A Ten Year Retrospective the St

The St. Lawrence County Historical Association OUARTERLY Volume XLII - Numbers 1-4 - 1997

A Ten Year Retrospective The St. Lawrence County Historical Association at the Silas Wright House

The St. Lawrence County Historical Association is a pri based at the Silas Wright House in Canton, New York. F constitution, by-laws, and Board of Trustees. elect its officers and trustees.

Chris Angus, Canton Patricia Carson, Canton Dennis Eickhoff, Colton Shawn Gray, Massena E. Jane Layo, Waddington Stan Maine, Pierrepont Jane Subramanian, Potsda Joanne Swift, Potsdam Peter Van de Water, Canto Robert Wells, Canton Cay Zabriskie, Ogdensbur

The St. Lawrence County Historical A serves as an educational resource for the u

of Museums.

SLCHA Membership Membership in the St. Lawrence County Historical Association is open 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 Quarrerly, 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 P. 0. Box 8,3 East Main Street Canton, New York 13617 (315) 386-8133 The St. Lawrence County Historical Association Ouarterlv Volume XLII -Number 1-4 - 1997 ISSN: 0558-1931 CONTENTS Introduction 3 rrent Tru PI Eight years-Historically Speaking 4 n. resy e When Iron was King in Rossie A dvisoty -. Bc Chr Virg2.e Simons

The "Island Housen of the Ogdens Janet Shideler. H Ethel C. Olds

COPY^ight a1997 by the How the Ten Towns Were Named 12 St. Lawr ence Coun~y Historiccrl Associati on. All rights raewerl. Black Lake Toll Bridge El tcept for br ief excerpts, no part olf this ,l.1;nnt:,.r ma., hs A, Malcolm Booth PLurlrarlurr lrlay UG ~uplsuUI 1epr0- duced without the express written per- mission of the author and the Historical J. Henry Rushton-Famous Boat Builder Association. The St. Lawrence County Historical Association is not responsible A biographical sketch by Atwood Manley 17 for the staternents, inkrpretations, and opinions of c ontributor:s to Be SLCHA Dr. Hawey D. Thatcher, Inventor of the Glass Quarferly. Milk Bottle TI ie SLCHA Quarterly is published Dayton Dewey 22 W'inter, Sprbng, Summer, and Fall each -. year by the St. Lawrence County His- to, iation for i sand Hollywood, The Racquette River, and One of America's First Fifth Columnists Albert Jakobson 24

Judge Jonah Sanford Mrs. Dorothy Squires

The Union Settlement V. Merrit Ingram, Jr.

Vestiges of Camp Wheeler Still Remain Rev. J. Karlton Dewey

Chipman Is An Idea Margaret Thompson CONTENTS (cont.)

Gouverneur's village Park Julius Bartlett

Cigar Making in Ogdensburg Lawrence G. Bovard

Edwards Pioneers Leah Noble

The Railroad Comes to Heuvelton Nina Smithers

Scullin Mansion Madeleine M. Gray

Grocery on Wheels Anna Payne Slye

The Whitney House Susan C. Lyman

Cranberry Lake Dam Clara McKenney From the Editors

The year 1997 is the fiftieth anniversary of the St. Lawrence County Historical Association. One of the Association's significant accomplishments is its publication of The Quarterly, first issued in 1956 and published continuously ever since. The Quarterly, like much of the Association's work, has always been a collaborative effort of much dedication, fkequently relying on the volunteer work of many hands - some of which are not immediately visible. Its pages are rich with stories and historical details from around the county. It seemed fitting to celebrate the Association's fiftieth year and honor the volunteers of the past with a retrospective publication of selections from The Quarterly's first ten years. This special issue constitutes numbers one through four of volume forty-two for 1997.

The selections in this volume are arranged chronologically in the order in which they were originally published. Since it was not practical to reprint every article, we had to make choices. This was not always easy as there were so many interesting articles from which to choose. We looked for articles that represented various parts of the county and articles of different lengths in order to provide some variety.

We have reprinted the articles as they were written, though in modern type and with some punctuation changes. You will notice that there are not a lot of illustrations in this issue. The early issues themselves were not heavily illustrated. We have added illustrations when we could find pertinent ones that we felt we could print within the bounds of the current copyright law.

We know that members of long standing will remember reading these articles in their original form, but to many these will be new. We hope you enjoy them.

J. Rebecca Thompson Trent Trulock

St. Lawrence Counly Historical Association Quarterly Eight Years - Historically Speaking VoL I, no. 2 (Apr. 1956)

Some day an adequate history people of this county a thor- drawing up the plan to organize can be written about our St. oughly acceptable service without such an association with the point Lawrence County Historical As- the help and support of many, in view of eventually obtaining a sociation, possibly when it has ad- many others-volunteers. charter under the University of vanced to a riper maturity and the State of New York. Before greater stature. But it is time that So it was that Mr. Hamele be- the organization meeting was there should be a brief review of gan talking with many about the held, October 18,1947, however, the intervening eight years. Our need for a St. Lawrence County Mr. Hamele died. The other two, Association was formally orga- Historical Society. He was met with still kindred spirits, carried nized, as many will recall, on Oc- by an eager and substantial re- on. An organization was effected, tober 18,1947. Up until that time sponse in the number of people endowed of course with a consti- several local historical societies who favored that very thing. tution and by-laws. In 1950 a had existed, and all down through Thus does this Association look temporary charter was sought and the years, such as Dr. Frederick upon Otto Hamele as its founder. received. In 195 5 the University B. Hough and others put their of the State ofNew York granted shoulders to the wheel and their Among those whose advice the Association a permanent char- pens to paper in the interest of and cooperation he enlisted was ter. historical endeavor. Howard Pittrnan of Canton. An- other was Mrs. Herbert A. Bloch, [The original article concludes The first real step toward a also of Canton. Jointly these with a listing of officers and county-wide organization fol- three were largely responsible for directors from 1947-1 9561 lowed the naming of the first St. Lawrence County Historian by the Board of Supervisors. He was the late Otto Hamele, of Wanakena, supervisor of the Town of Clifton. Otto Hamele possessed a great penchant for two things. One was the conservation of our natural resources and protection of wild life; and the other was history. Under the laws of the state it had become possible for the Board of Super- visors to appoint a county Histo- rian. Mr. Harnele was the choice. Under the laws, it was also mandatory that each town should appoint its own town historian. Many towns in the county, most of them, complied. Mr. Hamele recognized that neither his job, nor that of the town historians could render the

Otto Hamele

St. Luwrence County Historical Association Quarterly When Iron was King in Rossie By Virgie Simons Town Historian, Town of Rossie VoL 1, no. 2 (Apr. 1956) In the fall of 1812 iron was dis- said to be inexhaustible and the mine to the haceby the ten- covered at what was later named encircling forest would fiunish an ants of Mr. Parish. They received the Caledonia iron mine, in the abundance of charcoal as fbel for from one to three dollars per ton town of Rossie. It was about a many years. for hauling and many farmers mile hmSomerville and near the At this time the Parishes and paid for their land with this extra present village of Spragueville. their fnends lived like royalty in income. The work was invariably Samples were sent to Albany and Northern New York and were lav- done in winter on sleighs and the the trial showed the ore to be of ish entertainers. In 1817 Presi- ore was drawn up the hill and good quality for a superior grade dent James Monroe was visiting dumped into the top of the fur- of iron. this section and was a guest at the nace. The Caledonia mine was Parish mansion. He was on an most extensively used although Thus in 18 13, began the erec- inspection tour to ascertain the re- some ore came from the Keene tion of a furnace at Rossie village, sources of the country, especially and Wicks mines on the edge of by David Parish the owner, un- along the Canadian border. He Jefferson County nearby and a der the direction of James came to Rossie to inspect the fur- small opening adjoining the Howard. Mr. Howard was a nace and iron mine and was much Kearney mine. Early superinten- brother-in-law of D. W. Church, impressed with this valuable in- dents rode through the forest on with whom he had worked in dustry. His visit was a great event horseback from forge to mine. Ogdensburg. This furnace con- in the lives of a few early inhabit- sisted of two stacks, but only one ants, all of whom turned out to In 1815, the brick land office ever got into operation. see their leader. was built. This served in the capacity of bank and pay-master's William Bembo, an English- After Keith, Marvin & Sykes, office. In the cellar was a brick man of great experience, was came S. Fuller & Co. who took vault where the money reserve made the manager and conducted over the management for three was kept and in the office there the first blast in 1815. He had years. George Parish then leased was a special cashier's window been an expert in England but was the business for a long term to where cash was received and accustomed to English ore and Robert Burr of New Jersey, who handed out by the Parish agents. this reddish Rossie product was left Rossie in 1827 and for ten unknown to him. His efforts years no work was done. In 1837 The stone foundry, which was ended in complete failure and the Mr. Parish built a new stack and the pioneer of the Northland, and result was that no iron could be in other ways enlarged and im- the machine shop were built in made. After spending large sums proved the property so that on 1848-49. The first business was experimenting and building a May 12th of that year the furnace the making of potash and caul- costly mansion for a permanent was again blown in. This stood dron kettles which were in great residence, Mr. Bernbo returned to until 1844 when the final larger demand by the settlers. Then England in 18 19. stack was put up by the second came the making of box stoves. George Parish who had inherited They were of oblong shape with Mr. Parish then gave three everything from his uncles, David iron an inch thick, having a door months' free use of the furnace and George. This stack was forty at the end the whole size of the for experimental purposes to feet square, forty-six feet high, structure. This stove could burn Messrs. Keith, Marvin, and Sykes nine feet in diameter within and a log forty or more inches long. of New England. They realized capable of making eleven tons per As the production of iron in- a large profit and got the iron day. creased, the foundry was enlarged business going. In 18 16 a forge to build mill machinery, plows was built which subsequently Ore for smelting was usually and water wheels. The first cast- burned. The supply of iron was brought thirteen miles from the ings for the Northern Railroad

St. Lmvrence County Historical Association Quarterly were made in large numbers at cast iron kettles, tea kettles, fire- promise ofhigh wages. However, the machine shop. place utensils, hinges, latches, and they seldom stayed long. Other match boxes were made, some of fields attracted the wanderers, this With all of the bustle in the which are still in the possession being especially true of the fish- iron mines and enlarging of build- of local residents. The curtain on ermen from the Newfoundland ings, etc., Rossie was becoming work at the foundry came down Banks. The sad part of it was that an industrial center, the "Pitts- when shipments of ore stopped whisky was plenty and on Satur- burgh of the North." This caused in 1887. day nights the nearby taverns the laying out of new roads and The iron industry hrnished were filled to overflowing. Mon- the building of boats on the wa- employment to many. From the day morning found many of the terway from Rossie to close of the Civil War until the miners with nothing left but to Ogdensburg via Indian River, early 1870s, Rossie probably en- start work all over again and wait Black Lake, and the Oswegatchie joyed the greatest boom. Some- for the next payday. River. The steamers, "Rossie" times it was difficult to get the and "Indian Chieftain" were two four hundred workers needed at In 1864 the mine was pur- such boats carrying ore. Mr. Par- one time. Exploration of the West chased by a New York company ish built docks at Chippewa Bay had attracted men, and at this time with Mr. Charles P. Westbrook as on the St. Lawrence River and the farming industry was flourish- manager. It was equipped with iron was shipped to foundries as ing, so farmers remained at home. the most improved machinery, in- far away as Oswego. Laborers were brought in from cluding engines, pumps, diamond Canada, lured by the delightful and air drills. New buildings were Small articles such as flatirons, tales of the Parish agents and the erected and a branch railroad

From History of St. Lawrence & Franklin Counties by Franklin B. Hough (1853)

St. Luwrence County Historical Association Quarterly track was built to the iron beds. which early blacksmiths worked Ownership of the Caledoniamine into useful forms. The iron king- changed several times in the en- dom built by the Parishes on the suing years and it was closed and banks of the Indian River was a reopened at intervals. In 1905 world's wonder to the new settle- one hundred men were em- ment of Rossie. ployed. After that the mine gradually became inactive. The Examples of the skill of the supply of iron ore was still appar- early iron masters are difficult to ently inexhaustible and the qual- find. Most of the tools and uten- ity of the product was good, but sils produced were picked up very unforeseen events caused the fi- cheaply by collectors who had no nal abandonment of the business. appreciation of the value of their Chief among these causes was the accumulations. The junk dealers' enormous and cheap production only interest was the scrap metal of iron in other localities plus a value of old iron. Most boys of local scarcity of fuel. the 1890's rummaged through barns, sheds, and attics in search The history of this mine would of odd bits of discarded iron to furnish a good ground work for sell; thus all sorts of ironrnongery the financial history of our coun- which today are treated as vener- try. The periods of activity and able antiques were hurried off to of depression were almost the the scrap heap. same periods of financial prosper- ity and gloom. Until the 1840's The well preserved land office, all of the ore mined, was hauled the picturesque ruins of the to Rossie. Between that time and foundry, the crumbling walls of the building of the railroads, other the machine shop, the homes of furnaces, including one at both Mr. Bembo and Mr. Parish Wegatchie in the Town of Rossie and the stories which have been were using Caledonia ore. handed down as folklore and history are all that remain of the The last blast of the furnace Rossie Iron Works. These ech- ended October 14, 1867 and in oes from the past are kept alive the years that followed it re- by the hundreds of tourists who mained idle and untouched, its visit the ruins each year and are stout stone walls falling to rubble. deeply interested in the story be- All traces were obliterated, except hind them. a small portion of a wall when in 1922 the Rossie-Brasie Corners county road took a path directly through the center of the old landmark. Here in Rossie was achieved the fmt large scale production of iron in the North County. Per- haps the need for haste in the beginning was the fact that amrnu- nition was desperately needed along the frontier and cannon balls were made from the Rossie iron. From these highly skilled workers came all kinds of iron

St. Lcnvrence County Historical Association Quarterly The "Island House" of the Ogdens By Ethel C. Olds VoL 1, no. 3 (July 1956)

By the time this issue of The Josiah Ogden Hoffinan, were the Quarterly reaches its readers the When the Island House is de- purchasers. By 1803 the two initial stages of the river project stroyed the North Country will sons became sole owners. They in the immediate vicinity of lose one of its most important and then took as their third partner Waddington and Crapser Island interesting historical structures. Joshua Waddington, their will be in progress. Preservation is impossible; the brother-in-law, a Tory brewer of construction of the mansion New York. Little River, sometimes known would not lend itself to being as the South Channel, the exist- moved, and if preserved, resto- These proprietors moved ing waterway lying between the ration would involve very consid- among New York City's leaders. large island and the New York erable funds. They had attended King's Col- shore, will be closed by coffer lege, now Columbia. They were dams at the head and foot of the The Island House is linked to prominent lawyers, associated island. When the river project some of the most vital figures with Alexander Hamilton, who reaches completion much of the who have played roles in the his- returned to legal practice follow- original island will be submerged tory of Northern New York. It is ing his term as Secretary of the or rebuilt. itselfhistory. Its square form has Treasury in Washmgton's cabinet. been woven and interwoven into The present South Channel the folklore of the people who With Hamilton's death in the will be pumped dry during opera- have looked across the Little famous duel with Adam Bun; the tions and excavated to a greater River to the island. Like Con- events leading to the birth of Is- width and depth. When com- stable Hall in Lewis County it has land House gathered momentum. pleted, shipping will be directed been through the years a symbol David Ogden, so prominent in through this new channel. The of those who ventured fortunes New York circles, became a fke- whole operation on a large and the lives of their families in quent visitor to the northern lands scale,will then be performed on the vast wilderness north of the he owned. As agent for his the north side of the channel to Mohawk. family's vast holding he became prepare the future main channel. more than an absentee owner in- The birth of the Island House terested only in speculation. When the river project reaches was rooted in events which oc- Some charm of the untenanted completion the water level in ths curred years before its actual con- land must have captured his section of the St. Lawrence River struction. On June 6, 1796 four imagination. In 1804 a wing dam will be raised twenty feet. The men, inhabitants of New York was erected in the south channel original island will be submerged City and northern New Jersey, of the St. Lawrence. Grist and for the most part or rebuilt by purchased a ten-mile square listed saw mills were built and a new dredging and excavating. The as Madnd on the existing state settlement crept into being on the present site of the historic Island maps. Madrid, bordering on the south river bank. The Ogdens House will lie seventy five feet St. Lawrence River, was one of named this little community withn the new channel. the Ten Towns first erected by Hamilton as atribute to the broth- legislative act in the wilderness. ers' late partner. Today the initial clearing of The price was $60,000. trees and brush is in progress on In 1808 or 1809 David Ogden the island. By fall, probably, the Abraham Ogden, a New Jer- issued orders to have land cleared square stone mansion which has sey Tory, together with his sons, on the island. Here he planned stood on the island for 150 years David A. Ogden and Thomas to erect a mansion for his home. will be demolished. Ludlow Ogden, and a nephew, A causeway built above the power

St. Lmvrence County Historical Association Quarterly darn provided access to the island. it jolted over rough roads through Up the large stairway fiom the In 181 1 Ogden became sole the forests on carts drawn by entrance hall on the second floor owner of the island, mills and oxen. was another center hall. From water rights, as well as of the vil- this led large bedrooms, each with lage. In 18 16 the Island House was a fireplace. Still more rooms were How the mansion was con- supposed to have been com- found on the third floor. structed remains amatter of con- pleted. It rose fifty-four feet jecture. Evidence exists indicat- square, of the gray-yellow native The Island House became ing that stone for the two-foot stone, three stories in the air. At known for its hospitality. These walls came from a riverside the basement windows were iron members of the New York aris- quarry nearby. Mortar, too, was bars. Four great chimneys added tocracy entertained lavishly for mixed fiom the limestone depos- to the height of the building for visitors. They entertained the its on the land. inside the house twelve fireplaces great and near-great of that era provided heat. who chanced to wander into the Actual construction was sup- northern lands. Washington Irv- posed to have begun in 1811. David Ogden's family came ing is supposed to have been their Possibly the war of 1812 caused through the forests, over the guest. Ramee, the European ar- temporary interruption. Tradition rough roads to a home which pro- chitect who spent several months says that Judge Ogden met in- vided a marked contrast with pio- with the Parish family in coming vessels at Montreal to neer-like surroundings. Here Ogdensburg, is said to have been obtain skilled craftsmen coming Rebecca Edwards Ogden, his a visitor and to have laid out plans to the New World from Scotland, wife, a woman of southern up- for landscaping the grounds of the England, and Ireland. Labor bringing, and his children lived Island house. President Monroe, costs for the Island House were during the warm months of the who visited Waddington July 3 1, $100 a day, the story goes, in a year. 1817 was probably a guest on the time when a first-rate carpenter Island. The Ogdens entertained received $1 .OO a day. The family's meals were pre- other leading families of the pared in the kitchens in the base- North Country: the Fords, No one knows for sure how ment. Here also the household Clarksons, Harisons, Morrises, the Island House was furnished. servants had their quarters. On and Van Rensselaers. It stands to reason, however, that the main floor of the house, some a cultured gentleman of means six or eight feet above ground, The Ogden family grew to in- like David Ogden brought to his were the large center hall and its clude eleven children. When at wilderness home the pieces of the well-hole stairway. The four the Island House, the Ogden boys fine cabinet makers of New York. rooms on either side of the hall attended school in the village In those days much Chippendale, were spacious with wide marble across the causeway.. The girls Hepplewhite, and Sheraton fur- fireplaces and twelve foot ceil- received instruction at home. niture were imported from En- ings. The woodwork and old gland by well-to-do people. The moldings marked the skill of those David Ogden, with his high-ceilinged rooms with their imported carpenters and wit- brother, became one of the pa- fine fireplaces and door lintels nessed to the formal style of life trons of the early settlers. He gave must have housed the best in fur- to which the Ogdens adhered. every assistance to those people nishings. In Waddington homes Under the spacious gallery which who sought to establish them- today are found occasionally fine opened halfivay up the stairs at selves in the newly settled coun- antique pieces that tradition says the rear was the butler's pantry. try. In 1814 he became a mem- come from the Island House. Here the food prepared below ber of the Assembly and then was carried and from here it was went to Congress as a Represen- Transporting fine furniture in served in the family dining room. tative from 18 17 to 182 1. He be- those days was a task of gigantic came a countyjudge in 18 1 1 and proportions. If brought from At the north end of the house served in that capacity for many overseas, it came first to Montreal underground were five great years. and then was reshipped up the St. arched chambers. What they Lawrence in smaller vessels. If it were used for in the early After Ogden's death in 1829 came overland from New York, nineteenth century no one knows. changes occurred in the Island

