North Country At Work

Firefighters hosing out a fire at Clifford’s Gift Shop on Park Street. Circa October 1969. Tupper Lake, NY. Photo courtesy of the Goff-Nelson Memorial Library.

Unidentified fire warden poses with what was known colloquially as an “Indian pump”. The tank was carried on the firefighters back and the hand pump was used to direct water at the fire. Circa 1930s. North Hudson area, NY.

Unidentified fire warden on the top of a fire tower. Circa 1920s. Southeastern Adirondacks in the Newcomb area of NYS. Photo courtesy of Jon Kopp.

The fire tower on Catamount Mountain. Date unknown. Colton, NY. Photo courtesy of Mary Jane Watson.

The first fire tower on Catamount Mountain, made out of wood. 1915. Colton, NY. From the Cole Family collection. Photo courtesy of Mary Jane Watson.

Firefighters climbing a ladder to fight a fire at the All Souls Universalist Church. Circa 1950s or 1960s. Watertown, NY. Courtesy of the Jefferson County Historical Society.

A group of firefighters climbing atop the All Souls Universalist Church on fire. Circa 1950s or 1960s. Watertown, NY. Courtesy of the Jefferson County Historical Society.

A group of firefighters outside the Berkeley Hotel. Despite their best efforts, they were unable to save the hotel, which met the same fiery end as most of the major hotels in Saranac Lake. Date unknown. Saranac Lake, NY. Courtesy of the Saranac Lake Free Library.

Firefighters working to put out a fire. 1925. Saranac Lake, NY. Photo originally from Catherine Moore, Adirondack Daily Enterprise. Courtesy of Historic Saranac Lake.

The firemen’s tournament on the fourth of July.  A view of Warren Street looking east from Bank Square. The three spires, from left to right, are: Glens Falls Academy, St. Mary’s Church, and the First Presbyterian Church. July 4, 1870. Glens Falls, NY. Courtesy of the Chapman Museum.