Chateaugay Lake Forest Fires

One of the most destructive forest fires in years is now raging in the Adirondacks. Several men from this place and Brainardsville went to King’s mill last Thursday morning to help extinguish a fire which had started in that section. They found that the fire had gained such headway, that it was impossible to quench the flames. The men fought the fire heroicly but were unable to save the lumber camps and were often in great danger of losing their lives. A large number of men were fighting the fires night and day last week to extinguish the flames before they reached the High Falls Pulp and Paper Company’s land of valuable green timber. The conflagration however drove the fire fighters back from the firing line and is now burning fiercely on the land that they were trying to save from the burning flames. Hundreds of rabbits are perishing in the unquenchable fire. They scream when overtaken by the flames which is destroying everything in its path. Deer and foxes are often seen fleeing from the conflagration which has extended over an area of several square miles. A large truck load of men were taken to the Upper Chateaugay Lake Tuesday morning to fight a fire which is burning on the west side of the lake. Another fire has broken out near Ragged Lake, A large force of men were sent to the scene of the conflagration Wednesday. The fire fighters have the flames nearly extinguished in the vicinity of Figure eight.

Chateaugay Record May 27, 1921.

Main Street, Chateaugay, ca. 1906

"Arrived here at 9 a.m. this morning. Will start back by Wednesday. This picture is similar to Andover [Mass.] about 2500 people.

Pauline Merrill Bracy

This photograph was taken of Pauline Bracy of Chateaugay in 1939 at her home on Merrill Road, Bellmont.

M.E. Church, Brainardsville, NY

Wish you many returns for the day

July 27, 1915

Lower Chateaugay Lake, NY-2 (Henry Beach)

date illegible

Regards to both. A grand trip and having a swell time. Snow to-day. This is some lake and scenery is grand up here. Some mts. All are well.

P.S. Had venison for dinner to-day. Good too!

Masonry in Chateaugay, by Bell Camp

Some of the Early History of the Local Lodge

First Established in 1809

Twice It Was Ransacked and Jewels, &c., Stolen

Who Constituted the Membership.

Of the early Masonic history of Chateaugay but little is known. A great forest was here, extending almost unbroken for hundreds of miles in every direction, inhabited by wild beasts and wilder red savages. Little clearings there were—garden spots in this great wilderness—where the hardy pioneers had felled the giant trees, built their homes and were cultivating the land. Of the comforts and luxuries we now enjoy they knew nothing; even many of the things we deem necessities were to them as yet unborn. Such a garden spot was Chateaugay, first settled by the white race in 1796, when Benjamin Roberts came from Ferrisburg, VT, and Nathan Beman from Plattsburgh. Here, thirteen years later, 1809, Rainbow Lodge, No. 12, A.F.&A.M., was organized. Who the officers were or how many constituted its membership no records are left to tell. We know of but few of those early brothers, many years since passed away, but among them are some whose names are still familiar to our older inhabitants and some left sons and daughters who still are with us. They were: William V. Derby, Judge Gideon Collins, Caleb Seabury, Daniel Goodspeed, Col. Thos. Smith, Peter McGregor, Rev. Ephraim Smith.

Undoubtedly its struggles were hard, but it was composed of hardy woodsmen who counted privation nothing. When in 1812 began the second war with Great Britain we have no doubt but what many of these pioneers of Masonry in Northern New York went forth to fight the enemy of their country. In 1814 a portion of the British army passed through Chateaugay, burning and pillaging as they went, and from this foe Rainbow Lodge did not escape. All the regalia and jewels were stolen and taken to Montreal where some Masons of that city bought them and returned them to Chateaugay. It is said that those same Montreal Masons were some of them officers in the British army, and, therefore, foes of our country, but they were still brothers of the struggling few across the border line and proved this fact by their generosity.

Once again this early history becomes obscure and we find nothing of importance until 1826 when the great anti-Masonic excitement set in. To those unfamiliar with the cause and effect of this great social disturbance a few words may be of interest.

