Wasn't really sure where to put this, since it's not related to the rest of my posts. But this will do for now. The book is long out of print and hard to find, so I wanted to make the info available.
Dexter, New York
Incorporated One Hundred Years
1855-1955
by Marion H. Evans
Notes:
- This text includes only the main text of the book. Sponsor
pages, images, maps, etc. are not included. A low-quality scan of the
book is available here (scan of what appears to be a copy of a copy) .
- I fixed scanning artifacts (although I'm not done proofing), but as a rule did not correct typos in the original text.
- I did not take many liberties with formatting, but I did delete the leading space before semi-colons.
- Two asterisks (**) denote illegible text.
- Words in [brackets] are best guesses about illegible or missing text.
History of Dexter, New York
Compiled by
MARION H. EVANS, Village Historian
Dexter, New York, is located on the north shore of the Black River at
the head of Black River Bay on Lake Ontario. It is in the town of
Brownville, Jefferson county, 8 miles west of the city of Watertown. The
incorporated village limits are roughly rectangular, extending for one
mile east to west along the river, and for one-half mile northerly from
the river bank. According to the incorporation map it contains nearly
four-tenths of a square mile, being 255 and 79/100 acres. The village is
situated on a series of river carved terraces which rise from an
elevation of 260 feet above sea level at the dam, to almost 400 feet at
the water tank on the northern limits of the village. The underlying
structure is the limestone common to this region.
SETTLEMENT
A definite date for the settlement of Dexter is not given in old
history books, but most sources would indicate that it should be set as
1812. Dexter, which took that name in honor of Simon Newton Dexter, was
first known as Fish Island from the island in the river where vast
quantities of fish were taken. It was part of the lands of John and
Jacob Brown -and was unbroken forest. In 1811, the Browns began the
first development by constructing a wooden dam which was swept away by
flood. In the spring of 1812, the dam was rebuilt, a saw mill erected,
and the first house completed for the first family to settle in the
locality, on Fish Island.
The first settlers in Dexter were Jeremiah Winegar and his wife
and their three children, the youngest five months old, who came from
Brownville. They came so that he might work on the dam and she cooked
for the men likewise occupied. They lived at first in a board shanty on
the island, until the frame house was completed. When the saw mill was
completed and began operation in February, 1813. Mr. Winegar ran it
making lumber which was rafted to Sackets Harbor and used in building
the barracks.
Jere Winegar had come to Brownville in 1799, at the age of 20,
from his birthplace in Herkimer. Leah Burwell was born Aug. 28, 1788 in
the Mohawk Valley and came with her family to Brownville in 1799, the
year that General Brown began his settlement. They were married in 1803
and their first child, Hannah, was born in 1805; their second, Ann, in
1808 or 1809; their third, Charles, in 1811. They had seven sons and
four daughters, all of whom grew up and all married save one, and there
are a number of direct descendants of this first family now living in
the village. According to family tradition, the Winegar's first
grandchild, Lydia, daughter of Jedidiah and Hannah Winegar Corey, was
the first girl born, in. 1827, in. Dexter in a log cabin located where
"Memorial Field" is now situated.
Jere Winegar died in 1865 and Leah, May 30, 1878 when nearly 90. Their
gravestone in Dexter Cemetery is marked "First Settlers of Dexter".
Other early settlers in the Dexter area, mentioned in a sketch of
Dexter's history written at the time of Mrs. Winegar's death, were
David Little who took a contract from the Browns to clear 100 acres
along the river and also erected the "red tavern"; Jeremiah Phelps,
Shubael Little, a Mr. Rogers, Elam Rockwood, Matthias Howk, Aaron
Rhodes, Elijah Emerson, Abram Bull and Amos Wheeler. All these settlers
were reported as coming to the area before 1823, the year in which the
grist mill was built on Fish Island. Most of them built log houses.
Dexter had a post office established on Jan. 25, 1838, with
Joshua Eaton as the first postmaster. A mail route from Whitesboro, with
mail brought by horse-back carrier, was set up for the area in 1810.
DEXTER VILLAGE COMPANY
On March 1, 1837, a joint stock company termed "The Dexter Village
Co." was formed. The Articles of Association filed in the county clerk's
office list the stock holders, and the number of shares as : Simon
Newton Dexter of Whitesborough (59); Edmund Kirby of Brownville (59);
John Bradley of the U. S. Army (59); John Williams of Utica (59); Jacob
Brown of Brownville (59; James Watson Williams of Utica 1). Enos Cutler,
colonel in army of U. S. (2); Thomas G. Mower, surgeon in the army of
the U. S. (1); and Alexander Copley of Lyme (1). The first five named
were the first directors of the company for a one-year term from the
first Monday of February, 1837. The 300 shares were worth $500 each.
