Program

NYS Historic

Subject

People, Site, Transportation

Location

20 Dock St, Schroon Lake, NY 12870, USA

Lat/Long

43.834771, -73.760292

Grant Recipient

Schroon North Hudson Historical Society Inc.

In 1874, Augustus Bogle established a boat livery in Schroon Lake in Essex County, New York. He had six rowboats in his first year of business, purchased an additional 10 in his second year, and by the late 1890s, Augustus had a fleet of 53 rowboats and a sailboat that he would let out for hire (Biographical Review, Leading Citizens of Essex and Clinton Counties, 1896). Augustus was joined by his son Charles H. Bogle in operating the family boat livery business in Schroon Lake.

Augustus died in 1902, and Charles H. continued the boat livery started by his father. His son Charles A. Bogle also worked in the family business. After the passing of Augustus, Charles H. made several changes to the boat livery, including the addition of an auto garage and livery around 1910, with Charles A. working as the mechanic at the garage. On April 30, 1910, the Saratogian included a notice that Charles H. and his son had purchased a seven-passenger Packard touring car which was to be used in connection with their “extension boat livery” business. The Bogles continued their business operation in Schroon Lake until at least late 1929 (Post Star, October 25, 1929). Charles A. Bogle died at only 46 years old in 1936 and his father Charles H. died two years later in 1938.

Around the late 1950s the former Bogle boathouse took on a new life and began being used as a theater for musical events. In 1975, the town of Schroon Lake purchased the boathouse, and as of 2023, this long-standing fixture of the community continues to be used and enjoyed by residents and visitors to the area as a musical event space.