Troy Laundry 
Troy Laundry's original location at 11 River Street (Undated clipping, probably c. 1948, Watertown Times) 
Steam press at the Troy Laundry, c.1910 Address: Sumner Lane
Old Address: 15 Sumner Place (originally at 11 River Street)
Year built: 1917
The Troy Laundry was established in 1909, the largest and longest lasting of at least three commercial laundries in the village that cleaned and sterilized linen for the local cure industry. It was founded by Lemuel B. Magill in 1909. See also the chapter on the Magill Cottage in the book Cure Cottages of Saranac Lake by Philip L. Gallos.
When the Silver Laundry burned to the ground in 1955, the Troy Laundry offered the use of their facilities to their competitors to get them through the crisis. Within a year, the Silver Laundry merged with the Troy Laundry; after the merger, the Troy was the only commercial laundry operating in the town. 1
William Ames was president of the Troy Laundry.
It closed in the 1960s.
The building was purchased from the village in the 1970s by Charles Thew. In 1979, the building was purchased by the Saranac Lake Adult Center as its "permanent site". George Rosenvald of Plattsburgh was hired to plan the renovations to the building. 2 These plans did not come to fruition, however, and the Adult Center later located on Broadway. In 1983, it was purchased by Hank Stern of Gabriels, and then by Bruce Darring of Lake Clear in 1985.
Adirondack Daily Enterprise, June 14, 1955
THE SPIRIT OF COOPERATION
It's a wonderful thing! We can fight it out with our competitors year in and year out. And then, come a disaster, we can offer the helping hand of cooperation.
To use a rather ancient but pleasant cliche, the cockles of our heart were considerably warmed yesterday when we read that the Troy Laundry had offered the use of its facilities to Mrs. Edith Smith of the Silver Laundry following the disastrous fire on Sunday, and that Mrs. Smith had ''gratefully accepted."
We congratulate Messers Oscar Jackson and Edward Mack of the Troy Laundry for their very generous gesture.
At the same time, we express our admiration for the determination of Mrs. Smith, in the face of this disaster, to plan a new building for her laundry.
Finally, on behalf of everyone concerned, we commend the Fire Department and each of its volunteer members for a splendid job in preventing the extension of the fire. J.L.
Troy Laundry building,
Adirondack Enterprise, January 12, 1991.Adirondack Daily Enterprise, January 12, 1991
Industry a key ingredient in hamlet revitalization
by Susan Colt, Weekender Editor
. . . National Door Company of Saranac Lake . . . just closed its doors this week. National Door, the recipient of numerous grants, had been making their loan payments regularly. Bruce and Barbara Darring, the entrepreneurs who developed National Door, also rehabilitated the former Green's Grocery Store in Saranac Lake. The grocery store was open for a summer after being refurbished and then closed. David McDowell of the village community development office , was meeting this week with the owners to discuss the possible sale of the business. Although the door company imported much of their wood it did draw on the indigenous skills of its work force . . .
See also
Comments
Footnotes
1. Adirondack Enterprise,11/30/1955, "Two Laundries Merged Here"
2. Adirondack Daily Enterprise, August 23, 1979.