The purpose of the company was that "of improving the Village of
Dexter and for laying out same into Village lots for selling the same to
actual settlers and such other persons as may wish to make investments
in said village". Among the powers of the company: "to make such
improvements by lay-ing out streets and avenues and by repairing
buildings, mills and darns as they shall deem expedient".
Description of the land included 249 acres on the south side of
the river, in the town of Hounsfield and "about 800 acres in 37th, 38th,
and 39th west ranges of great lot 5 of Macombs purchase called
Beaverland,--together with one-half of the water of Black River to be
used on north side of said river at the Fish Island dam--water subject
to rights of Solon Stone for clothiers establishment and subject also to
the rights of the Black River Navigation Co.".
"In 1840 the company commenced making dividends of the property
and on the 6th of Jan., 1846, it was finally dissolved", according to
Hough's History of Jefferson County. All unsold property of the company
on that date, went to Enos T. Throop Martin, of Utica for $5,012. The
locality had grown from a settlement of about a dozen houses in 1837 to a
community of over 500 population when the incorporation took place in
1855.
INCORPORATION AND GOVERNMENT
The incorporation papers on file in the county clerk's office include
a map and survey certificate made by W. A. Lyttle on Feb. 24, 1855; a
census taken by Heman Wood on Mar. 1, 1855 which included 111 names as
heads of households and showed a total population within "certain
limits" of 528 persons; a petition to incorporate dated April 14, 1855
and signed by 79 men; the order of the Court of Sessions, dated April
16, 1855 for an election to vote on the incorporation; and a notice that
at an election at the home of John E. Shelly on-May 8, 1855 from 10 A.
M. to 4 P. M. 34 votes were cast for and none against incorporation. The
election inspectors were John T. Wood, William H. Brown and Dr. Edward
Sill.
The first trustees elected were Sylvester Reed, Franklin J. Hall,
John T. Wood, William V. Morgan, and James A. Bell. The trustees chose
one of their own number by ballot to be president of the village for a
year, and Sylvester Reed was chosen as the first one for the post.
The village government was first organized to include five
trustees, three assessors, three street commissioners, a treasurer, a
collector, clerk, and pound master. The original minute book, after the
incorporation, records the first business to concern the electors of the
village in 1855 was the construction of stone or plank sidewalks and
cross walks, and providing a pound for straying animals, such as cattle
and geese. It would appear that the job of street commissioner was
somewhat rugged in the beginning, judging from the frequency of
resignations from the position.
The election system changed in 1898, and the president was
elected by the public, as well as the trustees, collector, and
treasurer. However, the clerk was appointed by the board, instead of
being elected as previously. William Henry Winn spanned the period of
transition, being first elected clerk in March 1873 and serving
continuously until his death March 20, 1902. The first publicly elected
president was Gaylord S. Casler.
INDUSTRIES
The first industries in the community were developed to meet the
natural demands of a pioneer settlement and to utilize the natural
resources. A sawmill, belonging to the Browns, the first industrial
building erected on Fish Island, began operations in 1813. Although most
of the first houses in Dexter were of logs, several of the early ones
were frame and, of course, demand for lumber and saw mill products
continued for many years.
As in many other early settlements, a grist mill was needed and
one was built by John E. Brown. The site of the first grist mill is
undoubtedly at the south end of the short dam, over the north branch of
Black River, now occupied by the ruins of the Warren Parchmen Co. mill.
On May 15, 1855, Luther D. Hurd of Holley and Henry H. Hurd of Utica
bought the property for $7,000 from John and Ann Harris. Sometime in the
1860's the mill burned.
Another form of early industry was the woolen business. Edgar C.
Emerson's "History of Jefferson County", 1898, contains reference to a
wool carding mill having been built "about or before 1830 by Solon
Stone. This was the first utilized water power in the village". A
clipping from the Vernon, Michigan "Advocate", dated July 31, 1903,
tells of Solon Stone's death at the age of 102. It relates that "in
1826, Solon Stone and his father bought a cotton mill at 'Sackets
Harbor, but during the same year they. sold the cotton machinery and put
a woolen mill in its place. The next year the father died and Solon
moved the machinery to Dexter, where he set up a woolen factory which he
operated until 1850." The site of this mill was at the west end of Lock
Street. Later, Nutting and Company conducted a business on this site
and in another shop on the Hounsfield side, doing wool carding and
manufacturing cloth, flannel and blankets.
