During last the last week or so, this column has had a number of inquiries concerning the Hotel Northland.
Out-of-town readers will be interested to know that the exceptional snow load from this winter’s record-breaking snow levels overwhelmed the structural integrity of the venerable hotel’s second-story porch floor. This past week, the entire porch/balcony that wrapped around the building has been removed, giving the hotel a completely different appearance.
Questions have ranged from, “When was the hotel built?’ to, “Who built it?” and, “Is it being torn down?”
Researching the history of this impressive hotel became easy when I discovered a clipping in the Free Press files, written by Almon Clarke Jr. Mr. Clark that recorded his memories of early Tupper Lake personages and events in a column entitled Old Timers Column. In addition to being postmaster here from 1918 to 1925, Mr. Clark also helped found (and was master of) Mt. Arab Lodge F & A.M. in 1904. His column concerning the Hotel Northland follows (week of Jan. 3, 1935):
“Do you remember 48 years ago when Joseph Gauthier first came to the sector now included in Tupper Lake village?
“The sale on January 1 of this year of one of the oldest landmark hostelries in town recalls many incidents in connection with pioneer days, which will be interest to older settlers.
“The sale referred to is that of the Northlands Hotel at the juncture of Front Street, Broad Street and Wawbeek Avenue in Lakeview – more commonly known as ‘French Village.’
“The ostensible disposers of the property were Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Gauthier and the purchaser is Charles Abdallah, business man of Sears Hill district for several years.
“It is alleged that the transaction approximates $32,000. Possession is to be given the new owner on April 2, next.
“Joseph Gauthier came into this section of the Adirondacks 48 years ago as a young man of 21. At that time there was no village here, no railroads, no post office; only a small 4th class affair at Moody-on-Big Tupper Lake conducted by the late “Uncle Mart” Moody with but two mails a week up the torturous Racket River valley from Potsdam.
“Little Joe” Gauthier, as he was always known to his friends, began work in the lumber woods for the late “John Doe” Anderson, famous pioneer jobber of the early days.
“That year’s cut of pulp and soft wood timber was made in the Jenkins Pond sector on what is now part of the Litchfield Park estate of the late Edward H. Litchfield, noted New York City attorney and millionaire real estate dealer.
“The Norwood Manufacturing Co. had the timber rights and the huge annual cut of millions of feet of coniferous logs that floated through Big Tupper Lake and down the Racket River through Potsdam to the company’s mills at Norwood.
“Mr. Gauthier worked in the woods winters and each spring aided in the great log drives which were not completed until well into summer months. He recounts many incidents in connection with the old time, but now almost obsolete, log drives – of the dangers and hardships to the hard men who toiled from day break till dark seven days a week – sometimes wet to the skin – sometimes suffering from cold when sudden spring snowstorms and sub-freezing weather would overtake them.
“But the great mass of logs had to be kept moving, and the men always got hot tea or coffee and four meals a day. A majority of the men were French-Canadians with a fairly good number of sturdy North Country Irishmen.
“Mr. Gauthier tells of one Canadian who came in one spring and applied for a job on the drive. The foreman asked him if he knew how to drive logs. The applicant said, ‘What you call dat 4-leg bird dat runs up a tree an’ round an ‘round de trunk wit his long bush tail over his back?’
“The foreman replied that he must mean a squirrel.
“The man replied, ‘Squirrel, dats heem; well dat’s me on a log.’
“The man was hired at once.
“When Mr. Gauthier first came into this country he lived for a few years with William McLaughlin (Uncle Mac, as he was known) who had a small farm-house on what later was named Moody Road and owned practically all the virgin woodlands where now stands Tupper Lake village.
“In 1890 the town of Altamont was established when it was set off from the town of Waverly. The Northern Adirondack railway was completed from Moira to Tupper Lake, and in 1892 the Webb railroad was pushed through the woods from Herkimer, via Prospect and Hinckley, to Malone.
“The John Hurd ‘Big Mill’ was built and a small saw mill was erected a half-mile farther down the shores of Racket Pond by H.H. Hobson, who, in 1891, became the first supervisor of the newly erected town of Altamont.
“Forty-two years ago Mr. Gauthier purchased from Wallace McLaughlin, son of the pioneer William McLaughlin, the large parcel of land in Wawbeek avenue where he built a small frame dwelling with lumber purchased from Hobson.
