CHATEAUGAY LAKE STEAMBOAT GAZETTE CO.

Letter to the Editor
Chateaugay Lake Gazette
Chateaugay, N.Y.
November 2, 1964

Dear Editor,

I felt compelled to share my thoughts on the recent broadcast of “Shatagee Woods Mystery Hour,” particularly the chilling tale entitled “The Gitaskog and Other Terrors: Surviving the Journey to Ralph’s.” What a spine-tingling experience it was! As the train rattled through the misty Adirondack woods, I couldn’t help but feel the weight of the legends woven into the very fabric of Chateaugay Lake.

Listening to the story of that spectral steamboat, the “Adirondack,” emerge from the fog was like being transported back to the ghostly shores of my childhood. The way the tale unfolded, capturing the essence of Halloween with its eerie atmosphere, reminded me of my own encounters with the lake’s haunted past. Who among us has not heard the whispers of ghostly apparitions lurking within the woods or felt the chill of the Gitaskog’s eyes upon them? These stories are etched in our community’s history, from my grandfather’s tales of summer visitors to the more recent accounts of those who dared to traverse the haunted waters on All Hallows’ Eve.

The segment on Ralph’s resort struck a chord with me, too. I recall visiting that dilapidated structure as a boy, its creaking floors and lingering scent of decay whispering secrets of those who had vanished into its shadows. The legends surrounding the Halloween masquerade, where revelers mysteriously disappeared, have sent shivers down my spine for years. The haunting imagery of masked figures dancing through the halls conjures visions that linger long after the story has faded from the airwaves.

As I tuned in, I was especially taken by the vivid descriptions of the Shatagee Woods—those ancient trees seem to breathe with life and history, each branch holding the whispers of the past. I remember walking those woods on Halloween, feeling the icy fingers of spirits brush my shoulder, as if warning me to turn back. The memory lingers, but it pales in comparison to the terrifying yet captivating portrayals that the Mystery Hour masterfully delivered.

The choice of Halloween as a backdrop for this tale was particularly poignant. It is a time when the boundaries between our world and the next become tenuous, allowing the spirits of Chateaugay Lake to roam freely. The notion that the Wendigo’s curse could awaken once more, drawing the unsuspecting into its dark embrace, sends shivers through even the most stoic of hearts.

As a long-time resident of this haunted region, I urge my fellow citizens to heed the warnings of the stories shared in “The Gitaskog and Other Terrors.” Whether it’s the glowing lights that dance over the lake or the spectral figures that roam the woods, these tales serve as reminders of the powerful spirits that guard our past and keep watch over our present.

Let us celebrate the chilling allure of Chateaugay Lake’s lore while respecting the shadows that linger just beyond the flickering lights. For those brave enough to journey to Ralph’s this Halloween, I implore you to tread lightly—your own stories may intertwine with the haunting history of this mystical place, and you might find yourself forever changed by the experience.

With haunting respect,
Hiram S. Harris
Route 2
Chateaugay, N.Y. 12920