William Morgan, a member of the fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons in the State of New York, broke with the order, or rather was expelled, and threatened to publish its secrets. He suddenly disappeared and was never authentically heard of afterward. Rumors of his whereabouts gained currency, but none could ever be traced to a trustworthy origin. The belief became common that either his life had been taken or that he had been privately and permanently exiled into the obscurity of some foreign country. The Masons fell under the suspicion of having abducting him, and a great clamor was raised against the fraternity in New York. The animosity against the Masons extended in other parts of the country and their enemies became united as a political party. De Witt Clinton, one of the most prominent and valuable statesmen of New York, lost his political place and influence on account of his membership with the order. Eventually Masonry proved too powerful for its foes. It has subsequently been proven that the fraternity knew no more of Morgan’s whereabouts than those outside the craft. His so-called “expose” was entirely harmless and never was of the slightest injury to the order, but he evidently became alarmed at the agitation his threats had created and either sought a hiding place or was secreted by his friends and soon after died as a result of a rather disappiated life.

Remote as Chateaugay then was, this excitement reached the settlement, and, when one day it was discovered that the regalia and furniture of the lodge had again disappeared, and as no trace of it could be found with the exception of one collar belonging to Peter McGregor, the members evidently became discouraged and gave up the struggle, for here the history of Masonry in Chateaugay for a period of 34 years ends.

May 22, 1860, on petition of Rev. Andrew M. Millar, Daniel S. Coonley, Amos H. Gustin, John B. Bort, W. W. Scriver, Hiram M. Roberts, and Daniel F. Soper, the Grand Lodge of the State of New York granted to Frontier Lodge, No. 517, A.F.&A.M., a dispensation entitling it to confer the first three degrees in Masonry, and Rev. Andrew M. Millar was elected the first Master under this grant. The first person admitted by degrees was Ossian H. Stiles, who was initiated Entered Apprentice Aug. 7, 1861, passed to the degree of Fellow Craft Aug. 21 and raised to the Master Mason’s degree Sept. 25. During this year Oliver Smith and Don E. Seabury were also admitted, both being raised on Dec. 9^th, and William V. Derby, one of the original members of Rainbow Lodge, was taken into full membership. Dec. 4, 1861, the lodge received its first official visit when R.W. Frank Hopkins, of Ausable Forks, D.D.G.M., was received with the honors due his station. Among those made Master Masons during the second year of the lodge’s existence we note the following familiar names: S. S. Clark, S. Y Jones, W. N. Smith, Hiram Cartwright and Hiram Paddock.

June 6, 1862, the lodge was formally granted a charter and John B. Bort was elected the first Master under this act. The first fifteen years were intensely interesting in degree work, application after application coming in, and the officers had little time to grow rusty. The record of the lodge during these years is as follows:

Year Applications Elected Rejected

1861--4--4--0

1862--15--15--0

1863--20--16--4

1864--41--33--8

1865--43--27--16

1866--23--16--7

1867--20--15--4

1868--20--12--8

1869--12--10--2

1870--11--8--3

1871--7--4--3

1872--2--1--2 (?)

1873--5--3--2

1874--1--0--1

1875--6--6--0

Number of demits granted, 56; withdrawn, 2; deaths, 8; expelled, 4; stricken from roll, 26; unaffiliated for non-payment of dues, 37; total, 133; restored, 31; total membership Jan. 1, 1876, 76. The eight deaths during this period were: Matthew M. Roberts, John Van Vechten, Truman B. Tryon, Silas w. Hatch, George B. Brewer, Hiram G. Childs, Ossian H. Stiles and George P. Stoughton.

