North Country At Work

Speculator Garage, owned by William Wilbur and later by a Mr. Downey. It is currently still standing. Circa 1930s or ’40s. Speculator in Lake Pleasant, NY. Photo courtesy of the Hamilton County Historian’s Office.

Schoonmaker’s Drug Store. Circa 1940s or 1950s. Speculator, NY. Photo courtesy of the Hamilton County Historian’s Office.

Charlie Johns’ grocery and general store. Pictured are Santa and a helicopter. Circa 1980s. Four Corners of Speculator, NY. Photo courtesy of the Hamilton County Historian’s Office.

The interior of Charlie Johns, a grocery store and general store. Circa 1963. Four Corners of Speculator, NY. Photo courtesy of the Hamilton County Historian’s Office.

John Buyce’s blacksmith shop. Circa 1870s-1880s. Speculator, NY. Photo courtesy of the Hamilton County Historian’s Office.

Downtown Inlet. 1925. Inlet, NY. Photo courtesy of the Hamilton County Historian’s Office.

The Parquet, a hotel and restaurant. Mrs. Fred N. Parquet ran the hotel. Circa 1934. Inlet, NY. Photo courtesy of the Hamilton County Historian’s Office.

Downtown Inlet, on Main Street. Pharmacy (left), Mary’s Gift Shop, and Harry Hall’s Groceries. Note the dairy barn on the far right. Circa 1940. Inlet, NY. Photo courtesy of the Hamilton County Historian’s Office.

Downtown Inlet. 1924. Inlet, NY. Photo courtesy of the Hamilton County Historian’s Office.

Three waitresses, Debby Reynolds, June Christensen, and May Christensen, stand in front of the Hope Diner. The diner was owned by Lilian and Carl Christensen, who bought it in 1953. Circa 1960s. Hope, NY. Photo courtesy of the Hamilton County Historian’s Office.