St. Lawrence County Historical Association Quarferly 9 House itself and in the lives of its ity. All visiting clergymen were the Ogden children only two sur- inhabitants. Soon thereafter, invited to stay in the "Bishop's vived their parents and both Mrs. Ogden, because of financial Room" as the northeast bedroom moved to other parts of the coun- difficulties, was forced to give up was called. The mistress of the try. The house was vacant until residence on the island. With her house moved about her duties ac- purchased by Ebeneezer S. family and servants she moved to companied by a maid who car- Crapser, a businessman of the mainland. ried a small basket of keys which Brasher, who served as a super- opened all the household cup- visor fiom the town of Stockholm A new family moved to the Is- boards. The isaac Ogdens helped for many years. land House. Isaac Ogden was a the inhabitants of Waddington as brother of David. He married his had their predecessors. (The Although the Ogdens were cousin, Sarah Ogden Meredith of name of the village had been gone fiom the North Country the Philadelphia, the year before his changed in 1820 to honor David Island House remained. Gradu- brother's death. Ogden's brother-in-law one of the ally it assumed a special place in landholders with Ogden.) Mrs. the stories of Waddington resi- Perhaps it was at this time that Ogden's daughters were educated dents even though it remained the the two wings to the east and west at home and the daughters of summer home for the Crapser of the house were added. At this farmers and tenants were in- family. In time it became en- time also a large veranda was cluded in the lessons. hanced with an aura of folklore, built. The east wing was divided those legends which so easily ac- to make two rooms. In the door With the death of Isaac Ogden crue to a place which has domi- of the east wing opening onto the and his wife, the Island House left nated the history of the commu- veranda is still found the enor- the hands of the Ogden family. nity. . mous lock and key which were Before the death of Mrs. Ogden, the original hardware. land on the island had been sold The house on Ogden Island to make several farms. The house even had a ghost, so the children Life in the Island House main- itself and 156 acres remained in of Ebeneezer Crapser were led tained its reputation for hospital- the Ogden name until 1880. Of to believe. It was an active one, Miss Eunice Crapser relates, wail- ing on windy September nights. But that ghost never appeared although if any of the children dared to sleep in the northeast rooms they were sure it would. The romantic tales of the Is- land House are legion. In the family cemetery is the grave of the twenty-nine year-old son of Isaac Ogden who fell in the Civil War in Tennessee. The legend persists that he was visiting in the South when war was declared and enlisted on the Confederate side with his southern cousins. On his grave is the inscription of his last letter to his mother: "I can not in the hour of peril turn my back upon friends of so many years." Near him in the family plot lies his sister, Gertrude; she "Island House" married Walford Briggs in the Is- land House and died a year later to the day. According to the old

St. Lmvrence County Historical Association Quarterly tale her untimely death was fore- of dungeon for family slaves who during its time the house has told when a bird flew in the open had committed misdemeanors. played a vital dramatic part in the window of the library as she sat Still another legend maintains that story of Northern New York. In- at the wedding feast. here were hidden slaves in the directly its own story has been great underground railroad of the linked with the greater history of Lost even deeper in the leg- pre-Civil War days. Others claim the establishment of the whole end and the past is the true pur- that they were for protection fiom nation. For the men who had the pose of the curious arched cham- the British or Indians in the early courage and the gambling instinct bers which extend underground days. Still another tale has it that to buy the great tracts ofwilder- from the north wall of the old the caverns were used in a smug- ness which were once this whole mansion. Five in number, they gling operation. At one time North Country, were part and are level with the basement of the pieces of Mexican silver were parcel of the coterie of men who old mansion. Yet no doorway found during renovations and evolved the foundation upon connected the mysterious cham- from thls came the tale that here which the entire country grew. bers to the main building when had operated once a great coun- Among them were the great mer- the Crapser family bought the terfeiting business. chant princes of New York and property. The only entrance was the leading politicians and states- to crawl down a ladderlike flight The waters of the St. men of the new country. Some of steps from the east end of the Lawrence will soon swirl over the attained lasting fame in the annals veranda. walls of the Island House. Within of the country. Others like David a few years its very solid sub- Ogden left their imprint upon a All sorts of conjecture have stance will become as mysterious community or locale which they been made as to the original pur- and fraught with romance as are envisioned, fostered, and nour- pose of these rooms. One of the the tales which have grown out ished during its early days. most practical is that they pro- of its long life. Within another vided storage place for crops har- generation the Island House will vested on the Island. Others have itself be a legend and few para- claimed that they served as a kind graphs of written record. Yet

The Island House about 1949.

Sf.Lawrence County Historical Associafion Quarterly How the Ten Towns Were Named VoL 1, no. 4 (Oct. 1956)

It may be of interest to many passion and revenge, the state leg- the northern tier of the yet-to-be who are not intimately schooled islature thereupon undertook to surveyed part of the state. Forth- in the history of St. Lawrence disenfranchise all those who had with the Legislature by act cre- County to know how the original stayed in neighborhoods occupied ated a Board of Land Commis- Ten Towns of the county were by the British, especially the To- sioners, of which Governor named. So, how were they ries. Thus, the unfortunate un- Clinton was head. It empowered named? Time and time again constitutional Trespass Act of th~sCommission to proceed to sell over the years the question has 1784 was enacted. Utter confu- these lands. Thus was ushered been asked. Again and again and sion followed. The common law in the greatest era of land specu- again the answer becomes a "will and the law of nations that "the lation in this state's entire history. o' the wisp". So it may prove fiuits of immovables belong to the helpful as well as interesting to captor as long as he remains in But to sell several million acres make a factual and definitive re- possession of them" was sum- of wilderness was no mean task. ply to the question. marily ignored. More wrongs It required, at the least, some de- were created than old ones gree of salesmanship. Therefore, The Ten Towns, of course, righted. The widow Rutgers the Commissioners hit upon the came into being at the start in a sought damages under the act idea of holding an auction at the quite fictional manner. The close fiom the Tory brewer, Joshua Old Coffee House in the City of of the American Revolution Waddington, brother-in-law of New York, then and there to sell found the respective new states David and Thomas Ludlow a slice of these unappropriated of the new nation heavily in debt. Ogden. Alexander Hamilton, law lands, said slice abutting on a It was not easy to raise monies partner of the Ogden brothers, great river called St. Lawrence, for current expenses by taxation undertook the unpopular defense located afar off at the northern fiom a war-impoverished people. of Waddington. Hamilton, over most outskirts of the state's pub- The Chaurnont family of France the pseudonym of Mentor, lic domain. was pressing the United States for crossed swords in the press with payments on extensive loans they the Widow's Counsel, Isaac It was sound procedure as was had made to help finance the Ledyard, who wrote over the later proved. Purchasers must Revolution. So were individuals name of Phocion. The case was traverse the wilderness to reach within the former thirteen colo- thus actually first tried in public their newly purchased property. nies. From the governmental print. Hamilton's clear, concise, This would in turn make the lands end, things were a bit scant finan- persuasive logic was so devastat- through which they traveled open cially. ing to the Widow's case as was to settlement and to sale. The Burr's bullet to Hamilton's life gentlemen of the Commission New York City was in the twenty years later. Public opin- were not nitwits. midst of a rehabilitation period. ion switched to Waddington's The years of occupancy by Lord side. The Widow lost. The Tres- Therefore under the date July Howe and his British troops had pass Act was repealed. Civic or- 10,1787, the slice of land far re- left the city ravaged, in ruins and der was restored. moved fiom any possible means ashes. Many of the city's Tories of inspection went on the block. had fled to Canada or England. This was the background of The Commissioners had by The dispossessed Whigs were the time, when in 1785, the State agreement divided this area into moving back. The "violent party" Legislature cast about for means ten separate towns of as nearly under the leadership of Governor of finding ready cash. Its chief ten miles square each as possible. George Clinton controlled the asset was the vast sweep of un- Maps were supplied for inspec- state legislature. On the wave of appropriated lands, especially in tion, maps of a country yet to be

St. Lawrence County Historical Association Quarterly surveyed, and almost wholly un- by the Land Commissioners as of 8. Oswegatchie inhabited except for a small mis- September 10, 1787 (and it is 9. Hague sionary settlement at the mouth highly important that this date be 10. Cambray of a river called the Oswegatchie. remembered) the Commissioners The map, obviously, was a device assigned names to each of the ten Cambray was later to be of salesmanship. It provided towns so sold. Thus there came named Gouverneur, and Hague small, specific items to put on the into being the Ten Towns of St.. as Morristown. Depeyster, block to go to the highest bidder. Lawrence County. By number Macomb, Waddington, and Nor- One Alexander Macomb, by di- and by name they were: folk were in time to be partitioned rect or indirect purchase, or 1. Louisville off fkom among some of the ten through almost immediate private 2. Stockholm towns. Potsdam, Canton, Lisbon, resale acquired nearly all of the 3. Potsdam and Dekalb alone of the ten, were entire ten towns. The going price 4. Madrid to retain their original ten mile was 12 pence per acre. 5. Lisbon square dimensions. Oswegatchie 6. Canton bore a native Indian name. By a formal resolution passed 7. Dekalb

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St. Lawrence County Historical Association Quarterly No documentary evidence has of St. Lawrence and Franklin ever been presented to indicate Counties;in Fiske's The Critical who on the Board of Land Com- Period of American History be- missioners suggested any of the ginning with page 123; [and in ten names. It is to be noted that Jared] Spark's biography of Gouverneur Moms, who some Gouverneur Morris. have thought might have had a hand in suggesting the name of Cambray, was not a member of the Commission and it was yet two years before he would set sail for his period of residence in Paris and on the Continent (1789- 1798). Festus Tracy, who some have been led to believe supplied the name of Canton, probably did not even know of the existence of the ten square miles which he and other members of Benjamin Wright's party were to survey thirteen years later, in 1799. The only plausible explanation of nine of the ten names is that at the time the Commission was engaged in proceeding with the contemplated sale, some of them and many of their New York City associates, were entering upon an era of mercantile trade with many foreign countries, in the Orient as well as on the Continent. Dekalb, of course, was named as a tribute to Aaron Dekalb, the Bavarian general who came to this country with the French to aid the colonies in the Revolutionary War. Other than Dekalb and Oswegatchie the names were of foreign capitals of large or small degree, Cambray being that of a French Province. Thus it has come about that all historians dealing with St. Lawrence County invariably refer to the original Ten Towns. They were named by the Land Commission as set forth in a formal resolution in 1787. Editor's note: Factual reference to the above information is available in Chapter IV, beginning with page 23 5, Hough's History

St. Lawrence Counv Histortcal Association Quarterly Black Lake Toll Bridge By Malcolm Booth Town Historian, Morristown VoL 1, no. 4 (Oct. 1956)

Twenty-five years ago this past ing largely to that action. In 1851, ten by Jessie Wallace, Historian summer, on August 17, 193 1, the first real step toward opening fiom 1944 to 1952. Some of its Emmett R. Booth ran into his up traffic between the north and footnotes were initialed "jw" by home on Booth's Island at south sides of the lake at this point her, and some "mab" by the au- Edwardsville on Black Lake sob- occurred. The State Legislature thor who is the present Town His- bing, "No! No! They can't do authorized the establishment of a torian. that!" It was the evening when feny. The towns of Morristown the old iron bridge spanning the and Macomb were each to re- The article follows: lake at that point, and of which ceive an annual fee from this Mr. Booth as a director had source in the munificent amount "A year ago in October there helped construct in 1902-08, was of $22.50 to go toward the sup- was organized and put into op- dynamited in order to make way port of schools. eration (This was probably 1902, for the new state highway con- as incorporation papers for the crete span. Recently a manuscript, writ- Black Lake Bridge Company ten during the period of the build- were filed in Canton in October Agitation to construct a bridge ing of the iron bridge has come 1902. -mab) a work which inter- across Black Lake at the narrows to the attention of the Monistown ested the farmers in the towns of opposite Edwardsville began as Historian's Office, probably writ- Morristown and Macomb in this far back as 1836. In 1841, the ten by Dr. J. A. Phillips, a physi- county more than any other single Town of Macomb was partitioned cian of Morristown from 1865 to enterprise that has been started off from Monistown, a political 1869 and then from 1871 on. there in recent years for the rea- division arising over the issue of However, there is also the possi- son that it was to affect their con- having a bridge built, contribut- bility that it may have been writ- venience in travel and the acces-

Black Lake Toll Bridge

St. Lmurence County Historical Association Quarterly sibility of the territory that here- being the first foot-passenger was always the first to cross the tofore was obscure and distant. across the structure when it was ice in the fall and last in the spring. completed. After Mr. Peny, Mort On his last return trip on these "Ellery Colby of Owego and Smith was the ferryman for six spring afternoons he would in- his brother were the principal years and after him H. variably lose grocery stock in the owners of the stock controlling a Breckenridge had the position for lake to an amount which would company to build an iron bridge twenty years. The old ferry is have more than paid the entire across Black Lake. These men now discontinued. It consisted of winter's toll charges. -mab. were from the Owego Bridge a cable and an ordinary flat-bot- Company of Owego, N.Y., since tomed barge upon which horses consolidated with the trust, and were driven fiom a dock on ei- they were experts in bridge build- ther side and the objection to the ing. There was opposition, how- feny was that in case of high wind ever, to the plan and for this rea- it was dangerous and sometimes son the work proceeded slowly. impossible to cross and there have The capital stock of the company been instances when travelers was fixed at $40,000 and $30,000 were held up by the windy lake was taken by the Colby brothers for a period of a day or two rather and the balance by the farmers in than drive around the (Horn?) that vicinity. miles each way to reach Macomb or Edwardsville, as the case might 'It proved a most difficult be. The bridge will be a toll work owing to the fact that the bridge and the rate of toll will be bottom of the lake was black fixed by the board of supervisors muck, so deep and so soft as to of the county of St. Lawrence. make a foundation a very diffi- The rates have not yet been cult matter, and the piles that sup- settled upon, but the revenue of ported the piers were driven forty- the bridge will be sufficient to pay five feet down in the muck be- the interest on the cost of the fore they were considered secure structure, a part of the principal enough to hold the weight. The each year, and the expenses and water is seventeen feet deep at this a small profit to the owners." point. Note: The only toll bridge this "But despite all difficulties, the side of Troy is the one which has work proceeded under the direct been constructed over Black supervision of Fred Sixbury of Lake. @ifficult.undertaking. -jw) Evans Mills who had under his charge during this time fiom ten Note: The Black Lake Bridge to sixty men. There are three was purchased by the State of piers to the bridge and it is now New York in 1922, and tolls were completed. This bridge has the discontinued at that time. It is said distinction of being the only toll that on the first Sunday after tolls bridge this side of Troy in the were discontinued, the neighbors State of New York. It takes the drove back and forth across the place of a ferry which was estab- bridge all that afternoon. In 1931 lished between the Edwardsville it was replaced by a modern con- and Pope Mills side of the lake crete causeway. It was repaved by Edward Perry fifty-two years with macadam during the surn- ago (1 85 1-mab) and that vener- mers of 1951, 1952, and 1955. able landlord of the Pope Mills During the winters people trav- hotel now has the satisfaction of eled across the ice rather than seeing the bridge erected over the across the bridge. Mr. Booth told lake and the special privilege of of one Pope's Mills grocer who

St. Lmvnnce County Historical Association Quarter& J. Henry Rushton - Famous Boat Builder A Biographical Sketch by Atwood Manley VoL 3, no. 2 (Apr. 1958)

In certain respects 1869was a never fitted for the rough life of It took the public by storm. year of significance to this North the lumber camp or sawmill. Murray had made a few summer Country, especially in the life of Like Rev. William H.H. pilgrimages into the Adirondacks the son of Peter and Martha Murray, pastor of Boston's staid and had become so enamored of Glines Rushton of Edwards, N.Y. Park Street Church, known as the the mountains, ponds, lakes, and This was the year in which a Brimstone Comer Church, young forests that he painted a too-glow- book, ''Adventures in the Wilder- Rushton possessed a passionate ing word-picture of the Mecca ness - or Camping in the fondness for field and stream. which he said was there awaiting Adirondacks, " became a best The call of the wild was in his the lame, the halt, the blind, and seller and was credited with start- blood. Fishing, hunting, and the healthy. People believed him. ing a stampede to the camping had been his boyhood The Adirondack rush was on as Adirondacks. Its author was a pastimes. the "Adventures in the Wilder- young Back Bay Congregational ness " surged from one printing minister by the name of William As nearly as now can be de- to another and then another. The Henry Harrison Murray. There termined, it was in the early sum- invading hosts failed to find what is no evidence, at least of a docu- mer of 1869 that young Rushton Murray had described in the way mentary nature, to indicate what, packed to Cranberry Lake to en- ofhotels, prosaic guides, and the if any, direct influence either joy some trout fishing below the easy life. Soon many of them de- Murray or the book may have had new State dam at the outlet. He parted chanting "liar," "charlatan" on J. Henry Rushton, the son of knew the lake well. It was from toward the Back Bay divine. But Peter and Martha. But indirectly there that much of the timber was they had become innoculated Murray's "Adventures " played floated down the Oswegatchie to with the lure which the an important, if not almost con- the Rushton mills in Pitcaim and Adirondacks have ever since held trolling influence on the destiny Edwards. At Bishop's Log Ho- for so many. Murray's book of this son of a sawmill operator. tel at the foot of the lake he found caused such controversy that it two young Canton merchants, drove its author from the pulpit Born in 1843 in Edwards, J. iust fifteen vears his senior. Thev Henry Rushton, as a youth was bere ~osephP. Ellsworth and reared to the song of the saw. As Milton D. Packard, the shoeman a boy, a rod , a rifle, or paddle and drygoodsman respectively. were in his hands a good share of Like young Rushton, these two the time. He was a puny, stunted were disciples of the rod, the rifle, youth, flail and ailing, much in and the paddle. They, too, had contrast to his four sturdy broth- come for the best of the trout fish- .I ers and three sisters. His father ing and speedily formed a fiend- ( and uncles were in the lumber ship and lhgfor the young man business there on the fringe of from Edwards. It was a friend- 5 The South Woods as the ship which was to endure, and 2 Adirondacks were called locally. which was to play an important In 1864 when J. Henry cast his role in Rushton's fbture. first ballot - for Lincoln - he weighed 98 pounds and stood a Rev. Murray's book, just pub- scant five feet. What he lacked lished, became one of those unin sinew he made up for in bustle expectedly popular pieces of fic- and bounce, but physically he was tion, something like "Trader Horn " or "Gone With the Wind. " J. Henry Rushton

St. Lmvrence County Hisrorical Association Quarterly 17 and left him with the sobriquet of it made for the health-healing something which always stood "Adirondack" Murray. But at antidotes of the Adirondacks is him in good stead. least the gates to the Adirondacks not known. Nor is there any evi- were down. The health-giving dence that the paths of Murray His two intimates, Messrs. balm of the pines, the hemlocks, and Rushton directly crossed al- Ellsworth and Packard, soon be- and spruces which Murray so elo- though "Adirondack" Murray vis- came his most constant critics. quently wrote about soon brought ited Cranberry Lake about this These two knew a good canoe Trudeau and Robert Louis time. Beyond the preadventure when they saw one. This was it. Stevenson and thousands there of a doubt, the possibility of Not only did this canoe take either seeking relief from burn- Murray's preaching and graceful form, but with eagle eyes ing consumptive coughs or in Rushton's health were coinciden- they watched the many novel quest of woods life. tal. Whatever the circumstances methods of construction young may or may not have been, Rushton was constantly incorpo- Of all this J. Henry Rushton Rushton elected to do the very rating in its building. There was and his two newly won Canton thing which Murray's book ad- skillful beveling and joining the merchant friends knew nothing as vised all sufferers of "lung fever" cedar side strips, lap-streaking they whipped the waters of the to do, take to the woods, the Rushton called it. Copper nails Outlet in those days in 1869. Adirondacks. clinched easier and bound the Before parting, J. B. Ellsworth strips to the ribs and keel more suggested to the 26-year-old J. Thus it came about that J. firmly than rivets or iron nails. Henry that he move to Canton Henry Rushton prepared to part Joe Ellsworth and Milt Packard where he could find a job as a with his fhend and business bene- soon became convinced that their clerk in the Ellsworth Shoe Store factor, Joseph Ellsworth. That he young fiend possessed a genius waiting for him. Before the snow received the blessings of his em- for this type of work. He built fell that fall, J. Henry was behnd ployer and God Speed seems cer- with the instinct of a designing the counter in the store. tain. Fortuitously, however, artist and the craftsmanship of a Rushton never took his camping veteran. For four years he hustled busi- trip. Before packing into the ness for the Ellsworths. This was woods, he announced that he first Both merchants began taking during the period when "Adven- intended to build himself a canoe. a personal interest in this canoe. tures in the Wilderness" was be- If he was to take the new fresh- They were an interesting pair. ing both damned and extolled; air cure, he preferred to do so in Ellsworth was a Democrat, when Murray was being called style. The old-fashioned dugouts Packard a Republican politician. both a saint and a sinner; and so common to his boyhood held They never agreed on much of when the Adirondacks were reno lure for him. They were alto- anything, especially politics. ceiving the greatest free promo- gether too cmnky, too clumsy, and Their verbal feuds were bitter and tional advertising any resort area too tippy. This canoe was to be perpetual. As companions they on the continent ever enjoyed. of cedar, twenty feet over all, and were inseparable. They hunted, Murray spun down into oblivion, weighing only twenty pounds. fished, and camped together. but the Adirondacks ceased to be From Tom Leonard, the cabinet One year they journeyed to a "wilderness." The rush was on and boat builder in Morley, he Florida just to see the Everglades. in full force. obtained the necessary pattern For a long life-time they were from which to design this craft. caustic cronies, and under a It was either in the fall of 1872 crusty exterior deeply affection- or the spring of 1873 that young In an empty barn on Water ate, one of the other. Rushton came to a difficult deci- Street, now called Riverside sion. His health, never robust, Drive, young J. Henry went to As their daily inspections of had deteriorated. There was a work that summer in 1873. Be- the canoe project continued, they dry, hacking cough which showed sides the tools he accumulated for directed their comments and criti- a tubercular tendency. It worried the job, Rushton possessed an in- cisms candidly and without solici- J. Henry and also his employer herent knowledge of woods and tation. They were always in dis- and close friend. Whether woodworking. This was native agreement on the fine points of Rushton had been reading to his upbringing and the Edwards the job. Cantankerously it Murray's book and all the claims sawmill environment. It was seemed as though there was noth-

