The Saranac Lake firm of Smith Golder and Homburger did civil engineering and surveying for the 1932 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid.
Bobsledder Henry Homburger, a principal member of the firm, designed the bobsled track used for those Winter Olympics; he also did engineering work for the architect William G. Distin in the design of the Olympic Arena in Lake Placid. Charles W. Golder was an engineer with the firm.
The firm was little mentioned in the newspapers except in connection with their work for the Winter OIympics, but it is clear that it had existed since at least 1927. The firm is listed in the village directories at 84 Main Street in 1933.
Lake Placid News, July 18, 1930
WILL ADVERTISE FOR BIDS ON OLYMPIC BOB RUN
Completion of State Commission Will Mean Early Beginning of Work on Mt. Van Hoerenberg Site
As soon as the leader of the senate names the final two members of the state Olympic commission, officials will advertise for bids for the construction of the Olympic bob run on Mt. VanHoevenberg near this village, and work on the actual building; of the run will begin immediately following the award of the contract, it was announced Wednesday by Ernest Gamache, secretary of the Third Olympic Winter Games committee.
Henry Homburger of Smith, Golder & Homburger, Saranac Lake, is preparing the specifications for the contractors from the plans prepared by St. M. Zentzytzki, the German engineer, who passed several weeks in Lake Placid this spring, laying out the Olympic run. Mr. Homburger worked with Mr. Zentzytzki on the plans. It is stated that the specifications are now practically completed.
The Olympic run on Mr. Van-Hoevenberg will be 2350 metres, or about one and one-half miles in length, with an average drop of 10.1. Containing 20 curves, the Lake Placid run will be one of the sportiest and best in the world and will afford Olympic contestants all the bob-sledding thrills the most ardent enthusiasts will desire.
The road from the Cascade highway at the John Forbes farm to the base of the run, about one mile in length, is now being built. This highway will be of dirt con- struction and will be suitable for automobile traffic both winter and summer. A steel bridge is being thrown across the river. The Olympic committee is pushing work on these major Olympic projects with all possible speed in order that the highway and the run may be ready for use early this winter.
Lake Placid News, August 1, 1930
SENATOR WARREN T. THAYER NAMED CHAIRMAN OF STATE OLYMPIC BODY AT MEETING HERE WEDNESDAY
…The commission was much interested in how the Olympic committee had gone about its work and was much gratified with the progress.
At the suggestion of Mr. Ferris the permanent title of State Olympic Winter Games Commission" was chosen.
Bob-run Gets Attention
The major work of the commission will be to undertake and support [illegible] It was pointed out that little time remained for the construction of the run as it must be read for use this coming winter.
The committee promised all possible haste, and it is hoped active work will get under way within a week. The commission approved the site of Mt. Van Hoevenberg, was satisfied, with the plans as made by Mr. Zentzytzki, could find no objections to plans as developed by Smith, Golder & Homburger, and in fact approved of all that has been done to date. All possible haste was urged in the construction of the lead-in road from the Cascade highway at the Forbes farm to the base of the run. In distance this road measures 5,177 feet or approximately one mile. It will be built of semi-permanent construction so as to allow the passage of contractors' machinery and light traffic to the run.
Representatives of the local commission laid before the committee the work that has been done thus far in building ski trails. Two have already been built and two more are ready for laying out.
Before adjourning it was decided to meet in Lake Placid again on August 16th. The commission is well started on the work to be done and will push forward with it as rapidly as possible. They aim to make the coming Olympics the best and most widely known of all winter Olympics.
Lake Placid News, July 10, 1931
CONTRACTOR BEGINS GRADING MAIN ST. PLOT
27,000 Cubic Feet of Earth and Stone to Be Moved — Large Level Space to Be Used for Area or Parking Tuesday morning of this week work of grading the plot of land across from the village firehouse on Main street was begun with a large force of men on the job.
… If the projected indoor ice arena is built the plot will be used as a site for this structure; otherwise it is considered likely that a large parking space for automobiles will be laid out. All grading work is to be completed in 25 days, according to the terms of the contract. 27,000 cubic feet of stone and earth are to be moved, states Henry Homburger of Smith Golder & Homburger of Saranac Lake, engineer in charge. The plot will be graded at a level approximately 20 feet above Main street, and, when completed, the level graded area will contain about one and one-half acres...
