Blais And Glory

The story of a mayor whose 38-year run—and counting—has changed the village of Lake George

Story by Josh Schermerhorn
Photos courtesy of www.villageoflakegeorge.us

Imagine sitting on a park bench watching the people walk by.  Now, imagine that everyone knows who you are.  Some people may like you; some may not.  Many may make up ideas assuming you will listen while others may just come to praise you.  Eventually, you earn a reputation on your bench, and people keep coming back to you, hoping you’ll listen to them and do more great things for them.  In essence, this park bench is a mayor’s office in Lake George and behind it sits one of the longest running mayors in New York state.

Robert Blais has heard a lot from his bench, and has been holding his position for nearly four decades.  He hasn’t always held the mayor title though.  Born in Holyoke, Mass in 1936, Blais was just another child.  He attended high school in Saratoga and did his graduate work at Boston University.  After graduating, Blais moved to Lake George but did not have a job.

“There wasn’t much, but I started out as a summer police officer,” says Blais.  “I then took up an insurance job elsewhere but made it my goal to come back and do something.  So, I took a managerial position, worked my way, and the rest is history.”

The current mayor has plenty of history.  After holding many positions on village boards and opening the corner arcade Fun World, Blais ran against Mayor Caldwell.

"The village wanted change, and I knew that’s what I was bringing to the table.” 

“I knew this would be a tough task.  Caldwell’s name is all over the village, including the name of the library.  However, I was confident we would win.  The village wanted change, and I knew that’s what I was bringing to the table.”  And in 1971, Blais did just that by taking over position of mayor.  Blais immediately needed to get to work, for the village was not the same as today.

“The town was not viewed the way we wanted,” says Blais.  “Tourists who came were ‘honky-tonk’ and not as family as we wanted.  It was a teenage hangout with kids getting drunk right on the sidewalks.  When I came in, I wanted to make it much more family oriented and friendly.  People need to feel more comfortable.”

Blais had many tasks over his time as mayor and has made numerous upgrades to the town.  He cleaned up dilapidated buildings along the lake and updated the city’s basic facilities.  One noticeable attribute to the town as a result of Blais’s efforts is the expansion of the town park.  Along with a playground and a beach, Shepard Park includes an amphitheater that now holds an event up to six nights a week in the summer.  His accomplishments also include new walkways along the shore to make easier family access to the beauty of the lake. 

Many people have associated with mayor Blais over the years.  Bill Dow, owner of the Lake George Steamboat Company, has known Blais for many years.  “We’ve been friends since the 60s,” says Dow.  “He’s done a lot for the town.  I’m impressed in how he’s kept the back street citizens and the main street tourism separated well.  It would be fun to have him to stay here forever.”

Blais’s involvement in businesses like the local arcade Fun World has even touched local families like the Frost family.  Sam Frost has been partners with Blais for nearly 30 years, and Sam’s son Doug owns the Tom-Tom Shop in the village.  Doug, 45, has lived in Lake George his entire life.  “He has done a lot for the great community atmosphere, but his involvement with local business has been exceptional.  He has made it easy for everyone to approach him and has always been there when they needed some help.”

"I’m happy with what I’ve done here in this village and love it all, but it’s time to go.” 

The mayor has done a lot for Lake George but is not content with his achievements. “You can’t be satisfied,” he says confidently.  “Some governments are what I call caretakers who sit back and let things happen as they may.  I do not feel I’m like that.  There’s always something more to do, always something new to happen.”

Included in the new things to do is making his townspeople happy, which is always a challenge in a tourist town.  “The biggest task for us is balancing the community’s happiness with the satisfaction of the tourism business.  Sacrifices must be made along the road, but they must understand it’s for the better.  For example, the Americade motorcycle rally comes every year, and maybe not every citizen is happy.  However, the revenue it generates for our town is significant and, in the end, benefits them greatly.”

Mayor Blais has seen plenty while ‘sitting on his park bench.’  In fact, not many other people in New York have seen more from the position of mayor as Blais has.  He now holds the second longest running mayor position in the state of New York.  However, records are not on his mind, and two years from April, when his calling comes for another term, he will retire.  “Sometimes, you have to know when to come out of the bullpen, and sometimes, you know to stay in the stands.  I’m happy with what I’ve done here in this village and love it all, but it’s time to go.” 

Do you have any travel stories from Lake George?