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."
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."
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."
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.
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."
On 5/12/21 Brandi LaVancha writes "My grandfather owned this house many years ago and raised a family, eventually remarried my grandmother and lived there many years. After they sold the home it went into disrepair until it was remodeled and now looks like a home again. Great memories were made in this home. I still can see it like it was yesterday with grandma's flowers and Robert's horses."
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."
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"
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"
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!"
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."
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."
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."
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."