Faces of the Forest is about people—the people who work the land, nurture the trees, and make the paper and packaging products you rely on for so many things.  

But this installment is as much about a place as the people in it. Ticonderoga, New York, is a storied village in the Adirondack mountains of upstate New York.  

One of the oldest historical preservation sites in America, Fort Ticonderoga, is located here. 

You’ll also meet some of the people who have contributed to this community, formed more than 270 years ago: James O’Bryan and Sarah Gibson, who work at the mill, keeping employees safe and forests healthy.  

The mill, whose original plant was built in 1882, is the only one to operate inside the boundaries of a “forever wild” state park, adds Gibson, the fiber supply manager. “People should feel great about using paper and packaging products because there are people like me, as well as the team that I get to work with, who are doing the right things for the right reasons.” 

Walt Lender, executive director of the Lake George Association. The group teams with the mill and other organizations to keep Lake George—a 32-mile-long body of water at the southern end of the Adirondack Park—clean and pristine.  

“The mill has been very supportive of our programs, particularly our education programs and our science programs,” Lender says. “They’re great neighbors.” 

Fort Ticonderoga CEO Beth Hill and Curator of Collections Matt Keagle. The two help teach generations of visitors about the historical and natural significance of the entire region. The fort, built by the French in 1755, played a significant role in early American military conflicts

This is the story of how the town, the fort and the mill create value while upholding values. These are the faces (and places) of the forest.