St. Lawrence County Historical Association Quarterly ing correct in the constmction, but in the market as purchasers. canoes. They attracted much at- on the side they marveled at the People took a great liking for tention and soon orders from deft, swift work of their protegee. these allcedar, "light as a feathei' other states were in the mail. His Their personal feuding finally craft. They were exceedingly well business soon overflowed into came to a crisis rather unexpect- constructed, sturdy, remarkably nearby sheds, shops, and storage edly. Each man had nurtured a easy to handle. Their reputation places. By 1881 the pressure was covetous liking for this trim craft. spread rapidly. on. So J. Henry erected a large It was to be a beauty. Packard four-story frame shop, 150 feet out-maneuvered Ellsworth at this With the opening of the long. It stood at the flatiron cor- point. He persuaded Rushton to Adirondacks, thanks to nerwhere Water and State Streets sell him the canoe before the fi- "Adirondack" Murray, anew and intersect. nal coat of varnish had dried. growing market was close at hand. The woodsmen and guides Never was a man busier or When Ellsworth learned of found the Rushton canoe just happier. Rushton was riding the Packard's duplicity he was beside what they wanted. Thus did the crest of the wave. He had mar- himself. Such dastardly, pre- influence ofMurray play directly ried. Leah Pflaun was a dark- sumptuous conniving was beyond into the hand s o f Rush t on. eyed beauty from Port Jervis, and human endurance. So Joe Murray passed into oblivion. became her husband's loyal Ellsworth did the only thing aman Rushton rode the crest of the helpmate. In the second floor could do under the circumstances. wave to worldwide fame as a boat back bedroom she cut out, sewed He immediately commissioned builder. and stitched the lateen, leg Rushton to build a second canoe, o'mutton and Bailey rig sails for for him, of course. All consider- J. Henry Rushton constructed his cedar sailing canoes and skiffs. ation ofRushton's health had long his first canoe in 1873. Three since become of secondary im- years later, when the Philadelphia In 1893, the Chicago portance. Fortunately thls was no Sesquicentennial opened, he had Colurnbian World's Fair offered longer serious matter. During the on display a line of his Rob Roy another not-to-be missed promo- construction period Rushton's health had improved. He had become stronger and more robust. The cough had disappeared. Something about working over the cedar wood worked the miracle. Though stouter, he was no taller. He was still barely five feet. But what he lacked in height, he more than made up in hustle. With Ellsworth's commission Rushton found himself definitely in the boat building business. From that point on the romance of the Rushton Boat Shop was under way. From the Water Street barn, J. Henry moved into a small stone building, called the Engine House. It is still standing g and now used in part as a liquor 3 store. Soon it was necessary to tl recruit labor to keep up with the h new orders. The whole cornrnu- nity had begun taking interest in the Rushton canoe. Others were J. Henry and Leah Rushton

St. henceCounty Historical Association Quarterly 19 tional opportunity. ' A complete had a group of young Canton skilled craftsmen on the second line of Rushton's now extensive canoe enthusiasts with him to floor. Here the canoes, skiffs, and line of canoes, skiff, and other demonstrate his craft. Rushton, other craft took shape. On the craft models were displayed, both Highway, and the Canton crowd third floor came the oiling and in full scale sizes and also in min- attracted wide attention. It was varnishing. In the loft were the iatures. In the face of top-flight all good advertising. drying racks and display rooms. competition, Rushton captured Rushton never attempted mass blue ribbons right down the line. Boat making was not all clear production. He never had a large He lost no time in capitalizing on sailing. The Colurnbian Exposi- crew of workmen. Each and ev- these newly won laurels. Orders tion promotion somewhat offset ery craft that passed out of the came from far and near, from the inroads being made by the shop door had been built to speci- Australia, New Zealand, Africa, first flush of the bicycle fad of the fications under his own watchful England, and the Continent, as '90s. As the automobile and the eyes. well as from all over America. 20th century made their debut, Rushton came forward in 1901 For the most part Rushton's The secret of Rushton's suc- with his canvas covered canoe, boats were built to standard mod- cess was two-pronged. Primarily, famous Indian Girl. This proved els and lengths as per his cata- of course, it rested in the hustling, to be his outstanding achieve- logues. But for J. Henry the bustling personality of the di- ment. In style the Indian Girl was greatest joy was an order for a minutive, human dynamo. Then, the ultimate in gracefbl design. It custom built job. This presented there was the second factor, the handled easily, cost less, and be- a challenge both in design and period in which he lived. Hand came immediately the most popu- construction. Profits were of sec- in hand with the great surge of lar canoe on the market. The ondary consideration. Be the people into the Adirondacks came Boat Shop's production curve craft of standard make or custom- the popularity of the Thousand soared. From 1901 the produc- built there was but one rule in the Islands. Millionaires were build- tion mounted until 1906, the year shop--only the best. Rushton ing palatial summer homes there. in which J. Henry was stricken ill was a perfectionist. He de- Mammoth Victorian resort hotels and died. That year his Boat manded it of his men. Men and such as the Frontenac, the Thou- Shop turned out 150 cedar and master were a team. A special sand Island House, the Crossman 750 Indian Girl canvas covered order, a job exceptionally well were booked hll from June to canoes. That was the record year. done, created enthusiasm October. With a group of canoe- throughout the entire force. ing enthusiasts, J. Henry was a Money was of secondary im- Nothing shoddy, no hidden short key figure in organizing the portance to this successhl son of cuts or imperfections, no cheap American Canoe Association the Edwards sawmill operator. construction! Rushton's boats which for years afterward held its He never accumulated wealth, were built on honor. They were annual gatherings at Eel Bay near nor aspired to do so. His sole durable. That was the secret to Grindstone Island. interest was in building better and Rushton's fame as a builder. This better canoes. From his boyhood was so fiom the first cedar plank Rushton knew the value of he took with him a native knowl- he ripped for Packard's canoe to showmanship. At the Associa- edge ofwood and woodcraft, and the day he breathed his last. tion's encampments, J. Henry a natural ability to use tools. De- often teamed with Dr. Highway, signing seemed instinctive. Al- It was possibly a blessing that The Cincinnati Giant. Highway though automation and J. Henry died when he did. The was the superman, director of a assemblyline methods were years hex-sign was on business gener- Cincinnati gymnasium, the star away he attained a practical de- ally and the boat industry. A fi- athlete and champion in canoe gree of streamline efficiency in his nancial depression was in the tilting contests with the Canadi- shop. making. Automobiles and air- ans. By contrast, Rushton, five planes were capturing public at- feet tall, and Highway, six feet six, The Michigan cedar was tention. The Hotel Frontenac and made a conspicuous pair. They planed down and sawed to speci- then the Thousand Island House were fi-equentlytogether. In fact, fied widths and lengths and burned to the ground and were Highway made the Canton tent steamed on the first floor. This not rebuilt. George Bolt stopped his headquarters. Rushton always then passed into the hands of the construction on his river "castle."

St. Lawrence County Historical Association Quarterly But happily the year of Rushton's found the Michigan cedar best boat. Rushton also went in for death marked the peak of his adapted to his type of construc- cat-a-ma-rans and other special shop's production. His passing tion, though rosewood and ma- craft. He indulged in motorizing was as though the spigot had been hoganies were used for decking, the Indian Girl and other canoes, pulled fkom the barrel. The cider as was cherry and most of the but with no great success. There was soon drained away. After ten other fine-finishing woods were was even a small steam yacht, a years of mounting costs and poor employed. thirty-two-footer on the drawing business conditions the family boards. Of all his products the turned the key in the shop's door Incessantly J. Henry Rushton Indian Girl and its other models, in 1916. His two sons sought was improving on design, devel- The American Beauty, and The fields of endeavor in other places. oping new models. His workmen Navahoe claimed the greatest were recruited largely from local popular appeal. These were the In matter of construction, craftsmen. Under his personal tu- canvas covered canoes of those Rushton claimed that his boats telage they were schooled in per- first years in the 20th century. and canoes were "unique." To fecting their art. The Boat Shop follow his terminology they were was, in effect, the personality of Today the name of Rushton of the "smooth-skin" and "lap- this tiny man. He was the chief still lingers where canoeists streak" design. Smooth-skin executive in all its branches and gather. The Srnithsonian Institute meant that instead of the usual departments, such as construc- has his Rob Roy on exhibit. One "ship-lap" the outer surface was tion, bookkeeping, advertising, of the old two-sail Rushton skiffs smooth, sanded down. This of- publicity, sales, promotion, design rests on the racks of the new fered less resistance as the craft and research. Adirondack Museum at Blue glided through water, and made Mountain. Here and there about for easier handling. Smooth-skin How many craft were turned this North Country one occasion- construction required that the ce- out in the Canton Boat Shop is ally discovers the brass name- dar side or hull strips be beveled not known, but they ran in the plate on the deck of a canoe or to a feather edge their whole several thousand during those skiff. Rapidly a Rushton is be- length, tightly and securely forty-three years. Of Rushton's coming a collector's item. By joined. The joints were nailed all-wood or cedar canoes, there modern standards the Rushton from both sides, and light-weight were several models and each Boat Shop was small but it was copper tacks were clinched to- model in several sizes or lengths of great merit. In looking back ward the thicker part of the tim- as well as grades. The Rob Roy over the record of those forty- ber. Tacking prevented curling of was one of the first. Later cata- three years there was one posi- the feather edge. Rushton de- logues list no such model. One tive conclusion to be made. Al- vised a special method for fitting finds the Arkansas Traveler, the though the Shop turned out quite the cedar strips, or boards, to the Huron, Ugo and Igo, Vaux and a variety of styles and models of keel and the ribs. This removed Vaux Jr., and the featherweight various small craft, the name of strain from the shell and permit- twenty-two lb. ten and one-half Rushton has come down through ted a comparatively rigid unit. foot Nessmuk. The other canoes the remaining years principally, if The ribs were first steamed, and ranged from fourteen to seven- not entirely, because of the then fitted into the shell before teen footers and up to seventy- Rushton canoe. It was the boat dry. When dry they became snug two pounds. Of his sailing and J. Henry loved. It was the and firm. Rushton's methods paddling canoes Rushton concen- achievement into which went the produced a lighter than average trated on the Vesper and the No- best years of his life. There is no craft, fully as sturdy and strong mad, sixteen-footers for the most greater tribute to the man and as any other on the market. He part. On order the Shop turned what he did than the fact that the claimed a ten per cent to fifty per- out a large racing canoe, to ac- name of the Rushton canoe is still cent saving in weight. By lap- commodate thirty-two paddlers, remembered and respected. streaking Rushton craft were for an Englishman. There was a more immune to leakage in case versatile range of skiffs, rowboats, of damage or wear. Rushton's and dinghies, all the way fkom the methods utilized working with the large sailing skiffs and the Saranac grain of the wood. This lent Laker or Adirondack Guide Boat added strength and durability. He down to the small Florida Row-

St. Lawrence County Historical Association Quarterly Dr. Harvey D. Thatcher, Inventor of the Glass Milk Bottle By Dayton Dewey Vol. 4, no. 3 (July 1959) Editor's Note: The author was a high school student when he wrote this essay.

Dr. Harvey D. Thatcher came and destroyed more than half the lathe a crude shaped bottle of to Potsdam in 1860, at the age of business section including Dr. wood. He called it the "milk jar." twenty-five years, intent on "mak- Thatcher's store. With almost It would be made out of glass and ing good" at his drug store after everything lost, he moved to be able to carry milk to each being burned out earlier in Can- Potsdam. Here he started his person. ton, New York. It was his des- .second drug store and doctor's Because there was no tiny, however, not to be given office on Main Street. He later company in the north country that fame as a druggist and doctor, but moved it to Market Street. In that could manufacture these bottles, to give to the world an invention same year he formulated the he went to Whitall-Tataom that revolutionized the milk indus- Orange Butter Coloring made Company in New York City; try and which saved thousands of from vegetable oil. Dr. Thatcher makers of ink bottles. Since there lives -the milk bottle. also established trade for it in were no machines to make that every state and Canada. shape at the time, the bottles were Harvey Dexter Thatcher was hand blown. The first bottle born in Newport, New Young Dr. Thatcher married appeared odd to the Hampshire on December 28, Olivia Adelade Barnhart of unaccustomed eyes. It had this 1835. He was the son of Mr. and Barnhart's Island, St. Lawrence description: it was ten inches tall, Mrs. Calvin Thatcher. He River, N.Y. on October 4,1865. and four inches wide at the attended the academies of She later died of polio. opening. The bottle weighed Newport, New London, and thlrty ounces and cost a little over Washington, N.H., and later in It wasn't until 1886 that Dr. ten cents a piece. It had a picture Potsdam and Ogdensburg Thatcher invented the milk bottle of Dr. Thatcher milking a cow schools. or the "milk jar" as he called it. into a special sanitary pail. On He got the inspiration on a hot top was written "Absolutely Pure When he was nineteen he summer day in 1884. He was Milk" and on the bottom, "The went to the University of New forty-eight years old and now a Milk Protector." Hampshire in Durham and prominent druggist and physician. became a school teacher. He As he was walking along Market Since Dr. Thatcher could not taught in Potsdam and Walton, Street, he stopped to watch the persuade a dairy in Potsdam to Kentucky. He went to New York milkman make a delivery. The buy his bottle, he went to City's Pharmaceutical School in lady of the house came out and Ogdensburg. Three dealers there 1856. Graduating in 1858, he handed the milkman a quart bought four hundred bottles each became a Pharmacist at the pitcher. He took it and filled it at fifteen dollars a gross or ten Broadway Drug Store. He turned fiom the traditional forty quart cents a piece, making a total of attentions, however, to medicine dip can. While he was collecting forty dollars. They also agreed in 1858. Going to Ames College his three cents for the quart, a little to pay fifty dollars royalty, which in Ames, Iowa and Eclectic girl dropped her rag doll in the together was ninety dollars. The College of Cincinnati, he can. When the milkman returned, total sum was two hundred graduated with a medical degree noticing the doll, he calmly fished seventy dollars for 1200 bottles in 1859. Coming to Canton, New it out. Then he continued on his in Ogdensburg. So the city of York, late that same year, he route. Dr. Thatcher became very Ogdensburg became the first started his first drug store and concerned after seeing this. In his place in the world to have glass doctor's office. The great Canton home, at 100 Market Street, milk bottles. Dr. Thatcher fire in 1860 caused much damage Potsdam, he turned out on his received his patent in 1887 for the milk bottle.

St. Lmvrence County Historical Association Quarterly Harvey Dexter Thatcher in Roll and bake for twenty minutes Cemetery, Potsdam. The 1889 formulated the Sugar of in hot oven. Ogdensburg Journal said in its Milk Baking Powder. It was Saturday Aug. 4, 1949 edition, made of cream of tartar, sixty- Dr. H.D. Thatcher's factory "Dr. Thatcher's milk bottle seven parts; bicarbonate of soda, on Depot Street, which he had invention is greater and better twenty-nine to thirty-one parts; greatly expanded, burned to the than that of Pasteur." He had and sweet milk, four parts. In ground. He was not fully insured some fifty patents on various 1893, he entered his baking and he suffered a $100,000 loss inventions. powder and milk bottle in the from which he never recovered. World's Columbian Exposition in In 1902 he accepted a post as I interviewed several people Chicago. He won an award of trustee at Clarkson College. In about Dr. Thatcher. This is how merit for the baking powder, 1917, the late Ira Kendall, Mr. they remembered him. .. which he advertised by baking Robert Bums, and Dr. Fred L. 8,000 biscuits daily. Dr. Thatcher Dewey took over the factory on MIS. Adelaide Heath, longtime won another award of merit for Raymond Street which made milk resident of Potsdam, recalls Dr. his "Common Sense Milk Jar." caps and butter and cheese Thatcher when she was a young colorings. Dr. Thatcher died in girl, as being "a small man, fast This is the recipe Dr. Thatcher poverty at the home of a friend. walker and who had a pointed used to make his biscuits to It was on a Sunday afternoon, gray beard. He seemed to be an advertise his baking powder May 24, 1924 at the age of intellectual." which sold for fifty cents a pound; eighty-nine. Funeral expenses one quart of flour, one-half were paid by a collection taken Mr. Fred Hayes, retired New teaspoon of salt, three even among his friends. The funeral York State dairy inspector and teaspoons baking powder. Mix was held at Trinity Episcopal personal friend of Dr. Thatcher, well and sift. Add a piece of Church, Potsdam, with the Rev. had this to say, "He was a small butter the size of an egg. Add William Hamilton officiating. He man of five feet seven inches and sweet milk to soften for molding. was interred at the Bayside he weighed less than 100pounds. He had snappy blue eyes and was a verv neat dresser. He could start anythng but could never finish anythmg." From a disheartening start in Potsdam Dr. H. D. Thatcher's milk bottle became accepted throughout the world. The invention was not really scientific, but its effect in halting the spread of disease through milk for the past seventy-five years should not be forgotten. If it had not been for Dr. Thatcher inventing the milk bottle, would we still be getting our milk in forty quart dip cans?

