounding the sanatorium.

The object of the appeal is to acquaint .as many persons as possible with Stony Wold's service, as well as to secure voluntary contributions to carry on its work.

Lake Kushaqua; Eileen Leavitt, far right; Carol Smith, 2nd from right Last year 169 patients of all races, colors and creeds were cared for at this non-profit Sanatorium. Of these, 20% were treated absolutely free and another 23% paid much less than the actual cost of their care. All enjoyed the benefits of rest and relaxation in the clean air and sunlight at Lake Kushaqua.

In addition to rest, over 5,000 special treatments were given by the staff, including almost 3,000 streptomycin injections and 884, pneumothorax refills. 87% of the patients who were discharged from the sanatorium were improved, quiescent, or apparently arrested cases.

New York State registered more than 13,000 cases of tuberculosis last year. Among Franklin County residents, there were 50 cases reported. The death rate in New York State last year was slightly higher than the national average. This was attributed by some tuberculosis authorities in New York to the fact that a sizable population group is particularly susceptible to tuberculosis and lives under unfavorable economic conditions.

Sanatorium care, as everyone in our north country knows, offers the strict supervision of caring that all tuberculosis patients should have to get well. Complicating conditions are detected by doctors on the Stony Wold, 1946 medical staff. Sanatorium care removes the fear and danger of infection from other members of families and from the general public.

The directors of Stony Wold Sanatorium hope that all who can will give generously toward this charity.

Adirondack Daily Enterprise, April 19, 1957

TOO GOOD TO LIE IDLE

Bill Distin the other day spoke of Stony Wold Sanatorium as “too good to lie idle.” It is really a magnificent plant, in far better condition than was Trudeau Sanatorium, and it has a site that is one of the most beautiful anywhere in the country overlooking Lake Kushaqua with tumbled mountains beyond.

Yesterday. John Howard, headmaster of Northwood School in Lake Placid, and Mrs. Howard went through the great main building and the other buildings and were truly impressed. We mention this only because Mr. Howard is a successful headmaster, with a skilled eye for what makes an attractive snd practical institution.

Stony Wold's "isolation" has sometimes been mentioned, but its location, 15 miles north, of Saranac Lake was no hardship for fifty years, years when transportation was not so good as it is now. Today it can be reached easily by good roads: it is only fifteen or twenty minutes from the Saranac Lake Airport, and it is on the New York Central line. It has been maintained in excellent shape under Ernest A. Jones, the manager. Surely a suitable use will be found for it.

--R.W.T.

Stony Wold in the White Fathers era, c. 1964.Adirondack Daily Enterprise, October 2, 1958

Stony Wold San Sale Contract Accepted

White Fathers Plan to Train Missionaries at Famous Institution

State Supreme Court, Church Authorities Must Approve Sale Contract

A contract for sale of Stony Wold Sanatorium on Lake Kushaqua to the White Fathers, a Catholic order which carries on missionary work in Africa, was accepted yesterday afternoon by the majority of the Stony Wold board of directors meeting in New York City.

The sale must be approved by the Supreme Court of New York and by Catholic Church authorities. The contract for the sale, together with a written bid from at least one other institution, will be submitted to the court.

The Rev. J. Alfred Richard, American Provincial Officer of the White Fathers, said that the order has wanted the famous sanatorium for "theoretical and technical training" of young men 18 years of age and older, who will then serve as missionaries.

There are 3100 White Fathers, he said, and their training period is nine years. There are also 1200 White Sisters. The order serves in 577 missionary stations covering two million square miles of the African continent.

Father Richard said there would be recruiting for the Stony Wold program and he did not yet know how many young men would train there. He said a summer camp for might also be operated on the property.

Negotiations for Stony Wold have been going on for some time. New York State has shown an interest in the facility. A couple of years ago it was believed that it would be used for care of cerebral palsy or multiple sclerosis patients. Mrs. Hoyt Joyce, president, worked hard on these programs but adequate financial support was not available.

Description of San Post Card, Lake Kushaqua, August 22, 1946

Stony Wold was established in 1901 for the treatment of pulmonary ailments. It continued in operation until 1956. It has one large building and 20 other buildings varying in size from the 17-room nurses' home to one and two family staff dwellings.

