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September - October 2018 29 boatingonthehudson.com
There is a tremendous history to be told about the old logging camp and
clubs that have occupied the land from the mid-1800s until 2012 when New
York took possession of the land. It was by a route as circuitous as the old
logging roads that still crisscross the property.
Sadly, in spite of the fact that the camp is now registered as a State and
Federal Historic Site, numerous environmental groups have called for the
demolition of the club buildings. Should they have their way, the buildings will
become a pile of rubble not long after the club is forced to vacate the premises
on Sept. 30 of this year.
Those advocating for the removal cite Article 14 of the Forest Preserve Law
which reads, “the lands of the state shall be forever kept as wild forest lands.
They shall not be leased, sold or exchanged, or be taken by any corporation,
public or private, nor shall the timber thereon be sold, removed or destroyed.”
This refers to the lands within the Blue Line of the Forest Preserve.
Because the logging camp existed before the Forest Preserve, as far as
I’m concerned it should be protected as a part of the preserve. It represents
not one, but two cultures (logging and sporting) of historic importance in the
region. Actually, to the Forest Preserve itself.
A last-minute reprieve is being sought to keep the buildings intact. The New
York State Conservation Council, the state’s Conservation Fund Advisory
Board as well as the Fish and Wildlife Management Board, are all considering
an appeal to the Governor, asking that he put the demolition plan on hold.
They would like him to pull together a committee of stakeholders that would
include representatives of local governments, preservation and environmental
organizations, business and educational interests and state sporting groups
to review possible alternative uses for the historic camp that could serve as an
attraction intended to bring tourists to the Essex Chain complex. They would
like the committee to explore uses such as a ranger substation, an interpretive
or educational center, as well as other possible uses of the club buildings.
The 161,000 acres of land purchased from the Finch Pruyn Paper Company,
either by fee acquisition or as conservation easements, has not resulted in
any measurable economic benefit for the surrounding communities as was
promised by the Governor when he built his case to assume ownership of
the lands. Visitation to the Essex Chain has dropped dramatically over the
past three years and state designated campsites are getting nearly the use
predicted.
It is time for an alternative plan to be devised to help make up for the loss of
local jobs and economic activity resulting from the exit of the forest products
industry and the imminent end of 20 sporting clubs scattered across the Finch
Lands — including the Gooley Club on Third Lake — whose patronage and
expenditures helped support local businesses.
The Governor professes that he sees the economic value of our sporting
traditions here in New York. He should; it is estimated to be $8 or $9 billion
a year.
Back in February 2013, when he kicked off his “NY Open for Fishing and
Hunting” campaign, he said he knew the recreational and economic value that
hunting and fishing bring to New York. Unfortunately, many of the decisions
since then have discouraged the sporting community.
It is very puzzling. Tens of thousands of acres of new lands have been
purchased, but unit and recreation management plans have all but shut out
the sportsmen and women. The upstate communities still wait for the boon to
their economies promised as justification for sinking more than $50 million into
the purchases that have yielded little more than a collection of yellow barways
that block access to the lands that we all helped pay for.
For the Governor, saving the Gooley Club could be a small but important step
towards showing that he really does understand and appreciate the billions of
dollars that New York’s sporting community pumps into the state’s economy.
Bill Conners of the Federation of Fish and Game Clubs writes on outdoors
issues in Players. Email: