Nick Stoner & French Louie Seymour Exhibit
The Caroga Historical Association and Museum, in collaboration with the Adirondack Museum of Blue Mountain Lake is presenting a special exhibit this summer. The exhibit will explore early pioneer life in the Adirondacks through the experiences and personal artifacts of our local icon, Nick Stoner, and the famous Adirondack guide, French Louie Seymour.
The name “Nick Stoner” is recognized by most because a Canada Lake island, two nearby lakes, the local golf course and an important road are named for him. But many don’t know that he was an iconic frontier hero of the Adirondacks: soldier (at the age of 14), trapper, Indian fighter, adventurer, farmer and early Adirondack guide. Born in 1762, his life spanned 94 years that included the American Revolution and the War of 1812; he served in both. There is a wealth of documented information about Nick Stoner because one of the earliest American historians, Jeptha Root Simms, wrote “Trappers of New York” in 1850. It was essentially a biography of Stoner who was still alive and supplied much of the material himself.
French Louie Seymour, born about 15 years before Nick Stoner died, was a colorful trapper, adventurer and Adirondack guide who lived to age 80. He died in 1915. He saw the development of mining and logging change the Adirondacks from the wild forest Nick Stoner knew to a well explored place where wealthy sportsmen came to relax, hunt and fish with help from experienced guides like Seymour. The Adirondack Museum is contributing a wealth of information and artifacts relating to French Louie.
This special exhibit opens a page of local history seldom visited. Please include it in your plans this summer.