Hidden out in the open: Hillview Free Library is a community gem in Diamond Point

It’s easy when traveling Lake Shore Drive on the West side of Lake George to miss the small stone structure tucked between Up North Deli and Diamond Point Grille. The building, an 1860 one-room schoolhouse that was moved to the property in 1899, is home to the Hillview Free Library. The library is open from Memorial Day to Labor to serve local residents and summer visitors.

In addition to lending books and offering the usual library services — Wi-Fi, computer stations, printing, etc. — the library has a full schedule of events and activities, educational and entertaining, during its months of operation. The Lake George Examiner sent a crew to the library Thursday evening to join a mosaic-style stained glass art workshop.

The class was led by John Vaughn, whose Glass Art by John studio is in Glens Falls. Vaughn says he has been working with glass for six years and sells his work from his Etsy shop and the  Amazon Handmade Marketplace.* Vaughn also teaches stained glass art at the Adirondack Folk School in Lake Luzerne.

Workshop participants were provided with a detailed class syllabus and all the tools, materials and safety gear (to protect from sharp edges and possible flying bits of glass as creators clamped down on sheets of colored glass with snippers.)  Vaughn’s mosaic-style glass art requires spacing and gluing in place bits of stained glass to create a design. His step-by-step, detailed instructions were geared toward absolute beginners, and the group of students produced a variety of designs — flowers, butterflies, birds. The final step in the process was to grout the completed work, which could not be done until the glue had 24 hours to dry. Vaughn sent each student home with grouting supplies and a chain to hang their completed work.

Vaughn is teaching a Tiffany-style glass art class at the Hillview Free Library in August; however, the class is already filled, and the library is taking names for a waiting list. The summer events calendar includes sketching and painting classes, story and craft sessions for children, theatrical productions, tea parties and educational lectures. You will find a full list of events and registration information on the Hillview Free Library event page.

Over the decades, the library has expanded with additions added to the original stone schoolhouse. This summer, the library is building a pavilion on their grounds. Library Director Margo Nelson says the pavilion will be used for their programs, and it will be available for community use. She envisions people using it for picnics and weddings. To raise construction funds, the library is raffling off a classic Hornbeck canoe. Tickets are $25 for one and five for $100. The winner will be drawn at the Ribbon Cutting & Lawn Party to be held on Saturday, August 24, 2024, from 12-2 p.m. The lawn party will include a book sale, food and games. Tickets may be purchased online at Hillview Free Library Hornbeck Canoe Raffle and in person at the Library.

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