Many of these old-time brothers have since passed to the Lodge on High, some have grown too old to continue active, but a great majority of the living ones are still members in good standing, and, while they may seldom attend its meetings, yet they seem to feel as much interest in its welfare as in their younger days. Four there are who are still as active and interested in the work as when youthful blood coursed through their veins. Don E. Seabury, Henry S. Day, John Hughes and M. A. Kennedy are often with us and ever ready to take any part. Their knowledge of the work and their familiarity with Masonic law makes them of inestimable value and their counsel is always sought by the younger members and especially by the officers whenever any perplexing problem comes up. Two of the original charter members, Hiram M. Roberts, of Manchester, NH, and William W. Scriver, of the Masonic Home at Utica, are still living and never fail to pay Frontier Lodge a visit whenever it is in their power to do so.

July 23, 1892, Frontier Lodge was called upon to mourn the death of one who had ever been faithful and true. William V. Derby passed from labor to refreshment at the age of 90 years. He was one of the original members of Rainbow Lodge and had been a Mason 63 years. Soon after uniting with Frontier Lodge he was made its Chaplain and for 25 years served in that capacity.

In ----- the lodge removed from its quarters in the Peaks & Carr block to rooms in the Clark block across the way, where it remained until the fire of 1893 which destroyed every business place on the north side of Main street, and [into?] the flames went everything the lodge possessed. Regalia, jewels, furniture, decorations, all went to help feed the hungry demon. Many of the old records were destroyed or this history might be more complete. But the members were not daunted though they had lost so much. The Presbyterian chapel was leased as a meeting place where the work went on until 1894 when the present quarters were established. After refurnishing and refitting the organization found itself in debt, but the old courage remained and today, after paying all obligations, relieving those in distress and keeping all Grand Lodge assessments paid, there is a tidy little sum in the Bank of Chateaugay laid by for a possible rainy day. The present rooms are large and convenient, well furnished and pleasant. Some things are lacking, but then, we expect someday to have a home of our own. There are about 100 members in good standing and as many more who claim Frontier Lodge as their old home but who, having gone to distant parts, have been transferred to other lodges. Many of the members have taken higher degrees, some having the honor to wear the double eagle of 32.

Those who have been Masters of the lodge one or more terms are: Andrew M. Millar, John B. Bort, Don E. Seabury, Abel H. Miller, Lewis W. Paddock, Dr. George Howe, John Hughes, William W. Scriver, Dr. A. M. Phelps, Thomas W. Cantwell, Isaac Warren, Grant G. Collins, Edward L. Stevens, M. A. Kennedy, Frank P. Kennedy, George W. Foster and Albert S. Barnes.

The present officers are:

W.M.—A. S Barnes

S.W.—H. C. Rodgers

J.W.—C. H. Crawford

Sec.—F. P. Kennedy

Treas.—I. M. Warren

S.D.—U. R. Campbell

J.D.—B. D. Corkins

S.M.C.—Chas. Banbury

J.M.C.—J. B. Cook

Tyler—H. S. Day

Chaplain—D. E. Seabury

Marshal—Thos. Crawford

This year the Grand Lodge of New York appointed to the responsible position of District Deputy Grand Master of the 41^st Masonic District one of our most zealous and hard-working brothers, G. W. Foster, and this week Chateaugay has the honor of having the annual District Convention held in this village, an account of which will be given in our next issue.

It is many thousands of years since Solomon the Wise became the first Most Excellent Grand Master, but throughout these ages Masonry has remained the same. It adopts no particular creed, yet every member must believe in the one ever living and true God. The open Bible is its great light and all its precepts and teachings are found in this book of books. Storms and tempests have hurled their thunders at its head; wave after wave of bright, insidious sand carried about its feet and heaped their sliding grains against its sides. But through the tempests and the storms, through the waves and sands of life, through evil report as well as good. Free Masonry has maintained its beneficent influence, spreading wider and wider over the earth. And a part of this great fraternity is Frontier Lodge. From a most humble beginning it has risen to a place of influence. Enemies it has, but their efforts to overthrow it are of no avail. Every word they have uttered against it has only served to unite its members the more firmly and has brought many good men within its fold.

Long live Frontier Lodge, No. 517.

Chateaugay Record, Friday, Oct. 12, 1906

Paul Smith's Hotel on St. Regis Lake, Adirondacks

Famous Paul Smith's place.

