1. Text of Barney Fowler Times Union Article – Nov. 29, 1983
Lake George Isles Freed by One Man
A Man Truly Extraordinary. Can the image of a man grow stronger as the years
pass since his death at age 84 on Feb. 1, 1963.
I say it can indeed if that man is John S. Apperson who lived in Schenectady but
whose heart and soul were in the Adirondacks. I have, in the past, mentioned Apperson
in scores of talks delivered in this area and elsewhere, and always there was fascination
expressed that such a man did once exist.
I bring this up today simply because although I knew the man well, I never
realized fully that he was responsible for saving the islands in Lake George for public
use. The story is incredible and I cheerfully compliment William M. White of Van
Curler Ave., Schenectady, for bringing Apperson’s efforts to the attention of the
thousands who, while using the islands, never realize that once their access was in grave
jeopardy because of greed and politics.
Mr. White skillfully describes the situation and furnishes proof in photos
published in the December issue of Adirondac magazine, published by the non-profit
Adirondack Mountain Club.
It may surprise many today to know that during the latter part of the 1900s the
state paid little attention to the Lake George islands. Some were sold by the state for as
little as $40; Dome Island, which must now be valued at at least a quarter million dollars,
once was sold with four or five other islands for the magnificent sum of $400!
There developed in the times mentioned individuals who began occupying the
state owned islands and building summer homes on them, despite the fact they possessed
no valid deeds. On the contrary, their only right, if it can be called that, was based on
“knowing the right politician.”
When such private individuals took over, the public was excluded. The situation
did not sit well with Apperson, whose love for Lake George and the area was such that at
one time he told a legislative committee that he never married because he had a mistress
– said mistress being Lake George. The man decided to do something about getting rid
of what he considered squatters.
Starting off with a sympathetic state official in 1917 he visited island after island,
delivering proper legal papers, telling the squatters, some of whom lived in rather ornate
summer homes, to get off the islands or he would return the following week with friends
to :take their camp down.” I might add that Apperson, who had been threatened many
times because of his aggressive preservation [activities would often carry a gun]
………….

2. Where he had to use it. Campers who had taken over the public lands often tried
to bully Apperson with the announcement they “were going to get him,” and that “they
knew a top state official,” but this was merely a blast of air as far as Apperson was
concerned and such threats were brushed off.
He did follow up on reappearance, advancing at the head of a group of GE “test
men,” members of that company’s apprentice program. His contact with the test men
was normal, since Apperson himself was employed by GE and, as a matter of fact, was a
personal friend of such individuals as Dr. Irving Langmuir, Nobel science prize winner.
Upon his second visit, the Apperson war party used sledgehammers and other
equipment on the island homes, a move which usually convinced occupants their
presence on the islands as “owners” was not desired – nor healthy. On many visits,
Apperson furnished a barge to transport demolished buildings. In one instance, a family
departed albeit unwillingly, floating not only furniture, but horse and calf!
When Apperson scouted the islands he used his camera to bolster his arguments
of illegal possession. Usually when he photographed a summer home, his camera
included the name of the island (Phelps and Juanita among many) posted on trees and
also signs denoting they were state owned. In some cases, he used movie cameras to take
pictures of a “camp owner” climbing a tree, removing signs, and tossing them into a
bonfire.
Apperson was hell-on-wheels when it came to Lake George preservation. He was
responsible for miles of the Knapp estate on the east side shore being purchased by the
state, Dome Island is a monument to him, since he once owned it and sold it to the Nature
Conservancy for $1. Islands, once threatened by erosion, were rock-ribbed by Appy and
his friends – another story to be told by Mr. White. And his most dramatic effort
(dramatic, I repeat) was instituting legal action to get Lake George’s water level lowered
to that during the French and Indian War of 1755!
The move failed. Had it succeeded, the lake level would have been dropped about
three feet and white sand beach, now buried, would have reappeared. And the natural
stone dam at the lake’s outlet at Ticonderoga would have been restored to what it once
was before Man built a higher barrier for purposes of water power.

3. A Skeleton Biography of John Samuel Apperson
Abstract (by Art Newkirk)
This is a collection of drafts prepared in an attempt to write a biography of John
S. Apperson. It is being put together for submission to the Adirondack Research Library
so that it will be available to the public. It also contains a suggestion for the publication
of a booklet that would contain most of the information plus a reproduction of a number
of Apperson’s pamphlets.
INTRODUCTION
John Apperson was a force for conservation in New York State from 1920 to
1950, yet necause he was an individualist whose accomplishments were not always
obvious or directly connected to him, he is not now very well known or appreciated.
When he first came to Schenectady from Virginia in 1900 to join the General Electric
Company he continued his interest in the out-of-doors and soon discovered Lake George
and the High Peaks of the Adirondacks. This led to his discovery of the existence of the
Forest Preserve, and he was to contribute to its preservation and protection for the rest of
his life.
At first he tried to work with existing conservation organizations, but he found
them slow and too subjected to diversion from what he considered the main issues. This
is discussed in the section on John Apperson and his Associates. When Apperson died he
left his papers to the Forest Preserve Association of New York State, Inc., an
organization which he founded and which was an extension of his personality. His
papers were sorted and organized by three members of the Association, Philip Ham,
Arthur Newkirk, and William White. Although several organizations wanted to have
these papers, it was thought more appropriate that they should remain in Schenectady,
and they eventually ended up in the Adirondack Research Library.
The collection herein had its genesis in a biography of Apperson planned by
Chester Sims of Bolton. Sims’ camp (and subsequently home) adjoined the Apperson
property at Lake George. Although Sims never knew Apperson personally, he became
acquainted with Apperson’s nephew, James Apperson, who occupied Apperson’s camp/
Jim was a great story teller and Sims became fascinated with the stories he heard from
Jim about his Uncle John. Sims’ first reaction, like those of many people who heard
Apperson or his nephew tell these stories, was that they were greatly exaggerated. This
opinion dogged Sims during his lifetime and was not aided by the tendency of many
people to exaggerate them when retelling. The net effect was that some acts attributed to
Apperson were not true, and that it often became difficult to separate fact from fiction.
Sims, however, looked into the background of many of Jim’s stories and became
convinced that much of what he heard was true, and being so, indicated that Apperson
had been quite a remarkable person, particularly in his effect on Lake George. Thus in a
letter to Art Newkirk, and Bill White 13 December, 1993 he began, “Attached is a
Chrsitmas present! Well, sort of a Christmas Present …. For Lake George! I just felt

4. that (I hate to say it) we are all getting on, and if, Art, that definitive work on John
Apperson you once referred to ever was to come about something should be done now.”
Sims did not realize the size of the bear he had hold of until he visited the
Adirondack Research Library with White and examined the extent of the library’s
holdings. Nevertheless, he persisted, and over the next two years began to assemble the
materials for a popular biography. His untimely death on March 13, 1996 put a stop to
the project since none of his collaborators was in a position to continue. Several of his
proposed chapters were, however, essentially complete, and in his thoughts and study of
the project he had uncovered some very interesting information about Apperson that was
not generally known even to persons who had worked as closely with him as had both
White and Newkirk. As proposed coauthors they received copies of drafts for comment,
and discussed them with Sims regularly. Rather than have this work go to waste, they
have been collected here.
November 4, 1997