July 16, 2024 Help us Rebuild the Gazebo!
When the LGLC purchased the 223-acre the Schumann Preserve at Pilot Knob in 2000, the gazebo had already been standing as sentry over the south basin for more than a decade. Since then, the preserve’s iconic gazebo has become a beloved asset in the south basin, providing a place of respite for tens of thousands of people who hike the preserve each year.
After so much use, the gazebo needs more than fresh paint and a few new boards. To ensure the safety of our guests, and keep the integrity of the preserve, the LGLC will replace the entire structure in 2025, as well as make related trail improvements leading up to the gazebo.
In addition to providing a place for rest, we know the gazebo has also served as a place of family reunions, engagements, and of remembrance, including for the preserve’s namesake Lynn LaMontagne Schumann and the Lawrence family (see below for their stories).
To honor those memories, and maintain a sustainable structure with minimal visual impact, the new gazebo will keep the look and feel of the gazebo we all love.
Teresa M. and George E. Lawrence Memorial Gazebo
George and Teresa Lawrence began a tradition of vacations in Lake George in the 1960s, one that included annual treks to the Pilot Knob gazebo, and continues to this day for their children and grandchildren.
In 2009, the family gathered together for a ceremony in memory of George, who had passed away in 2008, and to dedicate the George E. Lawrence Memorial Gazebo and a bench in recognition of the lifetime of memories he provided for his family and friends, and his lifelong love of the lake.
Now, the Lawrence family is continuing its tradition of support and sharing their love of Lake George through leadership gifts towards the gazebo’s reconstruction. Upon its completion in 2025, the new gazebo will be rededicated as the Teresa M. and George E. Lawrence Memorial Gazebo.
How You Can Help
We thank the Lawrence family, The Makowski Trust, and other individuals for their generous support of this project. We still have about $40,000 to raise to complete the project. This summer, the LGLC will be hosting several events, holding a dog photo contest, and selling posters, stickers and other merch featuring a great design by John Coleman to help raise the remaining funds needed. We’re also partnering with I Wear Local on a selection of items, with sale proceeds going towards the gazebo project.
Dog Photo Contest
Congratulations to Carolyn Bettiol and her dog, Rosie, for winning our Dog Photo Contest! Their photo won by popular vote on our social media pages, and Rosie will be featured on the next issue of the LGLC’s newsletter.
Thank you to everyone who participated in the contest and showed their support of the LGLC and responsible hiking with their furry hiking companions. We had an amazing 28 entries, and a great turnout at the Yappy Hour event where we announced the winner.
- To protect natural habitats, always keep your dog on a leash to prevent disturbing wildlife and trampling vegetation off-trail.
- Carry waste bags and pick up after your pet (and deposit the bags in a designated waste receptacle; do not leave them in the woods) to ensure trails remain clean and waterways unpolluted.
- Stick to designated paths to minimize soil erosion and the spread of invasive species, as pets can act as hosts to unwanted pests.
Lynn LaMontagne Schumann Preserve at Pilot Knob
After more than a decade of planning and negotiation, the 223-acre preserve was added in August 2000 to the list of protected lands within the Lake George basin.
Originally, this parcel was illegally cleared and a house and mile-long driveway were constructed. The five-acre house lot became a focal point throughout the south basin, because it disrupted the unbroken wilderness of the Pilot Knob range. Further proposed development would have greatly changed the quality and character of the entire basin.
The property was subsequently confiscated by authorities and resold to the Zug family who stewarded the land for over 10 years. With the help of hundreds of donors and a selling price well below market value, the Lake George Land Conservancy was able to purchase the property from the new owners.
This property, first named the Pilot Knob Ridge Preserve, was renamed on August 9, 2010 at a dedication ceremony in honor of LGLC’s past executive director, Lynn LaMontagne Schumann, who was instrumental in its preservation. (See below)
The gazebo was named the George E. Lawrence Memorial Gazebo during a dedication ceremony in 2009. Memorial benches have also been placed at the Preserve, including for George E. Lawrence from the Faith Home Foundation, for Carl and Elena Simmonds from her daughters, and for Andy B. from his family.
Lynn LaMontagne Schumann
Lynn LaMontagne Schumann served as the LGLC’s executive director from 1999 to 2006. Under her leadership the Lake George Land Conservancy’s membership increased from 250 to 1,171, and had protected nearly 5,000 acres of land and 11,000 feet of shoreline. Lynn passed away on March 13, 2010, after a courageous battle with breast cancer.
Lynn said her greatest moment came after purchasing the Schumann Preserve. “The organization made a significant decision to remove the house situated prominently on the hillside,” she said. “It was a sunny spring morning when the wrecking crew began the process of demolishing the house. I peered out over the ridge and saw some 40 boats anchored along the shoreline cheering as the house came down.”
