The Winter of ’32
My father, Ruel Alford, was the son of Harvey and Effie Alford. In the early 20th century, his family owned a great deal of property in Lake Placid and the surrounding areas. Grandfather Alford started out as a guide and caretaker for his clients’ summer retreats. He also bought plots of his own, logging some of the land and building several lakeside lodges that he rented to wealthy people in the summertime.
When electricity and telephones started coming into use, workers from utility companies brought these new innovations into the Adirondacks. Because of the mountainous and rocky terrain, it was a lengthy and often Herculean task. The workmen needed places to stay and eat, so my grandparents turned their large home into a boardinghouse. Grandmother Alford was a superb cook and housekeeper, and the boardinghouse was
