North Country At Work

River drivers freeing caught logs after the main log drive on the Ausable River. Each holds a log pike, used to move logs during a drive. Circa 1890-1900. Jay, NY.

A winter ferry in use – it had a flat bottom with steel runners and was built by Captain John LaVigne. It was operated from 1895-1917. The ferry carried mail and passengers, and had handles on the front and back of the “ferry” – one man pushed, one man pulled. Circa 1895-1910. Morristown, NY.

Train depot shot, including train crew on left, and an “excursion” tour group on the right, with a photographer holding his camera in the group. In front of them is a rail track worker with a sledge hammer over his shoulder. DeLack House hotel in background. Circa 1890s. Morristown, NY.

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

Frank Lewis making a decoy in his shop. He was a repairman, sharpener, a duck decoy maker, and made thousands of Ogdensburg hump back decoys. He was a bicycle racer, and most likely made them too. Ogdensburg, NY. Circa early 1950s.

Exterior of C. Louis repair and bike store. C. Louis standing in doorway with bike tire and a tools sharpener. Ogdensburg, NY. Circa 1890.

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

Interior of Charlie Durs Boat Works shop, where he built Saint Lawrence skiffs. Pictured are wood and canvas canoes, special saw horses in foreground used to hold boats, and a pedal powered jigsaw just behind Charlie. Circa 1890-1910. Ogdensburg, NY area.

Interior of an unidentified blacksmith shop with four working blacksmiths. Tools displayed on wall behind them. Taken May 19th 1901. Ogdensburg, NY.

Will Wood is the diver in the full diving suit, May 6th 1898. He was possibly diving to inspect a loose pontoon of the USS Gresham following an accident that was recorded as delaying the USS Gresham for a number of days. Two blurry men are operating the machine to pump air into Will Wood’s […]