The St. Lawrence County Historical Association

Volume XLIV- Number 2 - Summer 1999 The St. Lawrence County Historical Association at the Silas Wright House

The St. Lawrence County Historical Association is a private, not-for3mmemberShip organization based at the Silas Wright House in Canton, Founded.i~ff%7,the ~ssociation'~i~s,~vemed- ...... x by a constitution, by-laws, and Board of Trustees. The HiSmMir~ssociation'smembership r&etsjannually to 4F. elect its officers and trustees. +:& fq 2000 Officers: /* 2000 Trustees: President: Richard Foster, ~osd Chris Angus, Canton g Vice-President: Carl SticwL,~owood Patricia Carson, Canton Treasurer: Carol ~ohnsdhqcanton Shawn Gray, Massena Secretary: ~athlee~nXfHoro,Canton Gary Kelly, Potsdam W

$fldP William Lacy, Gouverneur bgrd~) f E. Jane Layo, Waddington J Stan Maine, Pierrepont $ 2000 ~taj.. Lowell McAllister, ~euvelhn Trent$Fhlock, Executive Director Jane Subramanian, potsdad Sue'"~h,ngshore,Collections Manager Joanne Swift, Potsdam $ Mary ~lkqJones, Archives Assistunt Peter Van de Water, canto$ Will ~o~ce~kfminirnntiveAssistunt Robert Wells, Canton ij Susie Wood, Hammond :! Cay Zabriskie, Ogdensburg, 3

.$ The St. Lawrence County His is a not-for-profit membership organization ancpkuseum which serves as an educational resource for the use and '&fit of the citizens of St. Lawrence County and &hers interested in the County's history and traditions. The Associatioit.~pllectsand preserves archival material and @ifacts pertinent to the County's history. In cooperation and collaboration~ri~.~4ocal~ga~ia~tisns~~~:~~tionpromotes an understanding of and appreciation for the County's rich history through publications, exhibits, and programs. The St. Lawrence County Historical Association operates within museum standards established by the American Association of Museums. SLCHA Membership Membership in the St. Lawrence County Historical Association isopen to all interested parties. Annual membership dues are: Individual, $25; SeniorIStudent, $20; Family, $35; Contributor, $50; Supporter, $100; Patron, $250; Businesses, $50 to $1,000. Members receive the SLCHA Quarterly, the Historical Association's bi-monthly newsletter, and various discounts on publications, programs and events. St. Lawrence County Historical Association at the Silas Wright House 3 East Main Street, PO Box 8 Canton, New York 13617 (315) 386-8133 fax (315) 386-8134 e-mail: [email protected] www.slcha.org The ,'Lawrence County Historical Association The Quarterly is endowed in memory of Albert Priest Newel1 and Ella Waterman INewell. Ouarterlv Publication of Thc Quarterly is abo made possible with public funds fhn the New Volume XLIV - Number 2 - 1999 York State Council on the Arts, a State ISSN: 0558-1931 agmcl'.

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PINYSCA ManagingEditor: CONTENTS Pamela Omimet

From the Editor Pam Ouimet Adnsoly Bomd: Chris Angus, Canton Artbur Johnson, Potsdm Remembering the Town Hall 3 Herb Judd, Canton Patricia Harrington Carson May Ruth Judd, Canton

I Cwght 01999 by the So Much to Tell :A Place We Call Home St. Luwenoe Counb Historical - Assoclaffon.All rights reserved. Waddington, NY 7 IExcept fw brief excerpts, no pert ofthis E. Jane Layo publication may be copied or repro- duced without the express written per- , mission of the author and the Historical The St. Lawrence River and Waddington 14 Association. The St. Lawrence County E. Jane Layo Historical Association k not nsponsibh for the statements, intqretations, and opinions of contributors to The SLCHA Local Municipal Historians in St. Lawrence County, New York The SLCHA Quarterg is published Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall each year by the St. Lawrenot County His- Itorical Association for its members and

Additional capies may be obtained fiam the St. Lawrence County Historical Association, P.O. Box 8, Canton, NY 13617 at $4.00 each ($2.00 for mcm- bers), plus 3 1.00 for postage. IssueEditor: IContributions: Pamela Ournet The smQuarterly loom con- tributions. To submit a manuscript, or for further information, please contact the editor through the St. Lawrence County Historical Association. Please Cover Illustration address communications to: Managing A look at Main Street, Canton from the top of the Opera House in 1953. 1 Editor, The SLCHA Quankrb P.O. Box Courtesy: SLCIU 8, Canton,NY 13617. From the Editor Hello, I'm Pam Ouimet, the new editor of me Quarterly. I am looking forward to working with the St. Lawrence County Historical Association's staff and volunteers alike, as well as with any of you who wish to submit articles to be used in The Quarterly. 1 would like you all to know that I will be more than happy to work with you on any submissions you would care to make for the up- coming editions. Photographs are always a welcome compliment to any article submitted, or as a stand-alone item if you have some news you want to share. You can be assured all photos will be re- turned to you afier publication. Please feel fiee to send your entries along with your name, address and phone number to either the As- sociation, or directly to me at: PO Box 48, West Stockholm, NY 13696.

To tell you a little about myself, I am originally from Massena and graduated with my BA in Englishlwriting from SUNY Potsdam in 1988. I worked as a Reporter for the Daily Courier-Observer for nine years, and have been the Communications Coordinator for the North Country Reference and Research Resources Council - NorthNet since February of 1999.

IV.44, no. 1 Building with Potsdam Red Sandstone, the early years -- IBy S. Omohundro Author's Correction: The

Alexander Brown house in Courtesy Massena Alunl~nwnHstoncal Assonabon Hermon was reported as "de- The Massena Aluminum Historical Association was recentlv recognized by molished." Although the house the RCHA.for establishing a museumfor the Aluminum industry. has been gutted, the primary Pictured (left to right); Patricia McGrath, Sue Longshore, Trent Trulock, walls are still standing. and Santo Savoca.

