If These Stone Walls Could Talk

If These Stone Walls Could Talk. What a Tale They Could Tell. , Mexico Point Inn was one of two grand hotels built in the late 1800s, at the mouth of the Little Salmon River. (The other, Twice-Told Tales, was on the East bank of the river.) Guests came from as far as New York City, brought to the Inn in horse-drawn carriages from the train station in Mexico to enjoy the cool lake breezes, fine dining, and a relaxed atmosphere. Guests often stayed weeks or months, enjoying fishing, boating, swimming, playing cards, or reading. The Inn had one of the few long-distance telephones in Mexico for reservations., The Inn was severely damaged by fire in 1905 and was purchased by Orville Hungerford., Orville Hungerford built an elaborate stone Inn in 1906 and named it Mexico Point Club. It catered to the same clientele, who continued to enjoy summers in the cool north country, away from the heat of the cities. Mexico Point Club burned again in 1922 but was rebuilt and enlarged and became very popular for banquets, social gatherings, and an evening with friends., In the 1950s a boxing ring was built on the grounds where future middleweight champion, Carmen Basilio and professional boxer Joey DeJohn trained, often with spectators., Mexico Point Club burned to the ground on April 4, 1952, leaving only the stone chimney, walls, and columns. It was never rebuilt., (Based on Historic Mexico by Bonnie Shumway, Acadia Publishing, 2009), The ADA Trail project including these signs was supported with funding from the New York State Park and Trail Partnership Grants and New York's Environmental Protection Fund. The Park and Trail Partnership Grants are administered by Parks and Trails New York, in partnership with the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.