Thatcherville - Revision history

MWanner at 16:59, 20 February 2026

2026-02-20T16:59:10Z

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	[[File:Thatcherville Bridge.jpg\|right\|thumb\|\|The bridge at Thatcherville, now closed.~~<br>~~Mud Pond is at left, the Saranac River at right.]]''Plattsburgh Sentinel'', August 11, 1882		[[File:Thatcherville Bridge.jpg\|right\|thumb\|The bridge at Thatcherville, now closed. Mud Pond is at left, the Saranac River at right.\|499x499px]]''Plattsburgh Sentinel'', August 11, 1882

	'''THE SARANAC RIVER IMPROVEMENT'''		'''THE SARANAC RIVER IMPROVEMENT'''

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	[[File:loon lake1908 se.jpg\|right\|thumb\|\|Thatcherville and Thatcherville Road based on the description in Seaver.<br>1908 USGS map]]'''Thatcherville''' was a hamlet on the North Branch of the [[Saranac River]] between [[Lake Kushaqua]] and [[Loon Lake]]. In the mid- to late-1800s it was an important site of the lumber business, and the site of a series of mills run by [[Albert Turner\|Albert Turner]] in 1882, and earlier by Messrs. Caldwell, Comstock, and Jackson. In 1881 the mill was being operated by 16-year-old [[E. M. Merrill\|E. M. Merrill]] who became famous as an engineer and surveyor.		[[File:loon lake1908 se.jpg\|right\|thumb\|Thatcherville and Thatcherville Road based on the description in Seaver.<br>1908 USGS map\|649x649px]]'''Thatcherville''' was a hamlet on the North Branch of the [[Saranac River]] between [[Lake Kushaqua]] and [[Loon Lake]]. In the mid- to late-1800s it was an important site of the lumber business, and the site of a series of mills run by [[Albert Turner\|Albert Turner]] in 1882, and earlier by Messrs. Caldwell, Comstock, and Jackson. In 1881 the mill was being operated by 16-year-old [[E. M. Merrill\|E. M. Merrill]] who became famous as an engineer and surveyor.

	The only remaining evidence of its existence is [[Thatcherville Road\|Thatcherville Road]], which runs for three miles from the [[Kushaqua-Mud Pond Road\|Kushaqua-Mud Pond Road]] to the [[Port Kent and Hopkinton Turnpike\|Port Kent and Hopkinton Turnpike]] at [[Hunter's Home\|Hunter's Home]], near Loon Lake.		The only remaining evidence of its existence is [[Thatcherville Road\|Thatcherville Road]], which runs for three miles from the [[Kushaqua-Mud Pond Road\|Kushaqua-Mud Pond Road]] to the [[Port Kent and Hopkinton Turnpike\|Port Kent and Hopkinton Turnpike]] at [[Hunter's Home\|Hunter's Home]], near Loon Lake.

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	[[File:loon lake1908 se.jpg\|right\|thumb\|\|Thatcherville and Thatcherville Road based on the description in Seaver.<br>1908 USGS map]]'''Thatcherville''' was a hamlet on the North Branch of the [[[Saranac River]] between [[Lake Kushaqua]] and [[Loon Lake]]. In the mid- to late-1800s it was an important site of the lumber business, and the site of a series of mills run by [[Albert Turner\|Albert Turner]] in 1882, and earlier by Messrs. Caldwell, Comstock, and Jackson. In 1881 the mill was being operated by 16-year-old [[E. M. Merrill\|E. M. Merrill]] who became famous as an engineer and surveyor.		[[File:loon lake1908 se.jpg\|right\|thumb\|\|Thatcherville and Thatcherville Road based on the description in Seaver.<br>1908 USGS map]]'''Thatcherville''' was a hamlet on the North Branch of the [[Saranac River]] between [[Lake Kushaqua]] and [[Loon Lake]]. In the mid- to late-1800s it was an important site of the lumber business, and the site of a series of mills run by [[Albert Turner\|Albert Turner]] in 1882, and earlier by Messrs. Caldwell, Comstock, and Jackson. In 1881 the mill was being operated by 16-year-old [[E. M. Merrill\|E. M. Merrill]] who became famous as an engineer and surveyor.