2 St. Lawrence County Historical Association Quarterly Remembering the Town Hall By Patricia Harrington Carson

I remember the old "Town and friendliness, plus the busi- determined the time was right for Hall" with such fond memories. ness advantages offered were too the building of a new "Town It stood stately and dignified and good to be ignored. Hall." Times and needs were lent to Canton's Main Street and very different back then. aura of opulence. And it gave a On Main Street, the sidewalks There were several one room feeling of enchantment because were wooden planks and the road school houses scattered through- it looked so much like a castle. was dirt. What illumination there out the area and Canton's Union was came from gas lights. De- Free School was located on It was during a special meet- pending on the weather, horse Court Street. The current town ing in the spring of 1877 that the and carriages or horse drawn hall, which had been built in first plans to build a new town sleighs were the sole mode of 1846, was close by, situated on meeting place were formed. transportation. In my mind's eye, the corner of Court and Pearl Canton had by then been in ex- I can see the carriages streets. It was a plain, substan- istence for 70 years. To the vil- transversing the humpy roads, tial building that was often in lagers, this undertaking was an and the sleighs gliding through need of repair. exciting and rousing venture. the snow in the dead of winter. A committee was formed to A small, pastoral village lo- A number of farms sur- begin to formulate the plans for cated on the banks of the Grasse rounded the village. Farm land this greatly anticipated addition River, Canton was fast becom- was plentiful and fertile. The to Canton. One of the first deci- ing a thriving community. needs of the farmer were one of sions to be made was the loca- People were drawn to its warmth the reasons our forefathers had tion. The site, finally chosen, was

Courtesy SLCIjA Canton Town Hall/Opera House

St. Lawrence County Historical Association Quarterly 3 1The auditorium was the ut- most in elegance and Victorian design. The interior was walnut, . or ~aintedto look like walnut. ~h;balcony had a wooden rail- ' - -_-, ing. It had 20 foot high cathe- , , dral windows, and a huge kero- sene chandelier hung from the ceiling. It could seat 700 people.

rp. " I No building in Canton is richer in memoGes than the old I Town Hall, or the "Opera House" I as it was more aptly called. From its opening, the upstairs audito- i.!,'.I rium became the center of Canton's good times. Road <

9 Lawrence County Historical Association Quarterly Made up in black face, they sang is a matter of record that the Long before Canton had a li- and danced the clog dances of the people of Canton, along with the brary, a reading room was day. In March of 1901, one of college students, subscribed opened in the Town Hall. As their shows was cancelled as the $3,500 for St. Lawrence Univer- would be expected, there were greatest snowstorm in all of sity that evening, and the Univer- community gatherings of many Canton's history paralyzed the sity was saved. kinds held there. Some red-hot North Country. Not even the ac- political battles took place there, tors could get to the theater that Graduation exercises took as well as Senatorial and Judi- night. place at the Town Hall for St. cial conventions. From the be- Lawrence University, as well as ginning, it was where all village The Opera House had a slop- the Agricultural School and Can- and town voting took place. In ing floor and the six rows in front ton High School before they had the early days, the bell tower was were reserved. Those who their own auditoriums. used to sound Canton's fire bought the highest priced orches- alarms. tra seats were given movable straight back cark chairs, which they could move around to form a circle for conversing until the orchestra arrived to warm up. Henry Devalcourt Kip, a cel- ebrated local artist, had painted the scenery. On Saturday evenings the au- ditorium was converted into the Village's movie theater with Stanley Southworth as propri- etor. He was an organizer who was original in his form of ad- vertising. He would read ads fiom the Canton newspapers to Comtesy TowdWIqe of Canton Hlstonan the audience before the show Ahsolom Gaines takes a stroll down began. Southworth would then Main Stmet, Canton walk down the aisle to the front of the theater to tell about next week's show. It was in the Board of Trade rooms that the citizens of Can- ton met one evening in 1886 to save St. Lawrence University. Due to financial difficulties, the school was struggling to keep going. The now honored and tra- ditional college hymn, "The Scarlet and the Brown," was written for the occasion by Charles Kelsey Gaines and was sung for the first time by the stu- dent body as they marched into the meeting. Directing the song, the march was led by Williston Manley, who was later editor of Courtesy hwn \'fflage nt L'anlon Htstonan The St. Lawrence Plaindealer. It Activity on Main Street, Canton

St. Lawrence Counfy Historical Association Quarterly 5 The Post Office and the Board a .village and its people. A pic- of Trade rooms occupied the first ture of progress, a picture of what floor. The Superintendent of the our early society was like. A Poor also had an office there, as wondefilly unforgettable col- did the Town Clerk. The build- lection of memories. How sad ing was seventy feet by one hun- that it is not still there to enrich dred and ten feet with a basement our lives. for butter, milk and cheese stor- age, which was badly needed by Sadly, that wonderful old the local farmers. There was also Town Hall met its doom on Feb- a residence for the janitorlcusto- ruary 2, 1962. Afire broke out at dian. approximately 6: 15 a.m., and within fifteen minutes it was to- Many times over the years I tally engulfed in flames. have tried to imagine the glory and anticipation of the Opera It was a great loss to so House's opening night. What many.. . that beautihl building show was playing remains veiled was gone. The memories will, in mystery, not named in any ar- however,' remain forever. ticles I have read. I can visual- ize the ladies and gentlemen, and children as well perhaps, stroll- ing happily up the street, or alighting from their carriages on that memorable evening. This was the era of formality in dress and manners. It was an age of elegance and refinement. I can see in my mind's eye the ladies' dresses of corded silk or satin; or likely the less affluent in homespun muslin. The men in their coats and ties, wearing spats perhaps and maybe straw boaters or derbies. How excit- ing the evening must have been and how beautihl the theater must have looked with all the lovely painted scenery and the large kerosene chandelier glow- ing above the heads of the crowd. If only walls could talk, what stories they could have told in the over eighty years that the Town Hall graced our Main Street. What hidden secrets could it have revealed? Think of all the people who left their mark there over the years. It was like a history book in itself It spoke volumes about

St. Lavmnce Counw Historic41 Association Quarterly So Much to Tell : A Place We Call Home -- Waddington, N.Y. E. Jane Layo (Taken from the Files of the Waddington Historian)

