Historic Saranac Lake

SARANAC LABORATORY►ARCHITECTURE

	Architect J. Lawrence Aspinwall
	COURTESY MAINE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION

The new, state-of-the-art laboratory was designed for Dr. Trudeau by his cousin, J. Lawrence Aspinwall, junior partner of James Renwick in the New York City firm of Renwick, Aspinwall & Renwick. Branch and Callanan Lumber Company of Saranac Lake built the laboratory between May and November of 1894, at a cost of $20,000, fully equipped. Dr. Trudeau provided land, “part of my house lot on Church Street … convenient for Dr. Baldwin and for me."

The Saranac Laboratory was the first laboratory in the United States built exclusively for reseach on tuberculosis. Trudeau and Aspinwall planned this laboratory with particular attention to fire protection, light, ventilation and disinfection.   

“We had no opening ceremonies and never have had any, “ wrote Trudeau. “When everything was ready, Baldwin and I merely began to move the apparatus we already had in use from the little shed near the barn to our beautiful new quarters, and to continue the work we were doing.”

Saranac Laboratory Post Card, 1894
COURTESY MARY B. HOTALING

To replace the Queen Anne-style house that had burned, Aspinwall also planned a new Colonial Revival home and office, in use to the present day as the offices of Medical Associates, successor to Dr. Trudeau’s practice.

From the very beginning of his laboratory studies Trudeau had used animal subjects, perhaps more readily than his urban counterparts because he was a hunter and they were more easily available in the country. Facilities for animals were a part of the original design of the laboratory. Declared Trudeau, “A hundred or more of these animals (rabbits, fowl, and guinea pigs) are kept in cages in the basement. They have good care and never suffer either from the disease or in the manner of their death.” In 1910, Trudeau wrote in the Journal of the American Medical Association: “Thanks to animal experimentation, we know today that tuberculosis is not inherited; that it is communicable and, therefore, preventable; and that in its earlier stages it is curable.”

In 1926 an addition was made at the rear of the building to provide more space for raising experimental animals. It was torn down around 1970, but the concrete floor can still be seen.

The left wing addition—the John Black Room and upstairs offices—was completed in 1934.

The Saranac Laboratory closed in 1964, with the on-going experiments transferred to the new Trudeau Institute, where Dr. E.L. Trudeau’s influence in science continues today.

The laboratory building was donated to Paul Smith’s College in 1966; it served as classroom and dormitory space until the college’s new building opened next door in 1987.  

Historic Saranac Lake became the owner of the former Saranac Laboratory in 1998, and has since worked to restore the building.  RESTORATION►

©2008 Historic Saranac Lake. All rights reserved.

Historic photographs courtesy of the Adirondack Room, Saranac Lake Free Library, unless otherwise noted. Copy and reuse restrictions apply.