	The only remaining evidence of its existence is [[Thatcherville Road\|Thatcherville Road]], which runs for three miles from the [[Kushaqua-Mud Pond Road\|Kushaqua-Mud Pond Road]] to the [[Port Kent and Hopkinton Turnpike\|Port Kent and Hopkinton Turnpike]] at [[Hunter's Home\|Hunter's Home]], near Loon Lake.		The only remaining evidence of its existence is [[Thatcherville Road\|Thatcherville Road]], which runs for three miles from the [[Kushaqua-Mud Pond Road\|Kushaqua-Mud Pond Road]] to the [[Port Kent and Hopkinton Turnpike\|Port Kent and Hopkinton Turnpike]] at [[Hunter's Home\|Hunter's Home]], near Loon Lake.

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	[[File:loon lake1908 se.jpg\|right\|thumb\|\|Thatcherville and Thatcherville Road based on the description in Seaver.<br>1908 USGS map]]'''Thatcherville''' was a hamlet on the North Branch of the [[[Saranac River]] between [[Lake Kushaqua]] and [[~~Loon Lake\|~~Loon Lake]]. In the mid- to late-1800s it was an important site of the lumber business, and the site of a series of mills run by [[Albert Turner\|Albert Turner]] in 1882, and earlier by Messrs. Caldwell, Comstock, and Jackson. In 1881 the mill was being operated by 16-year-old [[E. M. Merrill\|E. M. Merrill]] who became famous as an engineer and surveyor.		[[File:loon lake1908 se.jpg\|right\|thumb\|\|Thatcherville and Thatcherville Road based on the description in Seaver.<br>1908 USGS map]]'''Thatcherville''' was a hamlet on the North Branch of the [[[Saranac River]] between [[Lake Kushaqua]] and [[Loon Lake]]. In the mid- to late-1800s it was an important site of the lumber business, and the site of a series of mills run by [[Albert Turner\|Albert Turner]] in 1882, and earlier by Messrs. Caldwell, Comstock, and Jackson. In 1881 the mill was being operated by 16-year-old [[E. M. Merrill\|E. M. Merrill]] who became famous as an engineer and surveyor.

	The only remaining evidence of its existence is [[Thatcherville Road\|Thatcherville Road]], which runs for three miles from the [[Kushaqua-Mud Pond Road\|Kushaqua-Mud Pond Road]] to the [[Port Kent and Hopkinton Turnpike\|Port Kent and Hopkinton Turnpike]] at [[Hunter's Home\|Hunter's Home]], near Loon Lake.		The only remaining evidence of its existence is [[Thatcherville Road\|Thatcherville Road]], which runs for three miles from the [[Kushaqua-Mud Pond Road\|Kushaqua-Mud Pond Road]] to the [[Port Kent and Hopkinton Turnpike\|Port Kent and Hopkinton Turnpike]] at [[Hunter's Home\|Hunter's Home]], near Loon Lake.

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	[[File:loon lake1908 se.jpg\|right\|thumb\|\|Thatcherville and Thatcherville Road based on the description in Seaver.<br>1908 USGS map]]'''Thatcherville''' was a hamlet on the North Branch of the [[[Saranac River]] between [[~~Lake Kushaqua\|~~Lake Kushaqua]] and [[Loon Lake\|Loon Lake]]. In the mid- to late-1800s it was an important site of the lumber business, and the site of a series of mills run by [[Albert Turner\|Albert Turner]] in 1882, and earlier by Messrs. Caldwell, Comstock, and Jackson. In 1881 the mill was being operated by 16-year-old [[E. M. Merrill\|E. M. Merrill]] who became famous as an engineer and surveyor.		[[File:loon lake1908 se.jpg\|right\|thumb\|\|Thatcherville and Thatcherville Road based on the description in Seaver.<br>1908 USGS map]]'''Thatcherville''' was a hamlet on the North Branch of the [[[Saranac River]] between [[Lake Kushaqua]] and [[Loon Lake\|Loon Lake]]. In the mid- to late-1800s it was an important site of the lumber business, and the site of a series of mills run by [[Albert Turner\|Albert Turner]] in 1882, and earlier by Messrs. Caldwell, Comstock, and Jackson. In 1881 the mill was being operated by 16-year-old [[E. M. Merrill\|E. M. Merrill]] who became famous as an engineer and surveyor.

