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It is June, 1990. I tell Paul Schaefer about the brochure we are publishing about the “Forever Wild” exhibit AFPA helped to sponsor at the Adirondack Park Visitor Interpretive Center. Featured on the cover of the brochure is a photograph of Paul’s great friend and colleague Ed Richard, fishing at Buttermilk Falls on the Raquette River. Paul took that photo. How did he come to take that photograph, I asked?
There is a story behind ever picture. The year is 1945. Scotty, the Adirondack pilot, had just flown Paul, Alan Wilcox, and Ed Richard over the site of the proposed Higley Mt dam and reservoir on the So. Branch of the Moose River. It was on that overflight that Paul realized for the first time the big stakes of the fight ahead of them. They touched down in Inlet, and Paul had to get back to Schenectady where he had a number of houses being built. Alan Wilcox said, “Paul I need a cabin built near Beaver Lake. You’re the only one to build it.” Paul said, “love to do it, just let me take care of business in Schenectady and I’ll schedule a time.” “Paul, I need it built this weekend,” Wilcox rejoindered. “I have about five houses under way, got to pay the men, I can’t do it, Alan,” Paul concluded. Wilcox persisted. “It’s got to be built, I can’t wait, you’re the only person to do it.” “What about the materials?” “I’ll order them today and they’ll be at the site tomorrow,” Wilcox responded. “All the wood?” Absolutely. So Paul said all right. All the wood was delivered the next day. Paul somehow got down to Schenectady and had his whole gang up driven up to Inlet and they worked for a steady week on this project, built a gorgeous little cabin in one week. Wilcox was happy as a lark as the crew finished the job. By that time, Paul was desperate to get back to Schenectady to get on with his other work. Ed Richard said “how about fishing with me today?” “I can’t Ed, I ‘ve got to get home.” “Just a little fishing trip,” Ed persisted.
So Paul accompanied Ed over to the Raquette River, and photographed Ed Richard fishing above the falls, a magnificent portrait of a man, a rod, a falls and gigantic white pines rising above the foam. Paul recalled, “I don’t even remember bringing a camera that day, I must have. Every time I see Evelyn I tell her to bring a camera everywhere you go.” Then he tells me how his daughter Evelyn had missed taking the photo of a snake eating a frog on the Hudson. So he lectures her, like he does me.
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