Old Abandoned Buildings of Northern New York page 2

Taken on 9/3/04
One of the un-restored parts of Sackets Harbor Madison Barracks, Jefferson County

Also see page 9 for more pics as well as page 27. You can find more info on the history of Madison Barracks at this page.

Randy Nier writes: "I worked at the Madison Barracks from when I was 20 yrs old to about 24. Me, as well as my father (Gary Nier), Bob Kaple, and two others rebuilt all the window sashes. We recovered and used all the old counterweights that were used on the original windows for officer's row and the apartment buildings along Mill Creek. We did most of the trim work on officer's row. We built all the stairs and did most of the restoration wood work onsite. We built all the counter tops for the apartment buildings also. We had a shop setup at the end of the barracks where we built everything. PRP Construction was the company involved in this restoration of the barracks. They employed a lot of Sackets natives. It really boosted the economy in the area. My Aunt Jane Hess worked at the bakery there at the Barracks for quite awhile before she became sick. I was involved in a great deal of the restoration there. When I was hired, shortly after Bob and my father, construction had just began about 6 months earlier. I was born and raised in Sackets till I was 24 when I
moved to Phoenix, Az. where I now reside. Sackets Harbor and the Madison Barracks has really become quite a tourist area and has grown quite a bit. Sackets Harbor and the Barracks is to me the greatest down home area to be fortunate enough to lived in."

Taken on 9/3/04
One of the un-restored parts of Sackets Harbor Madison Barracks
Weird angle, it's not really tilting.

Also see page 9 for more pics as well as page 27. You can find more info on the history of Madison Barracks at this page.

Hope M. of Perceptionphotography.biz writes: "In my recent research I found that the red brick building at Sackets Harbor was built in 1892 and used as an Administrative Building until 1905 , then it was used as the Main Mess Hall. The Grey Limestone building was a hospital."

Taken on 9/3/04
One of the un-restored parts of Sackets Harbor Madison Barracks

Also see page 9 for more pics as well as page 27. You can find more info on the history of Madison Barracks at this page.

Taken on 9/03/04
One of the un-restored parts of Sackets Harbor Madison Barracks, another view of previous building

Also see page 9 for more pics as well as page 27. You can find more info on the history of Madison Barracks at this page.

Taken on 9/03/04
One of the un-restored parts of Sackets Harbor Madison Barracks

Also see page 9 for more pics as well as page 27. You can find more info on the history of Madison Barracks at this page.

Taken on 9/03/04
Ontario Street, Sackets Harbor, old fuel gantry for ships

Taken on 9/06/04
Old buildings on Route 12 between Lowville and Copenhagen, Lewis County.

Taken on 9/06/04
Old building on Route 12 near Copenhagen

Donald W. writes that this house was formerly owned by Elwood Waugh, who has since passed away.

Taken on 9/06/04
Another view of previous old building on Route 12 near Copenhagen

On 3/31/14 Kathy writes "This is the Waugh home on Rt 12 outside the village of Copenhagen.The house has been vacant for many years now."

Taken on 9/06/04

A large house at Clarks Corners at the intersection of Route 12 and the Number Three Road, near Copenhagen, Lewis County
Now demolished.
Additional notes 03/02/09. A local newspaper, the Watertown Daily Times, did a story on this house and the woman who owned it in the mid 1990's. The date of the story was July 23, 1995 and took place not long after a major storm, The Microburst of 1995, damaged the building (and many others in the North Country). Some of the damage included downing three large columns in front, stripping off most of the roof and rolling it up on top of the building, breaking most of the windows, and destroying the garage.
The elderly woman; Winnie Snyder, 85, lived there with her dog and numerous pets (the article mentions the possibility of 80). It had been her home since 1919 when her parents, Ray and Ethel Snyder, bought a farm at Clarks Corners.
The architecture, the article says, is Greek Revival style and the author's guess is that it dates from the early 1800's.

Jack S. writes: "Shortly before it was demolished the owners had a large garage sale here. One of the young boys was giving guided tours. It was a beautiful place at one time, the main part was built of 2x6 planks laid flat like a log cabin. This made a solid wall. There was a beautiful stairway and other woodwork. It must have been a hotel at one times there were 4 bedrooms in the main part and at least 4 that we dared to get near in the back part."

Kim F. writes: "That was always one of my favorite houses to see. Too bad it didn't make it, but so glad you got pictures!"

