Last Sunday Alvin Reiner at the Press-Republican ran a fascinating story about the Essex Inn and the fusion of past and future in this historic landmark recently renovated by the Daltons and now open to the public.

Early on, Rick and Karen Dalton took down the fence between the Essex Inn here and the senior center behind the historic property.

“We told them (the seniors) would be the first guests to have lunch here,” said Rick, who with his wife bought the inn last year and had it renovated.

At that lunch, senior citizens reminisced about their memories of the inn; high-school students from Willsboro caught those stories for a video production on the history of Essex and its inn.

“This is a place to learn about local history, and for the students to develop a bond with senior citizens,” Rick said. (via Press-Republican)

It is this interplay of historic Essex and evolving, revitalized Essex that makes the Daltons’ renovation so exciting. On the one hand, they’ve restored a significant historic landmark that dates back to the founding of Essex. On the other hand, they’ve resuscitated and modernized the facilities to ensure that even the most discerning clientele will feel pampered and eager to return.

In addition to charming inn accommodations, a delicious restaurant (where my appetite’s been spoiled twice already and where I’ll be returning this evening), a handsome Adirondack rustic bar, and a garden oasis, the top-to-bottom renovation allowed the Daltons to include offices for College for Every Student (CFES). Their two decade old nonprofit “helps underserved students take steps to prepare for, gain access to, and succeed in college.” In short, CFES is an organization committed to the future of everyone they serve!

CFES currently works with 140 rural and urban schools and districts in 22 states and the District of Columbia. Each school works with more than 50 CFES Scholars (low-income youth), most of whom would be first in their family to pursue higher education, to help them get to college and succeed there. (via collegefes.org)

Dakoda Latford, Taylor Strong, John Fine-Lease and John Pollack, Willsboro students who are currently enrolled in the CFES program, are creating a multi-media presentation from the stories that the seniors recounted about the history of the Essex Inn as part of a service leadership project. According to Karen Dalton, these CFES students are building their own college futures while preserving the past.

“We are reaching out to bridge the gap, as there is often a lot of knowledge that gets lost,” she said. (via Press-Republican.)

Essex has long represented an important bridge back into history, but the Dalton’s Essex Inn revitalization is one of many new bridges forward toward a bright and shiny future.

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• Essex Inn on the Adirondack Coast (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)
• Summer arrives in Essex on Lake Champlain (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)
• Old Dock Opening July 1 (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)
• Three Perks of Life in Essex (rosslynredux.com)
• Essex Community Concerts (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)