Wanakena

Tuesday, August 5, 2025

The charming hamlet of Wanakena was established in 1902 by the Rich Lumber Company on the southwest side of Cranberry Lake. When the company relocated to Vermont in 1912, workers’ houses were sold to residents and seasonal visitors for summer homes. On this outing, local experts from the Wanakena History Center will lead us on a walking tour of this fascinating former company town along the Oswegatchie River, where we will also enjoy a locally sourced lunch. Besides the settlement itself, we will visit The Ranger School, a SUNY-ESF campus for training in forestry. Lastly, we will explore Knollwood, a remarkably well-preserved, private 1920s family camp. This National Register-listed camp was designed by and built for Dr. Frederic R. Calkins as a complex of three buildings and features an exceptional pedestrian suspension bridge over the river that accesses the property.

The tour will be led by our friends from the Wanakena Historical Association, faculty and staff from The Ranger School, and local homeowners. The tour begins at 10 AM and ends at 3:30 PM.

The fee is $60 for AARCH members and $75 for non-members. Lunch from Otto’s Abode is included.

Please note that this tour involves about 1.5 miles of walking over mostly flat terrain.