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On Friday, October 11, the American Society for Microbiology designated the Saranac Laboratory as a Milestones in Microbiology Site at an official ceremony at the the Saranac Laboratory Museum.
The Milestones in Microbiology program serves to foster interest in the nation’s microbiological heritage and to remind citizens, educators and visitors of the importance of microbiology. Officials from the American Society for Microbiology attended the award ceremony, including Dr. Robin Patel, President, and Dr. Jim Poupard, Member of the ASM Milestones in Microbiology Committee. Honored guests included New York State Senator Betty Little and a representatives from the office of Governor Andrew Cuomo. Dr. Edward Livingston Trudeau founded the Saranac Laboratory in 1894 as the first facility in the United States devoted to tuberculosis (TB) research. For seven decades, studies conducted in the building and at the affiliated Trudeau Research and Clinical Laboratory at the Trudeau Sanatorium (1924) led to fundamental advances in understanding and treating TB. In groundbreaking experiments, Trudeau established that both the bacterial pathogen, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and the environment have roles in the development of TB. With this new knowledge, Trudeau pioneered the American Sanatorium Model as an effective means to manage the disease. The village of Saranac Lake became a center for patients of all economic and social classes seeking state-of-the-art TB treatment. The Saranac Laboratory closed in 1964. On-going experiments moved to the Trudeau Institute, where Trudeau’s scientific legacy continues to inspire advances in the microbial sciences Following the plaque unveiling ceremony, a reception was hosted by Trudeau Institute to honor the occasion at the Hotel Saranac. Today marks the 94th anniversary of the death of Christy Mathewson, who died in Saranac Lake after an unsuccessful battle against tuberculosis. Mathewson was one of the greatest baseball pitchers of all time, and was among the "First Five" inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown. To learn more about Mathewson's career and time in Saranac Lake, visit our wiki.
Thanks to Jim Clark for always honoring Christy's memory and for sharing this card from his collection. [Historic Saranac Lake Digital Collection, TCR # 436] Historic Saranac Lake members and interested future members are invited to HSL's Annual Meeting at 7PM on Wednesday, November 6. This year's meeting will feature a presentation on the history of Paul Smith's Hotel and College from Neil Surprenant. Copies of the book, "Images of America: Paul Smith's Hotel and College," are available for purchase in our gift shop. The Annual Meeting will also feature a brief meeting of the general membership to confirm our new board members and executive committee. This meeting will take place in the John Black Room at the Saranac Laboratory Museum.
For today's Tuberculosis Thursday post, we want to share a nice surprise from a museum visitor this summer! Local piano player Benjamin Hundley played Béla Bartók's piece, "Evening in the Country," from the facsimile manuscript we have on display in our Art of the Cure Exhibit. He graciously shared a recording of it with us! This piece was played on the Bartok piano in the John Black Room in the Saranac Laboratory Museum; the piano was originally located in the home next to the Bartók Cabin. Bartók's wife, Ditta, often walked next door the play the piano during the summer of 1945. The original manuscript copy of "Evening in the Country" was given to the family of Manuel H. and Pilar G. Benero by Béla Bartók in 1943. Pilar Benero was a local piano teacher who befriended Ditta and often played piano with her.
Béla Bartók was first sent to Saranac Lake for his health because his illness was thought to be a recurrence of the tuberculosis he struggled with as a young man; he was later diagnosed with leukemia. Unfortunately, Bartók's time in Saranac Lake was not successful in treating his illness, and he died in New York City on September 26, 1945. Click above to hear the recording of "Evening in the Country," courtesy of Benjamin Hundley. To learn more about Bartók's time in Saranac Lake, visit our wiki! [Image: a manuscript copy of "Evening in the Country," 1943, courtesy of the family of Manuel H. and Pilar G. Benero.]
This week's Tuberculosis Thursday feature comes from our Art of the Cure exhibit! This photograph shows William Kollecker helping a customer in his shop on Main Street. Kollecker came to Saranac Lake at age 16 for his health, and stayed on to photograph life in Saranac Lake for nearly 50 years! He opened Kollecker Kodak and Gift Shop where he sold prints, stationery, and gifts and handled film processing.
To learn more about William Kollecker, his store, and his photography work, visit our wiki! And be sure to visit our Art of the Cure exhibit, open now! [Historic Saranac Lake Collection - TCR 331] This morning we were thrilled to hear the news that we have been awarded $325,000 as part of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative funding from New York State! This award will support our project to expand our museum into the historic Trudeau Building. To learn more about our project, and the nine other projects that received awards, check out the announcement from the state.
[Photograph: Executive Director Amy Catania (in black) and others pose with Assemblyman Billy Jones and Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul at this morning's announcement.] On Tuesday, we conducted a field investigation of sections of the exterior of the Trudeau building. Our architect Harry Gordon worked with Tom and Camden, of Dan Nardiello's company Redwing Construction, to remove select sections of vinyl siding and expose details of original architectural elements. We discovered some neat original features that have been buried for many years and found clues to changes that have been made.
These investigations will support the accurate rebuilding of the historic front entrance and restoration of the west elevation porches. Exterior work is anticipated to begin in 2020 once design is complete, and approvals and funding are secured. Learn more about the project on our website! This past Sunday, July 21, we celebrated the birthdays of two of Saranac Lake's Trudeaus -- Garry Trudeau of Doonesbury fame, and his father, Dr. Frank Trudeau, who would have turned 100. It was a great party at the museum, with members of the Trudeau Family and special guests. Our thanks to Trudeau Institute for co-hosting the event with us. We will share more photographs soon, stay tuned!
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