The vicinity of Waddington April of 1803. By this time the The settlers from New En- was first noticed by Count land had been surveyed by Ben- gland, Vermont and Frontenac, Governor General of jamin Wright and it was fully Roxburghshire, Scotland, now Canada, in 1673, and again is opened for sale. began coming; this included the mentioned in Father Rutherford brothers who settled Charlevoix's diary written on his The first white settlers were in the southwest part of the vil- trip in 1721. the Samuel Allens family, who lage now known as the Scotch founded a Dutch family home- Settlement. The town itselfwas not estab- stead here. lished until the passing of a bill On April 1, 1808, a law was by New York State on May 5, Land began to be sold in passed authorizing J. 1786, for the protection of this 1798, when Barton Edsall and Waddington and D. and T. Ogden frontier from the English. The John Sharp were the first to in- to build a canal and docks for the bill declared that "On the South- vest, although at the time there improvement of navigation. The east side of the St. Lawrence were from twelve to fifteen resi- project was to be constructed on River, will be sold at public vend, dents. This was evident since the south channel (the Little at the Coffee House in the City there were this many in atten- River) of the St. Lawrence River, of New York. The fourth and dance at the Fourth of July cel- which was 1,000 feet wide, with eighth townships, will be sold by ebration. (It is interesting to note an eight foot drop in fifty rods single lots. . . " that astonished Canadians sent a and flowed 24,000 cubic feet per flag of truce because of the fir- second. The wooden locks, built On September 10, 1787, ing of guns and shouting all in by the St. Lawrence Lock Com- Madrid was named and was the honor of that day.) pany were fifty feet by ten feet fourth township to be established with a two foot draft. Before out ofthe ten new towns, and Mr. The village now began to de- completion, however, the lock Macomb, with his bidders velop. It was located a few miles was undermined and abandoned. bought this section of the coun- to the east of Ogdensburg on the try. south shore of the St. Lawrence Twice an act was passed to River in the northeastern part of extend the time for completion, Waddington found itself as a St. Lawrence County. The river, and finally a stone lock was built. part of Clinton and Herkimer Brandy Brook, Big and Little This was of little use since the counties before belonging to St. Sucker Brooks and numerous dimensions allowed only Lawrence County. In 1793, the gullies surrounded the level sur- Durham boats to pass. The toll land was sold to William Edgar faced land consisting of sandy collected was twenty-five cents and in the next year to William loam. per ton on all boats over two tons, Constable. Shortly after, he sold or fifty cents for smaller boats. Madrid to Abraham, David and The lots along the riverfiont At the same time, a drawbridge Thomas Ogden and Josiah were one-sixth of a mile wide with three openings to the Island Hoffman for $60,000. and sold for $2.50 an acre, while was built by D. Ogden. those back fiom the river a mile But again the ownership was were sold in one mile squares at The first post office for changed after the death of $2.00 per acre. In 1800, there Waddington, under the name of when Thomas were eight purchases, while in Madrid, was established in Post- and David Ogden sold a third of the next three years there were master Alexander Richard's Madrid to Joshua Waddington in only thirteen. home on December 14, 1807.

St. Lawrence Couny Historical Association Quarterly The mail was first brought by the land of the riverbed and 1,135 near White House Creek, when horseback and since has been acres of water frontage, which generals Wilkinson, Boyd, transported by water, stagecoach went a mile back away from the Portec and Sturtout were to de- from Madrid, railroad, and on the shore. cide where to invade Canada. Norwood Star Route. Except for these acts and many By now the had enlistments, Waddington has not The three-mile long Isle au descended upon these shores. been involved too deeply in any Rapide Plat (Ogden Island) situ- Since there had been a few small other wars. ated between the main channel Indian raids, some people left of the St. Lawrence and Le Pe- never to return. Some did not Meanwhile, D. Ogden had tite Sault (the Little Jump), or bother to budge, and yet others settled the 750 acre island. By south channel, was the site for left and returned after the War. 18 16, his house was completed the mansion of D. Ogden which There was a company of militia with its three-foot walls, twelve was begun in 1809. When the stationed here for a few months fireplaces and part of his wife's first settlers began obtaining under the command of captains dowry of slaves used for house land, this island was the scene of Bester Pierce and George Wells. servants and farm hands. a few disputes. The first was While they were here, they were with the St. Regis Indians, who involved in a skirmish on the Is- During Waddington's early had lived, hunted, fished and laid land with a detachment of Brit- period, the people felt the need claim to this land. Land Agent ons, in which Jacob Redington for houses of worship. On Feb- Edsall forbade them to cut the was wounded. In 1813, the only ruary 13, 18 12, Trinity Church of valuable pine forest which they Council of War in St. Lawrence passed a decree used for timber. In May 1803, County was held on October 8 granting $3,000 for the request representatives from both sides settled their differences bv agree- ing that Mr. Edsall could>eGove the already cut timber and sell it for sixty cents a tree so long as the title ofthe land was presented to Madrid. Sixteen years later, the question of whether England or the U. S. owned the Island was settled when the boundary be- tween Canada and the U. S. was established north of the Island.