	The only remaining evidence of its existence is [[Thatcherville Road\|Thatcherville Road]], which runs for three miles from the [[Kushaqua-Mud Pond Road\|Kushaqua-Mud Pond Road]] to the [[Port Kent and Hopkinton Turnpike\|Port Kent and Hopkinton Turnpike]] at [[Hunter's Home\|Hunter's Home]], near Loon Lake.		The only remaining evidence of its existence is [[Thatcherville Road\|Thatcherville Road]], which runs for three miles from the [[Kushaqua-Mud Pond Road\|Kushaqua-Mud Pond Road]] to the [[Port Kent and Hopkinton Turnpike\|Port Kent and Hopkinton Turnpike]] at [[Hunter's Home\|Hunter's Home]], near Loon Lake.

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	''Plattsburgh Press-Republican'', January 21, 1947		''Plattsburgh Press-Republican'', January 21, 1947

	… [[E. M. Merrill\|“Lem” Merrill]] was native of [[~~Merrillsville\|~~Merrillsville]] and was born on April 10, 1865, a son of Jeremiah and Louise (Washburn) Merrill. He attended the [[Merrillsville school\|Merrillsville school]], but left at the age of 14, going to work on the Merrill farm. When he was 16 he ran the sawmill at Thatcherville on the Saranac's north branch, earning 50 cents a day…		… [[E. M. Merrill\|“Lem” Merrill]] was native of [[Merrillsville]] and was born on April 10, 1865, a son of Jeremiah and Louise (Washburn) Merrill. He attended the [[Merrillsville school\|Merrillsville school]], but left at the age of 14, going to work on the Merrill farm. When he was 16 he ran the sawmill at Thatcherville on the Saranac's north branch, earning 50 cents a day…

MWanner: Text replacement - "[Saranac River|Saranac River]]" to "Saranac River"

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	[[File:loon lake1908 se.jpg\|right\|thumb\|\|Thatcherville and Thatcherville Road based on the description in Seaver.<br>1908 USGS map]]'''Thatcherville''' was a hamlet on the North Branch of the [[~~Saranac River\|~~Saranac River]] between [[Lake Kushaqua\|Lake Kushaqua]] and [[Loon Lake\|Loon Lake]]. In the mid- to late-1800s it was an important site of the lumber business, and the site of a series of mills run by [[Albert Turner\|Albert Turner]] in 1882, and earlier by Messrs. Caldwell, Comstock, and Jackson. In 1881 the mill was being operated by 16-year-old [[E. M. Merrill\|E. M. Merrill]] who became famous as an engineer and surveyor.		[[File:loon lake1908 se.jpg\|right\|thumb\|\|Thatcherville and Thatcherville Road based on the description in Seaver.<br>1908 USGS map]]'''Thatcherville''' was a hamlet on the North Branch of the [[[Saranac River]] between [[Lake Kushaqua\|Lake Kushaqua]] and [[Loon Lake\|Loon Lake]]. In the mid- to late-1800s it was an important site of the lumber business, and the site of a series of mills run by [[Albert Turner\|Albert Turner]] in 1882, and earlier by Messrs. Caldwell, Comstock, and Jackson. In 1881 the mill was being operated by 16-year-old [[E. M. Merrill\|E. M. Merrill]] who became famous as an engineer and surveyor.

