New historic walking trail to show off Tupper Lake’s heritage, nature

Caroline Welsh, project director of Tupper Lake’s new historic walking trail “Crossroads of the Adirondack Trail” (standing) shows off colorful mock-ups of the new trail signs to members of the ARISE board this past month. ARISE is a not for profit partner on the project. To Mrs. Welsch's right were Kate Bencze, Michelle Blair and David Tomberlin. To her left were Mark Moeller, Rick Dattola, Russ Cronin, Jim LaValley and Jeannelle Lavigne. Board member Dan McClelland took the photo.

by Dan McClelland

This spring two popular local trails will be refashioned into a new historic walking trail, with colorful way-finding signs drenched in historical facts about our community.

The name of the project and the trail is “Crossroads of the Adirondack Trail: Take a walk with Tupper Lake History, Heritage and Nature.”

The project is a collaboration between the Aseel LegacyFfund, ARISE (Adirondack Residents Intent on Saving the Economy), the village and town and the New York State Department of State.

The new historic walkway will include the municipal park waterfront walk which begins near the Flanders Park bandshell and connect across Demars Blvd. behind McDonald’s with the multi-use Junction Pass Trail between uptown and downtown Tupper Lake.

The historic trail will include two types of full-color signs mounted on trailside uprights. Heritage signs are funded by a grant from the Aseel Legacy Fund at the Adirondack Foundation. Natural History signs along the trail are funded by a grant the Village of Tupper Lake received from the department of state.

The Aseel Legacy Fund signs will focus on Tupper Lake’s heritage and history. The state department signs will point up the area’s natural history and the transformation of forest to industrial sites to the reclamation of those sites in recent years.

Of the contents of the new trail signs there will be story-telling text and historic and contemporary images will illustrate, chronicle and celebrate the many contributions that Tupper Lakers, especially its immigrants, made to entrepreneurship, culture and community-building in Tupper Lake along with its natural resources and recreational opportunities to showcase Tupper Lake’s rich historic and natural heritage with the hope of energizing community pride, Project Director Caroline Welsh told the Free Press in recent weeks.

Caroline, who was the curator at the Adirondack Museum in Blue Mt. Lake for many years and who has headed many North Country initiatives over the years, penned much of the text for the new signs.

Since last year she has been working closely on the sign preparations with project designer Rob Carr and his company, Darwin Graphics.

Rachel Kmack has assisted Mrs. Welsh and Mr. Carr on the project.

The Aseel Legacy Fund was created by the family of the late Alfred Aseel this past year with the intent to facilitate projects that will enhance and improve the Tupper Lake community life and the lifestyles of its residents. The family fund underwrote a number of the children’s performance last summer at the Lions bandshell in the village’s Flanders Park.