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| Author | Topic: Shawanga Lodge |
| Frank D. |
posted 1/15/10 0:17 AM
An important event in the history of the laser took place at the Shawanga Lodge in 1959. I am inquiring as to the exact location of the hotel. I have it located just off of route 17 at exit 114. That's as close as I can get.I understand that nothing remains of the hotel. Just ruins of the stone wall "gate" at the entrance road. I would like to photograph this stone entrance wall. Could someone please tell me the exact location of the entrance to the hotel was once located?It would be greatly appreciated. Thank you kindly in advance. http://holographica.blogspot.com Historical Lasers & Holography |
| Jerry Z |
posted 1/16/10 1:01 PM
Shawanga Lodge was located in Highview, New York on Shawanga Lodge Road. The post office address is Bloomingburg, NY. I worked at Shawanga in 1961. What happened there in 1959? |
| Frank D. |
posted 1/16/10 8:39 PM
Thank you very much, Jerry.To answer your question:A small private conference took place at Shawanga in 1959, with several of the scientists eventually going on to win the Nobel prize. Little did anyone know at the time what world-changing minds they had sitting around the table.The conference was centered around quantum physics, but there were also discussions -- if only privately between attendees -- about the possibility of developing an "optical MASER" (the MASER, a microwave device, had already been in use throughout the 1950's).After the conference, this new optical MASER came through in 1960, and became known as the LASER (Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation).Considering all that the laser does today -- from communication technologies to micro surgery to three-dimensional imaging (holography) and more -- the 1959 conference at Shawanga was of unmeasurable significance. It changed the world.That is the short version, of course.As for the entrance road, you state that it is along Shawanga Lodge Road (which I have located). I have an early advertisement for Shawanga that states that the "lake" was just a 1/4 mile from the lodge.So I now know that the entrance to the lodge was on Shawang Lodge Road, and that its former location would be 1/4 of a mile from a body of water on a map.Taking that info. into consideration, I have marked two read arrows on the following map. Could you confirm whether this area would be the former entrance to the lodge?I would like to get both photography and video of the former area for a story that I am doing on the 1959 conference.Plus, I have spent my entire adult life working with lasers and holography. I would just like to stand in this spot. http://www.holoworld.com Lasers and Holography |
| Frank D. |
posted 1/16/10 8:44 PM
I'm sorry. My map link did not show up. Here it is. Is this the correct location for the former entrance road?http://www.holoworld.com/shawanga.jpg http://www.holoworld.com/shawanga.jpg Shawanga Lodge Map |
| Jerry Z |
posted 1/16/10 10:59 PM
Frank... It has been over forty years since I was up that way but I would say that your map looks right. From old rte. 17 turn onto Shawanga Lodge Road. From there I don't think it is more than a 1/4 of a mile to the old entrance to the hotel which will be on your left and will take you further up a grade while Shawanga Lodge Road levels off. At the top of the hill is where the main building of the hotel was located. The last time I was there I saw no sign of the main building of the hotel itself although the ruins of some other building were discernible. Good luck and thanks for the explanation about the 1959 conference. |
| Frank D. |
posted 1/16/10 11:25 PM
Thank you again, Jerry, for taking the time to respond.As a collector of ephemera, I have feelers out to the postcard people for any type of interior shots such as lounge, meeting rooms, guest rooms, etc. from the late 1950's and early 1960's.I just picked up an exterior shot of the main lodge off of Ebay.If you ever care to share any of your experiences of what the lodge was like, such as atmosphere, clientele, accommodations, night life, etc., I'd love to hear about it, and possibly share it with readers.You could send it directly to me at holoservices@gmail.com, or even post your thoughts here in this thread so others can read it in the future.And, of course, if not . . . well, that's fine too! I certainly appreciate all the help that you HAVE given already!Best Regards,Frank DeFreitas http://www.holoworld.com Lasers & Holography |
| Joanne |
posted 7/29/10 1:19 AM
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