Dr. H. D. Thatcher

St. Lawrence County Historical Association Quarterly 23 Hollywood, the Racquette River, and One of America's First Fifth Columnists by Albert Jakobson Vol. 5, no. I (Jan. 1960)

On or about 1938, the buyer, that is the Power Corpo- the title, and I was assigned to do Niagara-Hudson Power Corpora- ration, stipulated that the owner, this. tion, then known as the Central the Paper Company, must furmsh New York Power Corporation, set an opinion (legally speaking) It immediately became neces- out to purchase the water rights, showing good and marketable sary to set up the genealogy of property titles, andeasements if title thereto. I was retained by the the family of the said Jabez Ba- necessary to developing that attorney of record for the Paper con in order to establish those 471 stretch of the Racquette River Company to provide this opinion. 56th other interests. To do this, from South Colton upstream to- That is where I found myself soon it was necessary to reconstruct the ward Piercefield for the largest following a fascinating bit of Bacon family tree down through hydro-electric installation ever American Colonial and Revolu- seven generations. In doing so it affected on any of the State's in- tionary history. was discovered that 135 surviv- land streams -the St. Lawrence ing heirs were living, scattered all and Niagara, of course being ex- In examining the title-evidence over the globe, in Ireland, Aus- cluded as they are boundary submitted in the form of thirty ab- tralia, the West Indies, as well as streams. So far as the develop- stracts, it was found that in the in ten of our states and the Dis- ment i'tself is concerned that is partition of Hollywood in the year trict of Columbia. To run down now history, the thirty to forty 1856, the title was based on a and ferret out all of the necessary million dollars, five-stage deed from one Lorena Bacon data and records required eigh- Racquette River Power Project Tomlinson, daughter of a Jabez teen months of intense beginning with the Cary [sic] Bacon, late of Woodbury, Con- research, hundreds of miles of Fall's Reservoir, having been but necticut. I examined the deed by travel, countless interviews and recently completed. To undertake which Jabez Bacon had acquired investigations, and quite a this vast project, from which the entire southern half of Holly- refresher course for me, 100,000 kilowatts of electric en- wood, approximately 15,154.5 personally, in certain aspects of ergy is now being fed into the acres. By his will, Bacon had American history. Fortunately, utility's state-wide system, it was then later bequeathed to his early in my search, I contacted first necessary for the Power Cor- daughter Lorena, a 9156th inter- Selden Bacon, an eighty-one poration to acquire the title to the est. The partition of 1856 in turn year-old member of the New bed of the Racquette, and the land divided up the south half of Hol- York law firm of Duer, White & back fi-om its shoreline for at least lywood to the extent of 47156th Stronghead, who loaned me a 100 feet on each side. This in- still being outstanding in the heirs Bacon family genealogy in whch volved an area extending from of said Jabez Bacon. In other it was possible to trace the Bacons South Colton almost to words, the title was "cloudy." from the date of the death of Piercefield. That part of this Naturally, the Power Corporation Jabez in 1806, down to 1893. property which today embraces would not accept the contract From there to 1938 it was the Cary [sic] Falls Reservoir, lies until this 47156th outstanding in- necessary for me to fill in the in what the original land maps terest was cleared, and thus pro- remainder. designated as the southern half of vide a complete and acceptable the Town of Hollywood, now part title. By coincidence, the Although the swiving heirs of the Town of Colton. The Racquette River Paper Company were widely scattered, the main Power Corporation opened nego- owned the adjoining lands, all of trail of this branch of the Bacon tiations with the Racquette River which stemmed from this same family led straight back to Paper Company, owned by the defective deed. So both parties, Connecticut where twenty-three Sisson family of Potsdam, for thls the Paper Company and the members still resided in 1938. particular tract. Under the con- Power Corporation, "joined The original Connecticut Bacons tract drawn to cover this sale, the hands" in a friendly action to clear had settled there prior to the

St. Lawrence County Historical Association Quarterly American Revolution. They were Yankee trader, a poor boy, who cargoes, staking his entire fortune. a group of staunch, blue-blooded at his death was considered 'the This put the whole New York Presbyterians for the most part, richest man in Connecticut.' market in his hands and he is said and by tradition loyal supporters to have cleared $40,000. of Yale University, it being said "Jabez was born in Middle- that up until 1930 there were field, a parish of Middletown, "An attempt to comer the local always no less than five members Conn., July 16, 1731. He was salt market during the Revolution of the family on Old Eli's the son of Nathaniel Bacon. was less successfbl. Jabez Bacon contemporary faculty. My search Young Jabez was apprenticed to was a Tory. Not too popular with brought to light not only the bare a tanner. Then he became a his neighbors probably, in genealogical aspects of this line, peddler, selling notions, pins, patriotic Woodbury, which sent but also much interesting Bacon needles, tape, etc. He settled at over a thousand men to family history and legends. This Woodbury, Conn., and opened Washington's army. Mr. Bacon all became tremendously the Hollow Store, now converted had salt for sale at the Hollow interesting as there was this direct into a residence. Lydia store, when other merchants connection with our own North Hungerford and Jabez Bacon lacked this needfbl commodity, Country background, as well as were married at Woodbury, June and was charging an exorbitant other relating information. 28,1760. They had five sons and price for it. The Selectmen of the four daughters. town went to his store, seized the Jabez Bacon was a descendant salt, and sold it at a reasonable of Sir Francis Bacon, 1561-1626, "William Cothren in his book, price, turning the proceeds over the celebrated English philo- "Ancient Woodbury" says of to Mr. Bacon. An excellent sopher, jurist, and statesman, Jabez Bacon, 'By his indomitable method of dealing with profitem. often incorrectly referred to as perseverance and business ability, Lord Bacon, the arch-enemy of he became the very first man in "At the close of the Rev- England's equally famous Sir business, mercantile credit, and olution, when the country was Edward Coke. Shortly after the wealth in this section of the state flooded with depreciated paper turn of the 17th century, Sir and died worth nearly half a money, Jabez filled the saddle- Francis was forced to aid in the million.' bags of his son, Jabez, Jr., with trial and conviction of his former Continental currency and sent intimate, the Earl of Essex on a "He built the beautiful old him off with the brief command, charge of treason. At the height house in the 'Hollow' in "Go and buy land." Young Jabez of his career Sir Francis, himself, Woodbury now owned by Mr. rode far. In the northern part of was tried, in 1621, on a charge Edward Marvin, a descendant of New York State, he purchased a of bribery, fined, and removed Mathew Marvin, a pioneer settler tract of land in Gouverneur, St. from his office as attorney- of Hartford in 1636. The Lawrence County, where a general. Others of this family are fireplaces in the Bacon house are valuable deposit of talc was said to have suffered other made of tiles imported from afterwards discovered. Another indignities at the hand of royalty. France, even those on the third parcel of land was located in Thus it came about that Nathaniel floor. The wall paper also came Greene County, N.Y. That state Bacon, the father of Jabez, was from overseas. wanted the land for a State Park born in The Barbados, West and paid to Jabez Bacon's heirs a Indies, where his branch of the "Many are the stories of Jabez small sum to obtain a clear title. family was living in exile. Bacon's shrewd bargaining. Nathaniel emigrated to America Cothren tells that he once went "Though he drove a hard and located in Connecticut. Of to New York with a fine stock of bargain, Jabez Bacon was not Jabez Bacon the following is pork for sale. Two large cargoes mean or niggardly. He was most taken fiom Woodruff s biography of pork being expected from hospitable. Strangers coming to of this family. Maine he could not get the price town were bidden to eat at his he asked. Mr. Bacon took his house. His servants had orders "Had Jabez Bacon lived a horse, rode six miles up the East to keep a table always set and century later, he would have been River shore to about Blackwell's refreshments ready for such famous as a Captain of Industry. Island, boarded the sloops as they wayfarers. As it was, he was merely a shrewd came along and purchased their

St. Lmvrence County Historical Association Quarterly He died September 10,1806." outset. What followed is time- Bacon home in Woodbury much told history. Washington skillfblly to their liking and comfort. The Down through those early extricated his forces from one table was bountihl and the wines Bacon generations, a deep impossible position after another, of ancient stock. What better resentment was nourished against Brooklyn Heights, 34th Street, could they ask. So there they the British crown and what the Westchester, and then down settled themselves to map out family considered the rank through New Jersey into their army strategy, mellowed as injustice done their English Pennsylvania. they were by fine viands - ancestors. It was this same warming vintage and a crackling resentment, so the legend goes, Washington became the super- fire on the hearth. Diagonally which forms so pertinent a part strategist of streams; the greater across the way resided Reverend of the narrative. The year 1776 crosser of rivers: the East River, Samuel Seabury, the First found Jabez, wealthy, influential, the Harlem, the Hudson, the Episcopal Bishop in the colonies, a foremost citizen of Woodbury Raritan, the Delaware. Battles, a tartar, a tyrant and a Tory. From and the colony of Connecticut, such as they were, were largely his Woodbury pulpit he bedeviled looked upon as has been noted, delaying actions: Long Island, and berated his parishioners. The by his neighbors and others as a Throgs Neck, White Plains. Then Rector was an unhappy and bitter Tory. Most men who were in the disaster followed disaster. man, no lover of Connecticut money in those times were Green's bungling procrastination Yankee yokels, disdainful of considered Tories, correctly or and Lee's perfidy, losing for the colonial crudeness and lack of incorrectly. However, this was a colonies both Fort Lee and Fort culture, strict and strenuous in time in which men had to make Washington on the Hudson. establishing an ecclesiastical yoke momentous personal decisions as Washington stood on the west upon this benighted citizenry. He to which side they would support, bank of the Hudson and saw his hated and was hated. So much the crown or the colonies. helpless men run through by so that Woodbury vigilantes Lexington, Concord, Bunker Hill Hessian bayonets on the east bank warned his reverend never to set were already events of the past. -and wept. Washington ex- foot on the streets on other than Representatives of the colonies on tricated the remnants of his Sundays, on that day only would July 4, 1776 signed the Great underfed, undernourished, un- they stack their muskets. Craving Declaration. George I11 had paid, and underarmed troops company, Samuel Seabury already strengthened his troops in from near catastrophe after near warmed to his so-called Tory America and was dispatching catastrophe and finally launched neighbor, Bacon. Rather than thousands more. Lord Howe that historic Christmas night re- risk his hide upon the street, sought to convince the colonists crossing of the Delaware to Seabury burrowed a tunnel of their waywardness without recapture Trenton, route the beneath it, and almost nightly success, and soon he and his Hessians, and turn the tide of war. crawled through it to dine and fellow generals were mapping wine with Bacon and the British strategy to put these colonial It was in connection with this lordships, to join in plotting the rebels in their place with dispatch war-drama that Jabez Bacon is British strategy. The British were and finality. September found the said by family tradition to have determined to take Manhattan, British troops landing at played a vital role. This is the then to drive up the Hudson and Gravesend Bay, on the southwest story as I received it. Jabez was down hmQuebec, thus severing shore of Long Island, the first step content on the surface to pass as the colonies at the most vital and toward taking New York, and a Tory. This was a good cloak vulnerable point. Their only then the intended decapitation of with which to conceal his true obstacle was that frustrating New England from the colonial purpose. Jabez was in reality a Commander, Washington, "The body to the south. That was the staunch and loyal colonial Old Fox" as they called him. strategy of Lords Howe, Clinton, supporter. This, however, was and Cornwallis. The Battle of unknown to the many, including Seated with his British guests Long Island was on, with the new the rector across the street, and and the Tory Rector, Jabez Commander-in-Chief, General to Lords Howe and Clinton as smiled, pinched snuff, and George Washington of the well. It is said that the two British listened closely. Then under Colonial Army, finding himself in Lords found the hospitality and cover of night, so it is said, a precarious position at the very the comforts of the palatial Jabez dispatched messengers to cross

St. Lawrence County Historical Association Quarterly into the Colonial lines bearing His brothers fled to Manhattan, almost virgin wilderness directly tidings of what was underfoot in and there with Joshua Wadding- after the Revolution, armed with the British camp, giving "Old ton and others joined forces with cheap money to buy what later Fox" time to plot and plan his the British Loyalists. Jabez became exceedingly rich land historic maneuvers, make those Bacon, so the legend goes, holdings. Family tradition river crossings, snatch his advanced $250,000 of his suggests that by some means bedraggled troops from one personal fortune, a huge sum in Jabez Bacon may have received pincer movement after another. those days, to bolster the colonial these lands in token of his valiant In effect, Jabez Bacon, became a cause. It was fiom t&s act, so it aid during the Revolution. The member of the that first American is said, that Jabez Bacon in later record proves, at least, that in "underground" that first band of years was enabled to acquire title 1804 Daniel McCormick, the American "Fifth columnists." to large tracts of New York land. financial sage living in the big Seabury finally fled Woodbury, Whether this was done entirely blue-stoccoed house at No. One made his way into the British lines with "saddle bags" filled with Wall Street, conveyed to Jabez and volunteered as a guide to their "depreciated paper money," in Bacon one-half of the Town of forces. part or in whole, to repay him for Hollywood, St. Lawrence his aid in the hour of need, is not County. Daniel McCormick was The Colonial Army teetered, clear. Whether purely by business one of that group of princely not only strategically in maneuver, dealing, or by government speculators who took The Great but equally so for lack of money. largesse, direct or indirect, Jabez Gamble. In company with such Washington's troops had not been Bacon's holdings brought into his moneyed plungers as Alexander paid, munitions were running low, strong box, title to four separate Macomb as their front, the uniforms had turned to tatters, tracts of land located in New York estimable William Constable, boots to bundles of rags. State. One such tract was situated Gouvemeur Morris, Robert H. Washington pledged his personal in Greene County, including what Morris, Samuel Ogden, the fortune, as did others of his staff, is now New York City's main Clarksons, Harisons and Van to try and hold what was left of source of water supply, the Rensselaers, about thirteen in the army intact. The Continental Ashoken Reservoir. Another number, were associates in the Congress, in apanic, moved fiom such piece was located in the then purchase of most of the Ten Phladelphia to Baltimore and too Military tract, now part of our Towns, so-called, in St. Lawrence often attempted to direct military present Clinton County, the land County, and the Six Great Tracts strategy itself. The opposing now incorporated in today's of "unappropriated and waste armies began converging on Republic Steel's iron ore land" best known as "Macomb's Philadelpha. The cause of the development at Lyon Mountain. Great Purchase." Revolution hung in the balance. The third tract included that It was into this breach of necessity portion of the valley of the Our attention, therefore, tums that Robert Moms threw himself, Oswegatchie in St. Lawrence briefly to Daniel McCormick, the contacting others to join with him County on which the famous talc Scotch Presbyterian youth who to support the cause, men with mines are now located. The came to this country from North money, such as Hayrn Solomon, fourth tract, that from which this Ireland in pre-Revolutionary days the rich broker of Philadelphia, interesting article grew, was the a poor boy and who wound up and Jabez Bacon, the richest man southern half of what was then being a man of tremendous in Connecticut. Thus did Morris Hollywood and is now that influence and immense wealth in secure the necessary funds with portion of the Colton section of New York City; a charter member which to provision Washington's the Niagara-Hudson hydro- of the Bank of New York; a faltering army. Washington in electric development as pre- shrewd financier; head of the turn issued the historic edict of viously noted. famous St. Patrick's party; New Jersey, either for the treasurer of the Masonic Grand citizenry to be rebels or royalists. Exactly how these tracts were Lodge; the bachelor entrepreneur Families split on that one. Samuel actually acquired is not who took up his residence on that Ogden, at Morristown, threw in adequately delineated and offers famous Wall Street comer and his lot with Washington and opportunity for interesting stuck it out there to his last breath. turned his plants to making research. Woodruff would have Pink-cheeked, bewigged, en- cannon, munitions, and muskets. Jabez, Jr. sallying forth into sconced on his front portico,

St. Lawrence County Historical Association Quarterly sconced on his front portico, garbed in cockade hat, velvet jacket and knee breeches, silk stockings and silver buckled shoes, puffing contentedly in his long-stalled pipe. Beatific, world- wise Daniel McCormick cut a notable figure in our early North Country land history. He, Constable, the Morrises and others emerged from that land buying spree of the 1790s with whole hides. Macomb did not. In 1804, so the deed reads, Daniel McCormick conveyed to Jabez Bacon, and later Bacon to his daughter Lorena, and those other heirs those 15,154.5 acres along the Racquette in the Town of Hollywood. The interesting question remains: Did Jabez purchase this property outright, with "depreciated" paper money, or did he come by it entire, or in part, as recompense for helping the colonies in their hour of direst need? Be it one or the other, this all makes an interesting chapter in our North Country lore. Obviously, the title was cleared, and the contract completed in 1939. This, it seems, is but one of countless other fascinating examples of how those early land title conveyances bring notable names into close association with our North Country beginnings.

St. Lawrence Counry Historical Association Quarterb Judge Jonah Sanford By Mrs. Dorothy Squires Hopkinton Town Historian VoL 5, no. 1 (Jan 1960)

Much has been written about Silas Wright, Canton resident, United States senator, and New York governor. But little or nothing has been written about the man who succeeded him as a member of the House of Repre- sentatives. Wright resigned his seat in Congress in order to remain as New York State comptroller on March 9, 1830, and at a special election on November 3, 1830, Jonah Sanford of Hopkinton was elected to Wright's vacant seat. He took office on December 6, serving until March 3,183 1. Jonah Sanford was born toward the end of 1790 in Cornwall, Vermont. In March 18 1 1, he married Abigail Greene, a daughter ofRev. Henry Greene, and soon after in that same year he came to Hopkinton and selected a piece of forest for a farm, Judge Jonah Sanford made a little clearing, and built a cabin for a future home, then was soon given an office. Every bar. From this modest beginning, went back to his bride in Vermont year thereafter during his entire self-educated, he steadily ad- as so many other of our young lifetime, he continued to hold vanced until he became the ablest, pioneers did. He enlisted in the some town office. In 1818 he was hardest fighting, and most suc- Amy and served in the War of appointed Justice of the Peace by cessfhl practitioner in the eastern 18 12, taking an active part in the Governor DeWitt Clinton and the part of St. Lawrence County. He Battle of Plattsburgh. After the Council of Appointment. He held was a born debater, logical in rea- war he brought his little family to this position nearly twenty-two soning, combative, absolutely Hopkinton to live, and soon after consecutive years. fearless, tireless, and indomitable. they arrived here both of the tiny He was a large man, standing six children died, leaving Jonah and Seeing the need for a "law- feet tall, weighmg fhlly two hun- Abigail besides themselves in their giver" in the settlement of dis- dred and twenty-five pounds, bereavement. The townspeople putes, Jonah purchased a few law erect and imposing, carrying the recognized Jonah as a man of books and set to work to learn the courage of his convictions, yet character and intelligence and he fimdamental principles of the pro- genial and sociable, and vastly fession, and was admitted to the interested in people.

St. lmvrcnce Grim@ Hisroricol Association Quarter& Mr. Sanford was a member of wives and sweethearts were all the New York State Assembly for calling out, "Colonel, take care of the years 1829 and 1830 after the boys." having served as supervisor of the town of Hopkinton from 1823 to Jonah Sanford accompanied 1826. In 1831 he was appointed his regiment as far as the James a judge of the Court of Common River in Virginia, and then his Pleas, serving until 1837. In 1846 advanced age and ill health com- he had the distinguished honor of pelled him to abandon the field. being a delegate to the state con- He returned to his farm in stitutional convention which re- Hopkinton, but kept up his zeal vised the state's constitutional and work for the cause until the statutes. end of the war. During the earliest part of his In private life, he was a de- life he was the close fiiend and voted husband and father, a good associate of Governor Wright, farmer, so industrious that he Judge Fine, Judge Allen, and later seemed to know no such thing as of U.S. Senator, Preston King, weariness or fatigue. He buried Judge James, and other promi- his beloved Abigail back in 1842, nent men. and in 1845 married Harriet Barney. He had ten children by Judge Sanford, also known as his first marriage and four by his Colonel Sanford, showed his tal- second. One son, Jonah, Jr., con- ent for leadership in a military, as tinued to carry on the home farm. well as political, capacity. He took He married Elisha Risdon's an active part in the state militia, daughter, Clarinda. It was their and in 1827was commissioned a son, Carlton E., who wrote captain of a volunteer company Sanford's History of Hopkinton. of cavalry. Later he rose to the The diaries left by Elisha Risdon rank of colonel, and in 1832 he form one of the earliest, most au- was commissioned a brigadier thentic sources of information of general of the state militia as had pioneer days and settlement in this Silas Wright before him. His county. As one historian has said, troops encamped in a field south- "The old judge really cut quite a west of Potsdam village. At the swathe in this North Country dur- outbreak of the Civil War the ing his lifetime." Judge's enthusiasm for the Union cause knew no bounds. Although Judge Sanford was not the last now an old man of seventy-one of his family to sit in congress, years, he set out with his horse for from 1915 to 1921, Rollin and buggy and rode all over the Brewster Sanford, his great- eastern part of the county ad- grandson, served in the House of dressing war meetings and enlist- Representatives from Albany ing prominent men in the towns County. to help him raise a regiment. In December 186 1, the Ninety-second Cavalry Regiment was formed. In two months, it was ready for battle, and on February 1, 1862 left Potsdam by train, with the valiant old judge as its leader. As the train pulled out of the station, the men's mothers,

St. hrence County Historical Association Quarterly The Union Settlement By V. Merrit Ingram, Jr. VoL 5, no. 2 (Apr. 1960)

Editor's Note: The author was a high school student when he wrote this essay.

