North Country At Work

Ken and Linda Heitz by a sign for “natural, backwoods camp furnishins’ made by hand in Indian Lake.” Circa 1977. Indian Lake, NY. Photo courtesy of the Hamilton County Historian’s Office.

Jim Cameron standing beside a guide boat at the edge of the water. Circa 1986-1987. Upper St. Regis, NY. Photo by Mathias T. Oppersdorff.

Two partially-planked Indian Girls (a type of canoe) inside the Rushton Boat Shop. Circa 1901-1916. Rushton in the town of Canton. Taken by Fynmore Studios.

John F. Buyce and worker inside boat building shop. 1920. Speculator, NY.

Wallace Emerson and a boat shop worker finish assembly of boat. Inside Emerson’s Boat Shop. 1930. Long Lake, NY. Photographer Aughiltree, James W.

Wallace Emerson uses a hand plane to carefully shape the keel board for one of his boats. Inside Emerson’s Boat Shop. 1930. Long Lake, NY. Photographer Aughiltree, James W.

Wallace Emerson, Jr., wearing a hat and glasses, standing at a work bench.  He is holding a drill, drilling holes into the sides of a guide boat seat, most likely for caning.  Circa 1930. Long Lake, NY. Photographer Aughiltree, James W.

Wallace Emerson nails cladding onto boat. Inside Emerson’s Boat Shop. 1930. Long Lake, NY. Photographer Aughiltree, James W.

Wallace Emerson uses a jig to drill holes in the keel of a boat. Inside Emerson’s Boat Shop. 1930. Long Lake, NY. Photographer Aughiltree, James W.

Wallace Emerson does detail work on a boat rib inside Emerson’s Boat Shop. 1930. Long Lake, NY. Photographer Aughiltree, James W.