North Country At Work

Leander Soule’s ferry out of Sackets Harbor. Circa 1900. Sackets Harbor, NY.

Boat being moved between upper and lower Black River, using log rollers to move it across roadway. Circa 1880s. Dexter, NY.

Firefighters putting out a fire on a barge which was partially sunken in the St. Lawrence River near the ACCO manufacturing plant, just outside Ogdensburg. 1978. Ogdensburg, NY.

The Heuvelton peat dredge, which was briefly used to bring up peat from Black Lake as fuel for the town’s mill, was not a very successful operation, as the dredge sank at the juncture of the Oswegatchie River and Black Lake. Circa 1905. Heuvelton, NY.

A ferry and commercial side wheeler steamboat which went between Heuvelton and Black Lake/Edwardsville, all the way to Rossie and occasionally Ogdensburg. The steamboat transported milk and people, stopping at numerous places along the river. Circa 1880s. Heuvelton, NY. Photo donated by Betty Steele of Ogdensburg.

Coast Guard buoy tender the “White Lupine” breaking ice in St. Lawrence River, between Ogdensburg and Lake Ontario. Buoys were being placed in anticipation of April opening of the Seaway. Circa 1960. Ogdensburg, NY. Originally in the Ogdensburg Advance Journal.

Steamer in Clayton, operated by Thousand Islands Steamboat Company. Circa 1900-1910. Clayton, NY.

Shooting the Long Sault rapids on a two engine side wheeler steamer, the Sovereign. These were the biggest freshwater rapids in the world before the Saint Lawrence Seaway was built (in the 1950s-60s). Circa 1910-1920. Near Massena, NY.

Natural Bridge Caverns boat tour in progress. Circa 1990s. Natural Bridge, NY.