Loren & Judy vaughn
Keywords: Native, Saranac Lake, Trapping, Hunting
Interviewed by Kayt Gochenaur and Nathan Work on 07/03/2019
Loren Vaughn was born and raised in Saranac Lake, NY in the house his father was born in on Edward Street. Loren’s grandfather was the first of his family to live in Saranac Lake, changing his last name from Varin to Vaughn after a spelling mistake on a delivery that he received. Loren graduated from Saranac Lake High School. Loren’s first jobs included working as a laborer in Saranac Lake, working on the seaway in Massena, NY, and later as a contractor in Saranac Lake. He worked on several local hotels, as well as the Olympics Center in Lake Placid. Loren also spent a large portion of his life hunting and trapping to make money and feed his family. He sold furs until the fur industry was no longer a viable source of income. Having lived in Saranac Lake his whole life, Loren tells of the many changes to the town that he has seen, from buildings being moved to environmental changes. Loren recalls his multiple near-death experiences including the time that he had a heart attack in the woods and had to be lifted out by helicopter, and the time that he broke through the ice while snowmobiling across the river.
Loren’s wife, Judy, also recollects her childhood and life in the area. Judy Vaughn (maiden name Moody) recalls her grandmother Olive coming to Saranac Lake from Ausable. Judy talks about stories that her grandmother told her about early life in Saranac Lake. Around the year of 1918, Judy’s grandfather came to Saranac Lake with one of the first automobiles seen in the area. Judy graduated from Patrova high school in Saranac Lake. Judy talks about how she will never be a “native,” because although she has lived in Saranac Lake since 1950 she was born outside of the Adirondack park.
Interview audio may be edited or redacted for clarity and/or privacy. Audio is part of the Oral History Collection at Historic Saranac Lake.
Interviewed by Kayt Gochenaur and Nathan Work on 07/03/2019
Loren Vaughn was born and raised in Saranac Lake, NY in the house his father was born in on Edward Street. Loren’s grandfather was the first of his family to live in Saranac Lake, changing his last name from Varin to Vaughn after a spelling mistake on a delivery that he received. Loren graduated from Saranac Lake High School. Loren’s first jobs included working as a laborer in Saranac Lake, working on the seaway in Massena, NY, and later as a contractor in Saranac Lake. He worked on several local hotels, as well as the Olympics Center in Lake Placid. Loren also spent a large portion of his life hunting and trapping to make money and feed his family. He sold furs until the fur industry was no longer a viable source of income. Having lived in Saranac Lake his whole life, Loren tells of the many changes to the town that he has seen, from buildings being moved to environmental changes. Loren recalls his multiple near-death experiences including the time that he had a heart attack in the woods and had to be lifted out by helicopter, and the time that he broke through the ice while snowmobiling across the river.
Loren’s wife, Judy, also recollects her childhood and life in the area. Judy Vaughn (maiden name Moody) recalls her grandmother Olive coming to Saranac Lake from Ausable. Judy talks about stories that her grandmother told her about early life in Saranac Lake. Around the year of 1918, Judy’s grandfather came to Saranac Lake with one of the first automobiles seen in the area. Judy graduated from Patrova high school in Saranac Lake. Judy talks about how she will never be a “native,” because although she has lived in Saranac Lake since 1950 she was born outside of the Adirondack park.
Interview audio may be edited or redacted for clarity and/or privacy. Audio is part of the Oral History Collection at Historic Saranac Lake.