North Country At Work

Workers at the Oregon Tannery, which burned to the ground in 1892. It was owned by Charles Swan. Circa 1890. Johnsburg, NY. Photo courtesy of the Johnsburg Historical Society.

Ted, who lives in North River, learned the dowsing trade from an elderly neighbor named Edith Lincoln. Now, Kaufman says that it’s easier for him “to sense water moving underground than it was to smell cookies baking in the kitchen from an upstairs room.” Kaufman is a local legend, and has been asked to find […]

Earl Allen, a third-generation rakemaker, outside his blacksmith shop and forge. Inside, a saw blade is powered by the engine of a 1930 Model T Ford, just as it was when Earl bought the shop from his uncle in 1959. Circa 1980.  Johnsburg, NY. Photo by Daniel Way.

Workers at Hoopers Mine posing on a break. Circa 1900. North River, NY.  Photo courtesy of the Johnsburg Historical Society.

The board of directors of the First National Bank. Circa 1930. Old Forge, NY. Courtesy of  the Goodsell Museum.

Lyle Yerman, fire observer, in his uniform. 1945. Webb, NY. Courtesy of the Goodsell Museum.

Arthur Richard “Dick” Cohen, who took over the Old Forge Hardware store from his father, Moses Cohen. Late 1940s. Old Forge, NY. Courtesy of the Goodsell Museum.

Frederick J. Roderick posing with one of the trucks for his moving and storage company, F.J. Roderick & Son. Spring 1944. Carthage, NY. Courtesy of Richard Roderick

Mike Simpson, the chef at the Clipper Inn, in the restaurant’s kitchen. Clayton, NY. Circa 2000. From the Thousand Islands Museum.

Niagara Mohawk worker inside the steel “snail shell” that directs water against turbine blades, also known as a penstock. South Colton hydro-electric plant on the Raquette River, now owned by Brookfield Power. Photo taken by Niagara Mohawk News circa 1953. South Colton, NY. Photo: Colton Historical Society