North Country At Work

Eight man road crew poses with machinery while laying a concrete road. Circa 1920-1930. Town of Webb, NY.

Four highway department workers with a steam drill. Circa 1900-1910. Town of De Kalb, NY. Photo taken by Myrtle Penny Rice, donated by Naomi Rice.

Town highway department operating a steam drill. The stationary engine (left) runs the drill (right).  Water had to be constantly pumped into the engine using water barrels. Circa 1900-1910. Town of De Kalb, NY.

Town road crew using a stone crusher to make gravel for roads (right) and dump wagon to haul the rocks (to the left of the stone crusher). Circa 1900-1910. Town of De Kalb, NY. Photograph by Robert Woodward.

An early steam roller being used on Hermon Street in De Kalb Junction. 1915. Town of De Kalb, NY. Photograph by Robert Woodward.

Three workers from the town road crew using a steam drill on school hill. 1910. De Kalb Junction, NY. Photograph by Robert Woodward.

Workers laying the first concrete road through Harrisville in front of Gardner’s Market, circa the early 1930s. Harrisville, NY.

Building a concrete road through Harrisville. Pictured are three men working, a cement mixer on some form of track. The men are mixing cement and pouring it into forms as they move along. Circa the early 1930s. Harrisville, NY.

Road building outside Ogdensburg. Two workers holding pick axe and shovel. Ogdensburg, NY. Circa 1910.

Road construction workers putting curbing up for a sidewalk. Workers posed for photo holding their tools. Ogdensburg, NY. Circa 1880.