Thomas Blagden
from Church of the Ascension: The First 100 Years, 1884 to 1984The Cottage owned by Thomas Blagden that preceded the Saranac Inn; US President Grover Cleveland used it for his honeymoon in 1886. (Photo by Seneca Ray Stoddard) Born: October 18, 1853

Died: October 6, 1938

Married: Helen Peabody Rich

Children: Augustus S. Blagden, Thomas Blagden, Jr., Benjamin D. S. Blagden, Donald P. Blagden, and Harry H. Blagden

Thomas Blagden was a son of Thomas Blagden (1803-1870), though his name rarely has "Jr." added. He was an early landowner of the Saranac Inn region, having owned great tracts of land and built many of the earliest camps on the lake, including Deerwood, Camp of the Winds, Camp Alpha and Camp Omega.  He also founded a boys' camp, La Jeunesse, on Fish Creek.  

Tupper Lake Free Press And Herald, October 6, 1938Malone Palladium, November 6, 1902

THOS. BLAGDEN DIES MONDAY

Thomas Blagden, 86, pioneer Adirondack mountain camp operator and holder of considerable property In Washington, D. C, died Monday night at Camp Omega, his summer home at Saranac Lake.

Born in Washington Oct. 18, 1863, Blagden was educated in the public schools there. He came to the Adirondacks in 1870 and opened Camp Alpha, first of a series of lodges in the upper Saranac Lake area.

Survivors are five sons, Augustus S. Blagden of Ambler, Pa.; Thomas Jr., Benjamin D. S. and Donald P., all of New York city, and Henry Harison, of Upper Saranac.

Properties owned by Thomas Blagden near the Saranac Inn, 1912 Essex County Republican, October 7, 1938

Thomas Blagden Dies At Saranac Lake

Thomas Blagden, who owned great tracts of land in the upper Saranac Lake region and whose family gave part of the Rock Creek Park land to the District of Columbia, died Monday night at his home at Saranac Lake, Camp Omega. He was 85 years old.

Mr. Blagden was one of the first major land holders of this Adirondack Mountain region. He was born in Washington and attended public schools there until 1870, when he made his first visit to this region, then little more than wilderness. He opened Camp Alpha, first of a group of beautiful mountain lodges which he built in subsequent years in the upper Saranac Lake region.

The Blagden family donated land which was added to the original 1,000 acres in Rock Creek Park at Washington.

Mr. Blagden had been a member of the summer colony at Saranac for more than 60 years. His wife, the former Helen Peabody Rich, Yonkers, whom to married in 1877, died last August. He was a member of the Sons of the Revolution, the Society of Mayflower Descendents and the Society of Colonial Wars.

Surviving are five sons, Thomas Blagden. Jr. of 25 East End Avenue. Benjamin D. S. Blagden, of 741[?] East Forty-fourth Street, and Donald P. Blagden. of 810 Fifth Avenue, all of New York City; Augustus S. Blagden, of Ambler, Pa., and Henry Harrison Blagden, of Upper Saranac Lake. Private funeral services were held Wednesday at Camp Omega. Burial will be in the family vault in Washington.

A postcard of the Blagden Cottage
Courtesy of the Adirondack ExperienceMalone Palladium, November 6, 1902

The advertisement of THOS. BLAGDEN, of Saranac Inn, for live partridges, which appears in another column of the PALADIUM, is one of many evidences that a new and better spirit is developing among sportsmen, whose motive has long been to kill, kill, kill without thought for ultimate consequences. Therefore the fishing and hunting in many localities have been destroyed, and a principal attraction of the wilderness sacrificed. Entire species of wild animals have been nearly or quite exterminated while in the process the genus, the human hog, has thrived and multiplied. Happily, however, many men have been of late taking thought for the morrow, and while these continue to kill in moderation they; provide for replenishing also. Such work as Mr. BLAGDEN apparently contemplates supplemented by a decent observance of the game law, will go along way to keep the Adirondacks a game section, and to make the business of hotel keeping and of guiding profitable. A good part of the money brought into the county in this way finds a wide distribution, and accomplishes a general benefit. Tradesmen get it, and market gardeners and poultry fanciers especially share in it. Stocking, both as to fish and animals, should go hand by hand with killing.

Tupper Lake Herald, July 5, 1912

CHIEF JUSTICE WHITE

Takes the Famous Cleveland Cabin at Saranac Inn for the Season

Chief Justice White of the United States Supreme Court has rented the cottage adjoining Saranac Inn, at Upper Saranac Lake, which is owned by Mr. Blagden and for a number of seasons was occupied by President and Mrs. Cleveland. The cottage is picturesquely located in the woods with an extensive lawn which affords a view of lake and mountain scenery.

Essex County Republican, April 16, 1920

FAMOUS ADIRONDACK CAMPS HAVE BEEN SOLD

"Deerwood Camp" and "Camp O' The Winds” Purchased by Cleveland and New York Business Men.

One of the most famous of Adirondack properties has changed hands in the sale of the Thomas Blagden tract at Saranac Inn consisting of Deer Wood camp and Camp o’ the Winds purchased respectively by John L. Severance of Cleveland, and J. R. Harbeck of New York. The property is valued at $300,000.

The  Deer Wood property consists of about 60 acres and on it are located the famous deer park and the widely known springs developed by Mr. Blagden. There is a large English country house on the property which can be occupied the year round . It has about 25 rooms with a half a dozen baths, a large boat house, tennis court and servants quarters. It has been occupied at various times by Mr. Standard who is connected with the Standard Oil Company.

The deer park is know to hundreds of campers and tourists. There are about a dozen deer in the inclosure, all of which are descendants of two fawn which strayed into the rough camp of Mr. Blagden 35 years ago.

Camp o’ the Winds adjoins Deer Wood and consists of many buildings including the main assembly, lodges, barns, garages, boathouses, etc.  It is one of the handsomest properties on the upper lake.

Mr. Blagden has long been a devotee of the Adirondacks. He was one of the original owner of  Saranac Inn, having been a member of the Upper Saranac association.  He has two cottages at Saranac Inn and will continue to occupy them.

External link:

Comments

Add tags