Grant Cottage remains a gem of a historic site

City investigating conflict of interest after Doolittle questions cozy relationship

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Ten years ago, my son Joseph began his history career.

That's when he became a tour guide at Grant Cottage. His volunteer gig was the highlight of his week and was the first step in what would become his career, first with the National Park Service and more recently at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans.

On Sunday, we took a trip down memory lane and revisited the cottage.

It was the first time either of us had been there since prison closed in 2014.

What we found was encouraging.

Grant Cottage continues to be one gem of a local historic site with perhaps the most compelling story around.

There had been improvements to the cottage (million-dollar fire suppression system), a reorganization at the visitor center, updating of the tour with more recent information and research and a plan in place for the future that includes handicapped-accessible trails to the overlook, a new pavilion for programs and additional parking with real estate acquired from the prison.

But even though both Joseph and I are intimately familiar with the story of President Ulysses S. Grant's final days on the mountain as he rushed to finish his memoirs, the story still resonated. It was still fresh and compelling.

The room where President Ulysses S. Grant died is just as it was over 100 years ago.

So if you haven't been to Grant Cottage, I urge you to go. It's right off the Northway at Exit 16.

You will not be disappointed.

It may be the most important historical site in a region with a lot of important historical sites.

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Making a difference

It was gratifying to see that Will Doolittle's recent Front Page column was making a difference.

Will wrote about a local developer's plans for a project downtown and his history of not fulfilling his promise for landscaping and design.

Will also found that the chairman of the Planning Board in Glens Falls, Ethan Hall, was also the architect on some of the developer's projects.

That was a conflict of interest.

The Common Council showed its concern at a recent meeting and now the city attorney is investigating the matter.

It ended up being the top story on the front page of The Post-Star on Tuesday morning.

This is the value of commentary and analysis in local reporting.

We encourage all our readers to continue spreading the world and supporting our work.

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Tough times

As many of you know, my wife Gillian passed away last week after a long and arduous battle with ovarian cancer.

The sheer volume of the condolences over the past week from friends, acquaintances and former colleagues has been overwhelming. What was even more surprising was that there were so many from those who never met Gillian or myself. They only learned of her trials and tribulations through my writing.

Thank you to all of you for acknowledging a life lived well.

I especially wanted to thank her doctor Lynne Keil who was always there for Gillian, but never more than these final few months where she attended to Gillian here at our home. Every person in the medical profession needs to set that type of standard for patient caring.

Thanks also to Gillian's friend, former colleague and Warren County Health nurse, Mary Murphy, for not only being there for Gillian, but for me personally even when it meant a past midnight phone call. Those efforts will not be forgotten.

And finally, to our friend, Meg Hagerty, for always being willing to lend a hand or offer up her company.

Thank you to all of you during this difficult time.

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Eulogy

One message about Gillian meant a lot to me and would have shocked Gillian.

Connie Bosse was a reader and acquaintance from my days at the newspaper who served on our editorial board. Recently she received her own cancer diagnosis. After hearing of Gillian's passing, she wrote to me in an email and I included in Gillian's eulogy.

"Gillian's strength through this battle has been a life lesson in determination, attitude and approach. I was diagnosed with endometrial cancer in February and have just finished my six rounds of chemo, with surgery planned for September. During my painful journey, her story about the way she approached the awfulness that is cancer and recovery spoke to me. I invoked the thought, `If Gillian Tingley can fight through this Connie, so can you.' She was my role model in persistence. As you know, when you get this diagnosis, you discover a lot about yourself. Are you a fighter and if so, what are you fighting for. Gillian is a fighter who focused on the importance of the love of her family and the joy of her work giving back to others. That will be her legacy."

The two had never met.

Ken Tingley spent more than four decades working in small community newspapers in upstate New York. Since retirement in 2020 he has written three books and is currently adapting his second book "The Last American Newspaper" into a play. He currently lives in Queensbury, N.Y.