I.'.. ' -. "& According to SpaEord's Gaz- etteer of 18 13, there was a site for an academy here, but noth- ing was ever erected. The first school established was about 1810 and within a few years a school at Sucker Brook (District 3) and Charlton (District 2) were started. In 18 11, a year after garnilton was made a Port of Entry with Mathew Myers as Deputy Col- lector, Madrid was partially di- vided. David Ogden became owner of the village of

Waddington, the dam, the water ioanel) SLCI IA privileges, the mills, the Island, The Ogden House

8 St. Luwrence County Historical Association Quarterly January 6, 1849. On July 14, 1858, after the congregation chose to be connected with the Presbyterian Organization, they became part of the St. Lawrence Presbytery. After the church burned, a $2,500 stone edifice was built and dedicated in 1889. Twice again fire has struck and each time it was restored. Because of its magnificent water power supply and the lack of competition to destroy its small industries, Waddington was thriving through the 1 91h (,<>uteh"SI,(.tlA St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Waddington Century. The earliest recorded industry was a saw mill on the of D. Ogden for aid in building services. In 1848, a stone edi- Big Sucker Brook owned by J. St. Paul's Episcopal Church. The fice was built under Rev. Waddington and A. Hamilton. only conditions for this were that Mackey. It is much the same to- Other saw mills were: one built a Glebe of 300 acres adjacent to day, except for what was rebuilt by Richard Hamson and owned the village for income and a lot after a fire in the interior. by John Rutherford, with a ca- for the church were to be given. pacity of 2,400 feet a day; one When the walls and roof were The next church to be con- on the Island belonging to Rich- intact, one half the sum was structed was the Presbyterian ard Harrison and later to E.S. given and the rest was to come Church, organized as the Con- Crapser; and that of Horace when it was completed. The bal- gregational Society on January Montgomery with a capacity of ance was paid by D. Ogden. The 12, 1828. Before this, services one and one half million feet per church, started in 18 16, was had been held as early as 1807. year. made of the same stone as the By October 5, 1841, the church mansion and Ellerslie. The was reorganized by the Rev. Sylvanus Pratt's trip hammer $8,000 edifice of Georgian style Lewis Weeks. An edifice was mill was important for the fact is one of the finest examples of built in 1844 and dedicated on that the first scythe and axe made early church architecture in the ~ohhCountry. On October 19, the parish was incorporated, and the first vestry was elected. It was for many years the center of the missionary work in the North Country, helping to establish par- ishes at Ogdensburg and Potsdam. (It is interesting to note that for 58 years the pews were sold annually, and for the past 106 years the present pipe organ has been in use.) In 1825, the first Catholic Church in the County was estab- lished. Services in the log church

on Franklin Road were held by Courtesy SI.Cl4A the missionaries. Two years later Rev. Salmon came to render his Presbyterian Church, Waddington

St. LPwrence County Historical Association Quarterly 9 by machine in the The circuit consisted of three Rutherford. This gallant man were made here. This establish- classes (the Village, Charlton, served in the Ninth New York ment burned. Putney). After the church was Cavalry and rose from private in rebuilt in 1892, fire struck two 1861, to lieutenant because of his About 1826, the first paper times, each time it was rebuilt gallantry in the Second Battle of mill in the county was started by and rededicated. Bull Run and his conduct at Thayer, Whitcomb and Wales, Berryville. He held the position for the production of wrapping Nathanial Taggert built a of first lieutenant until 1864, and writing paper from flax. stone grist mill for Howland and when he was promoted to cap- Aspinwall of New York to be tain. In 183 1, George Redington leased to J. V. C. and H. S. started a lumber market to Northrup. After sixteen years, it He also participated in the Montreal, Quebec, Albany, Troy was sold to L. J. Proctor and im- battles of Chancellorsville, and New York. About this same proved by an added roller ma- Gettysburg, Mechanicsville, time, bad luck struck when the chine. The only other mill of this Kilpatric's Raid, Cold Harbor, dam broke, destroying the lock. type was built in 1855. the Battle of the Wilderness, and Within three years, Isaac Ogden, Sheridan's Campaign. This man, who took over after D. Ogden's After fifty-seven years of trav- a member of the Legion of death, had a new bridge built on eling nine miles in alternate years Honor, received many medals stone piers, which filled the gap from Waddington and Columbia and in later life served his com- so the water could be controlled Village (Madrid) for town meet- munity. in the south channel with one ing, and after twenty years of opening left for the boats to pass. being an incorporated village A stone tannery was built by The dam was also repaired. (since April 26, 1839), Judge Jason Fenton, and about When this was closed, the water Waddington's people decided on 1875 was bought by Peter stopped, allowing repairs to be November 2, 1859, that the Dalton, turning out 2,800 hides made cheaply. The canal ex- towns should be divided. The per years until its burning. The tended from the dam parallel to division was as follows: the trip hammer mill built before the river. These circumstances northwest portion of the orga- 1812, was transformed by Ben- offered an unlimited supply of nized No. 4 of Madrid and Ogden jamin Bentley to a foundry in water for hydraulic purposes. Island was to be the twenty-ninth 1840, and operated until it town erected in the County and burned in 1874; it was rebuilt and From 1834-40, the Ogdens called Waddington, and the owned by Mayette and Allison to operated a quarter furnace to pro- southeast portion was to be produce plows, stoves, and small duce pig iron and casting. The called Madrid. Complete orga- castings. furnace was twenty-six feet nization came in March, 1860. square, twenty-eight feet on the The main paper mill was that outside and had a diameter of six In 1859, a graduate school of which Henry James bought as a feet by ten inches on the inside. four departments was organized flour mill with water and power Bog ore found in the swamp near in a two-story building. At this rights and changed to a paper the Grasse River was used, cost- time there were 3 14 pupils in the mill after 1876. This mill em- ing $3 .OO per ton to be delivered district, with a daily attendance ployed about twenty-eight at the furnace. This price con- of 200. In 1866, the school be- people who turned out 3,000 to tributed to its failure. came a Union Free District with 4,000 pounds of paper a day for a Board of Education consisting a newspaper. The last church to be con- of three members. By the end of structed in the village was the the Century, the system had four- The Town Hall, with its wide Methodist Society formed in teen districts. massive steps, has an antique 1847, as part of the Lisbon-Lou- appearance. This was con- isville circuit until 1849. After a Now the Civil War was pass- structed for $15,500, in 1884 by committee was formed to get a ing over the Country. One of Isaac Johnson, a former slave. loan, a brick church was started Waddington's most famous indi- He and William Akin designed and dedicated in November viduals was Major J. T. Ruther- the forty-five by ninety foot 1854, by Rev. A. A. Fackerell. ford, a descendant of Thomas building with a twenty-foot au-

