Photos of the ruins of the Trading Post taken by myself back in 2003. It has rotted away today.

Below: The Trading Post as it looked back in the 1950’s, scanned from the book “Our Yesteryears”.

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7 thoughts on “The Van Corlaer/Lake Trading Post”

  1. I would like to find out more information about the Trading Post, How did they receive the mail> Was it by Riders who delivered it to the Trading Post?

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    1. By the 1700s there was a British postal system, with post roads between major cities. Taverns were used as “post offices”. Mail was not delivered to your home. It also was a subscription service and relatively expensive. Many people were illiterate. Free delivery of mail didn’t begin in cities until about 1858, and not in rural areas until the 1890’s. Before that you had to go to the Post Office and retrieve it. The Trading Post was originally probably only staffed at the end of the trapping season, when the Indians brought their furs in to trade, and was too far away from anything to get mail. If there was an urgent message, someone going to Sancoick from Albany was probably asked to carry it, then it might sit until someone could either carry it to the Trading Post or let them know to pick it up. Later, when the Lakes lived there year round, they had to go get their mail like everyone else. In rural areas, the postmaster would often ask someone going by your place to let you know you had mail to pick up. Otherwise it would just sit until you came around and checked for it.

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      1. Nicholas Lake is I’m 6th great grandfather. I was thrilled to find this post while hunting for mention of my family. Thank you for posting!

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  5. Thank you very much for all of this interesting information. Nicholas Lake was also my sixth great grandfather. Since my father’s passing n 2022 I have been picking up his genealogical exploration. He was able to find some information about the family post War of 1812 however knew none of the earlier information regarding NJ, Schenectady area and Canada connections. I find it endlessly fascinating to be able to get so much insight at the touch of my fingers! Thank you again, much appreciated!

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