Welcome to the official website for St. Hubert’s Isle! Here you’ll be able to explore our rich history through stories, photos, and research.

Since the 1700s nature lovers, sportsmen and vacationers have been attracted to beautiful Raquette Lake in the Central Adirondacks of New York. A vintage railway brochure from 1900 lists the lake’s old Indian name as Killoquah – meaning rayed like the sun – appropriate to its shape. The 98 miles of shoreline, deep bays where lake trout love to hide and waterways from the Marion and Raquette Rivers to Blue Mountain Lake bring visitors from all over.

St. Hubert’s Isle Cottage – For Rent

The cottage on St. Hubert’s Isle is up for rent! View the rental page for accommodations, points of interest, testimonials, and further details.

The Dining Area

The Living Room

The Kitchen

View from Seaplane

View From Lake

Dining Area

Kitchen

Living Room

Sleeps Three

Bedroom with A/C

Living Room Sleeps Two

Our Gazebo

Nearby Attractions

Golden Beach State Park - 4 miles from the island

Golden Beach State Park - 4 Miles

(1940s Golden Beach State Park pictured)

Nearby Attractions

Tour Great Camp Sagamore - 4 miles from the island

Tour Great Camp Sagamore - 4 miles

(Great Camp Sagamore Main Lodge pictured)

Nearby Attractions

Adirondack Museum - 12 miles from the island

Adirondack Museum - 12 Miles

(Adirondack Museum pictured)

Cruise on the W.W. Durant

Bird's Seaplane

Path from Dock to Church

Little Osprey & Wee Two from Our Dock

View from Flat Rock

Osprey Island from the Cottage

Our Dock

Our Flag Pole

Sunset from Porch

Raquette Lake Camps Regatta

View from Porch

Places of Interest—Restaurants, Stores, Attractions, and More!

View places of interest for when you’ll be in the Raquette Lake area!

St. Hubert’s Isle and Adirondack History

Delve into the history of Raquette Lake, including St. Hubert’s Isle, as well as that of the Adirondacks.

Waiting for Train at Thendara

Waiting for train at Fulton Chain Station (Thendara) 1909

HM Beach photographer Signs read "Baggage Room" and "Women's Waiting Room" Courtesy of Larry Myers

Car_Ferry__Raquette_Lake

Raquette Lake Ferry - taking on cars at Forked Lake Carry, steamer on left to push car ferry

8-mile trip across beautiful Raquette Lake - car floats began in 1901 Courtesy of Larry Myers

1914 Store

Raquette Lake House 1903-1927

c1914 Hotel and Raquette Lake Supply burned down in disastrous 1927 fire Carmichael Family Trust

Store at Raquette Lake

Store at Raquette Lake - After Remodeled Front Dormer Window & Added Wooden Fire Escape

c1924 After 1927 fire, the Raquette Lake Supply Co was rebuilt by Maurice Callahan, Dennis B. Moynehan and Dennis Dillon with hotel rooms again above store Courtesy of Larry Myers

Raquette Lake House

1903-1927 Raquette Lake House (before addition on left)

F. G. Worden, Proprietor per day, per week New Building, Baths, Electric Lights Carmichael Family Trust

Raquette-Lake-RPPC-L

West Mountain from the Crags on Raquette Lake

Carmichael Family Trust

Blue Mountain Lake

Blue Mountain Lake from Merwin's

Carmichael Family Trust

Sailing Tioga Pt Sepia

Sailing at Tioga Point

Carmichael Family Trust

Antlers Casino Boathouse

Casino and Boat House at "The Antlers"

c1900 Carmichael Family Trust

Steamer Adirondack Dock

Steamer Adirondack at Raquette Lake Railway Station

Courtesy of Larry Myers

RLAM

Islands on Raquette Lake Adirondack Mountains

c1907 Osprey (red roofs), Strawberry (foreground), St. Hubert's (center) Carmichael Family Trust

1907 Jackson Landing

Boat Landing at St. Hubert's Isle

1907 William Henry Jackson Carmichael Family Trust

1902 From St Huberts

Raquette Lake from St. Hubert's Isle - looking east toward Marion River

from 1902 photo by William Henry Jackson Carmichael Family Trust

1906 BM from Antlers

Blue Mountain from the 'Antlers'

c1906 Guideboats Carmichael Family Trust

Adirondack on Marion

1911 Steamer 'Adirondack' on Marion River - Blue Mountain Trip

Before the 1929 road was built (Route 28), a popular trip was from Raquette Lake up the Marion River, railway to Utowana, then steamer 'Tuscarora' to Blue Mountain Lake photo E. E. Kellogg Courtesy of Larry Myers