	The only remaining evidence of its existence is [[Thatcherville Road\|Thatcherville Road]], which runs for three miles from the [[Kushaqua-Mud Pond Road\|Kushaqua-Mud Pond Road]] to the [[Port Kent and Hopkinton Turnpike\|Port Kent and Hopkinton Turnpike]] at [[Hunter's Home\|Hunter's Home]], near Loon Lake.		The only remaining evidence of its existence is [[Thatcherville Road\|Thatcherville Road]], which runs for three miles from the [[Kushaqua-Mud Pond Road\|Kushaqua-Mud Pond Road]] to the [[Port Kent and Hopkinton Turnpike\|Port Kent and Hopkinton Turnpike]] at [[Hunter's Home\|Hunter's Home]], near Loon Lake.

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	The improvements to be made will commence at what is known as the Thousand Islands, about nine miles above Clayburgh, or the forks of the river. For the first four miles above Clayburgh, to the mouth of Alder Brook, the river runs smoothly and there is sufficient depth for rafting. Goldsmith used to raft his lumber between these points. For three and a half miles above Alder Brook to the foot of Goldsmith pond the river is rapid, but there are no obstructions to driving logs. The pond sets back about a mile and a half, when we come to the Thousand Islands. Here the stream divides into a dozen sluggish channels, through a cedar swamp for about a mile and a half. The work to be done will consist of bringing the current all into one main and enlarged channel, by means of digging and dredging, and removing obstructions.		The improvements to be made will commence at what is known as the Thousand Islands, about nine miles above Clayburgh, or the forks of the river. For the first four miles above Clayburgh, to the mouth of Alder Brook, the river runs smoothly and there is sufficient depth for rafting. Goldsmith used to raft his lumber between these points. For three and a half miles above Alder Brook to the foot of Goldsmith pond the river is rapid, but there are no obstructions to driving logs. The pond sets back about a mile and a half, when we come to the Thousand Islands. Here the stream divides into a dozen sluggish channels, through a cedar swamp for about a mile and a half. The work to be done will consist of bringing the current all into one main and enlarged channel, by means of digging and dredging, and removing obstructions.

	For two miles and a half above the Thousand Islands to [[~~https://localwiki.org/hsl/~~Thatcherville\|Thatcherville]] there is a rocky rapids which will need extensive improvements. Rocks will need to be removed at points all along the stream to provide a suitable run-way for the logs.		For two miles and a half above the Thousand Islands to [[Thatcherville\|Thatcherville]] there is a rocky rapids which will need extensive improvements. Rocks will need to be removed at points all along the stream to provide a suitable run-way for the logs.

	Above Thatcherville, a slack-water system is entered upon, extending through Mud Pond, and Round Pond up to [[~~https://localwiki.org/hsl/~~Rainbow_Lake\|Rainbow Lake]], the source of the North Branch. No improvements are needed above Thatcherville, except the repairing of the dams at the outlets of Mud and Round Ponds. As we understand it, it will be necessary to bring these dams into requisition for the successful driving of logs, raising the gates at proper times, and producing high water in the stream.		Above Thatcherville, a slack-water system is entered upon, extending through Mud Pond, and Round Pond up to [[Rainbow_Lake\|Rainbow Lake]], the source of the North Branch. No improvements are needed above Thatcherville, except the repairing of the dams at the outlets of Mud and Round Ponds. As we understand it, it will be necessary to bring these dams into requisition for the successful driving of logs, raising the gates at proper times, and producing high water in the stream.

	Thatcherville, where Mr. Albert Turner is now running a mill, is a point of considerable importance in the past history of the lumber business, Caldwell's, Corn- stock's, and Jackson's mills having been successively operated there.		Thatcherville, where Mr. Albert Turner is now running a mill, is a point of considerable importance in the past history of the lumber business, Caldwell's, Corn- stock's, and Jackson's mills having been successively operated there.

