1955 USGS detail of McKenzie Pond
Tadd's Bay is presumably named for J. Liberty Tadd. The road now called Tadd's Way is the road that heads toward Tadd's Bay from McKenzie Pond road. The map shows seven structures on it. The 1922 account of the fire, below, states that "A gale was blowing but it drove the flames toward the open clearing and this saved the other buildings." This would suggest that the building across the road from the group of four buildings, near the large clearing, was the main building that burned.The Adirondack Summer Art School, was founded on farmland on the shore of McKenzie Pond in 1900 by J. Liberty Tadd, director of the Industrial Art School of Philadelphia, It taught drawing, painting, modeling, carving, and nature study.
The school appears to have closed after its founder's death, though his wife may have summered there for a few years.
In 1925, the property was bought by Frank Menzel, who operated it as Menzel's Camps, a tourist camp.
Menzel’s Camps, c. 1925. It is likely that the building on the right was the main school building and across the road were cabins which housed the students.
Courtesy of the Adirondack ExperienceMalone Farmer, August 1, 1900
Prof. J. Liberty Tadd, a well-known visitor at Saracac Lake, who is a director of the Public School of Industrial Art in Philadelphia and several night schools in the Quaker City, has purchased the Harvey farm, one mile from Saranac Lake village, and proposes to establish there a permanent summer school in Industrial Art. The location commands a charming view of over 80 Adirondack peaks. Already he has ten cottages completed and about 30 pupils and a workshop fitted up in the most approved manner. He intends gradually to erect more cottager until upwards of 50 have been built.
Malone Farmer, March 7, 1906
Charles Perks, who has charge of Prof. J. Liberty Tadd's summer school buildings and grounds near McKenzie Pond, reports that a big buck visited the buildings recently and appeared to want to make his home in the stables. “It is a wonderful thing,” says Mr. Perks, “to see deer at this season of the year. They are usually yarded and do not travel about."
Porter E. Sargent, The Handbook of Private Schools, Volume 4, 1918
Adirondack Summer Art School, Saranac Lake, follows the prevocational methods in drawing, painting, modeling, carving, and nature study advocated by J. Liberty Tadd, director of the Industrial Art School, Philadelphia, who established this summer school in 1893.
Lake Placid News, January 6, 1922
Tadd's Art School Burned
The main building of the J. Liberty Tadd art school at McKenzie Pond near Saranac Lake, was destroyed by fire recently. A gale was blowing but it drove the flames toward the open clearing and this saved the other buildings. The building was used as a residence by Darwin Baker, caretaker, and the fire caught from a cook stove. The Saranac Lake fire department went to the scene and pumped the well on the place dry in fighting the flames. The firemen then used their entire chemical supply but without avail. They managed, however, to save one of the other buildings which stood very near. Practically all the contents of the burned building was saved. The owner of the property and proprietor of the school is now in Florida. The school has long been one of the show points in the Adirondacks.
Lake Placid News, June 13, 1924
FIRST WOOD FIRE BURNS FINE WOOD NEAR ART SCHOOL
Saranac Lake Fire Department Called to Quell Flames in Woods Near McKenzie Pond
Following the first forest fire of the season, which took a toll of six acres of fine wood in the vicinity of McKenzie pond, District Forest Ranger James H. Hopkins today doubled the forest guards to prevent the series of fires that usually occur in this season.
The first fire threatened the camp and cottages of the late J. Liberty Tadd, who conducted an art school. An alarm was turned in to the Saranac Lake Fire Department at the Riverside Inn. The men were taken from there in automobiles to the scene of the fire.
The volunteer forces gave aid to Mr, Hopkins and a force of men in beating out the flames. When the fire was extinguished the men returned to the village while the rangers remained on guard.
A patrol is still stationed near the fire, which was in a thick portion of the forest. Persons familiar with the woods declare the danger of fire has been lessened by the heavy rainfall. The rangers, however, will keep close watch and a determined effort will be made to cut down the damage from fires
