What it is like to be the Caretaker and Innkeeper…
When Work Becomes an Adventure.
by Todd Westhuis and Mary Harding
First, we would like to thank the St William’s community for a wonderful summer on Raquette Lake at this unique and historic property. Being Caretaker and Innkeeper is a lot of work, but it is also gratifying.
From the weekly concerts and meeting all of the volunteers, the interesting variety of guests, and the beautiful lake itself, we had the most amazing experience.
While we had busy Saturdays for cleaning changeover between groups, our early-rising and to-do list driven approach made most weeks’ transitions very smooth. Todd’s work on projects included repairing stairs and doors, staining buildings and docks, attaching bumpers to docks, just to mention a few. His work during the week allowed us to make the most of our time at St William’s in the off-time.
Not only is the church a historic structure with an interesting history, it is absolutely amazing for its architecture and acoustics. Experiencing the concerts on a weekly basis from early July through mid-August never felt like “work” despite significant effort needed to ensure everything was set up for the musical acts’ arrival. The classical concert was the highlight of the musical experiences for us.
Let’s talk about the boats! Seeing and hearing the WW Durant make its daily treks by the camp was fun. The steamboaters week was a very unique treat and we appreciated the tutorial about the workings of each, as well as a short ride on one! Our season was capped off by watching the boats participating in the 90 mile Adirondack Canoe Classic. Right in front of St William’s we saw classic canoes, kayaks and Adirondack guide boats, war canoes and many others.
This is all on top of the nearby hiking trails, neighboring lakes and especially the Adirondack Experience (formerly the Adirondack Museum): it’s one of our favorites and we picked up the Raquette Lake Library pass to get half off our admission! It’s truly a wonderful place to work and have an adventure.
For anyone considering taking on the Caretaker and Innkeeper role in the future, hopefully this article gives you a sense of excitement for what you’ll embark on!
Read More!
This article was originally published in the our fall newsletter which is available online.
We are seeking a friendly, hardworking couple to be Caretaker & Innkeeper at St. William’s on Long Point for the summer of 2025.
Dates of employment: May 27, 2025 – September 16, 2025.