St. Lowrence Counry HistoricalAssociation Quarterly ditorium, sixty-foot tower, and Because of the 200,000 pounds Barton Hepburn. The first floor nine-foot high basement. This of milk capacity per day, the av- is the Library, incorporated in hall has been used for just about erage employment was forty 192 1. The next year, $3 00 was all occasions, including: an op- people, who were needed for the received from the 1909 Old era house, dance hall, basketball production of condensed, evapo- Home Week for books. court, dining room, roller skat- rated, sterilized, and powdered ing rink, auctions, bazaars, rum- milk, and cream. The conveni- The bank, organized in 19 19, mage sales, and ice cream social. ences brought Runkles Bros., a was started by the citizens of The basement provides the town cocoa and chocolate plant for the Waddington, who bought stock. and village offices. purpose of manufacturing choco- In 1927, a bank was built of brick late candy mix and milk powder. with Indiana limestone trimming Late in the 19" Century, Wad- for $45,290. The building was dington's prosperity began to In 1919, the $20,000 brick li- twenty-eight by sixty feet. decline due to improved trans- brary was built as a gift of A. portation facilities to other parts of the County, State, etc. The Whitcher Boom Plan was started FIRST TRAIN tNTO WADDINGTON MY. JUNE 2 7.1308 about 1894, with the purpose of connecting the Village with Canada to help build up the busi- ness again. Another plan was to start a stock company with a large amount of capital to secure enough land to build a city, to erect factories, and to generate electricity throughout the Coun- ty. Both of these plans failed. At this time, Waddington's only newspaper, called the Wad- dington Recorder; was started on April 19 by George Logan. This continued for a few years. ( 'oiirtc>.yi,S/,C 'f L.1 In 1902, the St. Regis Paper Company built a dock, and in First train into Waddington 1909, the Norwood and St. Lawrence Railroad came for the purpose of carrying the pulp- wood to Norfolk and Ray- mondville and to transport manu- factured milk products. Wad- dington now became the most easterly port in the U.S. for Ca- nadian pulpwood. Shortly thereafter, the Ham- ilton Dairy came into existence and by 1917 was swallowed up by the Waddington Condensed Milk Company, Inc. It contained a 100 by thirty-foot icehouse. There were four receiving sta- tions in the U.S. for milk and eleven in Canada for cream.

St. Lawrence Counp Hrstorical Association Quarterly I I In February 1930, a $1 12,972 The advantages and gains double floor space and 200 new building of natural colored brick were also great. These included: boxes were added. Shortly here- was opened. It is located on the the relocation of Route 37 from after, its status changed from corner of Public Square and the St. Lawrence Avenue to Lincoln third class to second class. But Athletic Field. A sixty-five by Avenue, additional bridges, a quarters were still found inad- forty-foot gym, a stage and side sewage plant, a water supply equate, so in answer to a request seats are situated in the base- plant with pumping stations and to Senator Keating and Con- ment. new water lines, a quarter of a gressman Kilburn, better facili- mile park with such facilities as ties were acquired, causing a The year before this, the Fed- parking lots, two tennis courts, transfer on February 1, 1963. eral government had authorized and two basketball courts, boat a bill for the upstream end of the launching facilities, benches, a In conclusion, I believe we pulp dock to be widened and softball and football field, paved could say Waddington is an in- deepened. In 1944, New York walks, new sidewalks on St. teresting as well as an important State's Legislature finally passed Lawrence Avenue, a beach, an place. In its early years it was a a bill for the development of the improved pulp dock, and an ar- very prosperous center of indus- St. Lawrence River Power tesian well. try. The Seaway, even though it Project and on May 6, 1954, the has destroyed the historical, pic- Wiley Dondero Act was passed, As a highlight to the events turesque appearance of the W1- officially starting the huge of Waddington's past history and lage, has modernized and greatly project. the conclusion of the Seaway and improved it. Since we have Power Project in 1959, a celebra- looked into its history, it is easier This changed the Village tion was enjoyed for four days. to appreciate this beautifid little greatly. Actual work in the Vil- It celebrated 100 years of being village on the shore of the blue lage began in 1955, when two a separate town and 120 as an Lake St. Lawrence. dikes were built so the Little incorporated village. River could be dewatered, wid- After six years of split day REFERENCES ened, and deepened. By 1957, sessions, a new $1,540,000 Jun- Curtis, Gates, ed. St. Lawrence Counp, this section was dry and two iorlsenior High School plus an New York. Spcuse, New York, D. Mason years later the water was raised addition to the Waddington El- & Co., 1894. to flood creeks, inlets, former ementary School was opened in Henry, Roy E. A Histoy of farms and places of business. 1962. Previously, the Madrid- Waddington Township. Waddington Central School had Hough, Franklin B. History of St. During this time other been formed on June 30, 1956, Lawrence and Franklin Counties. Albany, changes had taken place. All by joining Madrid Central Little and Company, 1853. businesses on St. Lawrence Av- School to the Waddington Union Landon, Harry F. Histoy of the North enue were taken over by the Free High School. Country. Indianapolis, Indiana, Historical Power Authority and demol- Pub. Co., 1932. ished. Homes were moved to The newest improvement is Little Franklin P. Waddington Has new locations, rebuilt or raised. that of the Post Office now lo- Undergone Major Upheaval in 5 years. The main industry, the Milk cated in the Reynolds Block. From The Ogdensburg Journal, June 26, Company, was closed and acci- Before the fifty-five years which 1959. dentally burned on March 29, the office spent in the McKee Martin Fred H. WaddingtonHbt7 Till 1958. Block on the west side of Main 1930. From the Ogdensburg Republican Street, it was in the homes, of- Journal, October 4, 1930. These losses were justified by fices or stores of the post mas- Murphy, J. P. Waddington Posbnastq the fact that through carefbl plan- ters. As time went on, the ac- OBce Clerk Retire a$er 30 Years of Ser- ning the whole Village had not commodations became too vice, From the Ogdensburg Journal, March been fated to be moved like oth- crowded, mainly because of the 9, 1964. ers, because of its high elevation. new families brought here by the Olds, Ethel C. Waddington'sTown Hall It was found that the new Lake Seaway. On April 1, 1956, the Is UnusualSb-ucture,From the Ogdensburg St. Lawrence would not cover Journal, June 26, 1959. very much of the town.

