While kayaking on beautiful Lake Durant near Blue Mountain Lake, New York, one June day, my wife Carol Ann asked, "Where does Blue Mountain get its name?" So we visited the nearby Adirondack Museum at Blue Mountain Lake to buy a place names book. But there was no such publication. So… I wrote What's With Those Adirondack Mountain Names?

The book alphabetically lists over a hundred Adirondack Mountain place names or oronyms, but I only found four mountains with women's names in my research. Mount Jo is fourth in the Simply Saratoga series; What's With Those Adirondack Women Mountain Names?

(above) Looking Across Heart Lake in 1949 by Kay Flickinger Dockstader Courtesy of the Adirondack Research Library of Union College, and Protect the Adirondacks! Inc.

The term "vacation" was born in the Adirondacks. In April 1869, a Connecticut preacher, William Henry Harrison Murray, published Adventures in the Wilderness or Camp Life in the Adirondacks. As a result of this enlightening book, people vacated cities such as Boston, New York, and Philadelphia, where they lived, worked, and spent their leisure time for an Adirondack vacation.

Many wealthy built summer getaways called Great Camps, and the not-so-wealthy went camping in the Adirondack wilderness. 

Henry Van Hoevenberg was born in Oswego, New York, but grew up and received his education in Troy and Lansingburgh. Henry, a self-taught electrical engineer, was responsible for several inventions and patents in the field of telegraphy, which was in its infancy at the time. In 1877, overworked and with a severe case of Hay Fever in New York City, young Henry felt the need to vacate New York City and camp in the Adirondack wilderness with some of his friends.

As the story told for decades, Henry met Miss Josephine Scholfield while camping near Upper Ausable Lake. Under the lure of the Adirondacks, they hit it off, fell in love, and became engaged. They decided they wanted to build a home in the Adirondacks for themselves and where they could entertain their friends.

After summiting Mount Marcy, the highest New York State Mountain, they searched extensively for a site for their new abode. They found a lake that looked like "a heart-shaped sapphire deeply cushioned in the velvety green of primeval treetops," according to Alfred L. Donaldson in his book, A History of the Adirondacks. Henry named the lake Heart Lake and the mountain that rises above the lake Mount Jo in honor of his bride-to-be. He referred to the area as "The Finest Square Mile."

However, their love story turned tragic after Josephine was called home to Brooklyn and met with a mysterious death. Henry's love for Josephine never wavered, and he chose never to take a bride. Henry shared his loss of Josephine in a poem, "In the Star-Light" in Stoddard's Northern Monthly published by Wilton, New York, native Seneca Ray Stoddard.

Despite losing his beloved Josephine, Henry, "Van" or "The Man in Leather" still built a magnificent Adirondack Lodge. He constructed it on the site the two lovers had picked for their home. At the time, it was one of the most significant log structures in the world and one of the first hotels with private baths. He operated the hotel until he faced financial difficulties due to litigation with his patents.

Today, Josephine Schofield is remembered not only by her mountain namesake but also through Josie's Cabin, located at the Mount Van Hoevenberg Complex outside Lake Placid, New York. The cabin offers a warm atmosphere of entertainment, food, and educational programs inspired by Josephine and Henry's love story.

(above) "In the Star-Light" poem by Henry Van Hoevenberg, from the Collections of The Folklife Center at Crandall Public Library, Glens Falls, NY.  

What's With Those Adirondack Mountain Names?
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