The cartoonist Clare Victor Dwiggins was an important early resident on Canada Lake, He built his camp called the Dwigwam on the South Shore in 1907. Known as Dwig, he was central to the Canada Lake artists colony. The following is from a portfolio of material that was largely collected by his daughter, Phoebe Greenlake Dwiggins Ballard. Many of the images were included in Barbara McMartin’s book, Caroga, an Adirondack Town Recalls Its Past. While the majority of the material pertains to Dwig, there is some material pertaining to John Russell, the film maker who had a camp on the South Shore.
If others have images to supplement this collection, you are encouraged to share them. Send them to canadalakesconservation@gmail.com.
“Tod Victor” was a pseudonym that Dwig used.
“Reflections,” Dwig cartoon, May 24,1923
Dwig cartoon July 9, 1925
View of North Shore with the Decker’s camp, Silver Springs.
View of Punky Cove from the Dwigwam.
London Bridge
Kasson Drive, c. 1907
“Five Corners” with Unger’s
Wheelerville Dance Hall
The Dwigwam was originally called the Mandalay. Dwig stands on upper balcony. Dwig had acquired the land from James and Lucinda Fulton on October 10, 1907. Dwig sold the Dwigwam on June 2, 1949 to Nathan and Dora Hawley who in turned sold it to Carl and Loretta Nehr on July 22, 1961.
Dwigwam, 1907. Lady on top is Mary Lindsay (Betsey’s mother). In front are Mary and Charles Dwiggins, Dwig’s parents.
Interior of Dwigwam, 1907 or later. (printed on RPPC with divided back)
Living Room of the Dwigwam with Dwig and family. Photograph is dated 1917?
Dwig’s Studio
Dwig’s Studio, with addition of north window.
Back Row: Betsey Dwiggins, Charles Dwiggins, Mary Lindsay (Betsey’s mother)
Front Row: Mary Dwiggins (Dwig’s mother), Eberly Hutchinson, and Eberly’s mother.
Front row: “Pere” Martin, Amsterdam; 2 & 3?, 4: Lu Russell; 5: “Mere” Martin; 6: Betsey Dwiggins; 7: Phoebe Dwiggins.
Back Row, right: John Lowell Russell
Betsey Dwiggins, c. 1905.
Don, Phoebe, and Betsey on the porch of the Dwigwam, possibly 1917.
Dwig, Betsey, and Friends, 1907.
Outing at Irving Pond
First Kicker -Evinrude- on Canada Lake. Heading down outlet for picnic.
“Major Hainer’s” WWI Jenny, barnstorming with Sy Gage at Wheelerville, where golf course is now. Don & Phoebe Dwiggins are beside the plane, c. 1919-1920.
Francis Fulton, 1908
Herbert Asbury, author of Gangs of New York. Owned camp on Dolgeville Point to the west of the Vosburgh camp.
Willis Todhunter [Tod] Ballard, author of 120 books of fiction and husband of Phoebe Greenlake Dwiggins.
Don Dwiggins
Dwig and Grandson Don
Party at Russell camp. Left to right standing: Dwig, Paul Bransom, John Stanley John Russell, Nell Stanley, and Dr. George Streeter. Seated: Evangeline Russell, Teddy, and Lu Russell
Party at Russell Camp. Same day as previous photo. Rear, L to R: Betsey Dwiggins, Dwig, Phoebe Dwiggins, ?, Verne Scriven, Reg Scriven, Helen ?, Reg’s cousin?, ?, Fred Keating (in studded belt). James Stanley lying on railing. Top step Maud Scriven, Lu Russell, Nell Stanley (seated on rail). Grace Bransom (seated below Maud Scriven), Evangeline Russell (seated below), Paul Bransom, Evangeline Russell, Teddy, and Jack Russell. Standing: John Russell, a Scriven or Russell niece. Photo taken by Joe Settle. Caption dates photo to about 1918, but at least after 1924 considering the presence of George Streeter in the earlier photograph. The Streeters built their camp in 1924. James Stanley bought his property on South Shore Trail on August 17, 1933. Stanley would sell the property to Vincent and Mabel Kane in 1955. James and Margaret Stanley had bought a camp on July 31, 1952 on Stony Point.