CC writes: "Not sure why but so many of my friends and I recall that house from early on in our lives-(early 1960's-ish) it was a house that 'left an impression'. We sometimes still talk about it- maybe it was where we knew our folks would slow the car down....where we turned to take the short cut to Lowville- and some of [us] think we had visions of it being a President's home- and some maybe thought it to be haunted- one thing is for sure...it still haunts our memories!!!"

On 3/7/13 Eric writes "The old house at the corner of the #3 Rd and State Route 12 is torn down and it looks like they are building some sort of business there, possibly a contractors business."

On 3/31/14 Eric Kathy writes "The site where this house once stood, a church was built in 2013."

Taken on 9/06/04
A large house on Route 12 near Copenhagen
Now demolished.

From Miz_Duke (via Flickr.com): "Thats sad that they tore it down."

From 10mmm (via Flickr.com): "I was so sad that I wasn't there when they tore it down, I would have loved to do one of the tours!
We have to drive by it on our way to Watertown, and when I was little I always used to dream about buying it and fixing it up."
Mrford writes "I own 3 abandoned buildings in PA the township always threatened to tear my buildings down but they stopped because I'm a lawyer."
On 4/30/13 chery writes "This house was referred to as 'the cup and saucer house' by those of an older generation. I was told that the elder of the family lived there into her 90's. She passed somewhere in the last 15 yrs I think."
On 9/24/13 Erin Herzig-Aubel writes "This house belonged to my great Great Aunt Winnie Snyder...she passed away in 2000 She was sadly killed in a car accident. we have several pics of the home in its betters years."
On 10/13/13 M. Kerry asks "If this house was named the "Cup and Saucer House" is it the one that was built for Napoleon's brother to live in? Could it be that old?"
*Answer by the webmaster - "The phrase 'Cup and Saucer House' refers to a certain architectural type of house where there is a smaller section at the top and wider main structure on the bottom so that it looks like a cup sitting in a larger saucer. The house near Copenhagen that you are referring to is one of these architectural types. The one that was built as a refuge for Napoleon was in Cape Vincent, NY and burned in 1867, but the foundations were re-used for a library still standing in Cape Vincent."

Mark L. sent me these two additional photos, taken on 12/10/2004.

Taken on 9/06/04
Yet another old building on Route 12 near Copenhagen

On 8/1/12 Scott D. writes "This house is no longer empty. This has been beautifully remodeled. It seems great to see some of the old buildings receive a reprieve from the death sentence of falling into such disrepair that they fall down."

Taken on 9/10/04
Millens Bay Road, Jefferson County

Tracy M. writes: "The farmer had it burned down."

d. kinne writes: "Lived there for many years was always in a run down condition. Owner never wanted to put any work into it."

Taken on 9/10/04
Millens Bay Road

Tracy M. writes: "I use to live in that house when I was younger. There was a barn and that burned down in 1974 I believe."

On 11/6/13 Billie Jo writes "I am in love with this house!!!!!!!"

On 3/20/15 James Fletcher writes "Anyone have contact information for the owner, perhaps this is available. I'd love to "Inherit" or be able to squat in a place like this"

Taken on 9/10/04
Millens Bay Road, Jefferson County, rumored to be haunted by two elderly ladies who were former residents.
Burned down.

Mandy E. writes: "This house burnt down sometime in the past yr..I think perhaps the late summer of 08. I live around the corner from it."

Lara L. writes: "I live right next to it. I woke up the night it caught on fire and looked outside. It was a crazy fire, the whole place was engulfed in flames."

On 8/9/12 Bob Allen writes "Wow...I used to photograph this house almost annually starting in the early 1970s. For some reason it has always fascinated me. I took a trip up north just last November after having been away from the area for some time, only to find the burned down remains of the house and outbuildings. One day, in the late 70s/early 80s (can't recall specifically!) I was bold enough to knock on the door. I had heard two spinster sisters lived there all their lives, which was the case. They were known as the Reff sisters I believe. Both are buried in the Rossiere cemetery. (No one answered the door, but I did see a curtain move in the window!)
Bob Allen
Syracuse"

Taken on 9/10/04
Barn on Millens Bay Road

Taken on 9/10/04
Tiny round building with square part, Millens Bay Road

On 11/18/13 Linda Dunn writes "No kidding! I've always wanted an octagonal house and have been looking at building a 'tiny house' for a couple of years now. This is so perfect. I'm heading up to Canada to visit my daughter next spring. I might just have to track this little house down and see if it's for sale. I love it!"

Taken on 9/10/04
House on Bonney Road, town of Brownville
Update 9/17/07 Work seems to be ongoing on this house.

