On September 28 at 6:30pm, Reuben Smith of Tumblehome Boatshop will give a presentation
at the Bolton Historical Museum called Exquisite Boats and Boating—Boating in Style More
Than a Century Ago.
In the latter part of the 19th century, people of means began to take time away from the dirty
industrial cities to breathe the clean air around Lake George. While some went into the
Adirondacks to hunt, fish, and spend time in the deep woods, while others chose the more genteel
life offered at the resort hotels or even their own grand ‘camps’. For these folks, going out in a
boat was an occasion, and judging from the photos we have, they dressed themselves very
nicely. They went out a-courting or went to an island to sketch, or to play music.
The typical small boat was the Lake George Rowboat, developed by creative boatbuilders
responding to this new form of pleasure boating. 15’ long, and with a lovely wineglass transom
and comfortable seatback for the passenger in the stern, these boats were light and easy-to-
handle, yet perfectly capable of excursions out on the Lake. The resort hotels on the lake had
whole fleets available to their guests.
Boatbuilders also made fancy versions of these boats, adorning them with carvings or elegant
hardware. They developed new methods for building the boats to make them even more
special for the discerning buyer and to separate them from the livery boats.
The Boats and Boating Regatta, last held by the Museum 2018 and scheduled again for Fall
2024, celebrates this era of boating in style. This presentation is the perfect kickoff for a year of
preparation for this event.

Light refreshments will be available