North Country At Work

Hunter Ambrose Morehouse holding deer. 1930. Photo courtesy of the North Creek Depot Museum, donated by the Lussi family.

Guides who worked as independent contractors in the Beaver River area sit on the front steps of a guide house. Beaver River, NY. Courtesy of Dennis Buckley. Click here for our story on the Beaver River Club, a remote sportsmen’s club on the Beaver River that was flooded with the creation of the Stillwater Reservoir.

Caretaker Gerald Heath sits at Singer Castle on Dark Island, where he worked for a decade. As the caretaker, he lived on the island year-round. Circa 1950s or early 1960s. Chippewa Bay, NY. Photo courtesy of Doug Heath.

One of Gerald Heath’s sons mows the lawn at Singer Castle on Dark Island, where Heath was the caretaker. Circa 1950s or early 1960s. Chippewa Bay, NY. Photo courtesy of Doug Heath.

Caretaker Gerald Heath holds a hose outside Singer Castle on Dark Island. He was responsible for keeping the island running, which included watering the grounds. Circa 1950s or early 1960s. Chippewa Bay, NY. Photo courtesy of Doug Heath.

A group of people sits on the steps inside Singer Castle on Dark Island, including caretaker Gerald Heath (far left) and a dog. Circa 1950s. Chippewa Bay, NY. Photo courtesy of Doug Heath.

Doug Heath raking at Singer Castle on Dark Island, where his father was the caretaker. Circa 1950s. Chippewa Bay, NY. Photo courtesy of Doug Heath.

Gerald Heath with lawnmower at Singer Castle on Dark Island, where he was the caretaker. Circa 1950s or early 1960s. Chippewa Bay, NY. Photo courtesy of Doug Heath.

Gerald Heath, caretaker at Dark Island, sits on his iceboat. Heath built the iceboat out of plywood and attached a small airplane propeller to the back. He used the boat to get from the island to the mainland during the winter. Circa 1950s or early 1960s. Chippewa Bay, NY. Photo courtesy of Doug Heath.

Roy C. Johnson, who worked as both a preacher and a trapper, next to a wall of pelts, including muskrat, fox, mink, and raccoon. Circa 1978. Philadelphia, NY. Courtesy of Dave Johnson.