There were accommodations for over 150 patients and 70 staff members.

The Stony Wold property covers 1800 acres and includes most of Lake Kushaqua, which is a mile and a half long. Stony Wold is 17 miles north of Saranac Lake.

Its History

Stony Wold was founded by Mrs. James Edward Newcomb, who for a number of years had a summer home on Lake Kushaqua. She was particularly interested in helping working girls suffering with tuberculosis and interested the Gould, Potter and Morgan families, and the American Telephone and Telegraph Co., and the E.I. DuPont de Nemours Co. in supporting her program.

Over 6,000 men, women and children were treated at Stony Wold. Meanwhile in New York City out-patient clinics have been maintained by the Stony Wold Foundation. These will continue in operation.

Adirondack Daily Enterprise, February 17, 1959

White Fathers Plans For Stony Wold Set

Work to Start in April; Dedication for "Camp Lavigerie" June 14

Plans for moving the college seminary of the Society of Missionaries of Africa, White Fathers, to the newly-acquired property near Saranac Lake have been completed, the Very Rev. J. Alfred Richard, White Fathers provincial in the United States, announced this week.

In December, the White Fathers purchased. the property of the famed Stony Wold Sanatorium, which they will open for retreats and a junior boys camp, as well as the seminary.

Members of the society will arrive at Stony Wold early in April to begin plans for the move. The dedication has been set for June 14 and the camp, which is to be known as Camp Lavigerie, named for the founder of the White Fathers, will open on June 29. A camp director has been secured and a White Father will serve as chaplain.

The college is being named St. Joseph's Seminary and classes will start in the fall.

The seminary, which offers a four-year college course for prospective priests and also houses the postulate for brothers, is now located at Franklin, Pa., and is filled to capacity. The acquisition of the Adirondack Mountain resort makes it possible for extensive expansion without launching a building program, Father Richard points out.

The society's novitiate, presently located at Alexandria Bay, N.Y., will be moved to Franklin, Pa., at the beginning of the new term in August. The house at the Bay is also overcrowded and the more spacious Pennsylvania property is expected to be sufficient for the novitiate, since this spiritual training program is only one year for priests and two years for brothers.

The seminary at Stony Wold will be the only one conducted by the White Fathers in this country and all young men from throughout the province who begin their college studies under the Fathers will train there. Rev. J. Donald Murphy, formerly of Halifax, Nova Scotia, who spent several years as a missionary in Uganda will be superior at St. Joseph's. Rev. Anthony Coolen, who has been novice master since the White Fathers novitiate was opened in this country and is well known in the Alexandria Bay area will move to Franklin.

The White Fathers' society is international in scope with provinces throughout much of Western Europe, the United States and Canada. Dedicated exclusively to work in Africa, they operate a total of 615 missions throughout the continent. They are popularly known as the White Fathers, a name adapted from their white habit, a white cassock and hooded cape, identical to the dress of the North Africans. The only distinction is the black and white wooden rosary which the priests wear looped around their neck.

The society was started in 1868 and the United States province was formed in 1948: "The provincial house is located in Washington, D.C., and there are houses in Chicago. Los Angeles and Metuchen, N.J., as well as the New York and Pennsylvania properties. The White Fathers also erected the national shrine of Our Lady of Africa located at Franklin, Pa., for the purpose of increasing devotion for Africa; many of their outstanding films on the African missions are available through the African Film Foundation, and they publish their own magazine, "White Fathers Missions."

Adirondack Daily Enterprise, March 15, 1962

White Fathers of Africa Study at Onchiota Seminary

BY HOWARD RILEY

…The White Fathers this summer will have family camping facilities on Lake Kushaqua with 30 unit accommodations. Retreats for priests of the Ogdensburg Diocese are conducted in the summer as well as retreats for lay people.

Nineteen buildings in use now (heated) include the chapel, dormitory wing, administration building and classrooms. The operating rooms and X-ray department have been renovated into private rooms, some of the work being accomplished by the students themselves. New construction included an administration building and 9 cottages on the shores of Lake Kushaqua for family camping.