Scarcely know it now.

Chateaugay Lake from Merrill House, Merrill, N.Y.

Sept., 1906
Merrill, NY

Hello, guess that you will think that I have forgotten you. Have been having a lovely time, will be home Sunday and work Monday. If I get more, will write. A.G.B.

Adirondack Titles from Teach Services, Inc.

Threshing Grain by Flail--How the Flail Was Made--Spearing Salmon At Night

In the preceding chapter Mr. Merrill told of the excitement caused in the Chateaugay Lake settlement by the announcement that a railroad was to be built from Rouses Point to Ogdensburg, passing through Chateaugay Four Corners and Malone.

Chapter 26.

Threshing was not so pleasant a job. Wes had planned for Darius to help thresh all day Saturday, the last Saturday he would be at home. The grain was all tied up into shocks. A shock contained about twenty sheaves. Laying the sheaves down with their heads together in two long rows, they set-to with the flail--the device for beating grain from the sheaves. The flail was a straight strong maple sapling, four feet long and one and one-half inches thick, with a leather loop through one end, to which was hung another maple stick two and one half feet long, this short part being the one that whacked the grain.

Grasping the four-foot handle, they would swing the other end high over their heads in a circular motion, then bring it down with great on the sheaves till the grain was all pounded out. The the straw was removed and another layer of sheaves thrown down, and the process repeated until enough grain accumulated to run through the fanning mill.

Threshing was a far more agreeable process to watch than to engage in, for inside of fifteen minutes the dust would form a thick coat of black all over the faces of the threshers and just at that time the sweat commenced to wash the dirt into eyes, mouth, nose and down the back of their necks.

When night came the boys looked more like mulattoes than white men. Abbie called them Indians and drove them out of the house with the broom, woman's best weapon of warfare.

Another task the boys enjoyed next to gathering the apples, was pulling the carrots and turnips. When a choice, young, smooth turnip was found they would clean the dirt off by rubbing it on their trousers leg, then peel it with their thumb nail, and oh, how sweet and juicy it tasted. Wes like the carrots best, but Darius preferred the turnips.

And in the spring what fun it was to go racing through the woods, hunting crinkle root and ground nuts, which they munched with great gusto. And the sarsaparilla roots were dug and dried for medicine. Grandfather always kept a good supply of them on hand, together with large bunches of snakeshead and spikenard (spignet) and bitter weed.

Whenever any of the children contracted a cold in the head, grandmother lost no time steeping a dose of bitterweed which they had to drink without any adulterations. The bitter thoughts of this bitter dose prevented the development of many a cold.

About October twentieth the potato digging was finished and the following Sunday found Darius setting out on foot for the Drown district school house. Two weeks later he got permission from the trustee to dismiss school on a Friday noon in order to make the promised trip to the Upper Lake.

Arriving home at two, he found grandfather with everything in readiness for the trip. This time the old flintlock was not forgotten.

As on their former trip, they secured Mr. Drew's boat and stopping at the customary places to set a few traps they were soon examining the places where they had planted the white lily root. Not a sign of growth did they find until they reached Fields Bay and there they found about half a dozen leaves about a foot high from the bottom. Grandfather examined them closely.

"Gosh a mighty, Dide, that's them alright. Square corners on the leaves or pads, back of the stem, no mistaking that mark."

Dide was delighted in finding this one proof that the lilies would grow here, if given the right propagation, but why did the other roots die? He could not answer that question, but the positive proof that one had lived was enough to cause them to make another trip next summer to New Hampshire for more roots.

Arriving at the bark camp they hastily carried in their provisions and blankets. Having an hour before dark, Darius rigged up his fish pole and proceeded to the mouth of the Weed brook and soon had enough fish for supper. Grandfather accompanied him, and while Darius was fishing he set up the dead-fall for mink.

