Hague Hotels

“E. T. Wilcox has erected a fine new hotel at Hague between the Trout House and the Hillside, which presents a fine appearance. It is called the Iroquois and has accommodations for about 75.” (Lake George Mirror issue from 1902)

The hotel hosted many of the Hague Regatta balls, including one on Thursday, July 24, 1902.

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The original white owners of the land were Lyman Bruce and his wife. He sold it to William and Harriet Marshall on October 9, 1865. William died in 1891. When Harriet married Stanley Bevins, she deeded the land on June 8, 1900 to Carrie Marshall Wilcox and E.T. Wilcox, her daughter and son-in-law (Warren County records volume 87 page 270). The land next to it (Jill Stahl's house) was also owned by William and was deeded to their son Byron Marshall. Carrie Wilcox and her husband, a pharmacist, ran both the hotel and guest house (the Iroquois Guest House).

The Lake George All-About-It book by Captain William P Gates states that the Iroquois was “a fine new house with up to date particulars. It can accommodate up to 90 guests. It's a three-story structure facing the lake and has a wide piazza the full length of the house. The rooms are large with every one of them having a lake view. Iron bedsteads. Brook and lake trout, bass, perch, and pickerel fishing. Deer hunting in its season with experienced guides. Croquet, tennis, and other outdoor amusements. E. T. Wilcox was the proprietor. In addition, Mr. E. T. Wilcox was a registered pharmacist. His store was furnished with first-class medicines, confectionery, Indian souvenirs, etc.”

The Iroquois Hotel was sold in December of 1918 to R. J. Bolton by Carrie and E. T. Wilcox. R.J. owned the nearby Trout House Hotel and had recently had a fire at his hotel. Due to that complete destruction, he needed to acquire the Iroquois. It consisted of one acre with 75 rooms and was used as an annex to the Trout House. He also remodeled, adding more rooms and christening it The New Trout House. It was again completely renovated and modernized in the 1930s. According to The History of The Hague Summer Hotelby Bernard and Francis Clifton, The New Trout House enjoyed clientele that was more sophisticated than the average summer tourist at that time, the hotel being faster paced and more suited to the younger crowd and the urbanite. Many guests enjoyed the piano bar, which was installed in the later years of its existence, with Bert Lovely at the piano. 

After the Iroquois Hotel was sold to Roscoe Slack, it passed through a period of unsuccessful operators After a while the hotel was not in service; only the bar on the main floor was open and it hosted many a night of dancing for both locals and vacationers. In the late 70s, the hotel was torn down bit by bit. Local residents remember the toilets and sinks lined up on the street.

The Iroquois Hotel by Douglas R Laundry: “The large hotel located between my father's house and the lodge was called the Townhouse (previously known as the Iroquois Hotel). The Townhouse was owned by Mr. Slack when I was growing up. The bar was operated for a little while but two very, very friendly men. They were friends of the owners of the Bywater Diner. After that it was vacant until the mid-70s. Robert Patchett bought the Townhouse and the lodge and renamed it Trout House Village.”

Events according to the Warren County tax records: 

On July 3, 1959, it was sold to Roscoe and Kyrianna Slack from Poulter (volume 387 page 617). On June 28, 1959, Slack incorporated the hotel to the Hague Townhouse Inc. (volume 388 page 322). On July 15, 1973, Slack removed the corporation and had it put back in his name (volume 570 page 107). On October 16, 1973 Slack sold it to Constantine (volume 577 page 310). On July 26, 1974, Constantine sold it to Albert and Barbara Lawrence (volume 582 page 1120). On July 31, 1980 the Lawrences sold it to Bob and Marilyn Patchett (volume 751 page 142).  The hotel was knocked down to make way for Bob and Lynn Patchett's private home, more cottages, and a miniature golf area for the resort.