Senate Resolution No. 2776

BY: Senator LITTLE

COMMENDING the Lake George Steamboat Company upon
the occasion of celebrating its 200th Anniversary on
April 15, 2017

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that the quality
of life of the citizens of the State of New York is greatly enriched by
its exceptional cultural, educational and recreational institutions; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
commend the Lake George Steamboat Company upon the occasion of its 200th
Anniversary to be celebrated with a myriad of events throughout the
year; and

WHEREAS, The first commercially successful steamboat service in
America was inaugurated by Robert Fulton, whose steam-powered paddle
boat, the "Clermont," sailed up the Hudson River from New York City to
Albany, arriving at the state capital on August 19, 1807, after 32 hours
running time; and

WHEREAS, On April 15, 1817, the Lake George Steamboat Company was
incorporated by the New York State Legislature to operate commercial
shipping on Lake George; and

WHEREAS, The first Lake George steamboat, christened the "James
Caldwell," was launched in 1817, and was constructed on the canal-boat
lines that characterized the boats of the time; it is recorded she was
equipped with two long boilers and a unique brick smokestack; and

WHEREAS, The "James Caldwell" was followed in 1824, by the side
wheeler "Mountaineer," and in 1850, by the "John Jay"; and

WHEREAS, A new vessel, launched in the spring of 1857, was
christened the "Minne-Ha-Ha"; she was the first vessel to resemble what
might be called a modern steamboat; she had two decks, the upper deck
being covered aft and open forward, and had a capacity of about 400
passengers; and

WHEREAS, Following the Civil War, through a series of transportation
consolidations, the Lake George Steamboat Company became part of the
Delaware and Hudson Railroad System, serving as a link in its New York
City to Canada operations; a railroad branch ran from Glens Falls to
Lake George and passengers stepped off the train and onto the steamers
for the trip up the lake to Ticonderoga; and

WHEREAS, The Delaware & Hudson railroad owned and operated the Lake
George passenger boats for 68 years; during that time the company built
the finest of sidewheel steamboats such as the "Sagamore" and the
"Horicon II"; and

WHEREAS, The Great Depression of the 1930s drastically reduced the
Lake George passenger business and the advent of World War II brought
the boat business to its knees; the Delaware & Hudson scrapped the

"Sagamore" and "Horicon II"; its remaining vessel, the "Mohican," was
sold to Captain George Stafford and ran a limited summer schedule during
the war years; and

WHEREAS, Captain Wilbur Dow, who acquired the Lake George Steamboat
Company after World War II, renovated the "Mohican" in 1947, and again
in 1967; two years later, he built the sternwheeler "Minne-Ha-Ha";
following an 11-year construction effort, the "Lac du Saint Sacrement"
was placed in service in 1989; and

WHEREAS, Today, after 200 years of continuous service, the mighty
"Mohican," "Minne-Ha-Ha," and "Lac du Saint Sacrement" transport
tourists and locals back in time on spectacular adventures through the
deep, clear water of the most majestic Adirondack body of water, Lake
George; and

WHEREAS, It is with great pleasure that this Legislative Body
acknowledges this exceptional business and its contributions to the
local and State economies, fully confident that it will continue to
enjoy the sparkling successes it has experienced thus far; now,
therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend the Lake George Steamboat Company upon the occasion of
celebrating its 200th Anniversary on April 15, 2017; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the Dow Family.