North Country At Work

Laying sidewalk at a housing project. In background workers are applying a brick facing to a new home. August of 1951, Ogdensburg, NY.

Building the seawall (a retaining wall to minimize erosion) at Crescent Park on the Oswegatchie River, using a steam-powered engine operating unidentified type of equipment. Ogdensburg, NY. Circa 1900.

Men digging ditches and clearing space for road-laying in Ogdensburg, NY. They were part of the W.P.A (Works Progress Administration) program, instituted during the Great Depression. Circa early 1930s. Photo taken by Louis Murray. Photo courtesy of the Ogdensburg Public Library.

Men building roads in Ogdensburg. They were put to work through the W.P.A (Works Progress Administration) program during the Great Depression, which put many Americans to work on public infrastructure projects. Man on far left is Bill Mallett, one of the others is Charles Adams. Circa early 1930s. Ogdensburg, NY. Photo taken by Louis Murray. […]

Francis George Queary sharpening equipment to be used in the ice harvest, wearing period safety glasses. Carthage, NY. 1947. Carthage Ice Harvest Collection donated by Eleanor Query, whose father, Francis George Query, is pictured in many of the photos.

Cutting ice with an “ice saw” during the Carthage, NY ice harvest. 1947. Carthage Ice Harvest Collection donated by Eleanor Query, whose father, Francis George Query, is pictured in many of the photos. Related story, here.

Men poling the ice with pikes, good view of ice houses in the background. During Carthage, NY ice harvest. 1947. Carthage Ice Harvest Collection donated by Eleanor Query, whose father, Francis George Query, is pictured in many of the photos. Related story, here.

Waiting to maneuver ice down the channel. Pictured is the full, giant, ice house in the rear, with conveyor/elevator used to move ice into the ice house. During Carthage, NY ice harvest. 1947. Carthage Ice Harvest Collection donated by Eleanor Query, whose father, Francis George Query, is pictured in many of the photos. Related story, […]

Machinery and tools needed for the ice harvest–horses, pikes (poles with hook on end), elevator for moving blocks of ice. Ice houses in the background; cupolas  for ventilation. During the Carthage, NY ice harvest. 1947. Carthage Ice Harvest Collection donated by Eleanor Query, whose father, Francis George Query, is pictured in many of the photos. Related […]

Pulling ice blocks into position during the Carthage, NY ice harvest. 1947. Carthage Ice Harvest Collection donated by Eleanor Query, whose father, Francis George Query, is pictured in many of the photos. Related story, here.