Was owned at one time by the Slate family. The house looks as though it is being worked on at this time.

Taken on 9/10/04
Barn on Bonney Road, across from previous house, town of Brownville, Jefferson County
Update 9/17/07 This barn has been demolished. The only thing left is a pile of old beams and wood.

Taken on 9/10/04
Old store in Limerick, Route 12E, Jefferson County

Don D. says this was a "grocery store and post office for many years. The store was purchased in the very early 80s by a Deputy Sheriff by the name of Leo Wilson who also owned a store and ice cream stand in Chaumont named 'Bayside'. I believe his eldest son ran it for awhile" until it was closed in the 90's. "In the lot next to the grocery store (nearest to Rte 12E) there was a smaller 1 story ranch style building with 2 large picture windows that was a Liquor Store but have not been in the area in many years and if I remember correctly that structure is now gone."

Comment from Pat R.: "You mention that the 1 story Ranch Style Building next to the old store in Limerick is probably gone. Not so, that building is still standing. I go past it frequently on my trips between Cape Vincent and Watertown. The structure is in poor condition but the entire building is still standing."

Ben G. writes: "I can recall when the old general store in Limerick opened back in the early '60's. It was called King's General Store. I even recall the original store that it replaced (on the opposite of Route 12E)."

Susan L.-D. writes: "i spent many a day during the summers in the store but it wasn't kings it was dorrs and my aunt was the postmaster at the 12 mailbox postoffice."

DL wrote: "I am a life time resident of Limerick and to correct the comment saying it was not Kings general store. It was called Kings general store, in fact if you look close at the sign that remains there today it still reads Kings. Mrs Dorr who is a close friend was the post mistress there for years Along with Mrs Timmerman of Pillar Point. As for the building next to it, It still stands as well. It started out as a liquor store and was converted to a diner in the late 70s by Shirley and Sam LaMora of Dexter. Later used as an arcade and finally as a small gift shop before being abandoned." and "As a side note the newly remodeled home next door is now a separate parcel. But originally was the home of Harold King, the original owner and operator of the general store. The abandoned cement block building was built for Harold King by my grandfather and uncle when the store moved from the opposite side of the road as you read in a previous message."

On 2/6/12 Bill Boyer wrote "I moved from Depauville in 1942 into the house on the north side of the said store and it wasn't even the present building you refer to. It was a fairly large, two story, stone building owned by two people, Luke Wells and Ervin Smith, called "Wells & Smith Store". It was purchased by Mr Harold King, brought up in Calaboga farming district, between Redwood and Hammond. He had spent his entire work-life in the US Army and left as a Captain. He purchased this stone store and the house on the south side of it from the two owners and was the postmaster also. When the new east-west road came through it took the stone store and a large mover came in and moved the home from the east side of the store and moved it where it is now, on the Dexter side of the present store. After the home was moved, the stone store was demolished and Harold King had the cement block structure built and ran it till he retired and sold. I worked all my teen years for Mr. King in that stone building till my people sold and moved to Redwood in 1951, purchasing a IGA market. Harold raised his family of wife and three children in the home before it was moved. This large home was moved with even the dishes, yet in the cupboards, and not a broken item!"

On 24/30/13 woody writes "me and my wife stopped at this store all the time."

Taken on 9/16/04
Game Farm Road, right outside of Brownville, Jefferson County

Matt writes: "This house on Game Farm Rd is supposedly owned by the Farr family, that owns most of the land on that plateau. This house is reportedly as built, no furnace, no electricity, no running water, but it remains somewhat maintained with windows being repaired and the lawn being mowed occasionally."

Taken on 9/16/04
Old farm on County Route 15 (Perch Lake Road), Jefferson COunty

J Blackford sent me the correction for the incorrect road that I had listed for this barn and wrote - "This farm is located on Perch Lake Road, it was once part of Timmerman farms. I worked on that farm when I was 14 years old. Owned by the Amish now they are fixing it up."

Taken on 9/16/04
Old barn on Honey Flats Rd, Jefferson County

Taken on 9/16/04
Another old barn on Honey Flats Road

Taken on 9/16/04
Another old farm on Honey Flats Road

On 3/24/12 Brandi C writes "This barn is located on Carter St. Also I do believe that the people that own the house that you can barely see in the corner of the picture still use this barn."

Taken on 9/16/04
Old Grange building in Perch River Village (CR-55, Allen Road), Jefferson County
Some work done on this since the photo was taken.