1923 MRRR Standard Gauge

Marion River Carry RR 1900-1929

Shortest standard gauge RR in the world - 3/4 mile from Marion River to Utowana Lake Carmichael Family Trust

Tuscarora BML

Boarding steamer for Blue Mountain Lake - Upper Carry

Photographer - E.E. Kellogg c1911 75' twin-screw double-decked 'Tuscarora' held 300 Courtesy of Larry Myers

Bridge at Outlet of Blue Mountain Lake

Old Log Bridge between Eagle and Blue Mountain Lakes - pre 1891

photographer - E. Bierstadt NYC c1885 Center section could be moved for two-decked steamers - note man on top Carmichael Family Trust

Outlet of Blue Mtn Lake, Adirondacks

Outlet of Blue Mountain Lake

Carmichael Family Trust

Photos

View an extensive collection of Raquette Lake photography gathered over the years; explore the rich history of the area via a comprehensive visual experience.

1880 Church in Adirondacks (1)

1880 Church in Adirondacks (2)

1880 Church in Adirondacks (3)

1880 Stoddard 2403

1880 Church

"Church on St. Hubert's Isle, Raquette Lake"

The new mission church, built by William West Durant, consecrated 12 September 1880 by Bishop Doane of Albany. The Bierstadt brothers, Edward (1824-1906), Albert (1830-1902) and Charles, were landscape photographers, painters, illustrators and engravers, of whom Albert was the most recognized. (Edward Bierstadt, NYC 1885)

1881 Ehninger Color

"Mission Church on St. Hubert's Island, Raquette Lake, 1881"

25 x 33 1/2 oil painting by John Whetten Ehninger (American painter, b 1827 NYC, d 1889 Saratoga Springs, NY) Original painting is now the property of the Adirondack Museum Blue Mountain Lake, NY Ehninger was an important chronicler of American life, including October, Yankee Peddler and his interpretation of Washington's First Interview with Mrs. Custis, which took place in May 1758. George and Martha were married in January 1759. (J W Ehninger 1881 On loan for 100th anniversary 1980)

1892 Stoddard

"St Hubert's Isle, Raquette Lake"

A collection of Stoddard's work, "Early Days in the Adirondacks: The Photographs of Seneca Ray Stoddard" has been published by Jeanne Winston Adler (1997). Many of the original photos are on display at the Adirondack Museum Blue Mountain Lake, NY (Seneca Ray Stoddard c1892)

Rectory

Good Shepherd Rectory 1882-1914

The original rectory and all the early church records were destroyed by fire in 1914. (S R Stoddard c1892 detail)

Path to Boathouse 1902

"A Glimpse of Raquette Lake from St. Hubert's"

What a surprise to find a photo of our dock from 100 years ago! Note the wooden flooring built part way up the path from the dock, covering all the rough spots. (William Henry Jackson 1902 Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, Detroit Publishing Company Collection)

Jackson Raquette Lake from St. Hubert's Isle 1902

"A Glimpse of Raquette Lake from St. Hubert's"

The same photo colorized by the Detroit Publishing Company, using the Photochrom process with crushed stones. I couldn't believe it when I found this photo on the Internet - the dock and boathouse were exactly like this in 1958 when we first arrived. (William Henry Jackson 1902 Cardozo Fine Art)

Original of 1902 Postcard

"Looking East from St. Hubert's Isle"

William C. Jackson (1843-1942) was a world famous photographer born in Keeseville, NY. In 1889 he was recruited to be president of the Detroit Photographic Company, leading publisher of colored postcards at the turn of the century. (William Henry Jackson 1902 Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, Detroit Publishing Company Collection)

1902 Dock

"Raquette Lake from St. Hubert's Isle Adirondack Mtns"

The same scene on a 1902 postcard. Church-goers who forsake the larger boats, arrived on their own in guide boats, canoes and row boats. The present-day boat house was built using the same flooring shown above. (William Henry Jackson 1902 Gift from Warder Cadbury)

Close Up of Cove 1902

"The Antlers from St. Hubert's Isle"

A closer view of St. Hubert's Cove. Note the original boathouse, with open sides, similar to Echo Camp. We are still using the same flooring and paddle racks. (William Henry Jackson 1902 Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, Detroit Publishing Company Collection)

St. Hubert's Cove 1907

"Boat Landing on St. Hubert's Isle, Adirondack Mountains"

Between the trees was a rustic wooden bridge, joining the main island to the peninsula. It was one of the scenic features of St. Hubert's at the turn of the century, quoted in poetry and photographs. (Williams Henry Jackson 1907 Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, Detroit Publishing Company Collection)

1905 Rustic Bridge

"St. Hubert's Rustic Bridge"

1905 Between main island & Blueberry Peninsula on previous photo (photo by Stanley Brown-Serman Four-Track News, NYC July 1905)

