Thursday Local History and Stories Series: William Covey and Twitchell Lake

The Old Forge Library, located at 220 Crosby Blvd., is pleased to host the Town of Webb Historical Association’s Local History Series on Thursdays throughout the summer.

The free series features weekly presentations and discussions exploring local and regional history, conservation, culture, and storytelling, while inviting community members and visitors to share stories and memories of their own.

The series continues on Thursday, July 23, at 5 pm with a presentation, “William Covey and the Covey Memorial Bridge,” led by local historian Bruce Steltzer.

William Covey, the son of renowned area builder Earl Covey, grew up on Twitchell Lake and was the Town of Webb’s only World War I casualty. Following the war, two of William’s friends encouraged his parents to create a lasting memorial in his honor. The result was the William Covey Memorial Bridge, which spans Twitchell Creek. Steltzer’s presentation draws from letters, documents, newspaper articles, and rare photographs preserved by William’s sister, Emma Covey MacEdwards, many of which have never before been publicly shared.

Bruce Steltzer and his wife spend summers at their family’s camp on Twitchell Lake in the Big Moose area, where generations of their family have maintained a deep connection to the lake. Steltzer serves as chairperson of the Twitchell Lake History Project and is a respected local historian who frequently presents programs throughout the Town of Webb communities. His research focuses on the Gilded Age settlement of Twitchell Lake, early surveying, logging operations, and the region’s pioneer guides. A digital archive of his work and the broader history of the lake is available at twitchell lake.omeka.net.

The Local History and Stories Series continues throughout the summer with a diverse lineup of speakers and topics:

• July 30: Ray Letterman – Dams & Reservoirs of the Fulton Chain
• August 6: Tom Welch – The White Plague and Adirondack Tourism
• August 13: Gary Lee and Mitch Lee – Adirondack Columnists
• August 20: Eric Sutherland – Maple Sugaring
• August 27: James Spencer – The Salem Witch Stories

The Local History Series is free and open to the public, offering an engaging opportunity to explore Adirondack history while celebrating the stories, people, and heritage that have shaped the region.