Saranac Lake in Franklin County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Gould Hoyt and George Peroni Memorial Forest and Picnic Area

Photographed by Steve Stoessel, August 4, 2026

1. Gould Hoyt and George Peroni Memorial Forest and Picnic Area Marker

Inscription. Saranac Lakes Wild Forest Adirondack Forest Preserve
State of New York Department of Environmental Conservation

The trees in this forest around you were planted in 1953 and 1954 by students in the Forestry program at Paul Smith's College. The forest and the picnic area you are in are dedicated to the memory of forestry professors Gould J. Hoyt and George P. Peroni. Professors Hoyt and Peroni directed the students in a forest nursery class that planted this 42-acre site. They both live on in the memory of the many classes of Paul Smith's College forestry students that they taught, gave direction to and, like the trees around you, helped become rooted in productive and successful lives.

Forest Site History: This area was part of the original McCollum Purchase. The site, dominated by White Pine was heavily logged in the 1880's, followed by destructive fires that ravished the area from 1904 to 1906. With the sandy soil's lack of ability to hold nutrients and the nutrient depleting impact of the fires, the forest reverted to a grassland after the burn.

In 1910, local Hotelier and entrepreneur Apollos "Paul" Smith acquired

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the site as part of a 20,000-acre purchase adding to the expanding land holdings associated with the Paul Smith's Hotel. Through the 1940's the land was dominated by grasses and pastured by local residents. An early attempt in the 1930's, possibly by the Civilian Conservation Corps, failed to reestablish tree cover. Subsequent attempts at reforestation in 1948 and 1950 also failed.

Then came Hoyt and Peroni. Armed with sheer determination and a "volunteer" labor force of eager young forestry students they uprooted a 2 foot square area of grass around each fragile seedling and planted Red Pine, White Pine, Jack Pine, Scotch Pine and White Spruce sceedlings in a 6 foot spacing on the cultivated plots. Relieved of the competition, the trees grew. In the late 1960's, Red Pine on the site were found to be infected with the European virus Scleroderris largerbergil. In 1973, this brought the students back to control the disease through pruning infected limbs and a thinning to retain the vigor of the young trees.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSEC) purchased the land from Paul Smith's College in 1990. This

Photographed by Steve Stoessel, August 4, 2026

2. Gould Hoyt and George Peroni Memorial Forest and Picnic Area Marker

tract is now part of the "forever wild" Adirondack Forest Preserve, and this memorial forest is slowly returning to its pre-logging grandeur.

Gould Jennings Hoyt: Known affectionately to generations of Paul Smith's forestry students as "Stumpy." Professor Hoyt came to teach at the College in 1953. Like many of the forestry professors of that time, both Hoyt and Peroni began their professional careers after World War II. With veterans as many of their early students, the need was as much for a drill sergeant as a mentor. In both Hoyt and Peroni they found the best of both. Gould retired in 1988, continuing to live in the area and engage with students through the College draft horse program, the restored 1868 stagecoach, and occasional lecturing until his death in July 2012.

George Peroni: Following General Patton through the Battle of the Bulge, professor Peroni began his teaching career at Paul Smith's in 1953. With George in forestry and his wife "Ma" Peroni in the Hotel Department, Paul Smith's College got two of its most beloved long-term core faculty. After formal retirement in 1986, George continued to play an important

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role in alumni relations and as advisor to the head of the Forestry Department. Professor Peroni left us in 200S. His memory, as well as Gould's, lives on in the student lives they touched and in the forest that surrounds us.

Erected by Paul Smith's College.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Horticulture & Forestry. A significant historical month for this entry is July 2012.

Location. 44° 22.071′ N, 74° 14.034′ W. Marker is in Saranac Lake, New York, in Franklin County. It is at the intersection of Lavair Road and New York State Route 30, on the right when traveling west on Lavair Road. Marker is at the parking area for the Adirondack Rail Trail at Lake Clear, NY. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Saranac Lake NY 12983, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Upstate New York

and in the Adirondacks & North Country.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Great North Woods,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France,

New Netherland,

and one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Pettis' Grave (approx. 5 miles away); The Site of Camp S-60 (approx. 5.1 miles away); The Union Depot (approx. 5.6 miles away); Making History in Saranac Lake (approx. 5.7 miles away); a different marker also named Making History in Saranac Lake (approx. 5.7 miles away); a different marker also named Making History in Saranac Lake (approx. 5.8 miles away); Hotel Saranac (approx. 5.8 miles away); Trudeau Memorial (approx. 5.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Saranac Lake.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Teddy Roosevelt's Journal Walk (was approx. 5.8 miles away but has been confirmed missing).

Credits. This page was last revised on August 6, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 6, 2026, by Steve Stoessel of Niskayuna, New York. This page has been viewed 6 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 6, 2026, by Steve Stoessel of Niskayuna, New York.