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Hard to get there. Harder to leave. It’s how we describe Hague, located on northern Lake George. Second-home owners abound during the warm summer months, heading back to their ‘real life’ around Labor Day. After that, Hague shuts down. That’s when the only thing you can buy in town is a stamp or a house. We can get groceries in Ticonderoga, which is about 12 miles away. That’s also where the kids go to school, ever since Hague Central School shut down in 1979.
In the colder months, life slows down, and we have more time to spend with friends, to get out and enjoy the simple beauty of our tiny town, surrounded by mountains. These mountains are beautiful, but they also make getting out of Hague treacherous in the winter months. And that’s just one more reason why we say Hague is hard to get to and harder to leave.
Jabes Pond in Hague, October 2022
— Ginger Henry Kuenzel
Photos provided by the author
Editor’s note: Share what you love about your part of the Adirondacks. What makes it special? Send your “The Place I Live” commentary to Melissa Hart: editor@adirondackalmanack.com.
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Went to Camp Arcady when it’s director was Eddy Trenner, my cousin and a WWII hero.
Loved going into Hague. I always left camp early to join my parents at our camp near Pottersville… see the 2nd post of this thread.
Deep Adirondack roots!
Thank you for this! Area native, but haven’t lived there since ‘53. I see this and ask myself: is there any place more beautiful?
A friend of mine, already knowing my love for the outdoors and the many National Parks I have visited, was astonished that I had never been to the ADKs. I was from a neighboring state, which made this even more unlikely. He insisted I use his “camp” as a starting point to explore the Park. (what was this “camp” he had? Did it have a roof? lol). So I did. After that first visit to Schroon Lake, (which I can assure you I mispronounced at the time), I knew I wanted to move to somewhere in the Park. So using his beautiful “home” as a center, off I went exploring. On my first trip to find the perfect spot, I got off the northway at exit 24 and found myself following the Schroon River into Route 8. Snow had started to fall and the ground had just begun to hold that snow. I followed that 8 through Brant Lake and then UP, UP ,UP and over to Hague. Mouth agape from the beauty, it was hard to shut as I followed Lake George north. Fast forward…..I explored the entire Park for well over 5 years, abusing my welcome at his cabin, which no one used in the winter months. After seeing nearly every magnificent spot, I finally plopped down between Brant Lake and Hague. (I wanted a lot of acreage so on the lake in Hague wasnt doable for me). When friends come to visit the first place I take them is UP,UP, and UP then OVER and share with them that magnificent ride into Hague. It NEVER disapoints and always impresses.
Our go-to place to go as teens in the 60s; arriving by outboard from across the lake. A few bucks could get you a Coke and french fries at the diner, now gone. A fake ID could get you in the Cave, also now gone, for a beer and loud music. In the 70s, as a counselor at the LG Camp for Girls, the camp boat would drop you off in Hague. It was the only place to go on your one day off.
I am a lifelong year round resident of Hague. Ginger’s pictures are lovely,however, I wish she had included one of North Pond. It’s beautiful, especially in the fall. Her commentary mentioned the “downtown” area of Hague, but she missed out on the backroads of Hague where the bulk of the remaining lifelong residents still live and enjoy the beauty of seeing mountains with or without views of a lake or pond. And she mentioned how we lost our school in 1979…..thanks for the voting laws and the votes taking place in the summer months that allowed for the summer residents to cast their votes in a district in which they had no other interests than “summering.” We actually had more voters then than the entire population of Hague!!! It is not the same place I grew up in. We used to know our neighbors; now it’s doubtful. There were two yr round stores; today none. No school. And none of the 3 churches has resident pastor. No more American Legion which used to have a strong membership. Is Hague still lovely?? Yes, but instead of having a true town – a place where there is a beautiful environment, local stores, a school, and most importantly a decent equalization between adults and children, we really just have a sleeper town, a retirement town. Our children number less than a hundred in a town of roughly 700. Sadly it is reminiscent of any of the towns that no longer exist in the Adirondack Park. I am grateful to live in my family home in my hometown. But when we talk about our towns, we should use “both sides of the brush” so to speak, and include all facets of the pros and cons, the history of ALL parts of the town, and not just show the more touristy things.
The slower life of our Adirondack towns and villages still resonates with me. Back in the 1950s, my Pottersville high school classmates and I would pass the long cold winter nights playing basketball in a sport circuit that included several other local Adirondack central schools, among them; Chestertown, Horicon and Hague schools.
A local school bus would transport the whole entourage including coaches, players, and cheerleaders over treacherous winter roads and, miraculously, get us all back to Pottersville safely, and a good time was had by all.
I grew up in Hague as a child, and although the family moved a lot, Hague always remained my hometown. There’s a lot of history in our town! Sure there’s the lakes, ponds, and mountains but, the people (relatives and long time friends) kept our tiny town alive year round. And at one time every one knew everyone! Traditions were passed down, family reunions were alive and so on. I do agree when the school shut down a piece of us went too! The town’s beauty remains 100% throughout its changing times!