On November 28,1804, a Mr. but property was common. A stretching northward on the left William Bullard, of Vermont, and settlement was made each Janu- of the Potsdam-Norwood Road a group of associates took title to ary, sharing according to the fiom the present Unionville. a tract of land containing 2,467 amount of labor invested during acres about three miles north of the preceding year. Tools and Many signs still remain of the the Village of Potsdarn. Sources property remained under com- Union. The names Union Road, disagree as to the amount paid for mon ownership, but the crops Union Falls and Unionville have this land, some saying $8,300 and were divided. No control was the Union as an origin. The others saying $8,656. These men exercised over political beliefs. Union schoolhouse is still being and their families began an ex- used. A short trek through grassy periment in communistic living. Bullard was known as "the fields will take you to the Union King of the Union." He was a graveyard. There you may find The members of this colony shoemaker by trade, and contin- the graves of John Burroughs, were: William Bullard, John ued this occupation part time af- Manesseh Smith, and Arnrni Cur- Burroughs, Manasseh Smith, ter he became the head of the rier. Among the mossy grave Nathan Howe, Arnrni Currier, Union. He lived in a log cabin stones you may find the final Thomas H. Currier, William Cur- which served as the palace, a homes of the Shaws, the Mor- rier, Isaac Ellis, Alba Durkee, shoeshop, and school which he gans, and the McGills who joined John MacAllaster and their fami- taught. in 1808, and the Washburns who lies. In April or May, 1807 "The were there all along, but never Union" was formally organized. In 18 10 the Union dissolved officiallyjoined the Union. by mutual agreement. Bullard Members at this time included granted individual titles to the The Union, no matter how the original ten families and some land. Most either remained on small and short lived it was, by the name of Smith who came the land or sold it and moved played a notable part in the his- fkom Tunbridge Vermont in the West. One story is that the more tory of the Potsdam area and pro- year 1806. They were relatives energetic women objected that vided one of the few examples of of Joseph Smith, founder of Mor- their indolent sisters were receiv- communal living that the New monism. John Smith left the ing the benefits of the common World had ever known. colony (The Union) in 1809 and ownership policy. later became the high priest of the Bibliography: My sources of Mormon settlement at Salt Lake Long after the Union was dis- information were: A History of the City, Utah Territory in 1853. By solved, the former members re- North Country (3 volumes) by Hany this time there was a Union store, mained a class by themselves. F. Landon, Historical Publishing Co., a Union schoolhouse, a Union The majority was inclined to- 1932; A History of St. Lawrence and blacksmith shop, and a Union wards Unitarianism, but there Franklin Counties, by Franklin B. Church. were differences of opinion that Hough, Little and Company, 1853; A led to many hot theological dis- Memorial Record of St. Lawrence The Union prospered fairly cussions. Some remnants of this County by Gates Curtis, 1894; A His- well. Bullard was appointed Unitarian feeling still remain in tory of St. Lawrence County by L.H. agent and manager and the Potsdam area. Everts, 1878; An address given by Dr. Burroughs became clerk. All H.C. Leete, June 1,1928. problems were settled by major- Union property eventually ity vote. Families lived separately, covered about five square miles,

St. Lmvrence County Historical Association Quarterly Vestiges of Camp Wheeler Still Remain By Rev. J. Karlton Dewey VoL 6, no. 2 (Apr. 1961)

Next time you drive the new tended a mass meeting and per- man, to go North and head up Ogdensburg arterial highway and haps signed up in the "St. the body. climb the over-pass which spans Lawrence Regiment" for a period the Rutland Railroad, take a quick of three months. Your enthusi- All fine so far; commissions, glance to the West. You will no- asm might have cooled slightly, orders signed and delivered, but tice, at no great distance, a however, when a few days later, still no army or a place to put one. weather-beaten, dilapidated Governor Morgan's order came Thus the dilapidated building I building of fair size. This land- through. He called for volunteers mentioned at the outset. mark takes us back to the Civil for a State Militia-with three- War; it is the only remaining ves- year enlistment. The Northern Railroad had tige of Camp Wheeler, 1861- reached Ogdensburg from 1864. At any rate, early in May you Rouses Point in 1850. About a would have been proud of our mile east of the village of Only 100 years ago, this area North Country, because we had Ogdensburg, the company had set now filled with brush was teem- recruited two honest-to-goodness up shops for the manufacture and ing with men-matching, drilling, companies in the Albany rendez- repair of their rolling stock. There and maneuvering. Within a half vous-40. A of the Sixteenth, was even a foundry, and I make mile of the new Ogdensburg- and Co. K of the Eighteenth. But a point of this because Donald Prescott bridge, three regiments as Mr. Ogdensburg of 186 1, you Nelson of Lisbon tells me that his trained, and fiom here about three would have had your Pearl Har- great-grandfather funzished char- thousand men marched off to bor day July 22. On that date the coal for it fiom his ash and wil- some of the bloodiest fighting of telegraph and the Republican's low standings. Some seven or the war: Gettysburg, Look-Out editor told you that we had just eight buildings in all were erected Mountain, and Cold Harbor. suffered a stunning defeat at Bull and one of this group was our old Run. You would have spent an weather-beaten fiiend. In addi- This very month the centen- anxious week until our good old tion, several houses were put up nial of the fall of Ft. Sumpter will solicitous Congressman Sherman towards Ford Street (now Proc- be noted. Since we like to start assured all the folks back home tor Avenue) as living quarters for our wars on Sunday, it happened that not one of our boys was hurt. the employees. This little hamlet Sunday April 14,1861. Had you General Curtis and his Sixteenth was named "New Boston," no lived in Ogdensburg at that time, had been on the sidelines and had doubt to suggest the other termi- the first news of the event would not directly participated in the en- nus of the line. not have reached you until nearly gagement. twenty-four hours after it hap- Like many railroads of the day, pened, but you would have lived Bull Run opened the eyes of the Northern soon found itself in through a most exciting Monday. all: from Lincoln down in Wash- financial difficulties. Between The telegraph (the only one in the ington all the way North to the 1854 and 1856, the line re-orga- North) brought the news early in man in Ogdensburg. This was a nized and for some reason the the day. As soon as you had heard real scrap; we needed soldiers and shops were abandoned-perhaps it, you probably would have more soldiers-Lincoln asking for more permanent buildings at rushed downtown to form part of New York State for 25,000 men, the foot of Patterson Street in the crowd which collected in fiont as a starter. Governor Morgan in Ogdensburg. of the St. Lawrence Republican. Albany ordered a regiment to be From time to time, the editor ap- formed at Ogdensburg and com- And what of this fairly good peared on the steps to read the missioned William B. Hayward, set of railroad shops? In 1861 latest dispatches. Wednesday a "retread," former army officer Congressman William A. Wheeler night you would have likely at- -but now a New York business- thought the government could use

St. Lawrence County Historical Association Quarterly triangular in shape; bounded by the railroad tracks, Proctor Av- enue, and the Lisbon town line. The new arterial highway would lie approximately along its eastern boundary. Since some one thousand men were involved, however, the training area must have spread out into the adjoining countryside. According to Mrs. Annie Daniels in her Remi- niscences of Ogdensburg, the buildings had ample room for a full regiment of one thousand ten men. The center building (this might well be the one mentioned earlier) contained the kitchen and dining rooms, the former with three cauldrons, a large stove, and a patent baker. A large force of cooks was required. The dining room, its tables set with tin cups and plates, could accommodate five hundred men at one sitting. RON. \V. A. WHEELER. The second floor contained another dining room (probably for From History of CUnton and Franklin Counties by Duane Hurd (1890) the officers), the space also being used as an officers' drillroom. them. Through the 50s he was a reached the State senate by 1857 Chaplain Richard Eddy used it for rising young banker of Malone, and the Congress as representa- services, but later moved to a shed and had been made trustee for tive only three years later, in 1860. behind the guardhouse, perhaps holders of Northern Railroad Subsequently, though this isn't hoping for some salutary influ- stock. He became president of part of our story, he made it with ence on its malcontents. the line shortly and as such pulled Rutherford B. Hayes in 1876 to a neat piece of magic by getting a the second spot on the totem pole Another building mentioned bridge built over Lake Champlain as Vice-President of the United by Reverend Eddy is the hospital so that his trains could roll unin- States. where he and the surgeon, Dr. terrupted all the way down to Chambers, shared quarters. Men Boston. This was no mean But back in 1861, when he in the ranks apparently didn't fare achievement, because the metro- was in Congress, the governmeht as well. Mrs. Daniels notes that politan interests were shouting needed a northern campsite "sleeping quarfers were mged very loudly, "What's going to quickly and Wheeler had one to in berths, four tiers high and fbr- happen to New York City?" just offer. The federal government nished with straw." I believe the as they did for fifty years before leased the buildings of the North- names given to the streets were the Seaway finally was achieved. ern Railroad and the new camp interesting enough to deserve Meanwhile, on the side, Mr. was named for the congressman. mention. There were "Curtis," Wheeler was trying his hand at With this personal interest in the honoring the General, "Hay-' politics, and doing not at all badly. &taMion, he subsequently made ward," in honor of the Sixtieth In fact, his rise to recognition, several visits, presented a regi- regiment, and 'Wamm," possibly even national notice, can be de- mental flag, and gave fiee trans- named after the street in New scribed only in the most glowing portation over his lines to Camp York where Hayward was em- superlatives. Starting humbly as Wheeler soldiers. ployed. town official and thence ever rising through local positions, he Camp Wheeler was roughly What was life like at camp? Chaplain Eddy says they were all As for the regiments trained at The Sixtieth was mustered out busy; reveille and roll call at sun- Camp Wheeler, the first was the of service after its three year hitch rise, breakfast at 7:00, squad drills Sixtieth, comprising men fiom just before Christmas in 1863, 8:00 to 10:00, non-coms' drill Ogdensburg, Lisbon, Canton, and arrived back home in 11:00 to 12:00, dinner at 1:00, Stockholm, Malone, Norfolk, Ogdensburg on January 6, hav- company drill at 2:00, dress pa- Massena, and other localities. ing had a train wreck near rade at 4:00, and supper at 6:00, Capt. Hugh Smith, later instru- Antwerp. Of the 980 men who final roll call and taps at 9:OO. mental in establishing the St. John left Ogdensburg three years be- Most of the day was spent in drill Baptist Church in Madrid, was fore, only about 300 marched up for officers as well as enlisted one of the first to arrive with a Ford Street that day. But all 300 men, for this was a true citizens' company. On the same day, Rob- took a fblough and re-enlisted as army. Officers were elected by ert Nelson of Lisbon arrived at the Sixtieth Veteran Vol- the men, and generally knew no camp to find things rather disor- unteers.This time they were with more about military tactics than ganized; for example, vises and Sherman on his march to Savan- the others. other equipment used by the rail- nah and they participated in the road were still in place. capture of Columbia, N.C. On the lighter side of life: there were fun and pageantry, dress pa- The first company of the Six- In 1862 President Lincoln rades, bands, presentations, and tieth arrived at camp on Septem- called for more volunteers- speeches. The Hon. William ber 9, and other companies ar- 300,000 strong, and in July the Wheeler and Judge John Fine rived daily through September appeal went out for another regi- presented flags and made long 24. Colonel Hayward came north ment to rendezvous at flowery speeches in some of the and took command on October Ogdensburg. This outfit was best oratory of the day. Then 29, but he was resented as an made up of men almost exclu- there were picnics-World War outsider until at length he was sively fiom Ogdensburg. The I1 soldiers never had it so good. forced to resign early in 1862. camp at this time, according to Friends would drive in from Can- With about five thousand well- Mrs. Daniels, was extensively ton or Russell with everything wishers on hand to see the boys improved. The regiment went to- necessary for an outing in their off, the Sixtieth left Camp gether rapidly, and its stay at carriages. Various ladies' groups Wheeler November 1, for Wash- Camp Wheeler was short. The overloaded the men with knitted ington via Rouses Point, Lake 106th left Ogdensburg on August socks and blankets. Champlain, and Whitehall, since 20. It was poorly equipped in at that time there were no direct terms of training, and it saw some Bob Newhart has a skit on rail connections south to New rough going, especially at Cold gripers in the Revolutionary War. York. Harbor, where it lost 126 men in Camp Wheeler had them too. this one engagement. The 106th Chaplain Eddy speaks about the They were assigned to guard also engaged Jubal Early at dissatisfaction among some of the duty on the Washington-Balti- Monocacy and helped turn back men over the food. They had more Railroad, and with no vic- his "Battle of the Bulge" thrust at their revenge; the chaplain reports tories to win, their enthusiasm the back door of Washington. that on the last night in camp, wore off. It was six months be- "they perpetrated foul outrages on fore the Sixtieth actually got into Regiments by now were form- the property of the contractors." battle-all their casualties result- ing at production line speed, the (These would be Schyler F. Judd ing fiom men not being nimble 106th was scarcely out of and J.B. Armstrong who supplied enough to leap out of the way of Ogdensburg when the 142nd was the table.) The matter of AWOLs locomotives. But before it was formed. This was county-wide must have added to the conver- all over, the Sixtieth had made up in representation. After only sation; the Sixtieth was at camp for its slow start by engaging in thirty-five days of training, the less than ten days when two stal- some bitter fighting at 142nd left camp on October 6, wart volunteers decided that since Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, and 1862. Its departure brought there were 24,999 others in this Lookout Mountain (where, ac- crowds of five to six thousand affair, they were not going to be cording to Robert Nelson, the people to Ogdensburg; some ar- needed after all. hillside was slippery with blood). rived at the village before day- break. Although first headed up

St. Lawrence Counry Historical Association Quarterly by Colonel Judd, the next year, vestige left, the old weathered our own General Curtis took building, a last tangible connec- command of the outfit. tion back through 100 years to the brave young men who left there The days spent at Camp to suffer and even to die with the Wheeler by the 106th seem to reckless heroism of youth thus have been its heyday. No more expressed: bodies of troops were formed at Ogdensburg. Perhaps the cream Stand with your glasses steady, had been skimmed oein thirteen Tis all we have to prize, months, three regiments-about A toast to the dead already, three thousand men-had been And hurrah for the last man who dies. taken from St. Lawrence and Franklin Counties. From the cen- Sources: sus figure of 1860, it would seem Mrs. Annie Daniels. Reminiscences of that about twenty-five percent of Ogdensburg, 1 749- 1907. all males between eighteen and Ogdensburg During the Civil War. forty-five had been taken into ser- Richard Eddy. History of the 60th vice. But men still volunteered Regiment - New York State Volunteers. in the county; recruiting contin- Dowdey, Clifford. The Land They ued throughout the entire war, al- Fought For. though the men rendezvoused Donald Nelson, Lisbon, NY. down state. Only additional mention of Camp Wheeler relates to the return of the Sixtieth Veteran Vol- unteers to service; they gathered at Camp Wheeler and marched from there to the railroad station in February 1864. One might have expected some Meruse of the facilities. In the fall of 1864, there were a series of border scares, and inva- sion from Canada seemed immi- nent. The people of Ogdensburg demanded protection. A company of regulars from Massachu- setts was sent hmMassachusetts to be quartered in the Parish Stone Store, now the U.S. Cus- toms building. Mrs. Daniels also mentions that two detachments of cavalry from Vermont and Mas- sachusetts were quartered in Ogdensburg, but there is no mention of Camp Wheeler being used. Camp Wheeler's day came and went, and now it is practically forgotten. There is only a

St. Lawrence County Historical Association Quarterly Chipman is an Idea By Margaret Thompson Madrid Historian Vol. 6, no. 3 (July 1961)

Chipman seems to be an idea trees in clearing the land. These ily often woke up on very cold rather than a place. It centers houses, styled like the Scottish mornings to find Indian squaws around four corners with a radius houses they had leR in the "old and their papooses lying, feet first, of maybe four miles on all sides. country", were well planned with beside their fireplace. It comprises people who have the arched doorways and deep same interests rather than the windowsills. They had big fire The name "Chipman", al- same location. These four cor- places which served for cooking though not applied till much later ners are located on the very south- as well as heat. when the post office was estab- ern edge of Waddington and ex- lished, came hmthe family of tend into both Waddington and One of the Rutherford houses Samuel Chipman who, very early Madrid territory. The two towns and four Fisher houses are still in in the century (1801), cleared were one until 1859. uss-two occupied by Fisher de- land and settled here. This farm scendants now. is now owned by Arthur Thomp- As a nucleus that explains son and son. Chipman, we could mention On the Murray Fisher fann these things: a group of Scotch there are still remnants of an In- For years, the names Fisher immigrants, a Scotch Presbyte- dian long house in their woods. and Rutherford predominated in rian Church, a one time post of- It is said that the first Fisher fam- the area. At present Rutherfords fice called Chipman, and a Cham- pion Creamery. Near the turn of the century in 1800, two Ogdens and a brother-in-law, Waddington got title from the Mohawks of this region and sold it out to settlers. The names Ogden and Waddington are still on many of our deeds. As early as 18 18, three young Scotchmen, John and Thomas Rutherford and Thomas Fife left Jeddborough, Scotland and came to clear land on what we now call t the Buck Road. Two years later m four Fisher brothers, John, Rob- ert, James, and George, came to 1 a place a little finther south and % settled on the present Madrid $ road. These seven were close neighbors. At first their houses were log cabins, but soon they built stone houses-stone, al- One of the original stone houres. though they were burning tons of

St. Lawrence Connly Historical Association @~l@ Harland, there being only four pastors in 130 years. Two short- time ministers came next, then Rev. Garrett Guertsen the present pastor. We note the sternness and rev- erence which these pioneers exercised over Sabbath observance. No work was done, no meals cooked, no milk delivered. All this was done the day before. No boy could whistle. All newspa- pers were put away, the Sunday reading being the Bible and The Sabbath Reading. Seeing the need of an outlet Scotch Presbyte~rian Church in 1993 for milk, in 1882 Thomas F. Ru- therford built what was known as have lost out, but many Fisher organized the church and became Champion Creamery at the cor- families still operate farms. its first pastor, serving eighteen ner. This he kept up very care- Y-. filly and scientifically and the These Scotch families were whole region delivered milk there very thrifty. At the start, they had Soon a fiame church was built daily. In his weigh-room he had practically no money, operating as on this site, the membership pigeon holes that held mail fiom best they could fiom their own growing to 370. Then in 1847, the Madrid post office. land. Sometimes a letter fiom because of crowded conditions, home (Scotland) might lie in the a new church was built up near This handling of mail brought post office for weeks before the Chipman corners at the present up the idea of a Chipman post unpaid postage could be spared site. Rev. Morrison, the next pas- office. So in 1897, Mrs. George fiom the family funds to claim it. tor, preached alternate Sundays F. Rutherford built a home at the in the two buildings. Members comers and was appointed post- Almost fiom the first, the set- came hmLouisville (then called mistress. A stage route fiom tlers began to keep cows and Millenrille), Daily Ridge, Sucker Madrid to Waddington brought make butter. The milk was placed Brook, and Waddington, men, the mail daily to Chipman. Mrs. in big pans on the cellar floor. women, and children often walk- Rutherford also ran a store there. When the cream rose, the pans ing with their shoes in their hands were slcimmed and the cream was till they neared the church. They When rural hedelivery came put into a churn. Butter was had two sermons with time be- in 1903, her post office went out traded in at local stores for gro- tween for a cold lunch. but the store remained. Then ceries, the rest sold for as little as came the telephone line in 1903 eight cents a pound. Some As chmhes were built in these and the store housed the local money was raised fiom charcoal other towns, membership split central run by Mrs. Ruthedord. pits and lime kilns. off. A brick church replaced the We remember George F. Ruther- fiame church up at the four cor- ford, sturdy white-haired states- Very early these Scotsmanor- ners. However, a cyclone carried man, sitting in his captain's chair ganized a church. The first ser- off the roof in 1888, and the on the veranda in the sun singing vice was held in the Richard Ru- present Scotch Presbyterian old Scotch songs or reciting fiom therford barn at the corner where Church of Madrid was built in Robert Burns. the Buck road meets the Ridge 1890. Mr. Morrison remained as road, Sept. 17,1819. There were pastor for forty-kee years. He All these named improve- thirty-six charter members. Rev. was followed by Rev. James ments came to us through the in- William Taylor, a missionary, Robertson, then by Rev. George fluence of Thomas F. Rutherford.

St. Lmvrencc Counv HIrtorical Association @arteriy Champion Creamery with members of Rutherjord Family. Thomas F. Rutherjord is 3rdfiom left. George F. Rutherjord is on chair on veranda.

The next was the electric power In drurying there has always on the farm of William Walker, line to the factory and hmit lines been quite a proportion of Jersey another farm of four generations extending along the seven roads herds. In 1882 two Rutherfords in one family. The skeleton was to private homes. A little later imported Jersey cows fiom Jer- sent to Albany and it was pro- tragedy struck. Mr. Rutherford's sey Island. From these cows thor- nounced a young Indian male. son, Lloyd, was killed by a high- oughbred Jersey cows spread tension wire above the plant. through the community. We have The 4-H Club established in Champion Creamery closed in a St. Lawrence County Jersey 1924 has done much for the 1926, squeezed out by competi- Cattle Club and many, families young people. James Fisher has tion fiom big milk companies. belong to the State Jersey Club. been its untiring leader. The boys and girls have been encouraged The home of Mr. and Mrs. In the Fife family-four gen- to raise and show blooded cattle. George F. Rutherford was later erations down fiom the original The girls are early taught to take bought by a young Englishman, Thomas Fif-James and Winnie pride in cooking and sewing. The Robert Grayson, who was highly Fife have a thriving Jersey herd. members exhibit each year at the trained in mechanics in England. James won a 140 year Century County Fair, many go on to State He built, beside the house, a ga- Farm award fiom the New York Fair, and a few to the National rage which has been a boon to State Agricultural Society. Cattle Show. Chipman farmers servicing their cars and farm machinery. In 1952 a skeleton was dug up The social life in early years

St. Lmwence ComfyHistorical Association Quart@ mtated around the church and the four country school houses. One of these school houses still stands across fiom the church. Socials, Christmas entertainments, conventions and similar affairs shaped up social groups. A unique way ofkeeping roads passable was this: each spring the property owners were taxed so many days to work on the roads. After the winter damage, roads were scraped and dirt drawn in for repair. A man with a big property worked with a team so many more days than a small property owner. In this community much effort has been put forth to educate the youth. A goodly proportion of the residents have had higher education and all walks of life have taken many to other fields, among them ministers and teachers. Old memories like these, I sup- pose, are the reason why cornrnu- nities think of themselves as a unit. Just so, after 140 years, this community thinks of the area as Chipman.

