Henry Uihlein II (February 3, 1896-June 8, 1997) was known for his love of winter sports, agriculture and education. He was grandson to August Uihlein, a longtime president of the Joseph Schlitz Brewing Company in Milwaukee, WI. Born and educated in New York City, Henry’s promising collegiate career at Cornell was cut short by tuberculosis so he went to Lake Placid, NY, where he was restored to health by the altitude and climate.
Henry was an avid outdoorsman and was integral to bringing the first international winter sports competitions to Lake Placid in 1919 which directly led to Lake Placid’s selection as the site for the 1932 Olympic Winter Games. These activities resulted in his membership and induction into the Lake Placid Hall of Fame in 1983.
Henry married Mildred Anthony of South Orange, NJ, on June 10, 1927, and in 1941 the Uihleins purchased farmland in Lake Placid, thereby making the newly dubbed Heaven Hill Farm—their permanent home.
Over the decades, Uihlein developed a blue ribbon pure-breed Jersey cattle herd, a prize maple syrup operation, and a first-class seed potato research farm. The Jersey herd was eventually donated to Miner Institute of Chazy, NY, and continues to be bred under the Heaven Hill name to this day. In 2020, the Uihlein Farm, donated to Cornell University in 1961, closed its potato research program and returned the property to the Uihlein Foundation. Currently, the Farm is in the planning phase for its long-term future.
The Uihlein Foundation created the Uihlein-Ironman Sports Fund (UISF) of Lake Placid in 2005 in partnership with Ironman North America, and Adirondack Foundation. Since its inception the fund has supported young local athletes, Olympians and nonprofit sports organizations with nearly half a million dollars in grants.
Henry Uihlein’s guiding principles to the Foundation were to preserve his lands, not allowing for subdivision or commercialization. In 2000, Henry Uihlein II and Mildred A. Uihlein Foundation began operations and since that time have continued Henry’s legacy of good land stewardship and creating ample opportunities for community benefit.
For more information about the UF’s 25th anniversary contact:
Uihlein Foundation, 302 Bear Cub Lane, Lake Placid NY, 12946
andrea@heavenhillfarm.org • 518-523-3061
Photos:
Henry and Mildred Uihlein
Officials of International Ice Meet. Henry Uihlein II, Cornelius Fellows, Raymond Stevens and David Slayback. Syracuse Post-Standard, c. 1920
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