Then grandfather, searching along the trunk of an old fallen pine which must have fallen about the time Columbus discovered Ammerica, he picked up one of the huge knots which was saturated with pitch, so it was well preserved, and carried it to the camp. The knot had once been a limb, but had broken off about two feet from the trunk of the tree when the old monarch crashed to the ground, some hundreds of years before. Little black blotches of pitch stood out all over the knob where it had been united in growth to the old trunk. Darius had watched his father select this knot from among the others lying along the tree trunk, and thinking he intended it to replenish the camp fire, said nothing until grandfather carried it to the boat and placed it carefully in the bow, throwing an old bag over it.

Unknown to Darius, grandfather had brought along an old fish spear which he had used in New Hampshire in Massebeesic pond, but as yet he had had no chance to try it in Chateaugay Lake. Thinking this would be a good time, he had wrapped it up in the blankets, forgetting it until Darius' mess of little trout reminded him of his intention to show Darius some real big fish as it was the time of year that the salmon were having their last run, the male fish running last.

So Darius was anxious to know what grandfather was going to do with the knot. Stepping down to the boat he asked:

"Going to take it home to kindling?"

"No, No! We'll leave it here when we get through with it. Let's hurry up and eat supper now and then we'll cross over to the bluff and see what we can find." Darius was puzzled but felt sure his father had some surprise in store for him, so said nothing more, but hastily cooked the trout, warmed up some potatoes in the pan, and with some of grandmother's bread and butter they enjoyed a hearty repast.

Then grandfather gathered a few handfuls of dry moss and rolled it tightly in white birch bark, about twenty inches across, carried them all to the boat, and bidding Darius shove off, they paddled across to what is now known as "Salmon Rock."

This rock is about two hundred yards from the shore of Bluff Point and sticks its head about two feet out of water, resting on the edge of a rocky ledge covering about one-half acre and this ledge is from eighteen inches to four feet under water, dropping precipitately to thirty and forty feet on all sides.

It was now quite dark and not a breath of wind was stirring. The moon was high in the south and the Northern Lights were streaming up from the North. They reflected from the little ripples in the water caused by the paddle and the boat moving through the water, sparkling like myriads of diamonds, running in tiny circles around them. Darius thought he had never seen such a fascinating picture.

"Say, Dide, just hang on to that rock until I get this torch going," and as he spoke grandfather commenced striking sparks from his flint and steel. Soon he had the moss burning. Fanning it with his breath until it blazed, he placed a flat stone with the blazing moss up on the end deck of the boat. Then taking the pine knot he dipped the smooth end in the water, holding it several minutes for the water to soak in. Then placing the other end in the blaze he soon had a very brilliant torch.

Taking the torch in his left hand he grasped the spear in his right, then reaching the torch far out and over his head, he peered down on the rocky bottom which was plainly visible.

Almost instantly the spear was shoved down and as quickly brought up again. Impaled on the spear was a four-pound salmon trout. Darius wanted to shout with sheer delight. He then took a look at the bottom. Grandfather handed the torch to Darius, bidding him hold it above his head so he could see the bottom plainly. And the sight that met his eyes thrilled him. A black surging mass with their broad tails swishing each other, with their yellow and red fins flashing in the torchlight. It was enough to make any sportsman thrill.

Darius then held the torch while grandfather speared as many as the little boat would hold, which took only about two hours. Then they returned to camp, dressed the fish and placed them in the cold spring back of the beach. There were sixty-four in all, weighing from four to eight pounds each. Darius could scarcely believe his eyes.

"Why, father!" said he, "what are we going to do wtih all those fish?"

"Mighty! Mighty! Dide. They'll go like hot cakes in Malone, what we have left by Monday. It is freezing hard tonight. They'll keep a week in this weather."

This satisfied Darius and soon they were sleeping soundly under a heavy load of home-made woolen blankets. With their feet to the pitch pine fire, they could stand zero weather without being uncomfortable.

Copyright 1930
By Charles E. Merrill

A wonderful mirage seen over Chateaugay Lake is described by Mr. Merrill in the next chapter. Other experiences of grandfather and Dide on a hunting and fishing trip are narrated by "The Old Guide."

Malone Evening Telegram