Paul Smith's College: A Legacy of Education in the Adirondacks
Introduction
Nestled in the heart of the Adirondack Mountains, Paul Smith's College stands as a testament to a rich history and a commitment to hands-on education. From its origins as a bequest from Phelps Smith, son of Adirondack hotelier Apollos "Paul" Smith, to its present-day status as a leading institution in environmental sciences, hospitality, and more, the college has evolved while staying true to its unique mission.
The Founding and Early Years
Paul Smith's College owes its existence to the generosity of Phelps Smith, who, upon his death in 1937, bequeathed a substantial portion of his estate, including over 20,000 acres (8,100 ha) of land, to establish a college in his father's name. Apollos "Paul" Smith, the founder of the renowned Paul Smith's Hotel in 1859, had already left an indelible mark on the region. The college is located northwest of Saranac Lake, in the hamlet/village of Paul Smiths in the Town of Brighton, in Franklin County, New York.
However, the path to opening the college was not without its challenges. Disappointed heirs contested the will, and the true value of the Smith fortune was initially uncertain, with estimates ranging from two to ten million dollars. Much of the estate was tied up in land. A final valuation placed the total at seven million. There were disagreements among the board of trustees, with some favoring scholarships for local students to attend other colleges. Ultimately, the decision was made to establish a college on the shores of the St. Regis lakes, as stipulated in Phelps Smith's will.
After Clarence A. McArthur resigned as president in December 1945 over philosophical differences with the board, Frederick G. Leasure was appointed to oversee a $250,000 program of modernizing and winterizing college buildings, preparatory to a September 1946 opening as a co-educational college for 150 students. Programs offered were Liberal Arts, Forestry and Hotel Management, as called for in Phelps Smith's will.
The first co-educational class of 150 students entered in 1946. It was largely composed of WWII veterans and local high school graduates interested in studying forestry and resort management. In 1948, president Leasure resigned over differences with the board, and was replaced by Chester L.
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Academics and Programs
Paul Smith's College offers a range of two-year and four-year programs, with particular strengths in hotel and restaurant management, culinary arts, natural resources, fisheries and wildlife science, forestry, recreation, biology, and business. The college also offers a Master’s degree in natural resource management. Classroom space is primarily located at Pickett Hall, Cantwell Hall, and Freer Science Hall.
The college's commitment to experiential learning is evident in its various facilities, including a student-run sawmill, Biathlon range, armory, and lumberjack sports arena. The college also emphasizes sustainability. All food waste in culinary labs is composted, and 100% of the electricity comes from local hydropower. Faculty spearhead study trips to the foothills of the Himalayan mountains.
Campus Life and Activities
Most of the college population lives on campus. Residence halls are divided by class. Freshmen halls include Lydia Martin Smith Hall, Currier Hall, and Lakeside Hall. Incoming transfer students are housed in Franklin Hall. Upperclassmen share Essex, Clinton, Lambert, Blum House, Overlook, Saratoga, Alumni, Upper St. Regis, Lower St. Regis, and Hillside halls. Paul Smith's rural location lends itself to many campus-based activities. The campus is located on Lower St. Regis Lake. The Lakeside Dining Hall is operated by Sodexo.
Paul Smith's College's athletic teams are the Bobcats, but were formerly called the Falcons. The college is a member of the United States Collegiate Athletic Association, primarily competing in the Yankee Small College Conference since the 2010-11 academic year. Timbersports take place in both Fall and Spring semesters, with teams practicing every month of the school year. Both the men and women's soccer teams at Paul Smith's compete in an annual rivalry game with the teams from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry. The winner receives the Barkeater Cup. The PSC men's soccer team won the Cup in 2014. Both the men’s and women’s soccer teams won the Cup in 2024 on their way to qualifying for the USCAA National Tournament - the first time in history that both teams had qualified (the women had qualified for the previous three seasons and reached the national championship game in 2021). Men's and women's team participate in the Yankee Small College Conference regionally, and the USCAA on a national level. In 2022, the Paul Smith's College Men's Nordic Ski team won the USCSA National Championships located in Lake Placid, NY. The Paul Smith’s College women’s hockey team won the inaugural AAU College Hockey Women’s National Championship on March 10, 2024, when they defeated the University of Tampa 4-2 in West Chester, PA.
A Controversial Proposal
In 2015, Paul Smith's College faced a controversial proposal when Joan H. Mosher Weill, wife of financier Sanford I. "Sandy" Weill, offered a $20 million donation on the condition that the institution change its name to Joan Weill-Paul Smith's College. Ms. Weill was a former trustee of the college. This change however would have violated Phelps Smith's founding bequest, which required that the school be "forever known" as Paul Smith's College of Arts and Sciences. Justice John T.
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The Adirondack Watershed Institute
The college is home to the Adirondack Watershed Institute (AWT). "This state of the art facility will greatly improve our ability to serve the environmental needs of the Adirondack community and will substantially expand our capabilities as a scientific organization," said AWT Director Dr. The center is built on the footprint of the historic Harriman Cottage located on the waterfront of St. Regis Lake, where the countess spent many summers in her cottage on Birch Island.
Notable Aspects of the College's History
Several interesting events and anecdotes mark Paul Smith's College's history:
- Paul Smith's College has an international impact as some 14,000 graduates live in all 50 American states and abroad.
- The college contributes over $67 million to the regional economy.
- In the fall of 1956, William Rutherford and Stephen Simpkins, led a band of 25 students in helping to fight a blaze on little McKenzie mountain. In May 1957 flames devoured 50 acres at Merrillsville.
- Lake Placid Club went collegiate on Nov. 21, 1951 when 50 Paul Smith’s hotel students took part in the resort’s first student management day.
- Hotel and Culinary students demonstrated to the Forestry Students how to split a match with a clever.
- Paul Smith’s basketball team was the first athletic group to represent the college in intercollegiate competition, evolving into one of the finest in its class in the nation.
- There was a coal shortage one winter when several classrooms and dorms were closed with students doubling up in sleeping quarters but the college quickly converted an old boiler into a wood burner and students and hired workers worked in shifts cutting wood to keep the boiler going.
- Dr. Vladimir Dimitroff was the first faculty member to retire from Paul Smith’s College. He retired in June 1955 because of heart trouble and died in September.
- Dr. Ira P. Baumgartner retired from the Paul Smith’s faculty in June 1966. Dr. Baumgartner was professor of Philosophy and Psychology. He received his B.A. at the University of Indiana, his M.A. from Columbia University and his Ph.D. from Cornell University. He joined the faculty in 1954.
- Students suffering from instant nostalgia stripped the famous Leaning Pine at Paul Smith's College campus this morning after it had been cut down by nocturnal vandals around 2:25 a. The raw stump clearly showed the fresh axe bites which looked rather professional. Slate Police of Ray Brook Headquarters are investigating the cutting of the tree which is estimated to be over 100 years old.
Presidents of Paul Smith's College
- Earl C.
- Frederick G. Leasure
- Chester L.
- H. John W.
- John T.
- Jon L.
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