North Country At Work

One of Gerald Heath’s sons mows the lawn at Singer Castle on Dark Island, where Heath was the caretaker. Circa 1950s or early 1960s. Chippewa Bay, NY. Photo courtesy of Doug Heath.

Doug Heath raking at Singer Castle on Dark Island, where his father was the caretaker. Circa 1950s. Chippewa Bay, NY. Photo courtesy of Doug Heath.

Siblings Dave & Elaine Johnson spreading out chair flag, the green leaf of cattail, out to dry. The chair flag was the green leaf of cattail, which they used to weave the bottom of seats when making chairs. 1976. Three miles north of Redwood, a hamlet in the town of Alexandria, NY. Courtesy of Dave […]

Marilyn Thompson training a calf in the field for the 4-H. Circa 1960. Lisbon, NY. Photo courtesy of Bob Thompson.

Young dockhand (and future fishing guide) Joe Garnsey with two clients showing off a day’s catch. Clayton, NY. Circa 1950. Photo: Personal archives of Jeff Garnsey

Boy stands behind a cow in a paddock. Note the ring through the cow’s nose. Circa 1900-1910. Long Lake, NY. Photo courtesy of the Town of Long Lake Archives.

Edwin Hadlock and young son Doug planting corn on their dairy farm. Doug is using a scoop to refill the planter. 1971. Hammond, NY.

Eleanor Paddock Hollister feeding the chickens at the Paddock of Ormiston farm. Circa 1930s. Hammond, NY.

Bob Thompson (right) and his son Bill milking on the Thompson farm, where Bob kept a herd of registered Holsteins and sold surplus cattle internationally. 1960s. Lisbon, NY. Courtesy of Bob Thompson. For more on the Thompson cattle operation, click here.

Spencer Morgan and child Kellogg Morgan pose with a team of horses seeding ground with a hoe drill. Circa 1910. Hermon, NY.