Thompsons Lake

Location

Thompson's Lake refers to the lake and surrounding community in the north east part of the town. The northern half of the lake is in Knox.

View from Lakeside Hotel's Piazza in 1908

History

Thompson’s Lake was named after early residents John and William Thompson. In the late 19th and early 20th century it was a popular summer resort.William J. Hart, was the first one in the Thompson’s Lake area to take in summer boarders. He owned an establishment which was known as the Lake View House. Three boarding houses near the lake were always filled throughout the summer months. Now the public beaches are closed and the boarding houses are private residences. Many of the cottages around the lake now are lived in year around.

Visitor facilites

• There is public access for swimming, boating, and fishing at Thompsons Lake State Park at the north end of the lake. It has a swimming beach, a playground and playing fields, picnic tables, recreation programs, a nature trail, fishing and ice fishing, a boat launch, a dump station, campground for tents and trailers, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
• Farms, natural areas, outdoor recreation opportunities, and visitor facilities in the vicinity
• Knox visitor attractions and facilities
• Berne visitor attractions and facilities

Churches

• Second Dutch Reformed Church organized 1826.

Historic Businesses

Hotels, Inns, Taverns, and Resorts

• Lakeview Hotel
• Lakeside Hotel
• Grove Hotel - Palmatier's Hotel
• Thompson's Lake Hotel
• That Place
• Mountain View House

Stores

• Klee's General Store
• Gulf Station

Photo Gallery

This section is for scenic photos and post cards of the hamlet. Photos of people and families should be posted on biography or family pages.

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  Boat Dock
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  Ladies on a swing
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  On the rocks
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  The Point
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  Summer Cottages
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  Bus from Albany to Thompson's Lake
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  cottages on the lake shore
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  Bear Cave at Thompson's Lake in 1906
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  Row boats on the lake
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  Young ladies rowing on the lake in 1911
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  The Spring on Bear Path Thompson's Lake, N. Y., in the Helderbergs - 1915
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  Indian Ladder Road Thompsons Lake, N. Y., in the Helderbergs - 1915
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  The Cave on Bear Path Thompsons Lake, N. Y., in the Helderbergs - 1915
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  Boat Landing Thompsons Lake, N. Y., in the Helderbergs - 1915
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  Rocky Shore and Boat Landing Thompsons Lake, N. Y. - 1908
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  Altamont, N. Y., Thompsons Lake, Hildeburg Mts, Adirondacks - Terry Schinnerer Collection
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  H. S. Fisher's Bungalo, Thompson's Lake, N. Y. - Terry Schinnerer Collection
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  Come to Thompson's Lake N.Y. for happy days - Courtesy of Pauline Williman
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  Away from care and strife Thompson's Lake N.Y. for happy days - Courtesy of Pauline Williman
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  Life is worth living at Thompson's Lake N.Y. come and see me soon - Courtesy of Pauline Williman
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  For enjoyment Thompson's Lake N.Y. is the place for me - Courtesy of Pauline Williman
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  Lots of fun at Thompson's Lake N.Y. wish you were with us - Courtesy of Pauline Williman
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  Thompsons Lake..... around 1947 or so..... My mother, Delores Duell, first girl from left sitting in water and my aunt, Shirley Duell, girl with the dark bangs !!! photo courtesy of Laura Casey
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  Lake photo from the Camp Pinnacle collection
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  The Indian Ladder
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  Haile's Cavern
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  Indian ladder, Thompsons lake, 1907
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  Thompson's lake postcard, NY
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  Back of card
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  1895 post card
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  message on back of post card
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  Advertisement for Lakeside Hotel, Albany County, NY

Sources