St. Lmvrence County Historical Association Quarterly Gouverneur's Village Park By Julius Bartlett Vol. 7, no. 1 (Jan. 1962)

When the Gouverneur Garden ing south into the town ofFowler, began high school operations. In Club last October planted four was the Fowler Road. It seems 1837 the Methodist Church took Norway Maple trees in the Main likely that horse and buggy driv- charge, naming it the Wesleyan Street village green here, known ers did not want to come all the Seminary:This building burned simply as "the park", a movement way down to the DeKalb Road on Jan. 1,1839. The idea of de- was initiated to restore the park to go west, but made a shortcut veloping a public park seems to as much as possible fiom the in- where now exists Church Street. have come up at this time. roads made upon it by necessary No bridge existed in Williams highway widening and ravages of Street at first. The villagers supported their blight on its elm trees. trustees and with a little state aid, James Averell of Ogdensburg erected a new building across the The Gouverneur village park bought this entire park area as Fowler Road--the present Grove 450feet long-was originally well as other acreage in Street. Meanwhile, the Method- about 100 feet wide at its upper Gouverneur with the intention to ist Church continued its support end and tapered down to a lesser erect business places in the for the Wesleyan Seminary, in width at the west end. It came present park area. In 1830, Mr. terms of patronage and control about, it seems sure, through a Averell sold off a section at the only, since ownership was not natural flow of travel. East Main east end of the plot, extending involved. The Methodists ended Street was the DeKalb Road, and about 125 feet westward where their control in 1869. branching fiom it where Grove the trustees of the high school Street is now situated, and lead- erected a two story building, and Peter Van Buren, one of the

St. Lmvrenee Gnmty Historical AssocfoHon Quarter& best hwninnkw of the pio- park, suggested that they would tablished the village, as well as neer days, built a large hotel in deed their lot over to the village "Our Nation's Defenders", the 1849 at what is now 49-53 E. for exclusive use for park pur- Archtodaycarliesbro~lzeplaques Main Street, the present poses, if William J. and James G. in memory of the war dead of Watertown Mattress Company Averell, sons of James Averell, World Wars I and 11. During the store site. In the Civil War pe- decead,woulddothesamewith sesquicentennial ceremonies in riod and for some time thd- their part of the park. The two 1955, the committee in charge ter, he planted trees in the park men agreed, and it may now be installed a similar plaque in honor opposite the hotel, drawing wa- noted that in case any litigation of the centennial committee of ter in barrels from the over title to the park should arise, 1905. Oswegatchie River by mudboat former Governor Averell and oxteam, to water the saplings Haniman, would be an heir, as In 1955, the sesquicentennial in what was then a windblown William J. Averell was his grand- committee erected and dedicated sand area. These were mostly Mer. the Memorial Clock which stands elms, but the park also included at the western end of the park, maples and basswood. But few Gouverneur's fhihrMemo- using funds remaining from the of the more than fory trees still rial Arch, which stands at the cen- 1955 celebration. remain. ter of the park, was dedicated in 1905, during the village's centen- The park was hard hit by cir- In 1873, the Gouverneur nial and homecoming ceremo- cumstances as motor traffic in Wesleyan Seminar trustees, who nies. Originally erected to com- 1929 forced the stripping off of still owned the east end of the memorate the pioneers who es- nine feet on both the East Main Street side next to the stores and the Church Street side as well. In 1955-1956 the building of the West Main street bridge necessi- tated the removal of about six feet more on the East Main Street side. The overall length remains the same. It has been suggested that the park should be turned into a parking lot, but the community would be unlikely to permit further changes in the park -especially since other parking facilities are available. Christmas lights in strings are festooned around the ornamen- tal lights from pole to pole in the Yule season and large illuminated evergreen trees fkom the woods are placed in the park each year.

Memorial Arch Cigar Making in Ogdensburg By Lawrence G. Bovard VoL 7, no. 2 (Apr. 1962)

In 1835, a nineteen year old next to the American Express of- in the Dennis Lynch building, boy named Chauncey P. Clark fice. Mr. Hannan's two broth- now Bruyere's furniture store. came to Ogdensburg fiom Con- ers, Patrick and Richard, also be- necticut to work as a carpenter on came cigar makers and together Stanley Clark continued his the fdur mills then under con- the trio established Hannan Bros. father's business, producing struction on the west bank of the Shop in 1863 manufacturing fine "Clark's Pet", and later sold out Oswegatchie River. But cigars "LaRosa", "LaBurgo", to the Ward Brothers, father and Chauncey was more than just a "Yara" (named after the district five cigar making sons, who were carpenter. of Cuba Mr. Hannan visited per- financed by Attorneys Wells and sonally to select choice tobacco Donavin. When the operation Combining his skills in carpen- leaves), "Amos Judd", "Double closed, the stock of cigars on hand try with his knowledge of tobacco Standard", "Our Favorite", - several thousand-were sold he had gained as a youth on to- "H.B.", and "Lone Jack" cigars. to Allen Welt. bacco farms in Connecticut, he They used Havana broadleaf for made some wooden moulds and the more expensive cigars and John H. McColl made the began the manufacture of cigars. Connecticut wrappers and Penn- "Little Tycoon" at 90 Ford Street, This was about eight years after sylvania fillers for the other while Lawrence A. Powers, at he had first come to Ogdensburg, grades. 139 Caroline Street, made a and his store and factory was lo- black, strong thick cigar nick- cated at 22 Ford Street. John Landry opened another named "Pig Tail Cheroot" which Chauncey's son Stanley followed factory at 29 Ford Street making was a favorite of many. him in the business of manufac- "Little Fidelity", which sold for turing and wholesaling tobacco. five centers; "High Grade" and The Ogdensburg Directory of "Monterey" for ten cents. He 1905 lists the following cigar Interestingly enough, it was later produced the "Knob" which makers: from this first attempt at North became one of the most popular Eugene Bordine, 107 N.Y. Avenue Country cigar making that a flour- local cigars. In fact, the "Knob" Charles E. Bradish, 5 % Hasbrouck ishing local industry got its start. is still manufactured in st. Many successful cigar makers Ogdensburg by Charles John Bradish, 5 % Hasbrouck St. learned the trade in the Clark shop Mulcahey and has a wide accep- Stanley P. Clark, Manufacturer, 22 and later opened their own shops tance among those who like a ro- Ford Street in various locations throughout bust broad-leaf cigar. Duff Corrice, 8 Caroline Street the city. Eugene Cummisky, 123 Franklin St John Glennan, John Bradish, William Dineen, Comm. Travlr. 32 For instance, there was John and John L. O'Connor had a ci- Know St Hannan. Born in Ireland June 24, gar factory at the comer of Ford Thos. J. Doyle, 7 Hamilton Street. 1844, he came to this country and Patterson Streets, making a Eugene Dubrule, Mf€.Winter,226 with his parents in the Fall of cigar called "Three Jacks". Mr. Washington St. 1849. At a very young age, he O'Connor traveled through Edward L. Emmert, 12 1 Morris started as a "stripper" (removing Northern New York selling their Street the backbone or spine from broad product. Later the Glennan, John Glennan, Windsor Hotel tobacco leaves), and later became Bradish, O'Connor partnership John Hannan, Manufkhmr, 92 a journeyman cigar roller. After dissolved and Mr. O'Connor Washington St. a few years he established his own hired the most efficient makers Wm. Kernan, 146 S. Water St. factory on State Street near Ford, and established a business upstairs Prosper Lago, 11 Pero Lane

St. Lawrence County Historical Association Quarterly Arthur C. Landry, 237 State Street Patrick Kennedy was another the cigar and about eighteen John C. Landry, Manufacturer, 29 cigar maker, his cigar the "P.K." inches long. They came in pairs; Ford Street This name annoyed the Picquet each section completed the other. Peter Landry, 237 State Street Cigar Company located at the The bottom section had twelve Joseph LaPointe, 23 Patterson St. corner of Ford and Isabella pockets of the size and elongated Michael Lundy, 123 N.Y. Avenue Streets, but the matter was ami- cylinder shape of the cigar and Eugene Lupine, 45 Pickering St. cably adjusted. Abe Kopita, fa- half as deep as the thickness of John H. McColl, Manufacturer, 90 ther of the late Frank Kopita, the cigar. The top section had Ford Street came to Ogdensburg fiom New corresponding pockets similarly George McGlynn, 24 1 State Skeet York and worked as a journey- spaced, so that when the top sec- Edward Momette, 7 Mechanic St. man cigar maker in Hannan's. tion was placed on the bottom Edward O'Comor, Comm Travlr, William Singleton of Water- section, the moist tobacco leaves 38 Patterson St. town-who played the French assumed the shape of the fished John L. O'Connor, Comm. Travlr, horn in the Ogdensburg band- product. These moulds were 6 Congress St. was another popular local cigar filled and stacked and allowed to Fred Parker, Confectioner, 254 Ford maker. The Ward Brothers firm dry awaiting f3rther action. Street consisted of John Ward, father, Wm. B. Payne, 21 8 Ford Street and sons "Bill", "By", 'Freddie", In oldtime or modem cigar John W. Quille, Comrn Travlr., 38 "Eph" and "Ned". manufacture, the next step-the Albany Ave. application of the wrapper-is W. Ritchie, 2 1 Grove St. Early cigar making required most important and requires con- Charles Ross, Confectionery, Ford rather careful, complicated pro- siderable skill, for the wrapper &State St. cessing. The tobacco leaves ar- must cover all the air spaces on rived at the factory in boxes con- the outside of the moulded ten- taining several '%anhands"of tobacco ter filler, to present an attractive, Cigar dealers, wholesale an ~d -a hand consisting of a three or smooth, neat appearance. To ac- retail, 1905 Directory: four inch stack of selected leaves complish this, the cigar roller Algie, R.B., Dealer, 76 Ford St. of same grade fastened together, takes a suitable leaf, fiee fiom Briggs Bros., 89 Main Street. sun cured and ready for process- holes, veins, and imperfections Bisons, George, 57 State Street ing. After being gently moistened and lays it out on his table. With Clark, Stanley P., Manufacturer, 22 under damp cloths, the hands a deft cut of his knife, he shapes Ford St. were separated into individual a tissue of tobacco leaf just the Clutterbuck, W.H., Seymour House leaves. The "stripper" carefully proper size to completely wrap Hanna Brothers, Mfg. & Dealer 65 removed the main vein stem so the filler without wrinkles or State Street as not to tear or otherwise dam- breaks. The ability to get one or John P. Landry, Mfg & Dealer, 29 age the leaf. T&n leaves were more binders fiom a leaf without Ford Street "bunched"--enough was gath- waste is the pride of good cigar Lang, Patrick, Dealer, 87 State Street ered to form the inside of the ci- makers, for the final leaf is the Markham, F. How., Dealer, 56 Ford gar, using long or short pieces de- most expensive. To insure that Street pending on the quality of the ci- the wrapper retains its shape, the McColl, John H., Manufactr, 90 gar. A handful of tobacco was maker applies a small wipe of Ford Street approximately the required gum tragacanth (gum is fiom a Mitchell, Thomas, Dealer, 85 State amount, and the skill of the shrub grown in Western Asia, Street buncher det&ed the quality of odorless and tasteless). This ad- Parker, Fred, Dealer, 254 Ford Street the burning-too much tobacco, ditive insures that the cigar will Powers, Law. A., Manufactr, 139 while being more costly, is not not unwind. Caroline St. better than too little, which makes Reuter, J.E., Dealer, 7 No. Water a quick-burning cigar. The tobacco leaves have to be Street moistened to be shaped, moul- Rose, W.H., Dealer, 28 Ford Street The cigar having been shaped ded, and finally wrapped and Ross, Charles, Dealer, Ford & State to approximate size, it was placed boxed. An interval of four years Sts. in a mould to dry. Moulds were often passes between the cutting Story, Bernard, Dealer, 8 Ford ofwood, about two inches thick, of the tobacco plant and the deal- Street. a little longer than the length of ers' showcase.

St. Lwrence Counry Historical Association Quarterly John Hannan made his own to the average buyers as an ex- cigar boxes of cedar in the Tower pertly rolled, handmade one. Building on Riverside Avenue, Cigarettes increased in popular- , ., now used by George Hall Cor- ity and eventually local cigar fac- poration as accounting offices. tories disappeared one by one. He also spent considerable time Hannan Bros., with its sixteen and money trying to grow suit- high grade cigar rollers was even- able cigar tobacco locally. On his tually taken over by Frank farm on the Heuvelton road, now McLean who learned his trade occupied by B.J. Leamy, he ex- there. McLean made "LaRosa" perimented with various seeds and his own special "Black Dia- from Cuba. He was the htin mond" cigar for years until his this area to install drainage tile. death a few years ago. He found that seeds that pro-

duced plants bearing ten to twelve , The wooden figure of inch tender leaves in the semi- "Punch" which once stood in tropical air of Cuba produced tall, fiont of Hwan's store was re- long, wide, bitter-tasting leaves in cently discovered by Arthur St. Lawrence County. As a result O'Neil, who had it repaired and he made annual trips to Havana repainted at considerably greater to personally select the tobaccos cost than the customary $4 Ed- that went into his "LaRosa" ci- ward Ruoff, a sign painter located gars. It has been said that his pet at 17 '/z South Water Street, used "LaRosa" cigar cost Hannan to get until Mr. Hannan had ap- more to manufacture than he got prentice Joe Mastine paint it. Joe for it in price. was so proud of his work that he added a gold tooth, making it the About the time of World War only Cigar Store Indian with a I, machine-made cigars began to gold tooth. come onto the market-ecially in the cheaper grades. Bunching When the Landry cigar busi- machines were purchased fiom ness dwindled, an employee, the Colwell Cigar Machine Cor- Charles Mulcahy, bought the poration of Providence, Rhode moulds, buncher, and stock of Island. Robert Landry and Mr. tobacco and still continues to Mullin went to Providence and manufacture the "Knob" cigar to purchased one each. Mr. Colwell the delight of the many smokers came to Ogdensburg and trained who prefer this to any other cigar operators, staying here a week. on the market. His shop is lo- Machines could bunch 3,000 ci- cated on Water Street across fiom gars a day, using twenty bunches Hackett's hardware. to a mould. They could be and were operated by girls with little Times change for better or or no training. At one time, Mr. worse. Wonder what ever be- Hannan had twenty-two girls came of the sage who said: "A making cigars. They didn't know woman's a woman, but a good whether to wind the wrapper right cigar is an excellent smoke". or left hand, and in many cases didn't care. Young men were reluctant to spend long years learning the tobacco business when machine- made cigars were as acceptable

St. Lmvrence ~ounkHistorical Association Quarter& Edwards Pioneers By Leah Noble Edwards Town Historian VoL 7, no. 2 (Apr. 1962)

Shortly after the Revolution more easily forded and less haz- no doubt, experienced many there were rumors abroad in the ardous in the winter and often the lonely and homesick hours that Colonies, particularly in New straw-filled and buffalo-robe- year. In the fall, little John's ar- York, that England was going to covered sled was the bed for the rival brought great joy and com- compel the colonists to become night, if that was the mode of fort to the proud parents. English subjects. travel. Hemlock and pine groves gave shelter to the sled and occu- Meanwhile unrest in Europe Because English troops had in- pants. spurred and urged people to vaded northern New York previ- leave England, Scotland, Wales ously by way of the St. Lawrence On and on, trudged Asa and and Ireland. America offered River, efforts were made to his wife--crossing the Oswe- them fieedom and better living. strengthen this section. One way gatchie twice-through what is was to encourage colonists to now called the village of Edwards, For several years two Indian settle here and keep a watchful past very desirable waterfalls and families-Pete Philips and Fred eye for uninvited strangers. Un- farm land and about four miles Tarbell, lived here. Besides rest in the New England colonies westward to a smaller body of helping on the Jim Bullock farm, following the Revolution caused water-now called Pork Creek, they made and sold baskets, and a westward trek, and among the where he stopped. On the south- it was a very common sight to pioneers were veterans corning west bank he carved out his des- see a milk wagon load of bas- into northern New York to claim tiny by clearing the land to erect kets being sold to the house- land as payment for military ser- a one room log cabin, and a leanto wives around here. vices. The waterways in eastern for the livestock. This is the farm New York afforded an easier now owned and operated by War- In the fall of 1812, young method of travel to Lake Ontario ren McGill. Eventually Asa John Brayton was added to the and western New York. added a sawmill, housing a verti- Brayton family. Later that year, cal saw. Joseph Bonner, Samuel Jones, Roads were very poor, or only Elijah, Guy Earl, and John trails through the woods, so a This was to be his wilderness Briton came to Edwards with road was built, to expedite army home for many years to come, their families and built a little materials from northern New and it is unfortunate that much hamlet of log cabins around the York to the Lakes and Mohawk of the douty Vermonter's early river, the nucleus of the fbture valley. This was the Russell Tum- life in the Edwards community village of Edwards. pike, a military road of logs and lies in forgotten mystery except stones to connect Ogdensburg, for active participation in local In 1813, Job Winslow mi- Lake Champlain, Lake Ontario, affairs five or six years later. grated fiom the Mohawk Valley and central New York. and built a log cabin. He re- Mrs. Brayton, it is said, often tumed to his former home to get It was over this road, that Asa brought homemade bread to the his family and bring them to the Brayton, the first settler in soldiers who were passing new home, called Shawville, or, Edwards, came with his wife, through or were encamped in a later South Edwards. The next Eunice, here in January 18 12. It nearby grove of beautifhl pine year, in 1814, Orea Shead aris thought he was not only seek- trees. To meet and greet fellow rived, attracted by the potential ing a new home but was sight- Americans must have cheered, power of the two falls located seeing, too. Frozen streams were immeasurably, the couple, who, on our island. This enterprising

St. Lawrence County Historical Association Quarterly individual built a saw mill, pre- drew ready and willing to attach come known as Freemansburgh paring the way for other busi- any job of clearing the land or after the Freeman family. In . nesses which operated for nearly buildmg homes, or to hunt. Some 1825, Elijah and Noah Shaw one hundred years. Later, Shead ofthe farms OrighaNy estdhhed took up Ianb near the W~~OW became the first postmaster in by these pioneers of 1819 are homestead and became such suc- Sheads Corners or Edward* stilled owned and operated by cessfid fanners and businessmen about this time a few settlers made their descendants. that the community was named their homes a little farther south "Shawville" but after many years at Pond Settlement. These industrious early settlers the name became South worked out a substantial living off Edwards. Other settlers made a By this time, the enormous the fertile land, fiom the nearby small settlement a few miles south Macomb Purchase had been streams, and surrounding forests. and called it Pond Settlement. carved into the 10 Townships and Each family was an independent Constant Wells was one of the the wilderness south of them was unit being clothed, fed,and cared first to build there. patented to various land agents. for by the members of the group, The sale of hundreds of acres of mainly by the women folk. Heaps By this time it was thought ad- this land was entrusted to Daniel of ashes, accumulated hmthe visable to form a township- McCormick, who is responsible burning of the excess trees, Town of Edwards-incorporat- for the naming of the community greatly added to the store of "real ing these four villages. So on "Edwards" after his brother, Ed- money" through the sale of black April 27,1827, a group of men ward. Later Pitcairn became the salts, pearl ash, or potashes to met in William Martine's hotel land agent, succeeded by George nearby Canada but this sale was and organized the first Town Allan. In 1819, Allan decided to abandoned when a high tariff was 'Board with these officers: Super- make this place his home, so a levied on it. Saddles of deer meat Visor-Ora Shead; Town Clerk- beautifid three story brick man- were hauled long distances to John Hale; Assesoxs-J.C. Hale, sion was built overlooking the vig- trade for other needed things. Asa Brayton, Wm Td,Highway orous and thriving village called Comm.-Roswell Lillie, Arba Sheads Mills. The residence is Other settlers arrived hmthe Collister, Peleg Haile; School now occupied by Floyd Brayton. Mohawk Valley way and made Comm.-J.C. Haile, Asa Phelps, For several years, the island was their homes about two miles west Wilkes Richardson; Overseers of the heart of the village, consist- of Edwards, the hamlet to be- Poor-Guy Earl, Warren ing of a half dozen homes, a hotel, store and post o.ffice, blacksmith shop, sawmill, and tiny log school house. Meanwhile in 1819, a large group of Scotch and Irish settlers, . who had recently come from Scotland (crossing in the "Re- nown"-on the ocean 13weeks), cleared the land in the northern part of the town, along the turn- if pike. Even today that section is 1 known as "Scotland". Those settlers were John Whitehead, James ! Green, Robert Watson, Alexander 4 Noble, James Grieve, Robert k Brown, Alexander Kerr, John Laidlaw and fafnilies.