Stony Wold was founded by Mrs. James Newcomb, incorporated in 1901 and treated more than 6,000 people before scientific advances in use of tuberculosis drugs and increased home care treatment caused Stony Wold to close its doors in December 1955.

However, behind the statistical record is a heart-warming story of the dedication of Mrs. Newcomb in founding the hospital. Interest stemmed from her work as director of the Working Girls Vacation Society (now the Katharine Herbert Fund) when she realized the great need for a tubercular sanatorium for women.

Mrs. Newcomb, encouraged by Dr. Edward Trudeau and her husband Dr. Newcomb, bought property on Lake Kushaqua, and spent a winter there in her summer camp to establish "squatter's rights".

Friends of Mrs. Newcomb's banded into auxiliaries in New York City (18 in number) and came to her aid as the principal support of the sanatorium in the beginning. With the continued help from these auxiliaries and the generosity of the American Tel. & Tel. Company, E. I. duPont de Nemours, Gould, Biggs, Pond, Potter, Morgan and Rockefeller Stony Wold grew and reached its peak in the 30s with a 150-bed san and 1800 acres of property.

There are many people living here in the Adirondacks who were employed at Stony Wold. People who remember the dances, romances and parties that were part of their younger life as employees of Stony Wold when the hospital meant as much to the people who worked there as it did to those who cured there. So in this sense Stony Wold made a two-fold contribution to humanity through its founder. Mrs. Newcomb.

We will look forward to the growth of St. Joseph's Seminary in the years ahead, from its present 30 students to fill its 200capacity facilities.

Adirondack Daily Enterprise, September 18, 1974

State is buying Stony Wold Sanatorium

White Fathers selling famous institution to New York State.

By WILLIAM McLAUGHLIN

ONCHIOTA - New York State is in the process of adding another 1400 acre plot to its expanding land bank in this area with the acquisition of Stony Wold Sanatorium properties from the White Fathers.

The purchase price is unofficially reported to be $600,000 [?]. The White fathers paid $125,000 for the property on Lake Kushaqua in 1958.  They outbid Paul Smiths College at the time.

The state will assume ownership of all the buildings except the chapel, two cottages and the cemetery.

The White Fathers had advertised the property for sale at one and a quarter million but had reduced the figure to $750,000 before finally letting the state have it.

The Stony Wold Sanatorium closed as a health recovery installations 1955 after 54 years of service. It had a capacity for 150 patients but was operating at 30 percent of its peak load when it closed its doors.

A sale of the contents of the buildings been in progress for several weeks and rumors about the disposition prompted the Enterprise to ask the White Fathers their plans for the real estate.

The Department of Environmental Conservation said yesterday that the official news of its transfer to the state would come from Albany.

There is a small station included in the property which is also for sale but which would have to be moved. There were approximately 64 employees hired to handle sanatorium duties.

The White Fathers, a religious order, used it as a seminary to train young missionaries.

The overall property included the main building, and other buildings of varying sizes including a 17 room nurses home.

In its earlier days beginning in 1901 it was a mecca for girls suffering from tuberculosis and several sponsoring corporations sent their stricken employees to the san for treatment. They included prestigious American Tel. and Tel., E.I. Dupont de Nemourrs and Gould, Potter and Morgan interests.

Over 6,000 men, women and children eventually were treated at the nationally known center.

Stony Wold closed because of rapid change in the treatment of tuberculosis.

It was among the first institutions to inaugurate follow up rehabilitation beyond its walls with an outpatient clinic, social services facilities and a vacation camp for the cured.

Many other corporations evidenced interest in the acreage. It was under consideration for a time as a center for the treatment of multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy and as a rehabilitation unit for wayward girls. Plans for an airways training school for hostesses was also tabled some years ago.

There are still many people living in this area who were employed at Stony Wold.  They remember the [illegible], romances and parties that were part of their youthful days when the hospital meant as much to the people who worked there as it did to those who cured there.

The White Fathers opened with 30 students in 1989 and 3000 persons attended the dedication services on August 9th Bishop Fulton J. Sheen gave the sermon.

