The Story of the Islands of Lake George, New York
On a summer evening in July, I attended an incredibly enlightening presentation by local author, Noah Chirnomas, discussing the history of the islands on Lake George. His book, The Islands of Lake George, has been teased by local newspapers over the past couple months, so I was excited to learn more about his book and the research involved.
The Community Room at the Crandall Library was near capacity, with Tisha Dolton, a historian and librarian, adding chairs as more people joined the event. She stood at the podium to introduce Noah to polite applause. At 22, Noah just graduated from Muhlenberg College, majoring in finance, but his passion for researching history is fervently inherent from the moment he began his presentation. He led the captive audience through the historical archives in Warren and Washing County, from the century of tax records at the County Clerk to the dozens of organizations all along Lake George that preserve its history. As a legal recording clerk for the Warren County Clerk, I loved his photos from the public records vault, filled with tax assessments, maps, deeds, and more.
After detailing the variety of historical archives, Noah talked about a dozen islands on Lake George, acknowledging that there are 125 named islands that appear in the book. The photographs and paintings presented were incredible, cultivating a majestic and historic tapestry from the French and Indian War to modern times. Just like the flowing lake, he guided the audience from the villages at the southern end toward Ticonderoga, each stop illuminating moments in history. Thanks to his friendship with a photographer and drone operator, some islands came to life with gorgeous flyover footage. Each island presented shimmered with the nature beauty of the lake, with the fauna on each island.
When the presentation finished, Noah answered numerous questions that enumerated his early passions for history. He grew up in New Jersey but spent many summers in and around Lake George. Diving into maps while rowing along the water, he learned the history of the islands and the people that it inhabited over the years. One question from someone in the audience was pertinent for modern times, acknowledging that artificial intelligence could never have created this book. Much of the material was gathered outside of digital spaces, with some information procured from historian interviews and other primary sources.
I appreciated the wonderful memories that some in the audience shared. There was a woman who emigrated to the United States from Ukraine with family, recalling memories of winters along Lake George as a child. Another couple talked about their experiences hiking trails surrounding the lake. Everyone in the room had their own personal experiences, sharing our memories while waiting in line to purchase a book.
The book is available from local museums, small businesses, historical societies, and land conservancy shops around Lake George, as well as online via Amazon. With over three hundred and fifty photographs, illustrations, and paintings along with historical prose, Noah has created a compendium that will delightfully inform local residents and visitors alike interested in the century of history on Lake George.