Along with these settlers came George Allan Residence single men-Thomas Cleland, James Wilson, and Williams An-

St. Lmvrence Cowry Historical Association Quarter& Streeter, School hpecto~~-J.C. the creek on the Hale farm, added trade even though the passenger Haile, George Allan, Wm. Teall. a bit of variety to the menu. In service was discontinued. the spring nearly every farmer The vast amount of virgintim- made his year's supply of maple The first station agent was S.E. ber was a challenge to those in- sugar, soft sugar, and syrup-all Bowler, who was succeeded by terested in the cutting and dispo- of which were sometimes traded Mott Meldrim, station agent for sition of the lumber. The Wood- for the more coveted white sugar. sixty-four years, until his retire- cock brothers employed large ment some years ago. But the crews of lumberjacks on logging Greater city demands for milk, railroad did more by providing an jobs around here and at Skate better prices and more convenient avenue of closer contacts with Creek Besides this they operated disposal of fluid milk marked the other places as well as being much a sawmill-now the Lumley passing of the cheese factories. quicker than Old Dobbin. For mill-for many years. The de- The Grant cheese factory even- forty years this fine public servant mand for wooden wagons, yokes, tually was converted into the came to the village three times a sleds, and other farm implements, Town Barn for road machinery. day, carrying passengers, fight as well as household Mturewas Most of the fluid milk is handled and mail to and hmGouverneur. efficiently met by skilled crafts- by the Queensboro Company, of The railroad greatly helped the men-Henry Rushton, William New York City, which uses tank hotel business-Henry Rushton Grant, and Sam Padgett. The trucks instead now of the milk House particularly--by bringing Rushton grist mill ground a fine train of the past. A considerable "drummers" who came to sell flour called "The Oswegatchie amount ofpaskukdmillcis sold their wares at the village store or Queen". The other mills were locally by the Sunnyside Dairy rented horses from the liveries to situated on the east bank of the owned by the Randall Company. make trips to neighboring places. river. Business boomed; mail came A devastating fire laid in ruins twice a day instead of once fiom From 1864 to 1872, a tannery almost the entire business section Gouverneur by stage. operated by Gilbert and Carr con- and left twenty-two families verted the raw hides into leather, homeless on July 4, 1894, in At the tum of the century a which in turn were made into har- Edwards. Likewise in South new industry sprang up to pro- nesses and shoes by the Cook Edwards and Talcville, fire de- vide employment for many4c men. Only a few stones mark the stroyed places of business and mining, in Freemansburgh, or place where the tannery once without the aid of insurance they Talcville and zinc mining in stood. never were rebuilt and workers Edwards and Balmat. Both min- were attracted to other sections. ing projects provide jobs for a For about five years starch, de- Almost before the ashes were number of Edwards residents. In rived from potatoes, was manu- cold, the Edwards villagers began 1924, a very serious cave-in oc- factured at South Edwards, until rebuilding. The G. and 0. branch curred at the Edwards mines, factories nearer the markets, in of the New York Central railroad making it necessary to re-route Central New York were estab- fiom Gouverneur helped in the the Trout Lake road. lished. recovery by bringing in workers and supplies. Little by little, we Just about tbirty-five years be- As dairy herds improved, sur- have had better fire protection fore the arrival of the ''iron horse" plus milk was greater than could and about five years ago an effi- prospecting had begun to take be consumed at home in milk, cient fire company was orgawd, place. On the Freeman farm in cheese, or butter, so cheese fac- a new fire house built, and up- Talcville were found rich depos- tories were run for many years in to-date fire apparatus purchased. its oftalc. With the help of skilled South Edwards, Hungry Hollow, Now we are part of the Mutual miners hmRossi and other min- and in Edwards. Pigs flourished Aid Plan. ing areas, MedFreeman sank on the whey. For years farmers shafts, hauled out the ore--by tooktumsinhaulingtheseasoned With the advent of the New man and donkey power-and ran cheeses to DeKalb or Ogdens- York Central railroad in 1893, a furnace until a fire curtailed all burg, from where they were new life was brought to this busy of his operations. The ktload shipped to England. A small community and up to the present of talc left Talcville June 8,1893. limburger factory, on the bank of this has been a popular avenue of Companies were formed and little powerhouse on the west side of the old grist mill on the island. The fht indoor lights amazed the public when they illuminated the Cy Watson store, where the United Bank now stands. It wasn't long until the smelly kero- sene lamps backed out for electricity. The Niagara-Mohawk Power corporation purchased the Webb franchise in 1952. Way back in 1885, the news of Cleveland's election was sent fiom Gouverneur via telegraph. Twenty-five years later a telephone line was established, switch Ore being drawn fiom mill to railroad board installed and nm by Charles Brown in his apartment over the work was resumed, with more onto specially built railroad cars present Pearl's Store. Later Ed. modern methods. The railroad to be shipped away and converted Shefier went into partnership carried the ore to Hailesboro, into metal, for galvanizing, bat- with Mr. Brown and other lines where, today, it is crushed into teries, brass, etc. With the appear- were laid out. When Don Todd powder fom and shipped away ance of the topless, windshieldless purchased the Telephone Com- to be used in the making of paint, auto in 1900, a whole new pat- pany, in 1922, many more lines ceramics, papers, and many other tern of travel was made and the were hung, and out-of-town products. passenger service on the railroad hookups were installed. The was destined to be concluded- switchboard was moved into a Further mining operations in 1930. It is said Urb Webb had house where the dial office is were begun outside the village of the first auto in the village, presently located. When the dial Edwards by the Northern Ore 19- one cylinder Cadillac. system was installed, the offices company, about 1900, for the The high-wheeled bicycle as well were removed to the Campbell mining and milling of zinc ore. as the horse and buggy were dis- building. DL Campbell practiced Many laborers were imported to carded for the speedier vehicle. dentistry in Edwards for over work in the mines and the North- The doctors-Taylor, Murray; fifty-five years. A few years Dr. ern Inn was built nearby to house Goodnough, and Drury were es- Merkeley also served as dentist in some of these men. The com- pecially assistedin attedhgtheir Edwards, about 1906. From pany suffered losses through fire patients, scattered over a large 1907to 1952, Dr. Charles Adams and poor markets, and eventually area. Muddy and stony roads practiced medicine, first in the the St. Joseph Lead Company made way for the modern cement Robert Clark home, then later in became the owner. Machines and macadam roads of 1924. the Rushton home, now occupied replaced manpower, and conse- The Eascinating blacksmith shops by Dr. Dodds, who became Dr. quently the foreign laborer had to were replaced by the filling sta- Adams' successor. look elsewhere for jobs and the tions and garages. For quite hotel was razed. Other deposits awhile gasoline was shipped in At first religious services were of zinc were discovered at Balmat five gallon, then 500 gallon bar- held in homes or school houses, ten miles away and today, most rels, for the few consumers. The but today we have the Methodist of the mining is done there. widened roads in the village church (1 880), Catholic (1920), pushed back the wooden side- and Assembly of God (1955). A For many years, the zinc con- walks for the present cement Union church was established in centrates were carted to the rail- ones. By this time the streets were 1850, used by the Univexsalists, road by teams, but now it comes well lighted for in 1910, Urban but the pulpit has been unoccu- across the river in an overhead car Webb and sons, Harry and Grant, pied for several years. to the filter plant where it is loaded were generating electricity in the

St. Lawreme Historical Assodation Ouorraly The one-room, log school acrossfbmDr.AlexanderDodds was replaced by the two-room, now six-room, meschool on the Assembly of God property. The Centrakedschool came into existence in 1948, including the elementary, high school, cafeteria, guidance, art, shop, music mom, clinic and gymnasium, with twenty-eight teachers. In 1919, the A. Barton Hepburn library was presented to the village of Edwards. Almost fiom the very beginning, the Edwards people were concerned about the education of L -- In their youth. Legend tells us that 'I in 1814OrraSheadtaught inthe Edwardr Town Hall one-room log school on or near the island. A larger stone school was built wheretheVP.W. build- Gretchen Todd, with Guy Hall as terest inmusicwas shownandthe ing stands, 1840. To meet the the professor. Edwards Citizen's Band was needs of the growing pupil popu- formed. A bandstand was built lation, twelve schools were con- To meet the demands for an in the heart of the village, where stmcted in the town fiom 1840 extra-cunicular and emiched pro- public concerts were held. When to 1880. gram a 12-room brick school was the Town Hall was built in 1895, erected on the Noble property in many out-of-town shows as well A fine meschool was built 1936. In 1948, the schools be- as home talent were given. on the Royce Bullock property came centdized and most of the Graduation exercises were also and in 1887 an addition was "country" schools were closed held in the Town Hall. made, to make it a two-room andeveaso1ATaldealoneIe- school. A similar building was maining open. Once again, 1952, With the arrival of the very erected at South Edwards and more room was needed and anew &st settlers came religious fervor. Talcville and in 1897, the latter wing was added to take care of In 1819 there was no established school was partitioned for two theelementary groups. The staff church, so a circuit rider, Rev. rooms. now consists of tbhtv-threeteach- Elijah Moran, made his rounds ers, five cafeteria 6eip-, three hmRussell, holding meetings in Very soon the Edwards school bus drivers, and two custodians. homes, barns, and schooIhouses. was not adequate, and a three On Jan. 16,1962, the American The first class meetings were or- roombuildingwas constructedon Field Service Chapter-+ foreign ganized in the Creek (Bdord) what is now the Assembly of God exchange student plan-was or- School, with five members under pmperty-costing $2,429. Clyde ganized. A. Barton Hepburn, a Rev. EmHealey. Other active Nesbeth was the first principal. one time district school superin- class meetings were held in tendent, gave the fine library to Belleville and Trout Lake schools. The Union Free School Dis- the Town in 1919, which is now When the minister's salary was trict was organized July29,1898. matedwith the State Regional mentioned in the records, it was By this time there were students libralies. between $300 and $400 annually ready for high school and about and "donations" for the minister 1910, a second story was added For many years the villagers were ikequent. Elder Isaac Ban- to the structure. In 1914, there foundpl~inspelling'hes" nister organized a Methodist So- were three graduates-Vivian and singing classes held in little ciety, with four members in South Beach, Mildred Chapin, schooIhou8es. More and more in- Edwards in 1827. On land given by the Parmalee Harrisville. Upon the appoint- Hamidle. family, an edifice was built and ment of Rev. Thomas Owen, the Perhaps the most important used by the Good Templars. Rev. first resident pastor, 1920, addition to Edwards was the 300 S. Schwartz and Elder Isaac Ban- Talcville became attached to the ft. well in 1961. This provides nister were two of the first minis- Edwards mission. Mass was said an adequate supply of drinking ters there. At first this congrega- in the Town Hall and in private water for the villages-in place tion was an independent group, homes until Fr. Francis Maguire of the questionable river water. but now it is a part of the Edwards directed the building of the charge. There was a need to unite present Sacred Heart Church the groups and have a church which was dedicated and blessed home, so in 1858 a fiame church by Bishop Comoy of Ogdensburg was built near the location of the in September 1928. fire house. Then in 1880, the so- called Union Church was en- Through the years the citizens larged. For a long time ministers of Edwards-both. young and came fiom away to preach to the old-have contributed honorably Baptists, Congregationalists, and faiWyin local and faraway Presbyterians, Methodists, and interests in the professional and Universalists. A Rev. Lee was a business world. Many of our very frequent preacher for the youth answered Uncle Sam's latter group. call-and some gave the "supreme sacrifice". Others worked A desire to have their own diligently selling and buying War church spurred the Methodists to bonds, assisting in the Red Cross build their own building Dec. 16, and other drives. For several 1885, a bit farther east on Main years, the late Ira Miles served as Street. Rev. L. M. Smith was State Assemblyman from their first minister in the new Edwards. His home is now oc- church. The following year, the cupied by Mr. and Mrs. Glen present Union Church was built, Poole. the marble coming from Gouverneur. A bell weighing Societies were organized, such 1,046 lbs. was hung in the belfiy, as Masons, 1861; Eastern Star, and 200 "store chairs" costing IOOF, Rebekahs, and the $250 were installed. During the Grange. Years ago, some found last few years, membership in the pleasure in horse racing and ice UnivdstSociety declined and skating on nearby Trout Lake, the Union Church was closed. It foot races, steamboating on the is rumored that the firemen are river or the lake. Fine pleasure planning to use the building. In has been provided by an excel- 1931, the Methodist [Church] lent bowling alley and lately roller was moved nearer to the street skating in the hotel, has been en- and a basement was put under the joyed. The Lion's Club, formed building, while Rev. Lewry was in 1961, has provided a great deal the pastor. of fun by maintaining an ice skating rink for the young at heart. Because the miners of For a long time money was a Talcville were predominately scarce article and was hidden in Catholic, the St. Edwards Mission the barn or home. The First Na- was built in 1894, served by Fr. tional Bank was built in the Town Laramie and dedicated by Bishop Hall, June 1914, later moved Gabriels. During the nearly across the street, and more re- twenty years, masses were read cently reorganized as the United by priests from Fine and Bank of Star Lake, Edwards, and

St. Lawroln Cowty Historical Assod5tion @uwm$ The Railroad Comes to Heuvelton By Nina Smithers Vol. 8, no. 2 (Apr. 1963)

The founders of Heuvelton, on the main line. The changes it painted the usual drab color. some sixty years previous to the wrought in the lives of the people coming of the railroad, would warrants the telling of its story. Let's take a look at the village. have stood in awe as they saw the A local railroad belongs to the Heuvelton was a live country approach of that httrain hm people in a way that the big lines town on the Oswegatchie River, the south on that warm Septem- never do. its location having been deter- ber day of 1862. It came chug- mined by two factors. One was ging along, its wood-burning en- In August, 1862, a major job the excellent water power avail- gine hauling several cars. His- of grading had been completed. able and secondly the "State tory has left no record of the day, To get the gravel a temporary Road", financed by the state of but the folklore of the time relates track was laid the length of Justina New York and connecting that fiee rides were given to all Street, the gravel being procured OgdensburgwithLongFalls, now persons joyously, the laws of hmthe lot where the cemetery known as Carthage, had passed 1850 having decreed that all lo- vault now stands. through the area. It was the first comotives be so equipped. We surveyedroad. , can well imagine that most of the Mr. Grim a prominent citi- 350 persons of the village were zen of the village, gave the rail- No doubt the Pickens family present to greet its arrival. road rights in a ninety-nine year were the most important people lease to a site which is now the in business in Heuvelton. They It was a great day for the vil- location of the McCadam Cheese had built in 1858 the present stone lage. For years there had been a Company, Inc., for the erection block now owned by the Ducett dream of a railroad which would of the depot. This was built in family. The business directory of connect Ogdensburg and DeKalb the usual style of that day and 1862 lists them as dealing in butter and produce, hardware, books and stationery, general merchandise, ready made clothing, wines and liquors as well as operating a public hall. They also operated a saw mill, planing mill, shingle and lath mill, and a grist mill. Miss Bell Pickens was a music teacher. John Pickens came to Heuvelton in the employ of Van Heuvel. The village had four blacksmiths, two boot and shoe stores, five carpenters and joiners, three carriage makers. There was a Methodist church whose pastor was Rev. F.F. Jewell, while Rev. R.W. McCormick served the Presbyterian church. Dan Spafford Gifiwas the village lawyer. There were three dress- rn makers who made apparel for the Van Heuvel House about 1910 ladies while Mrs. Corbin made hats. Twomedical doctors, Lewis teen to twenty cents per pound the purchase of the cheese at the Sanbom, and A.C. Taylor, cared for dressed birds. That year other Saturday night meetings of the for the sick. There were at least shipments from Heuvelton in- "Cheese Board" of the county. two hotels. Nathan Giffi had, cluded 9,000 head of livestock, two years previous, built a stone considerable lumber, and twelve Railroads were vital to the grist mill by the bridge, which is tons of honey, also many pounds economy of the times and in turn now owned by the Richadsons of cheese. the area did much for the pros- and is the present laundromat. perity of the railroads. Saturday was known as ''Calf Going farther back in the his- Day" all around the countryside. Interviews with several people tory of Heuvelton, to about 1805, For the accommodation of the brought forth conflicting ideas. the hamlet was called cattle dealers, yards for cattle and That a new station was built on Fordsburgh, in honor of Nathan sheep were built at the rear of the the present site in 1914 was con- Ford. Later it was called East station. Buyerstraveled the coun- ceded by some; others believed Branch, and with the coming of tryside, purchasing animals to be the old station was moved to the Jacob Van den Heuvel, the place delivered late Friday evening or present site. Examination of the was called Heuvel. In 1832 it was early Saturday morning at the rail- lonely premises would impress changed to Heuvelton. road depot. Space became a con- one that both sides of the story trovecdb, at timesit was the might be true as the structure ap- Railroading really came into its occasion for loud arguments pears to have been in two sec- own, state wide, in the early six- among the several dealers, many tions. The historian often has to ties. To be sure, it sounded the of whom bore the same family resort to the quote, "I know not death knell of the stage coach time name. what the' truth may be; I tell the in our history. Heuvelton and the tale as 'twas told to me". Cer- munding area of fine farms Monday was "Cheese Day". tainly the new location had much made use of the opportunity as Deliveries were made to the box in its favor. farms were being increased in cars on the sidings by the fmer The story of Heuvelton and size. with his team of horses hitched the railroad could not be told to a farm wagon with a high box. without reference to the work of In 1865 the first cheese fac- Farmers took turns in each fac- Archie Ellsworth who sewed as tory in St. Lawrence County was tory, and each delivered his share stationmasteritom 1890to 1928 in operation. Production in- of the oulput to the factory. Life when he retired. He was a trusted creased and here were the rail- was much simpler in those days. employee of the New York Cen- roads to transport the products of It should be mentioned here that tral and an honorable gentleman. the farm. the buyers made ammgements for He passed away in 1934. Harold Old scrapbooks have yielded much valuable information. There may have been early "Tur- key Days" in Heuvelton but in 1902 a report indicates that fourteen tons of turkeys were shipped via the railroad. These were the days when most fhms had a small I ILL' flock of turkeys. Buyers fiom Boston and New York and their location representatives came to Hewelton on appointed days just j previous to the Thanksdving and

St. Lmvrenec Cowrty Historical Ass~~~~ationQuarterly Lee served in like capacity during the period 1940-1951. 0th- as who have served in Heuvelton include G.A. Seaman, Joseph Rasbeck, and Silvia Lavaghetta. Monroe Ritter was section fore- man at one time and lived in Heuvelton. Perhaps the most historic date in the history of Heuvelton and the railroad was August 17,1940. Affairs of world importance were discussed that evening in the private car of President Franklin D. Roosevelt in that famous meeting with Prime Minister MacKenzie King. It was a hot night in Ogdensburg. General Drum gave a dinner that evening in Ogdensburg at which the Presi- dent was to have been a guest. However the President cancelled his appearance and invited the Prime Minister to his private car in Ogdensburg. In search of cooler air and more comfortable surroundings, the car was moved to Heuvelton for the night. The railroad is part of our van- ishing scene in the north country. Only a daily freight can be seen on this once popular line. The last few years of passenger service was provided by a gas train. "The Hootin' Annie" as she was sometimes called, has also made her last run which is reported to have been in 1956.

fi. Lawraw Cow@HistoW Association Qua- Scullin Mansion By Madeleine M. Gray Town of Brasher Historian Vol. 8, no. 2 (Apr. 1963)

present village of Helena. The A mile above Helena, the St. chose such an unlikely spot to homestead was then part of a Regis River's south bank forms a erect an elaborate home. dense wilderness. bend. At this point, the river drops from a series of rapids into John Scullin was born in the Mrs. Scullin, widowed some a lovely, still sheet of water that Town of Brasher, a son of Nicho- years previously while still living extends from there to Helena. In las Scullin, a native of County in Ireland, must have been en- this rather remote spot, onequar- Antrim, Ireland. Nicholas came dowed with typical pioneer spirit ter mile back from the Helena- to this country with his mother, and fortitude. She managed to Brasher Falls road and overlook- brothers, and sisters at the age of rear a family of eleven children ing the river stands a twenty-five- nineteen. Mrs. Scullin decided while wresting a living from the room, three-story mansion. The to locate on a farm near Helena; farm in the wildmess. Eighty stranger who does not know the this was in 1819, only two years years later, her grandson, John story of John Scullin might be in- after the first settlement of March Scullin, was to retum to Helena clined to wonder why the builder 17, 1817 near the site of the and fulfill a lifelong dream of building a palatial summer estate on the old homestead where he was born in 1840. He left the old farm as a young man, believ- ing that there was no future for him there, and drifted west to California. He later traveled back eastward and entered the railroad contracting business. Mr. Scullin subsequently obtained the controlling interest in a street railway company in St. Louis, Missouri and was at one time reputedly worth $20,000,000. Williams and Johnson, Ogdensburg Architects, were consulted by Mr. Scullin when he was ready to build his dream house. They drew up the plans for the large three-story frame structure. It contained twenty- five rooms of which fourteen were bedrooms. The third floor was occupied by the servants. The entire house was finished in hard pine with hardwood floors throughout. A complete water system brought water to all parts of the house; and the house, barn, Captain John Scullin and grounds were lighted by elec-

