Lake Placid in Essex County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Henry J. Kaiser
Photographed by Howard C. Ohlhous, August 11, 2011
1. Henry J. Kaiser Marker
Henry J. Kaiser
The famous industrialist and philanthropist
who operated a studio and photo shop on this
site from 1901 to 1905
Brownell and Kaiser
"Meet The Man with a Smile"
He returned in June 1949 with Guy Lombardo
and two speed boats to be tested in speed
trials on Lake Placid.
Dedicated During the Oct. 6, 1971
A.A.U Conference
by the
Lake Placid Sports Council
Erected 1971 by Lake Placid Sports Council.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Sports. A significant historical month for this entry is June 1949.
Location. 44° 17.418′ N, 73° 59.099′ W. Marker is in Lake Placid, New York, in Essex County. It is on Main Street/Mirror Lake Drive (New York State Route 86), on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2439 Main Street, Lake Placid NY 12946, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Upstate New York, in the Adirondacks & North Country, and in the Champlain Valley. It is also in the American Northeast and in the Mid-Atlantic. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, 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 walking distance of this marker: Mid's Park (within shouting distance of this marker); Kate Smith Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away); Lake Placid World War Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away);
this page online
Regarding Henry J. Kaiser. Henry John Kaiser was born on May 9, 1882 in Sprout Brook, Montgomery County, New York and died August 24, 1967 at the age of 85 in Honolulu, Hawaii.
At age 18, he was working as a traveling salesman for a photo supply company including sales calls in Lake Placid, New York. He liked Lake Placid so much that, when he was 20, he approached a Lake Placid photographer and offered to work for him for free. The catch was that, if Kaiser could double the mans business, they would share the profits 50-50. Within a year, Kaiser had tripled the business, and the photographer ended up selling it to him. Kaiser went on to become a legendary industrialist and social advocate. He established the Kaiser Shipyard which built Liberty ships during World War II, formed Kaiser Aluminum and Kaiser Steel, and organized Kaiser Permanente health care for his workers and their families. With his acquired wealth, he initiated
Photographed by Howard C. Ohlhous, August 11, 2011
2. Henry J. Kaiser Marker
The village of Lake Placid is set beside Mirror Lake, which can be seen to the right of the building with the Kaiser plaque, which is mounted to the left of the center doorway.
In June of 1949 The Ticonderoga Sentinel was reporting from North Elba, "For the second successive week end, Henry J. Kaiser has visited Lake Placid to check on the progress of his two big speed boats. Guy Lombardo also appeared here Saturday to try out the massive 32-foot Aluminum First, with which he will try to break the world's mile straightaway record in the time trials scheduled Saturday & Sunday."
Gaetano Alberto "Guy" Lombardo (June 19, 1902 November 5, 1977) was a Canadian-American bandleader and violinist who became famous as band leader of the Royal Canadians. The Royal Canadians were noted for playing the traditional song Auld Lang Syne as part of the celebrations. Their recording of the song still plays as the first song of the new year in New York's Times Square. Lombardo was also an important figure in hydroplane speedboat racing, winning the Gold Cup in 1946 in his record-breaking speedboat, Tempo VI, designed and built by the legendary John L. Hacker.
Henry Kaiser, who had built hundreds of ships during World War II, was supposedly paying for a new boat capable of great speeds for Lombardo to use to set the new world record. The boat was to be built by Ventnor Boat Works in Atlantic City, New Jersey, which also built Lombardos Tempo VI. Kaiser, who had
Library of Congress
3. Henry J. Kaiser
Additional keywords. Kaiser Permanente
New York Public Library
4. Grover Whalen and Guy Lombardo (right)
Credits. This page was last revised on January 11, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 21, 2011, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. This page has been viewed 1,736 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 21, 2011, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