Snow drifts at Kushaqua, c. 1901-04 Stony Wold Construction, c. 1901-04 From a list found in the vault of Pine Ridge Cemetery, headed "Birthdates of Norwegian Patients at Stony Wold San., Lake Kushaqua, N.Y."

Name Birthdate
Karl Aasheim 6/17/1906
Henry Andersen 6/18/1918
Sverre Andreassen 4/9/1913
Birger Berntsen 1/16/1912
Karl Brattegjerde 11/19/1915
Gustav Davidsen 10/23/1909
Peder Drageland 8/13/1918
Torleif Gjersvik 11/7/1920
Haakon Hansen 3/12/1913
Magnus Hansen 4/17/1917
Iver Hersoug 6/21/1907
Ingemann Howland 9/25/1921
Marcus Jakobsen 11/14/1914
Miss Vivian Jensen 2/19/1911
Fritz Kristiansen 5/4/1907
Osvald Kristoffersen 1/9/1916
Arve Larsen 10/16/1908
Christian Larsen 11/12/1910
Jakob Lilleheim 4/24/1922
Johan Olsen 7/11/1895
Axel Olsen 9/11/1904
Egil Pedersen 6/6/1919
Louis Pedersen 9/14/1904
Odin Rasmussen 8/16/1908
Harrald Spernes  
Jostein Stavang 10/8/1920
Waldemar Tallaksen 10/27/1902
Trygve Thoresen 11/30/1920
Toralf Toresen 1/15/1900
Joakim Ulvestad 8/8/1898
Other Norwegian Seamen at Stony Wold (from Donation List, below)
Johann Martin Anstensen  
Alf Bergthun  
Oscar George Olsen  

Courtesy of Natalie Leduc Courtesy of Natalie Leduc Summary Report from the Social Welfare Committee's "Gift Fund Committee at its meeting in New York, December 2nd, 1942.

1. The Social Welfare Committee's "Gift Fund Committee" at its meeting yesterday decided to request our doctors to confer with Dr. Henning about the possibilities of having sister Helga be given more time so she may be able to work more closely with the Norwegian patients at Stony Wold and in Saranac Lake. To make it possible for her to do so, the committee decided to pay all her expenses for taxi or other means of transportation to Saranac Lake for visits to the patients in the 4 cottages there.

2. In addition, the committee decided to let her administer $25.00 which is to be used to buy birthday gifts for each of the patients, to arrange small parties, and otherwise to make it as pleasant as possible on important occasions.

3. For Christmas this year, it was suggested that Dr. Henning be requested to investigate the possibilities of having all the Norwegian patients at Saranac Lake, and at Stony Wold together for a Christmas Eve Party to enjoy a Norwegian Christmas with Norwegian food and other Norwegian delicacies such as "Sylteflesk, rullepølse, Lutefisk, Skinkestek, Risengrynsgrøt, Fattigmans bakkelse" and other Norwegian Christmas dishes.

The committee agreed to donate the sum of $100.— for the expenses of such a party. Nurse Helga to be requested to discuss the matter with dr. Henning and report at once his reaction to this. Much of the food can be bought in New York City and it is important that this committee be given an idea how many will be allowed for health reasons to be at such a party, and how many will be allowed to eat the various foods after sister Helga has explained to the doctor what each type of food is made from. In regards to making the lutefisk, risengrynsgrøt and ribbestek, it is possible that one of the men who at the present time is a patient at Stony Wold might be a steward or cook, and therefore may be able to supervise the cooking.

4. Nurse Helga is requested to at all times send in a written reports on her trips to Saranac Lake and keep an account of all her expenses. Bills to be submitted each month. When the $25.00 fund is used up, another decision of the committee is necessary to replenish this fund.

5. Nurse Helga is also requested to inform the committee what kind of gift packages arrive, and to distribute these after conference with Dr. Henning as to actual need of each patient. She is also requested to take care of all distribution of Christmas gifts, and if there should be a shortage, inform the committee so that it can be remedied.

6. A brief discussion regarding the work of the Saranac Lake Study and Craft Guild followed. It was decided to await the report from Mr. Stearns, before final decision as to payment of materials and books for the patients who are allowed to the courses suggested in their catalogue. It was, however, felt that each individual case has to be submitted to Dr. Henning for final OK for any type of courses or time to be used for classes either in bed or otherwise.

