Rewind: May 1, 2025 – “George F. Underwood, Philanthropist to Our Area”

Plaques honoring outstanding citizens, once in the Civic Center, were moved to the basement of the Charles R. Wood Theater, where they remain today.  We have been made aware that there are many ‘locals’ who do not know or realize that such a collection of “Special People” even (still) exists.  Since the subjects of the honor plaques is certainly history, we will use this column to occasionally share some of the ‘Heritage Hall’ information with the public in hopes that they will make it a point to visit the Charles R. Wood Theater and see the collection housed there.

George F. Underwood (1844-1923)

George Underwood was born in the Town of Horicon, the son of Christopher and Mahala (Griffin) Underwood.  He attended the public schools of Fort Edward and the Fort Edward Collegiate Institute.  He then attended the Eastman Business College in Poughkeepsie, NY, graduating in 1867.

He was involved in the lumbering business as the general manager of Bradley and Underwood in Fort Edward for 14 years, and then at the Bloomingdale Lumber firm at Sandy Hill (Hudson Falls).

In 1880 he began his own lumbering operations in 1880 eventually employing 400 men on his lumber holdings in the Adirondacks.  Underwood was a prime organizer and later Woodlands Manager, and then President of the International Paper Company.  At the time, it was one of the nation’s most important businesses.

George Underwood was a philanthropist.  He was focused on the lives of his employees , the citizens of Fort Edward, and even of the surrounding communities.  He made generous contributions to the area public and private charities.

He was noted as being “generous to his fellow citizens”