Sf.Lowrenre County Historical Association Quarterly Brand New %1.540,000 Madrid 1800 purchases were to John Ellerslie was the mansion of WaddingtonSchool to Openfor First Regu- Tuttle, Benjamin Bartlett, Gouverneur Ogden at Wadding- lar Classes Next Wednesday, From the Godfrey Meyers, Benjamin ton. Ogdensburg Journal. August 30, 1962. Campbell, Silas Dimick, Reuben Dream of Opening St. Lawrence Began Fields, Asa Freeman, Samuel Other businesses in the late with Cartier in 1535, From the Ogdensburg Allen, Edward Lawrence, Asa 1800s included oatmeal mill, Journal, June 26, 1959. and John Fenton, Alexandria shingle mill, woolen factory, History of St. Lawrence County, New Brush, Jacob Carners, Allen Model Mill of Bowhall and Ru- York. Philadelphia, Penn., L. H. Everts and Patterson, Jacob Redington, therford, flour mills, planing Company, 1878. Robert Sample, Caleb and mill, sash and blind factory, but- New Park Facilities Built by State at Cornelius Peck, Henry Allen, ter factory, flax mill, asheries, tin, Uhddington, Sewage Plant Also Added. William Osburne, Ira Paine, woolen, carding, machine, cabi- From the Ogdensburg Journal, June 26, Oliver Linsley, Joseph Orcutt, net, wagon, blacksmith, harness, 1959. Henry and Joseph Erwin, John marble and copper, brick shops, Ogden House. From the Ogdensburg Montgomery. general, drug, grocery, shoe, Journal, September 26, 1956. milleneries, agricultural, flour, Special Power and Seaway Edition, 1801 were Isaac Barthownew, feed, hardware, boat, furniture Ogdensburg Journal, June 30, 1955. Simon Lindsley and meat stores, a watchmaker, a photographer, and an experi- 1802 were Allen Barber, ment of manufacturing water AUTHOR'S NOTES Nathaniel Smith, Aaron Scott, lime produced from stone drift Macomb's bidders were Martin Rosenburg, John Allen, formations on the island; also Michael Connely, John Myers, George, Thomas, Walter and Ri- three hotels. Daniel McCormick, John Taylor, chard Rutherford and . 1803 was Samuel Chipman

St. Lawrence County Historical Association Quarterly The St. Lawrence River and Waddington By E. Jane Layo, Waddington Historian

Waddington today is a town It was on the second voyage the area, the hrtrading along the of contrast-modem in facilities of Jacques Cartier (1534- 1536) river turned to commerce. There but with the charm of another when he named the small harbor were obstacles along this river age. The influence of the St. on the Labrador coast The Bay that over the years have been Lawrence River on the develop- of St. Lawrence (Saint Laurens), harnessed to what it is today. ment of Waddington is just as and it is the first appearance of real today as it was in the early this name which was later to be A two mile stretch of the St. settlement of this town. applied to the gulf, lake and river. Lawrence between Waddington As he boldly passed through the and Ogden Island was known as Passing by the front door of open gates that led to the new Little River. Along this course, the town is the majestic St. world (now Canada and the the water fell eight or nine feet Lawrence River. "It lies for a United States), he asked "What within a few rods, the same drop thousand miles between two river is this?'One of the two which in the north channel ex- great nations, yet neglected by natives that were serving on this tended for about three miles to both, though neither would be so voyage answered that this is "A form the Rapide Plat. The south great without it-a river as grand river without end." channel, with its short carry, was as the La Plata, as picturesque as the favorite route for the French the Rhine, as pure as the Lakes Due to illness, lack of food voyageurs and was the traditional of Switzerland . . . The noblest, and the harsh winters of the route for the Indians in their pas- the purest, most enchanting river northeast, Cartier and his crew sage up or down the river. The on all God's beautifid earth . . . returned to France. The water, above and below the cas- has never yet had a respectable Norsemen continued to travel cade, flowed over the limestone history, nor scarcely more than this area to hunt and fish. As riverbed, making an ideal fish- an occasional artist to delineate more and more settlers came to ing area. Black bass, northern its beauties." (Quote from the book entitled 7he Sf. I,awrence rive^)

James Ricalton was born and brought up in Waddington, an explorer, hunter, war correspon- dent and globetrotter. It is said that he traveled all over the world and never had found a body of water so beautiful as the St. Lawrence. Mr. Ricalton in thirty odd years traveled about 500,000 miles, visited every land except the North and South poles, cov- ered every war in his time as cor- respondent, and photographed about 100,000 pictures. Today the lure of the St. Lawrence brings back many former resi- Courtesy SLCHA dents - they retire to this place they call home. Ogden Island in Cl'adddington, surrounded bv the St. Lawrence River

