Category: History

In regards to my previous posts about the history of Kitchel Bay’s name, a number of people responded with fascinating information.

Mr. Larry Hansen of Lands End Road was kind enough to provide some very valuable genealogical information.

Regarding Kitchel Bay’s name, my mother was adopted in her teens by Dr. James Pedersen, owner of Whileaway. Dr. James Pedersen’s brother, Professor Frederick M. Pedersen, married Gertrude Kitchel. Her parents I believe were one of the first families to summer on the bay now named for them, in the late nineteenth century. Their house was the one that Bob Nephew bought a few years ago from Grace Iijima, next to the Covinos (originally the Kemps, then later the Newels). The Kitchel family geneology is given in detail, I believe, in Hamlet Summers which my mother edited/wrote in 1953 (reprinted by the Washington County Historical Society about 1980). I will try to find my copy. The Washington County Historical Society has a copy in their Fort Edward library.

Best regards,
Larry

Additionally, Mark Stanton provided the many interesting links below, which include information on the tragic death of a young Kitchel.

George,

I did some googling and found some info on the Kitchels. It might be enough to help Douglas find out if his wife is related.

G.H is Gertrude H. Kitchel. I found mention of her here.

There is also mention of a James Kitchel on page 119 of your book, Huletts Landing on Lake George.

There is also more about the Kitchels from Huletts Landing here.

It looks like Dr. Edwin M. Kitchel, the only son of James Kitchel, was killed at Huletts during a game of blind man’s bluff. I found this in the Georgia Journal of Medicine and Surgery, July 1897. (Right side column of link.)

Here is a copy of his obituary (you may have to scroll down the page a bit).

Here’s a final write-up about the death of Dr. Edwin M. Kitchel from the NY Times.

Mark

Last but not least, Lane DeMuro forwarded an interesting newspaper mention from 1892 which coincidentally also mentions a former occupant of his family’s home.

George

Here is a digital copy of the Saturday July 2, 1892 edition of the Lake George Mirror. The owner of the Lake George Mirror was kind enough to grant permission for me to copy it and put it on the internet.

Huletts is mentioned several times throughout, but on page 13, a mention is made of “James T. Kitchell.” (Near the bottom of the center column.) So the Kitchell name can be traced back to 1892. Of special interest to me is the name, Admiral A.C. Rhind, right next to the Kitchell name. I believe Admiral Rhind rented the cottage from Mrs. Marsh or owned the cottage before her. The Marsh cottage is my family home. The cottage was torn town and Mrs. Marsh built the present one there around 1903.

It’s a good read on a snowy morning!

Regards,
Lane

Many thanks go out to all of the “history detectives” mentioned above for going out of their way to answer Douglas Gallant’s original question.

In regards to the previous post about the history of Kitchell Bay’s name, I received the following from Lane DeMuro:

George,

I saw the request from Douglas Gallant for information on naming Kitchell Bay. I don’t know if the attached will help, but here are some scans of a little Hymn Book (it measures approx 2-1/2″ W x 3-1/2″ Tall) with the name Kitchell written across the front, and inside is written what appears to be “G.H. Kitchell.” I am not really too sure if it is “G.H” or not, but the Kitchell part is very clear. The book was copyright 1879, (copyright page attached) so we know he or she had to own it sometime after that. I suspect it was probably used when the first Mt. Grove church was in operation up on top of the hill. I also scanned a work ledger from D.W. Philips with what appears to be “Mrs…..Kitchell.” It is from 1910, so I can trace Kitchell back that far at least. If I come across any more as I look through my collection I will pass them on to you.

Regards,
Lane DeMuro

The cover of the little Hymm Book.

The copyright page (upper left) showing a publication date of 1879. (Click to see full-scale.)

The initials on the inside appear to be “G.H. Kitchell.” (Click to see full-scale.)

The title page and publisher information. (Click to see full-scale.)

A work ledger from D.W. Philips with what appears to be “Mrs…..Kitchell.” (Click to see full-scale.)

Just a curiosity question for someone. I am interested in who Kitchel Bay is named for. My wife is a Kitchell and suspect that there is a relationship somehow a long time ago.

Douglas Gallant

Editor’s Note: If you can help answer Mr. Gallant’s question, please drop me an email or use the contact form and I’ll post the answer.

Lane DeMuro recently unearthed a document: “Specifications for Addition to Cottage of Frederic F. Durand at Lake George N.Y.”

Many thanks to Lane DeMuro who found this document in his David Philips collection. He believes David Phillips was the contractor for Frederic Durand.

He is unsure which cottage was Mr. Durands’ but believes it was down Land Ends road.

If you can shed any light on where this cottage was located, please let me know.

Many thanks to Lane DeMuro for sharing this historic find.

Cover Page

Page 1

Page 2

Page 2 – bottom

Page 3

First Drawing

Second Drawing