LOCALadk Magazine

LOCALadk 43 This issue's literary adventure is Aviation in the Adirondacks by local author Aurora Pfaff. It was pub- lished this year by Arcadia Publishing and is part of an amazing series about American history. An enormous amount of research is done by the author and we are able to enjoy the result in a one hundred twenty-seven page book full of information and stunning photos. It is divided into several chapters that follow local aviation from "Early Adventures" to "Unique Ventures" The book begins in 1912 when George Gray flew over the Adirondacks and, due to tricky weather con- ditions, landed in a field in Vermontville instead of the intended Saranac Lake. Word spread quickly about this successful flight, drawing many spectators and pho- tographers to the area to be part of the excitement. Also drawn to the Adirondacks throughout the years were well known pilots. Local "legend" Clarence Petty spent his whole life working as a ranger and on pre- serving the forest, oftentimes from the air. Others include record-setting aviatrix Elinor Smith and, later, Charles Lindbergh. Also of note was a summer visit to Lake George by Amelia Earhart before she became a pilot. The book boasts a stunning photo of Earhart and her cat silhouetted in a window seat overlooking the lake. Not only did aviation appeal to those who were comfortable in the limelight, it also appealed to those such as Noah John Rondeau, the well-known but rarely seen "Adirondack hermit" who came out of the woods to take flying lessons. Pfaff next focuses on the convenience and acces- sibility of aviation for recreation and adventure. The floatplane allowed hunters and adventurers (along with their canoes and packbaskets) to be taken to more remote locations. "Rather than take over," Pfaff states, "floatplanes made wilderness adventures more accessible." Other vacationers could not only arrive at their lakeside resorts quickly and affordably, they could also make use of the floatplanes for entertain- ment. It was also possible to explore the Adirondacks all year round, since planes could be fitted with skis in order to land on frozen lakes. Pfaff includes a particularly humorous story about a local pilot from Inlet, Harold "Scotty" Scott, who fell victim to an early form of "backseat driving," Also of great interest to this reader was the description of a float planes landing on Lake Flower in the sight of tuberculosis patients who were taking the cure in lake- side sanatoriums. Aerial photography did much for the tourist industry, and this book includes some of the first iconic overhead views of the Adirondacks. Not only did early aviation provide means of con- venience for pleasure, it also was able to contribute to industry and services. Planes were used to deliver mail and much needed products to the Adirondacks. Fish from hatcheries were flown in barrels to repopu- late overfished streams and lakes. Local doctors were able to be flown to remote locations quickly, as well as teams and supplies for wilderness rescues and forest fires. There is one short chapter dedicated to "Tragic End- ings and Close Calls," with some stunning crash scene photographs. Happily, due to their experience with their aircrafts and tough conditions, many pilots and their passengers walked away unscathed. This volume mostly focuses on the joys, successes, and wonder of early aviation in the Adirondacks. It's an informative read with dozens of fascinating pho- tos that certainly takes its place among the beloved "Images" series. t By Ashley Treska A Review of Aurora Pfaff's Aviation in the Adirondacks

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