North Country At Work

Miles McCarthy, the last Catamount fire watchman. He worked there from 1958-1970. Colton, NY. Photo courtesy of Mary Jane Watson.

The first fire tower on Catamount Mountain, made out of wood. 1915. Colton, NY. From the Cole Family collection. Photo courtesy of Mary Jane Watson.

Helicopter during the search for two missing hikers on Algonquin Peak in 2016. Photo courtesy of the NY DEC. Read the full North Country at Work story here on rangers.

Forest Ranger Chris Kostoss with a ranger vehicle. Kostoss supervises forest rangers for the High Peaks Wilderness Area. Wilmington, NY. 2018. Photo courtesy of Andy Flynn. Read the full North Country at Work story here.

Firefighters climbing a ladder to fight a fire at the All Souls Universalist Church. Circa 1950s or 1960s. Watertown, NY. Courtesy of the Jefferson County Historical Society.

A group of firefighters climbing atop the All Souls Universalist Church on fire. Circa 1950s or 1960s. Watertown, NY. Courtesy of the Jefferson County Historical Society.

A group of firefighters outside the Berkeley Hotel. Despite their best efforts, they were unable to save the hotel, which met the same fiery end as most of the major hotels in Saranac Lake. Date unknown. Saranac Lake, NY. Courtesy of the Saranac Lake Free Library.

Chief of Police William J. Wallace. April 1949. Saranac Lake, NY. From the 1975-’76 Bicentennial Yearbook of the Saranac Lake Police Protective Association. Courtesy of Historic Saranac Lake.

A police officer mounted on a Harley-Davidson motorcycle. Circa 1920s. Saranac Lake, NY. From the 1975-’76 Bicentennial Yearbook of the Saranac Lake Police Protective Association. Courtesy of Historic Saranac Lake.

Firefighters working to put out a fire. 1925. Saranac Lake, NY. Photo originally from Catherine Moore, Adirondack Daily Enterprise. Courtesy of Historic Saranac Lake.