Page 56 - Old Abandoned Buildings of Northern New York

Taken on 05/07/09
Remington Mill ruins in Glen Park, Route 12E/Route 190, along the Black River.
As of Fall 2022 most of the mill ruins have been demolished and removed. See photos at the bottom of this page.
A website visitor sent me the photos shown on this page that her and her husband took while exploring. I snapped the above photo from the road for perspective on the following photos (amazing how you can drive by something a thousand times and never notice it). For some more photos submitted by visitors click here.
These are the remains of the C.R. Remington and Sons Paper Company's paper and pulp mill. Sometime between 1884 and 1893 C.R. Remington and his family incorporated a paper mill business, with a capital of $225,000. They then had constructed a dam up across the Black River at Glen Park (210 feet long with 13 gates), built the above paper mill and another one further down the river. This mill was completed on January 1st, 1889. It produced tons of wood pulp each day using power from eight large six-foot water wheels.
On March 1st, 1891 the machinery in the mill was shut down for repairs and high water almost completely destroyed the mill; scattered equipment and collapsed the roof and some of the walls. The collapse also injured one man and killed another; John Murphy, aged 65 or 68. Damage was estimated at about $50,000 to $75,000 and would take four months to repair (thanks to Anita for some of the above research and for sending us more docs to search through).
In 1927 the mill burned largely to the ground (thanks to Scannerman for this research).

For more info about Glen Park go here.
Milo L. Cleveland and his company built the mill for Remington, Cleveland's company also built the Opera House, The Elks Building, and the former Cleveland Building in Watertown.
After eighteen years of operation the mill was sold to the International Paper Company in 1899.
The two following aerial photos were taken by the webmaster from the backseat of a Piper Cub, while on a photography flight with a friend:

Taken on 11/18/09

On 12/11/12 Derryl R. Johnson writes "My Great-great grandfather was John Murphy who was killed in the unfortunate accident in 1891. For a full account of this tragic accident, visit the Watertown Daily Times archives of March 2, 1891, titled 'A Big Pulp Mill in Ruins.'"

On 9/19/2022 Katie writes "This structure is currently being torn down :("

Taken on 04/17/11
Thanks to Tom B. for the tour so these photos could be taken.
Note in the pictures above the almost Roman-like arches made of bricks. Almost notice the grinder wheel in the fourth photo - this was the only one visible at the ruins, though there must have been many others.

Taken on 04/17/11
These are some ruins of buildings and structures connected or right beside the Remington Mill. The first two photos are looking down the Black River toward Brownville, and toward the remains of the foot bridge (photos here) where the Glen Park Amusement Park would have been on the other side of the river (click here for more info about the Glen Park Amusement Park).

Taken on 04/17/11
Notice the straight and tall tree that is growing in the last photo - it's had a long time to grow there since the mill became ruins.

Taken on 04/17/11
More shots looking down from the top of the ruins. In the last photo you can see the remains of a long beam.

Taken on 04/17/11
Down in the ruins. First photo is looking up at one of the brick arches, the second photo is one of a few chambers in the back, dug out of the cliff. The last three photos show the water outlets, the last photo taken from outside of the walls.

Taken on 04/17/11
First photo shows the inside of the mill, the second photo is taken looking along the side of the mill up-river, the third is looking up at one of the still-square corners, with a pine tree growing out of it.

Taken on 04/17/11
The first two photos show the braces for the back wall, the last photo shows some sort of roller, partially buried, near the ruins.

Taken on 04/17/11
The water inlets, last photo showing some of the power of the high water rushing along the Black River by the old ruins.

YouTube video of water flow 4/30/2011 from YouTube from MatthewRRT

In Fall of 2022 the remains of the ruins of the old Remington Mill were demolished, leaving only the remains of the floor and walls still in place. Photos submitted by ScannerMan.