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	Frederick J. Seaver, [[Historical Sketches of Franklin County\|Historical Sketches of Franklin County]], (1918) p. 362		Frederick J. Seaver, [[Historical Sketches of Franklin County\|Historical Sketches of Franklin County]], (1918) p. 362

	A mill was built at Thatcherville, three miles above Hunters' Home, about 1840 by [[Avery Thatcher\|Avery Thatcher]], and a dozen years later Allan ~~Com<span class="gtxt_body">stock~~ rebuilt on the same site for his father, Peter, of Franklin Falls. Litigation tied up the property, however, and the mill never did any work. The writer remembers visiting it in 1863, when it had become a wreck. About 1879 or 1880 Albert Turner rebuilt it, and ran it for two or three years — finally selling it to the Hartwells of Plattsburgh. The mill and the houses belonging with it have been swept away by fire, and the site is now owned by the International Paper Company.		A mill was built at Thatcherville, three miles above Hunters' Home, about 1840 by [[Avery Thatcher\|Avery Thatcher]], and a dozen years later Allan Comstock rebuilt on the same site for his father, Peter, of Franklin Falls. Litigation tied up the property, however, and the mill never did any work. The writer remembers visiting it in 1863, when it had become a wreck. About 1879 or 1880 Albert Turner rebuilt it, and ran it for two or three years — finally selling it to the Hartwells of Plattsburgh. The mill and the houses belonging with it have been swept away by fire, and the site is now owned by the International Paper Company.
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	[[File:loon~~%20lake1908%20se~~.jpg\|right\|thumb\|\|Thatcherville and Thatcherville Road based on the description in Seaver.<br>1908 USGS map]]'''Thatcherville''' was a hamlet on the North Branch of the [[Saranac~~%20River~~\|Saranac River]] between [[Lake~~%20Kushaqua~~\|Lake Kushaqua]] and [[Loon~~%20Lake~~\|Loon Lake]]. In the mid- to late-1800s it was an important site of the lumber business, and the site of a series of mills run by [[Albert~~%20Turner~~\|Albert Turner]] in 1882, and earlier by Messrs. Caldwell, Comstock, and Jackson. In 1881 the mill was being operated by 16-year-old [[E.~~%20M~~.~~%20Merrill~~\|E. M. Merrill]] who became famous as an engineer and surveyor.		[[File:loon lake1908 se.jpg\|right\|thumb\|\|Thatcherville and Thatcherville Road based on the description in Seaver.<br>1908 USGS map]]'''Thatcherville''' was a hamlet on the North Branch of the [[Saranac River\|Saranac River]] between [[Lake Kushaqua\|Lake Kushaqua]] and [[Loon Lake\|Loon Lake]]. In the mid- to late-1800s it was an important site of the lumber business, and the site of a series of mills run by [[Albert Turner\|Albert Turner]] in 1882, and earlier by Messrs. Caldwell, Comstock, and Jackson. In 1881 the mill was being operated by 16-year-old [[E. M. Merrill\|E. M. Merrill]] who became famous as an engineer and surveyor.

	The only remaining evidence of its existence is [[Thatcherville~~%20Road~~\|Thatcherville Road]], which runs for three miles from the [[Kushaqua-Mud~~%20Pond%20Road~~\|Kushaqua-Mud Pond Road]] to the [[Port~~%20Kent%20and%20%20Hopkinton%20Turnpike~~\|Port Kent and Hopkinton Turnpike]] at [[Hunter's~~%20Home~~\|Hunter's Home]], near Loon Lake.		The only remaining evidence of its existence is [[Thatcherville Road\|Thatcherville Road]], which runs for three miles from the [[Kushaqua-Mud Pond Road\|Kushaqua-Mud Pond Road]] to the [[Port Kent and Hopkinton Turnpike\|Port Kent and Hopkinton Turnpike]] at [[Hunter's Home\|Hunter's Home]], near Loon Lake.
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	Frederick J. Seaver, [[Historical~~%20Sketches%20of%20Franklin%20County~~\|Historical Sketches of Franklin County]], (1918) p. 362		Frederick J. Seaver, [[Historical Sketches of Franklin County\|Historical Sketches of Franklin County]], (1918) p. 362

