About Francis Seaman and Her Painting

Frances Elizabeth Boone was born on June 18, 1918, the daughter of the late John F. and Martha (Slack) Boone.  Little is known about her early life, but she did graduated from the Long Lake High School, 1937.  Seaman then went to the Albright Art Institute in Buffalo,  graduating in 1942.  During the summer of that same year, she served as a fire tower observer on Mount Electra in the vast Nehasane Park estate of J. Watson Webb. Many years later, she wrote a story about her experiences, which was published  as “Nehasane Fire Observer” in 2002.

Following her summer on the mountain, she was employed as a fashion artist for the Albany Times Union. Her detailed illustrations were used as advertisements in the newspaper. While in Albany she joined the Adirondack Mountain Club and went on many weekend excursions to the mountains.

In 1946, She married Master Sergeant Howard Seaman and they were employed at the Forked Lake Estate of C.V. Whitney.  The next year, they moved back to Long Lake.  In 1950 Howard established his contracting business and Frances supported the business by serving as its bookkeeper and Howard’s business partner.

In 1959, Frances was instrumental in locating and documenting the raising of the steamboat Buttercup from the bottom of Long Lake.  The famous boat had been sunk in 1885 by local guides.  

In 1980 Francis was appointed town historian. She was active in preparations for the town’s 150th birthday (1983) and the 150th celebration of the first schoo (1990). Francis often gave slide presentations of old photos showing people and places around Long Lake.

Frances was honored by the Adirondack Museum in 1993 with the “Founders Award” in recognition of her deep interest in preserving the local history of the region. n recent years,  

In addition to her work preserving Long Lake’s history, Francis was a well-known artist. Many of her works have been on display, such as the Adirondack mural in the town hall and her well known painting “A Party Guide-Boating Thru Long Lake ca. 1900”

She died in 2005.

Information from Seaman’s Obituary in the Glen’s Falls Post Star.