“Forty years ago, he united in marriage with Miss Mary Provost of Redford. They lived for two years in their modest home, then built the Canadian Hotel on the corner in 1898. It was moderate in size but large in hospitality and soon became the home of large numbers of French-Canadian lumberjacks and log drivers, who crowded the hotel to capacity while waiting for lumbering to start or spring freshets to open the streams for the annual log drive.
“During the early years of the present century the erstwhile hamlet of 300 souls had grown into the thriving Tip Top Town of the Adirondacks and had become a real business center, which has steadily advanced until today, with its 6,000 population, it stands second to Malone, the county seat.
“All those years, the Canadian Hotel was prosperous. Improvements and additions were made and everything seemed bright until fire destroyed the old landmark.
“Nothing was saved. The family and guests barely escaping with their lives. The fire records placed the total loss at $35,000, which included a large stock of supplies, all furniture, bedding, clothing and personal effects.
“The blow was heart-rending as the owner carried only $2,500 insurance which was nearly all used up in clearing the mass of debris from the basement and repairing the foundation.
“Mr. Gauthier, with two of his sons, aged 14 and 16 years, respectively, began the task of rebuilding the hotel which was planned to be a 24-room structure of brick and concrete fireproof construction, to be named the Northlands Hotel.
“In December, 1926, eight months after the destructive fire, occurred the death of Noah Provost who had resided for many years with his sister, Mrs. Gauthier, to whom he left $15,000, practically all of which was expended for material and skilled labor in erecting the new and imposing three-story hotel.
“It was nearly two years before the building was completed as the owner and his two young sons did all work possible without hiring men.
“Mr. Gauthier states that he plans to erect and occupy a small residence on his farm which is located near the New York & Ottawa railway, one mile below Faust and a short distance from Piercefield road.
“The property, which is owned by Mrs. Gauthier, includes a large area of fertile and tillable land and valuable woodlot.
“A farmhouse formerly stood on the property, but it was totally destroyed by fire several years ago.
“Mr. Gauthier, still plucky despite his 69 years, states that he may also enter the business world again if a suitable opportunity arises before April.”
CORRECTION
In a recent Transitions article, which featured a photograph
of early settler Richard S. Gile, I incorrectly stated that Mr. Gile
was a Civil War veteran (1861-1865). Mr. Gile’s grandson, Frederick Culley,
has kindly set the record straight, noting that Mr. Gile was born in
1850 and enlisted in the U.S. Army at Plattsburgh barracks on June 18,
1870. He was stationed at Fort Meade, Dakota Territory, served as a recruiting
officer at Philadelphia, Penn., and was discharged from the service in
1883 with a monthly pension of $8. Mr. Culley also noted that Mr. Gile
and his wife, Lenora, worked at Litchfield Park – he as gatekeeper and
she as housekeeper. The correction is appreciated and I regret the error.
P.S.: Mr. Culley, now 90 years of age, recently celebrated his 65th
wedding anniversary with is wife, Bertha, and their four children. He
is currently writing his autobiography.
W. Frenette
Town Historian
SIDEBAR
Fond memories of the railroad
Editors note: The following short story, composed a number of years ago
by Cleo Laramie Griffith, was submitted to us by her sister, Linda Naone
of Tupper Lake, who came across it recently while looking through family
mementos. With the Next Stop Tupper Lake community effort now
if full swing, we believe the piece will bring back fond memories for
many here:
The Good Old Days
Traveling on the railroad is sadly missed by me. My father was a conductor
on the NYC, you see. He used to take us sometime, on a run to Utica.
As passengers we’d proudly sit and watch the world go by. On rare occasions,
Montreal – a night trip – that was why he put us in the Pullman car,
we rode in style. We also had the pleasure while he was moving freight,
to ride their quarters, in the rear caboose is where they stayed. The
trains were long, the cars were filled with people going places – we
rode the rails with all of them, adventure we were tasting. Looking
back recalls a day we all packed fishing poles, we put a speeder on
the tracks, a mess of fish our goal. We caught a lot of bullhead we
brought home to our mother. What a day that was for us – we had them
for supper. The treasure of those days are gone, the railroads, nearly
vanished. My parents live in Tupper Lake, so far, we’re nearly banished.
I’d like to visit often but travel time is slim. If railroads were
in transit, problems wouldn’t be so dim. Our house I’d leave to a catch
a train, the engines facing north, and be in time for supper with,
the swellest ones on earth.