“Captain Walter Butler (William Pike) accuses Michael Cardigan (William Collier, Jr) of being the murderer of Chief Logan’s children.” “Cardigan.”
Cast of Russell film: “The Buried Treasure from the Hidden Pit,” Blazed Trail.
Excerpt from the 1973 Echo: “[John] Russell, who owned a camp on the lake, went into the motion picture business. He filmed several movies at the lake, including “Cardigan,” in which it is claimed were shots of the [the steamer] “Kanaughta” as a log-hauler; “The Perils of Pauline,” which starred Pear White; and “10 Nights in a Barroom,” which, as the story has it, netted almost $500,000.
“It is said that the money made with “10 Nights” went into the building of the camp that lies on that site today. Dr. John Larrabee, Johnstown, who now owns the land, says he often digs up old reels of movie film in the garden.
“Although Russell’s movie company made three or four successful pictures, he slowly drifted into bankruptcy and the movie company disbanded.”
Pirate Birthday Party for Evangeline Russell of “Blazed Trails Production Company.”
Standing Rear Row L-R: Rex Trowbridge, Bob Purcell, Grace Cunningham (cartoonist), Verne Scriven (car dealer), Verne’s brother, Charles Trowbridge (accountant), Louie Trowbridge, Rev. McKenzie (Presbyterian), Jean Brogan, Mrs. Craig, Helen Craig, Harry Bond (Bransom’s nephew), Mr. Craig, Reg Scriven, Ralph Case, Mr. Ellerman, Brayman Hyde ?, F. Serrano Keating (Magician), Lu Case Russell (writer)
Standing in foreground, l-r: Romeo Fenton (tenor), James Stanley (Baritone), Mrs. Dan Shannon, Dan Shannon, Grace Bransom, Paul Bransom (animal artist), Tom Cunningham (Grace’s brother), Mrs. V.C. Scriven (Maud)
Seated in background, l-r: Mario Craig, Mrs. McKenzie, Betsey L. Dwiggins (pianist), Evangeline Russell (actress), Mrs. Ellerman, Nell Stanley (pianist); above Nell is Phoebe Dwiggins, Gene Parpart, George Hackney.
Seated foreground – l-r: John Lowell Russell (actor), John L. Russell Jr. (cameraman), Jimmy Flynn (boxer).
Photograph by Joe Settle
Evangeline Russell’s 18th Birthday
Paul Bransom, “Sawmill at Canada Lake,” pastel, 1920, given to Emma, 1975.
Paul Bransom, Saw Mill Yard at Canada Lake,” Pastel, 1920, given to Diane, 1975.
Paul Bransom, Saw Mill Yard Canada Lake, pastel, 1920.
Dwig and his grandson Wayne at Dwigwam 2 on the South Shore Trail, now owned by the Fink family. There is a deed dated September 26, 1950 documenting the acquisition of property by Clare Victor Dwiggins (widower). There is a later deed dated June 22, 1954 conveying the property to Clare V. Dwiggins and Phoebe Dwiggins Ballard. Dwig died on October 16, 1958. A deed dated October 27, 1959 conveys the property to Willis Todhunter Ballard and Phoebe Dwiggins Ballard. They in turn sold the property to Eugene and Ruth Fink in a deed dated August 29, 1967.
Dwigwam 2.
In a 1952 letter to Milburn Smith, Dwig included an illustration of Dwigwam 2.
Envelope of a 1952 letter to Milburn Smith
In June of 1921, George Juno bought from Henrietta Peck “Stony Point Lodge” later acquired by the Ellen Smith in September 1944. Milburn Smith inherited the property in 1982.
Drawing on a package postmarked 1954 sent to Jim Stanley. The story is that a fire poker that is still owned by the Fink family was lost in the heatalator. Jim Stanley who had skinny arms was able to reach in and retrieve it. The coat of arms at the bottom is labeled as “Stanley Arms.” Dwig represented himself in a number of his cartoons as a bear.
Untitled Cartoon
“Skeet” Sliter’s ice records.