1898 Map of Lake Placid

Evidence of the region's industrial past is visible in the cluster of timber and charcoal-related settlements like East Kilns, Middle Kilns, and West Kilns situated along the slopes of Black Mountain. These small outposts, alongside Franklin Falls on the Saranac River, suggest an economy deeply tied to the surrounding forests and waterways. Meanwhile, the growing community at Wilmington and the presence of estates like Undercliff on the lake's western shore indicate the area's early emergence as a destination for seasonal residents and recreation.