The Thatcher Photos

Digital Exhibition

This five-part series features images captured by Lake George photographer Fred Thatcher (1881-1969), some of which have never been published. See Sembrich’s teaching studio, her Bay View estate, and the surrounding area as they were from 1922 - 1934.

A house with a large front porch and stairs, surrounded by trees, with a woman sitting on the porch. The house has a pitched roof, large windows, and a brick chimney, visible in a black and white photograph.

The Sembrich Studio

Explore the history of The Sembrich from its construction through present day through interior and exterior photographs shot by Fred Thatcher between 1924 and 1951.

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A woman standing outdoors near a large decorative planter filled with plants, with a building and trees in the background.

Sembrich at Bay View

View portraits by Thatcher of Sembrich at her Bay View estate with commentary about the illustrious Metropolitan Opera star including how she came to Lake George and her legacy in Bolton Landing.

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A black and white photo of a large historic house called Maidstone, situated on the shore of Lake George in New York. The house features multiple stories and a tower, with a spacious lawn in front, a walking path, and trees along the waterfront.

A Tour of Bay View

Take a look inside Marcella Sembrich’s historic Bay View house and discover the history of this lost landmark through images taken by the Thatchers before the property was sold and demolished.

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Black and white photo of a woman standing behind lush bushes with large leaves, near a building with a decorative urn filled with plants on a ledge, and an archway for an entrance, in a garden or yard area with trees in the background, possibly in Lake George.

The Bay View Grounds

Wander through the manicured lakeside grounds and gardens of Bay View, Marcella Sembrich’s Adirondack retreat. Featuring previously unpublished photos of grounds as they were nearly a century ago.

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A large, ornate house with a prominent tower covered in snow, surrounded by snow-covered ground and leafless trees amid a winter landscape.

Winter At Bay View

Take a trip around Sembrich’s Bay View estate covered in a blanket of fresh snow before heading to Lake George Village for more winter fun on the ice!

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The Thatcher Photos series is curated by Caleb Eick. This digital exhibition is supported by generous funding from Stewart's/Dake Family and through a kind partnership with the Historical Society of the Town of Bolton. Images in this exhibit come from The Sembrich Collection and the Thatcher Archive at the Historical Society of the Town of Bolton. All photos from the Thatcher Archive are used with permission from the Historical Society of the Town of Bolton.

Logo for Stewart's Shops, Dake Family, featuring cursive and bold text with a curved swoosh design.

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