	A mill was built at Thatcherville, three miles above Hunters' Home, about 1840 by [[Avery~~%20Thatcher~~\|Avery Thatcher]], and a dozen years later Allan Com<span class="gtxt_body">stock rebuilt on the same site for his father, Peter, of Franklin Falls. Litigation tied up the property, however, and the mill never did any work. The writer remembers visiting it in 1863, when it had become a wreck. About 1879 or 1880 Albert Turner rebuilt it, and ran it for two or three years — finally selling it to the Hartwells of Plattsburgh. The mill and the houses belonging with it have been swept away by fire, and the site is now owned by the International Paper Company.		A mill was built at Thatcherville, three miles above Hunters' Home, about 1840 by [[Avery Thatcher\|Avery Thatcher]], and a dozen years later Allan Com<span class="gtxt_body">stock rebuilt on the same site for his father, Peter, of Franklin Falls. Litigation tied up the property, however, and the mill never did any work. The writer remembers visiting it in 1863, when it had become a wreck. About 1879 or 1880 Albert Turner rebuilt it, and ran it for two or three years — finally selling it to the Hartwells of Plattsburgh. The mill and the houses belonging with it have been swept away by fire, and the site is now owned by the International Paper Company.
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	[[File:Thatcherville~~%20Bridge~~.jpg\|right\|thumb\|\|The bridge at Thatcherville, now closed.<br>Mud Pond is at left, the Saranac River at right.]]''Plattsburgh Sentinel'', August 11, 1882		[[File:Thatcherville Bridge.jpg\|right\|thumb\|\|The bridge at Thatcherville, now closed.<br>Mud Pond is at left, the Saranac River at right.]]''Plattsburgh Sentinel'', August 11, 1882

	'''THE SARANAC RIVER IMPROVEMENT'''		'''THE SARANAC RIVER IMPROVEMENT'''
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	'''LOON LAKE '''.		'''LOON LAKE '''.

	—The first logs of the combined drive went through [[Cold~~%20Brook~~\|Cold Brook]] on Tuesday last.		—The first logs of the combined drive went through [[Cold Brook\|Cold Brook]] on Tuesday last.

	—The logs are out of [[Mud~~%20Pond~~\|Mud Pond]] and the drivers say they will jump the dam at Thatcherville by Saturday of this week.		—The logs are out of [[Mud Pond\|Mud Pond]] and the drivers say they will jump the dam at Thatcherville by Saturday of this week.

	—On Tuesday, the 16th, a driver was caught to a jam of logs just as they “hauled” and was hurt. If the jam had moved six feet farther he would, most likely, have been ground to powder, but it came to a sudden stop, and but just to time.		—On Tuesday, the 16th, a driver was caught to a jam of logs just as they “hauled” and was hurt. If the jam had moved six feet farther he would, most likely, have been ground to powder, but it came to a sudden stop, and but just to time.
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	''Plattsburgh Press-Republican'', January 21, 1947		''Plattsburgh Press-Republican'', January 21, 1947

	… [[E.~~%20M~~.~~%20Merrill~~\|“Lem” Merrill]] was native of [[Merrillsville\|Merrillsville]] and was born on April 10, 1865, a son of Jeremiah and Louise (Washburn) Merrill. He attended the [[Merrillsville~~%20school~~\|Merrillsville school]], but left at the age of 14, going to work on the Merrill farm. When he was 16 he ran the sawmill at Thatcherville on the Saranac's north branch, earning 50 cents a day…		… [[E. M. Merrill\|“Lem” Merrill]] was native of [[Merrillsville\|Merrillsville]] and was born on April 10, 1865, a son of Jeremiah and Louise (Washburn) Merrill. He attended the [[Merrillsville school\|Merrillsville school]], but left at the age of 14, going to work on the Merrill farm. When he was 16 he ran the sawmill at Thatcherville on the Saranac's north branch, earning 50 cents a day…