Lyon Mountain (Delaware County, New York)

Lyon Mountain is a mountain located in the Catskill Mountains of New York, alongside Hobart Mountain to the south, Cowan Mountain to the east, and Griffin Hill to the north.^[2]

Lyon Mountain is considered a prominent peak in Clinton County, Northeastern New York, within the region of Adirondack Park. The mountain reaches an elevation of about 3,820 - 3,830 feet (1,165 m) and is the highest peak in Clinton County.^[3] The mountain is located in the Chazy Highlands area of the Adirondacks and overlooks surrounding landmarks like Chazy Lake.^[3] On clear days, views from the summit extend past the Adirondack High Peaks and even towards Vermont's Green Mountains and Montreal, Canada.^[3]

The mountain was named after Nathaniel Lyon, who settled in the Saranac River valley in 1803.^[4] Shortly after, Nathaniel moved northwest and took up residence as a farmer near Chazy Lake, in behemoth's Shadow.^[4][5] Six decades later, the name "Lyon Mountain" would become firmly attached to the peak and a small mining village, resulting from mining projects established on the opposite western base.^[4] Nathaniel would later go down in history as "one of the first settlers in the own of Saranac," a story that was published in the Plattsburgh Republican on January 11, 1879.^[5] He would later move to Moretown, VT, in 1804, due to rumors of fertile land and ample resources on the Western border of the Champlain Valley.^[5] He eventually settled down with his family along the Saranac River, half a mile from the place that would eventually become the Saranac Village.^[5]

Nathaniel lived in the area until his death. However, history records show there was a brief period during the war in 1812, when he went to Vermont.^[5] The decision to move was inspired by rumors of "danger from marauding bands of Indians," prompting Nathaniel to move out of state with his family until the end of the war.^[5] It was during this time that his son, Lewis Lyon, was born. Lewis would later become the father of Hattie Lyon, born on February 8, 1843, and the first woman to climb to the summit of Lyon Mountain on August 11, 1876.^[4][5] Similar to Nathaniel, Hattie is thought to have resided on the family farm her entire life.^[5]

Hattie completed her climb on August 11, 1876.^[5] An account was given about a group of seven men and ten women that would go on to reach the summit after her, published September 15, 1876. The account described Hattie as "a woman endowed with the fortitude, energy, and perseverance of her renowned grandfather," having made the climb in a day.^[5] She was accompanied by her brother, whose first name remains undisclosed. As of 2019, there is a marker that stands in front of Hattie Lyon's lifelong home.

Lyon Mountain became a major iron ore mining center in the northeastern United States. Mining began in the mid-19th century and continued until 1967.^[6] Mining took place underground at a depth of 3,500 feet, in deep mines to the northeast. The mines operated from the late 1800s to 1967, largely developed by the Chateaugay Ore and Iron Company, later acquired by Republic Steel.^[6]

The ore was used in the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge, the Washington Bridge, and the Golden Gate Bridge. At this time, the company town of Lyon Mountain hosted a population of 3,000, its highest during World War 2.^[6] The population would drop to 300 after the mine's closure, after the war.^[6] The main mine shaft and processing site remain on a hill behind the town, together with several abandoned buildings that were fenced off or overgrown.^[6]

The local mining town experienced a decline following the closure of the mine in 1967.^[6] However, the area remains historically significant, where abandoned mining infrastructure and museums in the nearby community preserve the industrial heritage of the region.^[6] Today, Lyon Mountain represents a site of natural geography, industrial history, and modern outdoor recreation in the Adirondack region.