Correspondence about the Norwegian seamen at Stony Wold, from the files of the Pine Ridge Cemetery, courtesy of Natalie Leduc7. In regards to purchases of underwear etc. for the patients it was agreed that each patient should have his or her need fulfilled, but that in regard to coats and other outerwear each of these purchases must be checked with Dr. Henning as to time when the patients will be allowed outside. Nurse Helga to cheek on actual need for such outerwear, and submit her recommendation. Each patient will now be given 2 sets of pyjamas, 2 sets of underwear, and 3 pairs of socks, unless they already have received it.

All purchases shall as much as possible be made at the Stony Wold store. Nurse Helga to be requested to make the purchases in that store for the patients in Saranac Lake, or at stores in Saranac Lake provided prices are comparable to those at Stony Wold. The prices submitted by the Stony Wold store are as follows, with an addition of 10% for handling charges.

Pyjamas from $16.00 to 18.50 pr. dozen
Underwear $10.00 to $18.50
Socks $3.00 pr. dozen
Shirts $12.00 to 15.00 "
Bathrobes no price given.

In regards to coats and suits, all of those will be bought in New York City after measures have been taken and samples chosen by each patient who is recommended to receive such outerwear. A measuring chart is enclosed. These to be sent to our office for placing of the order after checking and OK given by Dr. Henning.

All other purchases for shoes, slippers etc. also to be made at the Stony Wold store, or at a store in Saranac Lake provided it does not exceed the following prices for each item as follows:

Shoes . . . . . $4.50
Arctics . . . . $3.50 to 4.00
Mackinaws . $7.50 or less
Single pants $4.50 to 5.00 or less
Slippers . . $1.50 to 2.00 or less

Many of the items the patients have asked for will be decided shortly, but it is felt that the purchase of pyjamas, underwear and socks can be taken care of at once.

All bills shall be submitted to this office at once and check will be made out to the store at Stony Wold or local store in Saranac Lake. It is hoped that Dr. Henning may OK a requisition for such purchases so as to prevent the stores from going through the regular channels of investigation our credit etc. and thereby delaying purchases and deliveries.

For the: SOCIAL WELFARE COMMITTEE'S "GIFT FUND"

Fredrik Haslund

Excerpt from an undated report written for the Sisters of Mercy by Sr. Agnes Martin: 1

Following the Great Depression, Sanatorium Gabriels was experiencing not only financial problems, but also a lack of patients. However, God again showed his interest in the Sisters' work. In the early 1940's, during World War II, a Norwegian ship was torpedoed and sunk. Many men lost their lives, but a number of sailors were rescued. Through their exposure to the sea and elements, it was found that many of these rescued men had developed TB. For some reason, the Norwegian Government could not bring them back to Norway, so made arrangements for their care at Stony Wold Sanatorium, a few miles from Gabriels. These patients, perhaps because of loneliness and lack of communication due to the language barrier, became a problem to Stony Wold due to their drinking and carousing. The Norwegian Officials were at a loss what to do about it, until it was suggested to them to ask the Sisters at Gabriels to take care of them. The Sisters immediately accepted. It was not long before the Sister Nurse in charge had them well under control, and these men had the greatest respect and love for her, as well as all the Sisters. They remained at Gabriels until the end of the war when they returned to their own country. The income derived from their care kept Gabriels going.

"Stony Wold" by Pat and Tom Willis, photo of display taken February 2009. "Stony Wold" by Pat and Tom Willis, photo of display taken February 2009. 

External link:

See also:

Sources:

  • Thelma Buck, “Stony Wold” in They Told Me So, Vol. II, 1987.

  • Frederick Seaver, Historical Sketches of Franklin County, 1918.

  • James Woods, Paul Smith’s College, 1980.

Brighton History Days have been held one weekend each summer since 1994, sponsored by the Brighton Architectural Heritage Committee.

Footnotes

1. This was sent from Millie Williams of the Uihlein Mercy Center to Natalie Leduc on November 2, 2006.0

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