Born: c. 1867
Died: c. June 21, 1952
Married: Sylvia B. Jenkins
Children: Harold Jenkins, Charles Jenkins
Walter P. Jenkins was an early farmer and landowner in Saranac Lake, having inherited the Jenkins Farm with his brother. He left Saranac Lake in the mid-1930s. He donated the land for Sunset Park to the village.
From an article on the Donaldson Block by Philip L. Gallos
William L. Distin sold the Donaldson Block to Walter P. Jenkins in June, 1922. Walter and his brother Charles owned the Jenkins' Farm, a very large parcel of land west of the downtown part of the village. Charles had control of the westerly part of this land and Walter the easterly part, closer to the business district. Although both farmed it to a certain degree (Walter raised cabbages at the location of the Petrova Avenue athletic fields), the Jenkins seemed mainly interested in selling the farm lot by lot — especially Walter. In fact, Walter Jenkins made one hundred real estate sales from 1920 to 1938.
Unfortunately, Mr. Jenkins was not as good at holding onto his returns as he was at selling his land. He eventually became hopelessly entangled in debts. In November, 1937, the ownership of 56 Main St, changed from Walter Jenkins to the Saranac Lake National Bank. By then Mr. Jenkins was living in Monterey County, California, but his name lives on in the village as Jenkins Street, located off Lake Street on the old Jenkins Farm property.
Adirondack Daily Enterprise, June 21, 1952
RITES TODAY FOR W. JENKINS
Funeral services were held in Monterey, Calif., this morning, for Walter P. Jenkins. 85, who died at his home there following a short illness.
Mr. Jenkins was born in Gabriels, and lived at 41 Lake street, Saranac Lake, until moving to the coast in 1932. He conducted a real estate business at 65 Main street. He was a member of the Whiteface Mt. Lodge Free and Accepted Masons.
The body will be cremated and the ashes interred in the Pine Ridge Cemetery.
Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Sylvia B. Jenkins, of Monterey; two sons, Harold Jenkins, of Lake Placid and Charles Jenkins, of Golden, Colo.
