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In the old days Duane had two
hotels besides the Duane establishments for the accommodation of stage
travelers and the few sportsmen who sought the locality for hunting and
fishing. One was kept by Hiram Ayers, and the other by Ezekiel Ladd, who
built it in 1839, ‘and who was succeeded by Jabez Hazen, Henry Woodford,
James Bean and Robert Ladd. The building was burned in 1890 and rebuilt by
Robert Ladd. This latter hotel is now the town house. Later William J.
Ayers had a summer hotel that was famous for the excellence of its table,
and which, until it was burned, enjoyed a considerable patronage, and
George Selkirk now conducts a modest establishment for summer boarders and
sportsmen in the western part of the town. Lake Meacham was long one of
the best trout waters and deer hunting localities in the Adirondacks, and
still gives good sport in these regards. Before the civil war “Aunt. Mary”
Wine lived there in a cabin, and cared for chance visitors in a crude but
hospitable way. Then a little better house, kept by John Titus for several
years, and afterward by Henry Woodford, began to attract custom, and in
1872 was purchased by Isaac Chesley and Alonzo R. Fuller, by whom it was
enlarged and improved. Mr. Chesley retired from the partnership after a
year or two, after which Mr. Fuller conducted the hotel alone for perhaps
twenty years. Something like eighteen years ago the house burned, and was
wholly rebuilt on modern lines. Shortly afterward the place changed hands,
and is at present managed by A. H. Mould for the owners. Mr. Fuller was a
gentleman of exceptional intelligence, with the tastes of the naturalist
abundantly developed. He was one of the first men in the country to
demonstrate the practicability of artificial propagation of fish, and was
an authority on everything pertaining to the forests. His ability and
attainments were recognized by the most eminent scientists, and for years
he was in correspondence with Agassiz and other men of like standing, who
sought his views and statement of his experiments and knowledge. Mr.
Fuller’s influence in the community was a force for good in every respect,
and through his teachings and agency in various forms, and also through
association with his guests, the people of the town gained remarkably in
material welfare, general appearance, intelligence and morality. Mr.
Fuller removed to Malone, where he conducted a jewelry store and “clock
hospital” until his death in 1912.
Referenced by:
Http://history.rays-place.com/
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