LOCALadk Magazine

LOCALadk 25 Follow the river to an enchanted place. 7,000 sq. ft. of gallery-quality rustic furniture, designer accents, mountain resort wear, accessories, trinkets & pure joy! 292 Main St., North Creek, NY Abode interior service: Let us do the work to pull it all together, a little or a lot! 518.251.4461 Open daily at 9:30 am HudsonRiverTradingCo.com They established a special fund at the Northern New York Community Foundation in Watertown to support a variety of needs in Wanakena and the surrounding communities. Their designated fund is a component of the Clifton-Fine Community Fund, administered by the NNYCF (Northern New York Community Foundation). "So many other people cared about this region, so establishing a fund that would allow us to help on a permanent basis seemed like a wonderful thing to do," Steve said. It was not only a social connection they made in the small Adirondack hamlet but also one of acceptance, at a time when same-sex couples were not always welcomed as new neighbors, he noted. That acceptance allowed the two men to feel at ease inviting out-of-town friends to their summer home in Wanakena. Eventually, Lester purchased and remodeled many additional vacant properties, which Steve then later sold, including some to other same-sex couples. They would always wait a year, however, before purchasing, remodeling and selling a va- cant property to make sure no local residents wanted to buy it. "Life has been good to us, and that has given us the opportunity to help the entire com- munity," said Steve, an associate broker with Hunt Real Estate, Manlius. "To not share and give back to the community, that would be selfish." One of the larger projects supported by their fund was the restoration of a historic sus- pension pedestrian bridge over the Oswegatchie River, built in 1902 by the former Rich Lumber Co. It was used by the company's workers to get back and forth from their homes to the large sawmill and wood product manufacturing operations. In 1999, the bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. But fifteen years later, it was heavily damaged by a major ice jam on the river after a mountain of ice broke loose and destroyed its cables and foundation. A short time later, the Wanakena community began a $250,000 fund-raising effort to restore the iconic structure. The footbridge had special meaning to the entire community, and to Steve and Lester, who posed in front of it on their wedding day. Less than two weeks later, the bridge was de- stroyed. A grant from their fund at the Northern New York Community Foundation helped with the community's successful fund-raising effort to rebuild the structure. Although Steve and Lester recently sold their Wanakena home, they maintained an op- tion with the new owners to return there each summer for several years. After the sale, the couple made an additional contribution to the Northern New York Community Foundation for the continued support of projects in the region, including the Wanakena Historical Association. The nonprofit organization established the new Wana- kena Histor y Center in 2021 to preser ve and display the heritage of this small Adirondack community. This year, Steve and Lester celebrate forty years of being part of the Wanakena commu- nity, and fifty years together as a couple. "Our hearts will always be in Wanakena," said Steve.

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