A town in the Adirondack Park will soon celebrate the grand opening of a new trail paying homage to a local community member and key figure in America’s Women’s Suffrage movement.A new trail on Mount Inez in Lewis, New York, will open to hikers on Aug. 1, honoring the legacy of suffragist Inez Millholland and enhancing tourism in the Adirondacks. Arin Burdo of Champlain Area Trails said the region has always had a front-row seat to history. “Being in that place and thinking about those things, being able to observe where it happened and put yourself there, and to put yourself in that mindset is really powerful and special, and it gives all of us an opportunity to talk about it,” Burdo said. Sandra Weber, a local author, shared details about Millholland’s activism. “She was involved in a lot of the more militant suffrage rallies in such in London, actually, where some women were throwing bricks through windows and such a thing. So she brought that kind of more militant, more radical suffrage to the United States,” Weber said. In 2020, Mount Discovery was renamed Mount Inez to honor Millholland’s legacy of social justice. Since then, work has been underway to create a trail that ties her historical impact with the scenic views of the mountain where she once lived. Tony Thorman, Director of Trails and Land Management at Champlain Area Trails, said the construction of a new trail was crucial before opening to the public. “It had been initially developed there was a fire on the mountain over 20 years ago, and it wasn’t really designed for hikers. So it was deeply rutted. It was dangerous. It was an ankle twist waiting to happen,” Thorman said. The nonprofit Champlain Area Trails recently acquired the Twin Valley property in Westport, which will serve as a hub connecting trails across Essex County. The organization plans to use occupancy tax funds to maintain trails and improve accessibility, with future plans to create a women’s suffrage historical walking trail on Mount Inez.”We’ve made an effort with CATS to promote or provide $40,000 a year for three years, $120,000 total from our occupancy tax funds to support that. We also approved an additional $25,000 for three years… to improve the trail system for again for the community members and to help improve tourism into the area,” Tim Pierce, Town Supervisor of Lewis, said. Weber said she hopes that the new trail will inspire visitors to explore the area’s history.”When something appeals to you, grab onto it and pull on that thread, because I know that that thread is going to lead you in all kinds of interesting directions,” Weber said.The grand opening of the Mount Inez Trail will be on Aug. 1 from 5-7 p.m. There will be a guided hike up the mountain along with performances from the Meadowmount School of Music.Explore more from around our region with This Is Our Home
LEWIS, N.Y. —
A town in the Adirondack Park will soon celebrate the grand opening of a new trail paying homage to a local community member and key figure in America’s Women’s Suffrage movement.
A new trail on Mount Inez in Lewis, New York, will open to hikers on Aug. 1, honoring the legacy of suffragist Inez Millholland and enhancing tourism in the Adirondacks.
Arin Burdo of Champlain Area Trails said the region has always had a front-row seat to history.
“Being in that place and thinking about those things, being able to observe where it happened and put yourself there, and to put yourself in that mindset is really powerful and special, and it gives all of us an opportunity to talk about it,” Burdo said.
Sandra Weber, a local author, shared details about Millholland’s activism.
“She was involved in a lot of the more militant suffrage rallies in such in London, actually, where some women were throwing bricks through windows and such a thing. So she brought that kind of more militant, more radical suffrage to the United States,” Weber said.
In 2020, Mount Discovery was renamed Mount Inez to honor Millholland’s legacy of social justice. Since then, work has been underway to create a trail that ties her historical impact with the scenic views of the mountain where she once lived.
Tony Thorman, Director of Trails and Land Management at Champlain Area Trails, said the construction of a new trail was crucial before opening to the public.
“It had been initially developed [before] there was a fire on the mountain over 20 years ago, and it wasn’t really designed for hikers. So it was deeply rutted. It was dangerous. It was an ankle twist waiting to happen,” Thorman said.
The nonprofit Champlain Area Trails recently acquired the Twin Valley property in Westport, which will serve as a hub connecting trails across Essex County. The organization plans to use occupancy tax funds to maintain trails and improve accessibility, with future plans to create a women’s suffrage historical walking trail on Mount Inez.
“We’ve made an effort with CATS to promote or provide $40,000 a year for three years, $120,000 total from our occupancy tax funds to support that. We also approved an additional $25,000 for three years… to improve the trail system for again for the community members and to help improve tourism into the area,” Tim Pierce, Town Supervisor of Lewis, said.
Weber said she hopes that the new trail will inspire visitors to explore the area’s history.
“When something appeals to you, grab onto it and pull on that thread, because I know that that thread is going to lead you in all kinds of interesting directions,” Weber said.
The grand opening of the Mount Inez Trail will be on Aug. 1 from 5-7 p.m. There will be a guided hike up the mountain along with performances from the Meadowmount School of Music.
Explore more from around our region with This Is Our Home