Over one hundred years ago, when John Apperson made his first trip to Lake George, he enjoyed camping on the islands in the Narrows, winter and summer, and brought many friends along to try out a range of sports, such as skate sailing and skiing. For a large group of men (and women) who worked for GE, in Schenectady, Apperson became a sort of pied piper, enthusiastically planning excursions away from the crowded city. It wasn’t long before these “happy campers” became aware that their island paradise was threatened by erosion, and they began organizing work crews to haul rocks and build rock walls. Their efforts attracted the attention of many of the wealthy land-owners, including Mrs. Stephen (Mary) Loines, William K. Bixby, and George Foster Peabody, who eventually helped Apperson win important political battles.