Library History

About 1895, books were donated by Mrs. E. Luther Hamilton of New York City. Her portrait hangs over the front door of our present library. Individual residents, both permanent and summer, donated the books to fill the stairway shelves of what is now The Penderson's Deli and Gift Shop on the corner of Route 9 and the Public Dock Road.

Mr. and Mrs. Fred Trusdale owned the property then and lived in the upstairs apartment. Downstairs was a grocery store. Mrs. Truesdayle was the first unofficial librarian of Diamond Point. Later, the Truesdales moved to the old house on the corner of Diamond Point Road and Journey's End Road (where the Clifford Gates' family lives) and the library was then moved to the bay-windowed living room.

A voluntary Library Association was formed of summer residents and local individuals, and on December 19th 1901  a New York State Charter was granted to the Hill View Library Association. The First Trustees were Mr. and Mrs. E Luther Hamilton, Mr. and Mrs. Laweence Jacob, Mr. George Yewell, Miss E.D. Brereton and Mrs. Fred E. Truesdale.

The Hillview Free Library was established in 1899 when Jane Keyes Hamilton, a resident of New York City and a visitor to Diamond Point decided the community should have a library. She along with some like-minded residents purchased the property and moved a neighborhood 1860's schoolhouse to the site. The building was refurbished and transformed into a library. Books were donated, fund drives were held and membership was encouraged as there was no other source of funding.

The property had been the small school house on Diamond Point Road, which was built in 1860. The middle room of the present library was the school house. The increase in Volumes in a few years prompted the first room addition-designated as a reading room.

In 1901, having outgrown the original building, a friend, architect J. Dickinson Hunter, designed the stunning stone arched structure, whose curved door opened into an oak lined great room. This structure was built attached to the original library.The total cost of the room was $5,000.  In 1906 Mr. Hunter designed and donated the bronze tablet on the front of the building. The portrait over the fireplace is of Mr. George E. Yewell, an artist and one of the original Trustees.  In 1967, a children's room was added with bookcases built by local craftsman Donald Quigan.

In 1997 the great-room was renovated and in 2007 a central heating and air conditioning system was added.

Since the granting of it's charter in 1901, Hillview Library has upheld the founders mission expounded in 1905 by the president, E. Luther Hamilton: "I hope the members of the library...and those for whom it was established will feel an increased pride in it and feel as hopeful as I do as to it's usefulness and educational value.

"Today the great room with it's diamond paneled windows is the scene of grant sponsored concerts, art exhibits, lectures and readers who enjoy the more than 15,000 books in the library's collection.

Of special interest is our collection of historical and rare books on the Adirondacks, and our original Seneca Ray Stoddard photographs.Today our library is supported by a yearly appropriation from the Town of Lake George, money from investments, and donations.