St. Lwence Cowry Historical Association Qwterly tricity, the generator being run by maple trees and Mr. Scullin had streets on spirited mounts or a gasoline engine in the same provided a complete maple-sug- drove behind fist "skppers". The building with the pumping ma- aring outfit for the farm. It was Scullin family entertained fie- chinery located on the bank of the hiswishtooperatethefsrmmuch quently and lavishly, their fiiends river. Fifty-six storage batteries as it had been in his youth. coming hmall parts of the coun- fiunished a reserve supply of cur- try. rent for use when the generator When the Scullin family came was not running. The house was to Helena from St. Louis, they After John Scullin's death in completed in 1899 at an estimated usually traveled north in a private 1920, some years after his wife cost of $75,000, while the barn Pullman car. Another car carried predeceased him, his children alone cost $7,000. their horses and sometimes their abandoned the beloved retreat automobiles. In one of the barns and in 1922 sold it to Arthur Adjoining the house was a on the estate was stored a thirty- Hammill of Massena. In 1927, concrete tennis court and the foot sailboat which carried gay the estate was considered for use grounds about the property were parties on the St. Regis River in as a farm school for St. Lawrence beautifidly landscaped with cedar the summerthe. Another barn County's wayward boys, but hedges, lilac bushes, pines, and contained one of the many rigs these plans were later abandoned. other trees. Mr. Scullin had pur- owned by the family, a two- chased the tract of land, then wheeled Irish Jaunting Car, given The mansion is now owned known as the Barlow Farm, to Mr. Scullin by a fiend from and occupied by Mr. and Mrs. across the river from the house. the "Old Sod". Alongside it was Leon Shampine and is used as a This farm contained 116 acres, a fancy rig from Paris which at- year-round dwelling. nearly all timberland, including tracted great attention on the fifteen acres of pines, and was to streets of St. Louis. provide hunting grounds. Mr. Scullin laid out beautiful drives There were two daughters and through the woods and originally three sons in Mr. Scullin's fam- a bridge co1111ected the hunting ily. Older Helena residents like grounds with the main part of the to reminisce about this fabulous praperty. The estate also included hdy,relating rather fondly how a tract of approximately 200 hard they rode horseback through the

The Scullin Mansion

St. Lmrence Cow Historical Assadation Quarter& Grocery on Wheels By Anna Payne Slye Vol. 8, no. 3 (July 1963)

This is a story fiom my child- Then, there were tin peddlers. The Cart - A Story of Old hood in Spragueville when my fh- Each had a cart, probably the SpragueviUe ther, William Payne, had a forerunner of the panel truck. It peddler's cart and drove around had a door in back and a dejected The cart is a symbol-a sym- the countryside selling groceries. horse hitched to the front. The bol of an era that is gone. With At first, he had been a clerk in peddler bought up papers and its passing, a way of life disap- Abner Johnson's store, but when rags and paid for them in tinware, peared, and conditions were Mr. Johnson retired and when very cheap, thin tinware. But this never quite the same in our small Mr. Carpenter across the street was before the days of aluminum town. The coming of the auto- went out of business, my father and stainless steel, and the house- mobile wrought the change; a opened a grocery for himself in wives were always glad to add to change for the better, of course, the latter's place. Well, it was their supply of tins. These ped- for it meant that roads were im- more than a grocery. It was a dlers were usually Jewish, and I proved and rural districts were no general store, for he sold most of think many of them went on to longer isolated. the things that were needed in a become owners of large stores. small village and in the farming They flourished before the auto- I think in these troubled times community surrounding it. His mobile when the people in the of cold war and atom bombs and chief source of revenue was the country could not get to nearby insecurity, it is well to tell about iron ore mines about a mile fiom towns easily and quickly. the cart, for, while to the young, town where he had an outlet for it may seem very dull, yet to those heavy work clothes and shoes for Then there were meat ped- of my generation, it may bring the miners and for groceries at the dlers. In Spragueville there was back a memory of days when life boarding houses. But in 1907 no meat market, so a man came moved at a more leisurely pace there was a panic, a depression once or twice a week delivering than now. of some kind of financial up- meat. And then there were the heaval, and the mines closed, grocery peddlers. Some of the The cart was horse drawn. never to open again. big tea companies started out by Three days a week my father sending men around the country hitched Duke, the sleek bay, and, With his main trade gone, my selling tea and coffee. This leaving Mother in charge of the father decided to buy a cart and method is still used by some com- store, set out on one of his routes deliver groceries to the farmers panies such as Watkins Products, along the dirt roads that mean- around Spragueville. Perhaps I the Jewel Tea Company, Cook dered through the countryside should explain this was an age of coffee, Fuller Brush, Beauty around Spragueville. All day he peddlers. The first that I remem- Counselor and Avon Products, rode slowly along, stopping at ber were pack peddlers. They but, of course, we would never every farm house along the way, were sometimes Syrians who think of calling their representa- to sell groceries for cash, or credit, came to town with heavy packs tives peddlers. They are salesmen or in exchange for eggs. on their backs, selling laces. 0th- or saleswomen. ers were of the Jewish race. There were three doors on the Lawrence A. Johnson, in his But, to get back to my story. cart, one on each side and one in book, "Over the Counter and on Since the day ofpeddling carts is back. The back portion held dry the Shelf' tells that Sears' and far in the past, I have written what goods, house dresses, men's Roebuck's Julius Rosenwald, and I remember about my father's straw hats, cotton stockings, Isaac Girnbel and David May be- cart, and here it is. heavy socks, overalls, samples of gan as pack peddlers. work shoes, boots and rubbers. The door on one side opened to

St. Lmvrence County H&lon'dAssociarion Quarter& display canned goods, cereals, spice cupboard quickly, I've stones. Sometimes the cart flour, granulated sugar in cloth caught a slight suggestion of that moved silently, and Duke's hoofi bags, brown sugar tied up in pa- hgrance, gone almost before I sank softly into the thick dust. per sacks, and large three pound could quite sense it, and then for The road wound around in more boxes of crackers. an instant I have recaptured a leisurely fashion, turning abrupt moment hmthe past. comers, winding back upon itself But it was the other door that in hilly sections. Some days it lay held enchantment for me, for be Several times during the sum- along the quiet pools of placid hind that door were stored tea and mer, I rode on the cart with my Indian River. Some days it looked coffee and the spices that my fa- father. These were idyllic days. down on the big stones of ther sold. No chili, no curry, no I can't remember that we talked Rockwell Creek, almost dry at this unusual flavors for producing for- much. We just moved along the time of year. eign dishes, but dozens of tiny country roads with nature all packages of the old standbys: sage around us, close to us, a part of The reins dangled loosely in and thyme, allspice, cinnamon, us. Usually my father whistled my father's hand. No need to nutmeg, ginger, and cloves. As and swung one foot at the side, guide the horse. If, at a bend in the cart jolted over the rough tapping on the iron step, keeping the road, we met unexpectedly an country roads, tiny particles of time to his tune. oncoming wagon, there was no spices and herbs evidently sifted risk, for that driver would be pro- out, giving off an aroma of spices Sometimes the road went up gressing at as slow a pace as we. that I've never smelled since. steep little hills and the iron rims Sometimes when I've opened my of the wheels clattered over the My father and I would be a

St Luwmcc Court@Historical Association PlrorUrfy little strange with each other as the barking dog. I never knew back in our town again, Duke we first started off, for it was not him to be bitten. I never knew again quickening his pace as he often that we were alone together, him to be afkaid of a dog. I never looked forward to a handful of and my father was not a talkative saw a dog he didn't love. As for sugar or a piece of wintergreen man. But as we went along, he the dogs, whatever breed or com- candy. would begin pointing out things bination of breeds they might be, for me to see: a blue bird in a they seemed to sense that this was Then my father would take the thorn apple tree, a chirping spar- all a game which they were privi- money fiom his pockets and put row on the rail fence, the scare leged once a week to play. it into the cash register, and pull crow guarding a farmer's corn, down the crates of eggs fiom the the minnows in a brook beside the And the children, as soon as top of the cart to be sorted, the road, a sleepy mud turtle on a half we drove in, came running fi-om brown ones to go to Boston and submerged log. "Watch at the different directions, to converge the white ones to New York. He next house. You may see an old on the hen house, fiom which would replenish the groceries he lady smoking a pipe." they would each come out with had sold, so that the cart would an egg to be traded for a stick of be ready for the next trip over a Our approach to a farm house striped candy. Then the farmer's different route another day. was a signal for great activity on wife would come from the the part of the children and the kitchen with a pan of eggs to be Probably not much money had fmdog. Long before we came exchanged for groceries. After been taken in, but neither had the in sight, the dog would suddenly the transaction and a bit of con- expenses been great. However, rouse himself, crawl out fiom versation, for my father had one thing we knew. It had been a under the steps where he had known these people all his life, good day. It was a good world. been napping in the shade, and we would be on our way. The We were glad to be a part of it. trot down the drive, barking ex- children would stand shyly by, Peace was of the essence of it. citedly. clutching their striped candy, the There had been wars, but never dog would give one final bark by any more. People knew better "I knew you were coming," way of farewell, and then we were now than to fight. They had the farmer's wife would say, "by on the dusty road again to ride learned a great lesson. Arbitrat- the way the dog was acting." quietly along, until the barking of ing was the answer. Surely, good- a dog around the bend, told me ness and mercy would follow us As we turned in at the drive- we were nearing another farm all the days of our lives. Oh, hal- way, the dog would be in a fiemy. house. cyon days, the days of the cart! Around the cart he would dash, barking furiously. And no won- As noon approached, Duke der. For my father would be teas- would begin walking faster, his ing him with every means he ears pricked forward in anticipa- knew. Such lunges with the whip, tion. Finally, at a level shady spot, such stamping on the floor of the he would suddenly turn off the cart, such whistling, such hissing, road and stop. This would be the such grimacing, such mewing like spot where they always stopped a cat. The horse must have had a to eat. My father would jump most placid nature not to be up- down, remove the bit fiom the set by such goings on, but evi- horse's mouth, and give him his dently fiom long association with oats. Then we would open one my father, he thought this was the of the doors of the cart, reach far natural way of dogs and men. back and bring out our lunches, sandwiches, and homemade gin- With the dog still acting like a ger cookies, a banana, and jars thing demented, we would stop of milk, not refrigerated as it at the door. Then, my father, af- would have to be today to satisfy ter all his taunting, would swing our palates, but hsh and rich and lightly over the wheel and drop warm, and vastly satisfying. to the ground at the very jaws of At four o-clock we would be

St. Lawrence County Historical Association Quarterly The Whitney House By Susan C. Lyman VoL 9, no. 3 (July 1964)

In 1852 Robert John McGill the old days came Supreme Court Democrat or some Republican built a three storied, wooden ho- Justice William H. Sawyer, Hon. who had the temerity to remark tel on the East side of the main Daniel Magone and Dr. Thomas that hverCleveland was not the street in Raquetville, a small harn- Spratt, the Whalens, Murphys best president since Andrew Jack- let a few miles north of the vil- fiom down country and Whitneys son. lage of Potsdam. Mr. McGill was fiom the "farups" and a younger a prominent man in the area with generation of fighters in which the In 1884 or 1885, Mr. Phelps the foresight to realize that the Sullivans, McCarthys, and Kellys made extensive improvements to passing of the Northern Railroad were prominent figures. the building by erecting a new and through the farmland of B.G. modern addition to the south end Baldwin would mean the begin- After a few years Mr. McGill which contained a tower and ning of a new and busy town and sold the hotel to Benjamin added much to the beauty of the so, in 1848, two years before the Whitney who renamed it the premises. completion of the railroad, he Whitney House and in 1862 ad- contracted for the purchase of vertised that its tables were fur- Mr. Phelps prospered in the land on which he later built the nished with the delicacies of the hotel business, becoming the "Raquetville House", destined to season. A good livery was con- owner of a profitable coal shed, become a famous landmark. nected with the house and a car- and was instrumental in the de- riage was in attendance at the development of the State Bank of Noted for cheer, courtesy, and pot to convey guests to the house Norwood and the founding of the good service, it was popular with without charge. Further, "a stage Norwood Electric Light and commercial travelers and honey- leaves the house daily for Power Company. When failing mooners. It was long a meeting Massena Springs where guests health forced Mr. Phelps to retire point for men of positive opin- may partake of the famous wa- and sell out to Herman Jacques, ions and distinction in St. ters advertised as an unequal rem- former operator of the Montgom- Lawrence and Franklin Counties. edy for obstinate cutaneous erup- ery House at Rouses Point, he In the days of old Ben Whitney, tions, scrofula, salt rheum, and was one of the most influential men met and discussed politics, erysipelas as well as rheumatism, men in the area and one of the war, and the Dred Scott Decision. gravel and all affections of the last of the rugged individualists in Here, now and then, a stray abo- kidneys and bladder". Eventually the hotel business; there are no litionist stopped overnight while Mr. Whitney, a Democrat of the legends about his successors. performing the good office of old school, retired and by 1865 steering escaped slaves into Prey and Nightingale were the The next owners were the Canada although it is possible that proprietors of the hotel. Flanagans of Malone who con- there was not too much hospital- ducted the business for a short ity for anything savoring of the Sidney R. Phelps, in 1866, time, being succeeded by the new party launched in 1856. The purchased the hotel and became Hosley Brothers of Tupper Lake. coming of the Rome, Watertown the most popular landlord in the The Hosleys made improvements and Ogdensburg Railroad was an North Country. "Sid", as chief to the north end of the old hotel additional stimulus to business. of a large following of Democrat. proper, fitting up extra rooms and in the North Country, wielded his adding twenty baths, making it the J.D. Tracy stopped here as did battleaxe of authority for a long most modem hotel in the section wealthy Giles J. Hall, the Jack- period. He was a party delegate at that time. It was at this time son Democrat. Here it was that to conventions many times and that it was given the name, "The delegates came to Assembly, went to the National Convention New Whitney House". Senatorial, and County Conven- held in Chicago in 1892. He was tions of the Democratic party. In often in hot dispute with a Bryan

St. Lowrence County Historical Association Quarterly Whitney Hotel during the stage coach era

According to the Potsdam "booze and bar" for business. House and noticed fire in the third Business Directory of 1907- floor tower room. She immedi- 1908, Roy C. Harris was propri- After eleven years in the hotel ately gave the cry "fire" and was etor for a time. business, Mr. Gage sold out to heard by Mrs. A. J. Phillips who Powell and Emery. Mr. Emery called the local central telephone In 1910 William Gage, a dry took over the entire business on operator. An alarm was given to goods merchant in Madrid, traded December 1,1921. There was a the mill station of the local alarm his store and other Madrid prop- bad fire in 1924 after which reno- system and to Mr. C. F. Vance, erty for the Whitney House. Dur- vations and modedzations were Chief of the Fire Department. ing his ownership the house was again made. again modernized and was more It was a small blaze at first, popular than ever becoming At 9 a.m. Sunday morning, originating in the unoccupied known for its good and generous January 18, 1925 Mrs. Lillian tower room, and thought to be board and did not depend on Starks was passing the Whitney caused by overheated pipes since

St. Lmvrola Corurty Historical AsmcWrn eumra?, the thermometer stood at twenty Eight lines of hose were laid was a fireman at the time recalls below zero. However, a strong with the help of firemen hm that it took three men to carry northeast wind was blowing and Norfolk, Potsdam, and Union- each ice-encrusted length of fire the fire worked its way through ville. Merchants ofthe meral- hose back to the fire house. the building. In just one hour, at lied round and set up a stand in 10 am. the hotel roof fell in and the Music Hall to serve coffee, In May 1925, Mr. Emery sometime later the chimney fell doughnuts, and sandwiches to the hired men to clear the debris of into the roof of the house owned firefighters and even provided the old hotel in order to make way by Dr. Hakins on the south side new dry caps, mittens, and over- for the new Norwood Inn which of the hotel. The fire spread shoes to those needing them. The was to be built on the same site. northward into the store owned bitter cold and the strong wind by Mr. Raymo and into the F. R. added to the suffering of the fire- The destruction of the Smith building which housed the men. When the fire was brought Whitney House marks the pass- Norwood Post Office. Since under control, the hotel had been ing of one of the most colorfid of there had been sacient wam- totally destroyed, Dr. Hakin's the old-time hostelries of the ing Mr. Raymo had removed all house badly damaged by water North Country familiar to hun- the merchandise from his store and the falling chimney, and the dreds. and all of the mail and stamps two buildings to the north were were taken from the post office badly damaged. The total dam- to a building on Mechanic Street age was estimated to exceed which Postmaster A. R. Collins $50,000. Water was played on had hastily secured to serve as a the ruins until Monday morning temporary post office. in order to prevent a possible further outbreak. A resident who

Yi I The New Whim House, Norwood. N. Y.:

New Whitney House jkm a 1915 postcard

SL Lmvtencc Cbunty Historical Association Quarter?) Cranberry Lake Dam By Clara McKenney Clifton Town Historian VoL 10, no. 4 (Oct. 1965)

Although most know it today their discretion they deemed ad- Herbert Dean took over and con- as one of the finest Adirondack visable. Executive authority was tinued until his death. lakes and fishing grounds, Cran- vested in three commissioners berry Lake was actually devel- named in the act and giving the The original regulating dam oped, about 100 years ago, as a County Judge of St. Lawrence was a timber crib structure about reservoir for commercial pur- County the power of removal as fifteen feet high, having a spill- poses. well as the appointment of their way eighty feet long, .a logway successors. five feet wide by four feet deep. The groundwork was laid in There were four outlet sluice- 1854 when the New York State All the expenses of maps, sur- ways, each about six feet nine Legislature passed "An Act de- veys, and construction together inches wide, thirteen feet six claring the Oswegatchie River a with the purchase price of the inches deep. The sides of these public highway and regulating the lands taken and the damages fixed sluice-ways were provided with passage of logs and lumber down were to be paid pro-rate by as- vertical grooves into which twelve the same and for the improve- sessments levied upon the lands inch stop-logs were placed. The ment of said River". to be benefitted, with power to discharge from the reservoir was sell such lands for failure to pay controlled by dropping in or re- The next step was taken a few assessments. Maintenance and moving one or more of these days after Lee surrendered at repairs were provided for in the stop-logs. Appomatox. The Act of April 2 1, same way. 1865 was passed by the Legisla- This method of regulation was ture for the improvement of the From the record, it appears extremely crude and inefficient, hydraulic power in the that the Commissioners acquired and the exact capacity of the res- Oswegatchie, and the checking of title to 10,769 acres of land and ervoir is unknown. its freshets. To carry out these water in the Township No. 1 purposes, Chapter 505 of the Great tract No. 2, Macomb's A report on the dam sent to Laws of 1865 provided for the Purchase, Township of Sher- the Conservation commission on organization of a number of own- wood, and 400 acres in Township June 8, 1912 describes the tim- ers of Mills and Manufacturing No. 2, Great tract No. 2, Town- ber cribs as filled with stone. In plants along the meandering 1 10 ship of Harewood, making 191 5 the superstructure was de- mile course of the river below 11,169 acres all in the Town of scribed as very rotted. A new dam Cranberry Lake through the Clifton, St. Lawrence County. was urgently needed, to avoid towns of Clifton, Fine, Edwards, The land was paid for by the as- possible damage if the existing Fowler, Gouverneur, DeKalb, sessments provided, and deeds to structure went out. Canton, DePeyster and these acres were taken in the Oswegatchie before it empties names of the Commissioners. In 1916 a concrete dam was into the St. Lawrence at built behind the original log struc- Ogdensburg. The dam was built and the wa- ture and it has been rebuilt twice ter let in during the spring of since. These users of water power 1867. Hugh McConnell, one of were empowered by the statute the men who helped build the The present dam delivers wa- to acquire, either by purchase or original dam, was the first dam- ter from 134 square miles drained the exercise of the right of emi- keeper. He was followed by by the Lake to hydro develop- nent domain, lands for the erec- Jessie Irish, Michael Dodds, and ments at Newton Falls, Flat Rock, tion of a dam of such height as in Sam Bancroft in 1890. In 1911 Oswegatchie, Brown Falls, South

St. Lmvrence Counv Historical Association Quarterly The original Cranberry Lake Dam

Edwards, Edwards, Emeryville, them off their foundations; while Hailesboro, Talcville, Gouver- in the summer sometimes the new, Natural Dam, and Heuvel- water was so low that boathouses ton. The city of Ogdensburg uses and docks were left high and dry. the water for sanitary purposes. As a reservoir the Lode serves The campers eventually joined 30,000 people below the dam. forces, hired an attorney, and finally brought about a series of The Commissioners who have hearings before a special commit- maintained the dam since the be- tee of the State Legislature named ginning, try to keep a leeway of for the purpose. The controversy six inches in the Lake level to was resolved by joint efforts of control flash floods when neces- cottage owners and the Commis- sary by shutting the gate or greatly sioners, who now try to maintain reducing the flow. a more or less constant level in the reservoir, to prevent damage Before the dam was built the to camp property. village at the outlet was called Harewood, but later changed to Editor's Note: The ori@ Cranberry Lake. article concludes with a reprint hmthe Watertown Daily Times, Years later, when Cranberry March 13,1947. This reprint, an Lake had become a popular sum- anonymous letter to the editor, re mer resort, cottage owners com- counts the early history of Cran- plained to the Commissioners berry Lake and the dam with about the water level which some much nostalgia. times in the winter caused the ice to break up boathouses or lift

St. Lmvrence County Historical Association Quarterly 315-386-4595

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