Norwood in the 1880's

 

Nov. 27, 1880: The mills of the Norwood Lumber Co. have been shut down for the winter on account of the accumulation of snow and ice in the river. During the last 13-½ days, running only in the daytime, these mills cut 701,000 feet of lumber.

March 30, 1882: A broom factory has been started in Norwood.

May 1886: The Norwood News says that Sunday the workmen were busy putting in switches where the R.W. & O. R.R. intersects the O. & L.C. Some 20 or 25 rods of track were laid on the Norwood and Massena road, and a train of cars loaded with railroad ties run on. Leary (sic) McCormick has the honor of running the first engine on the new road. Gangs of men are at work on all the cuts and fills for several miles, and a large part of the grading for six or seven miles is under way. In some places rails and ties have been laid to be used in moving gravel, &c., with cars drawn by mules.

From the Ogdensburg Advance of Thursday, November 11, 1886:

It may be of some interest and perhaps value if a little thought be given to our alleged agricultural fairs. Setting aside all question as to the debasing influences of the close contact of the youth with the fakirs, the gamblers, the horse jockeys, the mountebanks, the charlatans, and the quacks that gather at the fairs, and looking at the matter as one of dollars and cents, it would be found hardly a profitable investment. There are in our county four annual fairs held. The receipts vary somewhat in different years, but will not be far from what they were this fall, which was: Gouverneur, $7,400; Ogdensburg, $6,000; Potsdam, $8,000; and Canton about $5,000, making about $26,000. The attendance at Gouverneur fair is estimated to be at least 28,000 people; at Ogdensburg, 22,000; at Potsdam 20,000 and at Canton, 15,000. This equals 85,000 people in attendance one day. A low estimate will make their expenses over and above what was paid for gate entrance and grand stand fees, $1 apiece. This will give $85,000 for that item. Allowing one-half that attended the fairs to be able to work, we have 42,500 days' work lost. These would be worth at least $1 per day, making $42,500 more. This makes our fairs, at a low estimate, cost us $26,000 for gate and entrance fees, $85,000 extra expenses, $42,500 lost time-in all $153,500. This amount is cheerfully paid annually for-what?

This money would build ten school houses every year equal to the magnificent Norwood Union Free School building. It would build a dozen beautiful churches. It would help from 300 to 400 young men to a college education annually. It would place in comfortable circumstances a score of unfortunate people who are now in misery and poverty. Do our fairs pay?-Norwood

From the Ogdensburg Advance News of Thursday, January 6, 1887:

Two years ago, Dec. 29, one of the coldest nights of that winter, Yale's Hall, at Norwood, burned. In the removing of goods from the endangered buildings, a valuable shawl belonging to Mrs. A. H. Bean, and a fine comforter belonging to Mrs. G. E. Holbrook, were lost. As a thorough search the day following failed to find the articles, it was concluded they had been stolen. Last Monday night, Dec. 20, just two years from the night of the fire, a package was left at S. A. Wilbur's house, near the site of the old hall, which contained the lost shawl and comforter. The shawl showed the marks of wear, but with the comfortable, proved an uncomfortable possession.-Norwood News.

From the Thursday, July 14, 1887 Ogdensburg Advance News:

July 1887: Lewis McEwen, of this place, will take the prize for grit. He jammed a finger quite severely the other day. The doctor dressed the wound saying that in all probability the finger would have to come off, although he would try and save it. After a few days Mr. McEwen, seeing that amputation would be necessary. Took his razor and going out to his woodpile, proceeded to amputate his own finger, which he successfully accomplished, taking it off at the first joint.-Norwood News

 

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