North Country At Work

Paper plant employees and family members sit on the porch of a hotel in Pyrites. Circa 1900-1916. Pyrites, NY.

Above the dam on the Grasse River where the DeGrasse Paper Company, informally known as the Pyrites Paper Plant, sorted all the logs for the paper-making process. Circa 1900-1910. Pyrites, NY.

Aerial shot of the DeGrasse Paper Company foundations. Factory was informally known as the Pyrites Paper Plant. Late 1970s. Pyrites NY. Taken by Wayne Lincoln.

A look at rows of machinery inside a paper mill. Note bright natural provided through large window at end of corridor and overhead skylights. Circa 1900. Carthage, NY.   Listen to Lynn Thornton, the town of Champion historian, explain the steps from cutting logs to making paper here.

Men working in the Crown Zellerbach paper mill, called the National Paper Products Company. The mill began operations in 1915, and grew to be a very large company. Circa 1950. Carthage, NY. In 1914 the Zellerbach family of California obtained the rights to a newly developed towel machine and needed to expand.  In 1915 twenty-three […]

Man at work in the machine shop at a paper mill. Circa 1920s. Town of Wilna, NY. Caption info compiled by Lynn Thornton, Laura Prievo, and Harold Sanderson for the Images of America book Around Carthage and West Carthage.

Interior of an early paper mill. Male workers are pictured in front of felt rollers used to dry paper. Circa 1900-1920. Carthage, NY. Check out this North Country at Work story to learn more about the history of Carthage’s working class.

The interior of the Wilna Farms Company Butter and Cheese Factory, part of the Carter Family Dairy, run by A. Byron Carter. Note milk cans. Circa 1900. Carthage, NY.

Long view shot of the Island Paper Company Mill, including wet flats in foreground, wood slag heap and smokestack.  Circa 1905-1920. Carthage, NY. From the Bob Blondin Collection in the Town of Champion Archives.

Workers pose in front of the Jones and Son Coal Company, located at the bottom of State Street Hill near the railroad tracks. Unidentified men are seated in a two-horse drawn wagon on the unpaved street.  Circa 1900-1910. Carthage, NY.