North Country At Work

The railroad brought tourists and visitors directly to the dock. From here, people and goods were ferried to individual islands and resorts. Steamship America at dock. Clayton, NY. Unknown date but probably before 1900.

From the dock, people and goods would be ferried to individual islands and island resorts. 1914. Alexandria Bay, NY. Thanks to Tim Leyda for more information about this photo, and correcting the location (which was incorrectly identified as Clayton). 

Unidentified men beside oil truck from Gates Oil Company, run by R.N. Gates. March 13, 1929. Photo donated by Clarence Buchanan. Great Bend, NY.

Steam engine–with traction engine–was used as a traveling power unit to run all sorts of machinery including stone crushers, thrashers or road graders. Many towns owned a steam engine that was used for a variety of public works projects. Unknown workers. Circa 1890-1910. Donated by the Champion Grange. Champion, NY.

Retired firefighters from the Adams Fire Department posed around fire pump. The June 10, 1820 date on pump was apparently a significant date for the Department and the retired men may have been gathered to note an anniversary of that date. Circa 1890s. Adams, NY.

Atlas Cement Company unidentified workers. 1920. Adams, NY.

Interior view of unidentified sulfite mill. Circa 1900. Dexter, NY.

Ore separator at Lyon Mountain. Circa 1910. Donated by the Sheldon Family. Lyon Mountain, NY. [Editor’s note: we assume this was an iron ore operation, but we do not know it for a fact.]

Trudeau Sanatorium staff and summer interns. Seated on left are Dr. Gordon Meade and Dr. Peter Mitchell. Others unknown. Circa 1960. Donated by Lorraine Kelly. Saranac Lake, NY.

Firefighters battling a blaze. Circa 1930. Possibly in Saranac Lake, NY. Definite location unknown. Related article on volunteer firefighters across the region, here.