14 St. Lawrence Counp Htstorical Associat~onQuarterly pike, muskellunge and walleyed pike had always been plentihl in Little River. The brooks, which empty in the river at Waddington, were a natural spawning ground for walleyed Pike. The spring run would find the fishermen waiting. The beauty ofthe falls and the possibilities for water power drew white settlers here as early as 1793, and by 1803 they were being supplied with lumber fiom a saw mill powered by water through a raceway. Visions of an industrial empire on this water power center were what enticed the early entrepreneurs to settle and invest here. The Waddington Cornmunip, a huh qfactiviQ At this time, Waddington ap- terials to be processed at the mills When the river became part of peared to have a great potential and shops were brought in by the the new lake these all disap- for success of industry and trade. farmers of the surrounding area peared. One ofthe first tasks was to build who had their grain ground into a dam to produce power, and a flour or grist, wood made into Owners of the property along canal and a lock to allow the cloth or yam, and logs made into the water had shore rights before boats to bypass the turbulent lumber or finished woodwork. the SeawayPower Project. They Rapide Plat. Hides were made into leather could build their own docks and from which itinerant cobblers boathouses and the land was con- An early settler of this town, could make boots and shoes. sidered their private property. Captain John W. Hatch, built his Flax was processed for the home The scenic views from the high- home on the river in 1893. Tour- spinner. Many of these products way were enjoyed; the tall spires ing the home today, one would brought a cash income to the of the churches in Morrisburg, surmise that Captain John was of farmer. Waddington prospered Ontario, Canada could be seen considerable wealth. Docks and grew as a result of its loca- across this river; and the "little were built on this jut of land that tion on the St. Lawrence. lakers" that passed through the extended far into Little River Canadian canals and locks that above the drawbridge and dam. The channel on the U.S. side were part of our past all centered From there he eventually owned of the St. Lawrence had currents around the river. four boats; i.e. the SS Mary, the that hit the point near Coles Adrian Islim, The Ike and the Creek in Waddington at a very The ferry to Morrisburg, Cresco. The wood for construc- swift rate of speed. The water off which fiom about 1926 to about tion of the home was shipped to the point about ten feet out went 1950 operated fiom Dry Island, this location. The boats carried into "deep blue." At this point, linked Canada and the United cargo and passengers and were 'Ellen's Eddy,' which flowed States in a way now difficult to the major transportation carriers upstream, hit the current. There understand. Many local resi- during that period of our history. were also three large boulders in dents made trips to Morrisburg Three of these boats burned and a group and another much larger for needed items which were not sank at the dock one night when just a few yards out. Apparently available in Waddington. Small the SS Mary blew up in 1906. all of these caused three big children knew the currents along whirlpools to whirl continuously the river and learned to row their Industry centered along the with quite an audible roar, and boats to Morrisburg. Many took dam and power canal. Raw ma- never froze over in the winter. up the challenge to swim across

St. Lawrence County Historical Association Quarterly IS the river. Many good times were the industry, farms and local The mighty St. Lawrence had with the Canadian neighbors businesses that made this a thriv- River flows along its path, ignor- skating in their ice arena, attend- ing community. The influx of ing what is happening. When the ing movies and shows, compet- people who left to go to the next winds push the river upstream, ing in sports, and in many other major project somewhere else when the whitecaps appear, ways. Sometimes residents and the local residents were left when the fogs clog the view and would just go on the ferry for the to try to pick up the pieces. The the ice forms during the winter, ride, idle up along the canal, buy tourists7 paradise did not materi- Mother Nature has taken over an ice cream cone and return to alize. and these natural happenings sit on one of the benches along cannot be tamed. It still has its the lock and watch the ships sail The river that was and is so magical power over all who visit through. influential on the inhabitants of or live along its banks. There is Waddington still flows past its the draw of the fisherman and the In 1954, the Canadian and doors but there is something dif- smaller children to try their hand U. S. governments passed legis- ferent about that river. There is at fishing in a lake. When the lation to start the construction of no privately owned property on first ice leaves the banks, the boat the SeawayIPower Project that the banks of the river, the Ogden launch is busy with the influx of would bring a new prosperity to Island that is a historic site lays small fishing boats. In the sum- the region. Times were chang- dormant except for the few cattle mertime, when the temperature ing from the family farm to the grazing on the land over the sum- of the water would be chilling to exciting tourist's paradise as it mer months, and there is no in- most, there is a flurry of activity was advertised. Again this new dustry dependent upon the wa- for those who know and respect prosperity was centered around ter from the river. The industrial this river. A few challenge the the St. Lawrence River, or Lake buildings have been torn down water to water ski or ride on the St. Lawrence as it came to be along with the street where they floats behind the speed boats. called. were based and the dam where they were located. Even the lo- On the north side of the river, How did it affect Wadding- cal school has been closed in fa- behind Ogden Island, the large ton? You will see it was the most vor of a more modern campus in ocean-going vessels (also known impacted community on the U. S. Madrid some eight miles away. as salties), and the lakers make side of the SeawayIPower their way to the middle of the Project. The drawbridge that There is a diminishing num- Country to bring back grain, iron connected the mainland with ber of fishermen due to the dam- ore, and other products. Ships Ogden Island was removed and age to spawning beds by the un- from all over the world transit dredging was undertaken in certain water levels caused by the past this town and yet this com- Little River. The first lock on the SeawayIPower Project and the munity retains the charm of older U. S. side of the St. Lawrence was non-native species planted here. days - neighbor knowing neigh- removed, as was the dam at the Recreational boating is a grow- bor - a community of values and end of Main Street. Our own ing industry in the area, but lack always the St. Lawrence River, power company; the major em- of suitable employment for the or Lake St. Lawrence, as it is re- ployer, the farming (milk) indus- next generation has taken its toll ferred to now. try; and the historic landmark, on the growth expected. There the Ogden Mansion (or Island are few family farms left, and REFERENCES Mansion as it was called), were some of the ones left have bought IfMy Walls Could Talk, Cher Brining. devastated by the construction of out other neighboring farms to Waddington, N.Y., Waddington Historical this project. enlarge their herd and prosper. Files. These farms are being threatened The St. Lawrence River. Historical- People in the community by the stringent regulations Legendaflicturesque, by George Waldo coped with the dirt and the in- brought about by the large herds Browne. New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, flux of people, who were all and the fertilizers used in mod- and London: The Knickerbocker Press, looking for better times for their ern farming. A balance in the 1905. families. When the dust cleared, economic recovery and the envi- Waddington-A Look at Our Past, com- the community settled back into ronmental protection are a must piled by Pauline Tedford and Tom Fife. the days ofyore but lacking were for survival. Ogdensburg, N.Y.: Ryan Press, 1976.