1885 Fairview

"Camp Fairview"

Click to read more about Camp Fairview. (E Bierstadt NYC 1885 Gift of Mrs. Perry Mackey)

1880

"Saint Hubert's Isle from Camp Fairview"

The church is barely visible behind the tree on the right. The original rectory was donated by William West Durant in 1882. Edward Bierstadt also held an 1876 patent for an improvement to the Stereoscope Viewer, used for the extensive body of stereographs created by the Bierstadt brothers. (Edward Bierstadt NYC 1885)

Island

"St. Hubert's Isle, Raquette Lake, Adirondacks, NY"

The same scene, taken from Osprey Island, on a penny postcard, postmarked 13 October 1919 from Port Byron NY to Weedsport NY (Edward Bierstadt 1885 Gift from Warder Cadbury)

1892 Stoddard St. Hubert's

-holder-

Fairview from St. Hubert's 1902

"Camp La Rue from St. Hubert's"

100 years later the view from the rectory porch remains the same, but for the boathouse which was moved to the east. The photographer labeled this "Camp La Rue," but Fairview had been purchased from Charles Durant by the J. Harvey Ladew family of New York City. (William Henry Jackson 1902 Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, Detroit Publishing Company Collection)

Islands from North

"Raquette Lake from the Crags"

The island group, Osprey, St. Hubert's and Strawberry, looking south from the Crags above Brightside, which has recently been reopened as a conference center. (William Henry Jackson 1902 Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, Detroit Publishing Company Collection)

Jackson Raquette Lake from the Crags 1902

"Raquette Lake from the Crags"

The same photo after using Photochrom developed in Switzerland. Jackson's decision in 1898 to head the Detroit Publishing Company was influenced by their owning the patent for this process. (William Henry Jackson 1902 Cardozo Fine Art)

RLAM

"Raquette Lake, Adirondack Mountains"

The Island group from the Antlers - Osprey with red-roofed buildings intact, Strawberry in foreground, St. Hubert's (hiding Little Osprey) and Wee Two hidden on the right. (Postcard courtesy of Caroline L. Russom)

Blue Mountain from the Antlers

"Blue Mountain from the 'Antlers,' Raquette Lake"

Guide boats on the sandy beach at the Antlers (Postcard courtesy of Caroline L. Russom)

Guide Boat

"Antlers Casino"

Guideboat leaving the Antlers - these wonderful flat-bottomed boats were light enough to be supported on the shoulders of the the guides as they led vacationers over the many carries between the lakes. A larger version was used on Sunday mornings to transport visitors to church. In 1880 Good Shepherd was the only church within a 25-mile radius. (William Henry Jackson 1902 Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, Detroit Publishing Company Collection)

Early Durant Leaving Antlers

Early Durant at Antlers

Launch at Antlers

Marion River Carry 1902

Outlet of Blue Mountain Lake, Adirondacks

"Outlet of Blue Mountain Lake, Adirondack Mtns"

Small steamer, leaving Blue Mountain for Eagle Lake. (Postcard courtesy of Caroline L. Russom)

Bridge at Outlet of Blue Mountain Lake

"Bridge at Outlet of Blue Mountain Lake"

Small steamer leaving private Eagle lake, headed toward Raquette Lake. (Postcard courtesy of Caroline L. Russom)

Prospect House

Guideboat on Shoulders

Stagecoach c1900

William Henry Jackson 1902

1905-1920 Landing at Hunters Rest

1910 An Open Camp

1902 Jackson Lower Phostint

1900-05 Casino at the Antlers

1900-10 Wee Two

1900 Church Rectory

1995 Blow

F Carmichael 1995

Over 160 Trees Have Come Down Since 1950

The great blow in November 1950 took down at least 60 large trees, so that as late as 1959 it was impossible to walk from one end of the island to the other without crawling through dead branches. Another 70 trees came down during the microburst of 1986, and 27 more in July 1995. These were the last of the large birch, seen in the earliest photographs. They completely covered the boathouse. It took three chainsaws and five men to clear the paths, including Raymond and Ray, Sr., above.

91

Gazebo

Cove View

Flatrock

2005 Front

Nicdraw

RM Carmichael

Church of the Transfiguration, Blue Mountain Lake, NY

1885 The National Registry Thomas Wallace, Architect The Church of the Good Shepherd sponsored this congregation in 1885 as a new mission church under the leadership of the Rev. Montgomery H. Throop, Jr.

Ceiling

F Carmichael 1995

Ceiling Detail - Church of the Good Shepherd 1880

Each large beam was constructed from an individual tree trunk. Note the stovepipe in the lower right hand corner - needed for those chilly mornings when there were services from May through October.