St. Lawrence County Historical Association Quarterly Local Municipal Historians in St. Lawrence County, New York

Town, village, and city historians for St. Lawrence County, New York are listed below in alphabetical order by locality. In some cases, historians fulfill the duties for more than one locality, and are thus listed more than once. In communities that have assistant or deputy historians, those individuals are listed second and their name is in parentheses. Please note that the area code for phone numbers listed below is 3 15, unless otherwise noted. For more information, contact the St. Lawrence County Histori- cal Association. Brasher, Town Of Edwards, Town & Village Hermon, Town of Carl Goodrich Edith Due Carol Holly PO Box 132 PO Box 100 83 Main St. Brasher Falls, NY 13613 8 First St. PO Box 94 389-5717 Edwards, NY 13 63 5 Hermon, NY 13652 Canton, Town & Village 562-3 5 1 1 347-2487 Linda Casserly (Laverne Freeman, Dpty. Hermon, Village of C/OMunicipal Building 6 1 Maple St. Mary Smallman Canton, NY 136 17 Edwards, NY 13635) 138 Church St. 386-1633 Fine, Town of Hermon, NY 13652-3 189 [email protected] Jean Grirnrn 347-322 1 Clare, Town of 536 Oswegatchie Trail Rd. Heuvelton, Village of Claudia GEn Box 915 Persis Y. Boyesen 2467 CR 27 Oswegatchie, NY 13670 5111 CR6 Russell, NY 13684 phone 848-23 19 Ogdensburg, NY 13669 3 86-4233 fax 848-3 152 393-1538 Clifton, Town of Fowler, Town of Hopkinton, Town of Jeanne Reynolds Connie Bishop Addie Miller PO Box 640 1499 CR 22 290 Wilson Rd. Cranberry Lake, NY 12927 Gouverneur, NY 13 642 St. Regis Falls, NY 12980 848-2900 287-2728 328-4456 Colton, Town of Gouverneur, Town of Lawrence, Town of Dennis Eickhoff Collin Graves Elizabeth Winn PO Box 109 33 Pooler Street PO Box 15 Colton, NY 13625 Gouverneur NY 13 642 North Lawrence, NY 12967 phone & fax: 262-2800 287-4684 389-4458 eickhofmorthnet. org Gouverneur, Village of Lisbon, Town of DeKalb, Town of Nelson B. Winters Terry Fischer Virginia Fischer PO Box 48 PO Box 216 (Bryan Thompson, Dpty.) Gouverneur NY 13 642 Lisbon, NY 13658 PO Box 111 287-0934 393-7986 DeKalb Junction, NY Hammond, Town & Village Louisville, Town of 13630-0111 Valera Bickelhaupt Paula Beattie, 347-3554 320 Lake St. 611 CR39 Depeyster, Town of Hammond NY 13 646 Massena, NY 13662 Gloria Kimrnel 324-5208 769-0379 (Adelaide Steele, Dpty.) Macomb, Town of 363 East Road Eloise Emrich Heuvelton, NY 13654 6726 SH 58 344-2360 Hammond, NY 13646 578-2247

St. Lawrence Counry Historical Association Quarterly Madrid, Town of Parishville, Town of Rensselaer Falls, Village of Marian Bouchard Emma Remington Dorothy Crane 2273 SH 3 10 PO Box 534 PO Box 102 Madrid, NY 13660 Parishville, NY 13672 Rensselaer Falls, NY 13680 322-44 19 265-76 19 344-79 11 Massena, Town & Village Piercefield, Town of Richville, Village of Theresa Sharp Stacy Gensel Stella Tamblin 200 E. Orvis Street 15 Circle Dr. PO Box 207 Massena, NY 13662 Tupper Lake, NY 13 986 Richville, NY 13681 769-8571 5 181359-9656 287-0 182 Morristown, Town & Village Pierrepont, Town of Rossie, Town of Lorraine Bogardus Charlotte Regan Sandy Wyman 5 18 River Road East (William Hayes, Dpty.) 908 CR 3 Ogdensburg, NY 13 669 5893 CR 24 Redwood, NY 13679 375-6390 Canton, NY 13617 324-5 166 Norfolk, Town of 386-83 11 Russell, Town of Leon Burnap Pitcairn, Town of Marie Rocca 105 River Rd. Pamela Conlin 189 Belleville Road Norfolk, NY 13667 3 1 Edwards Rd. Hermon, NY 13652 384-3 136 or 384-4575 Harrisville, NY 13648 562-3487 Norwood, Village of 543-2733 Stockholm, Town of Susan Lyman Potsdam, Town of Mildred Jenkins (Patricia Veraldo, Dpty.) Susan Lyman (Carl Stickney, Dpty.) 3 8 Prospect St. (Effa Sullivan, Dpty.) 2295 CR 47 Norwood, NY 13668 38 Prospect St. Potsdam, NY 13676 353-4505 Norwood, NY 13668 353-4520 Ogdensburg, City of 353-4505 Waddington, Town & Village Persis Y. Boyesen Potsdam, Village of E. Jane Layo 5111 CR6 Betsy Travis 79 West St. Lawrence Ave. Ogdensburg, NY 13669 Potsdam Public Museum Waddington, NY 13694 393-1 538 PO Box 5 168 388-5967 Oswegatchie, Town of Potsdam, NY 13676 Persis Y. Boyesen 265-69 10 5111 CR6 Ogdensburg, NY 13669 393-1 538

St. Lawrence County HistoricalAssociation Quarterly 315-386-4595 0 .. . N Potsdam, NY 13676 . h) r4 31 5-265-9111 . Toll Free: 1-800-371-9286 Serving the North Country Since 1979 THE OLIVER LAW FIRM www.walshauction.com 117 MAIN STREET Northern Lights CANTON, NY 13617 Bookshop Quality Used Books Specializing in non-fiction, regional books

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95 Irish Settlement Rd. Pierrepont NY CATHLEEN E. O'HORO shop open Thurs. - Sat., Noon - 5 pm ROGER B. LINDEN 31 5-379-9564 FRANCIS P. CAPPELLO email: [email protected]

St. Lawrence County County Gallery Historical Association Hours Exhibit- SLCHA Office, SLCHA Archives & Silas Wright House 50+ Years of Open Tuesday - Saturday, Noon - 4:00 p.m. Collecting: The History Friday Noon - 8 p.m. (and by Appointment) of the St. Lawrence Admission Fees: County Historical Museum Free Association Archives Members - Free Students - $2.50 General Public - $5.00 at the St. Lawrence County Historical Association Address Correction Requested PO Box 8 U.S. Postage Paid Canton, NY 13617 Permit No. 21

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