Jesse Babcock moved to Dexter in 1835, according to his obituary
notice in 1885, and "with Davis & Poole built and operated a linseed
oil mill but the hard times of1837-8 forced them to abandon the
manufacture of oil, and the building and power were converted into a
plaster mill and planing works by Mr. Babcock." According to old village
assessment rolls of 1859 through 1864, Babcock & Morgan ran the
plaster mill and a grist mill, and so continued until 1874 when the mill
burned. Babcock continued to be active at the plaster mill until 1883.
WOOLEN MILL
The first grand scale industrial development began in 1836 and
greatly influenced the growth of the villlage. Hough's "History of
Jefferson County" 1854 gives 'this description : "On the 7th of
November, 1836, the Jefferson Woolen Company was formed with $100,000
capital, in shares of $100. It originally consisted of S. N. Dexter of
Whitesboro, John Williams of Utica, Edmund Kirby and John Bradley of
Brownville, Rodney Burt and O. V. Brainard of Watertown. The number of
stockholders was 59. In 1837 this company built the present extensive
woolen factory at a cost, including appendages and machinery, of
$140,000; capital paid in $96,000. This enormous expenditure, with the
low prices which followed, could not be sustained, and in January 1842,
the company failed with liabilities exceeding assets of $33,000. The
property was sold and bid off by a new company, styled the Jefferson
Manufacturing Co. formed in February 1842, with capital of $50,000 which
is still in operation. The main building is of stone, 50 x 170 feet,
and four stories high, besides attic and easement, and is stocked with
seven sets of cards and a proportionate amount of machinery. The
building is of sufficient capacity to accommodate ten sets. It makes
from 7,000 to 8,000 yards per month, and has been for a year or two run
on contract. It employs about 75 hands, and since the beginning has been
principally employed in making broadcloths and cassimeres." A number of
young girls and women were among the employes in the early years.
The Jefferson Manufacturing Co. sold the mill property to Thomas
H. Maghee of New York on Nov 5, 1853 or $25,000 and $12,280 unpaid on a
$30,000 mortgage held by Seth Grosvenor of New York. On March 8, 1884,
John H. Maghee, executor of T. H. Maghee's will, sold the property (long
idle) for $6,000 to Talcott H. Camp of Watertown.
A newspaper clipping of about 1868 describes the mill, then known
as Ontario Woolen Mills with Franklin J. Hall as agent, as follows;
"The greatest institution of Dexter is of course the Woolen Factory,
which is claimed to be the most complete in the state. This immense
factory which was built and fitted up in 1837 at a cost of $140,000 has
been added to considerably. A change has recently taken place in the
stockholders and management of it, and it now is doing a larger business
than ever. I was kindly shown over the Factory by its manager, Mr.
**llingham. The building or buildings are divided to three mills, in
which are employed 145 hands. Its main power is from a 150 horse power
Jonval Turbine Water Wheel and two others of 50 horse each which drive 4
fulling mills, 2 washing mills, a soaking machine, 2 Hydro-extractors, a
bluing apparatus, 3 gigs, 40 looms, 2 warpers, 20 spinning machines, 12
spinning jacks and 2 mules. These "mules" were the first ever
introduced into America. They were brought from Scotland at great
ex-pense, but were thrust aside after awhile and again are put into use
giving great satisfaction. The business now going is entirely blanket
making, and these are being manufactured at the rate of 150,000 a year."
SAWMILLS and WOODWORKERS
Establishments for woodturning and manufacturing, with the saw mills,
were the main business concerns of the village for many years. For the
twenty years after the closing of the woolen mill in 1869, they provided
the chief source of employment in the village. Emerson's history lists
"James T. Wood and sons, Gilman, Charles and Ira.;, Keyes &
Hungerford; Thurman, Gunn & Co.; Kirby & Loomis; John Bradley;
Joseph Huntington; and Potter & Hammond all engaged in lumber
business and were important actors in the early history of the village."
Patter & Hammond had a shop for manufacturing hubs,. spokes and
wagon material. Deacon Joseph Huntington, beginning in 1861, had a sash
and blind factory and also made cheese boxes on the site of the old
sawmill of Kirby & Loomis. James Frost's sawmill, producing
principally fish staves, shingles and lath, was opened in 1860.
Henry Binninger's shop was first listed on village assessment
rolls in 1863. His business developed into a large enterprise in the
manufacture-of doors, sash and window blinds, and he also had a shingle
mill on Fish Island producing more than 4,000,000 shingles a year. He
and Thomas J. Strainge formed a partnership and the firm was prominent
in the village for a number of years. Mr. Strainge was an undertaker for
many years until he sold to A. B. Chidester in 1911, and caskets were
made at the company's factory. Both men had their early homes on Fish
Island, later building larger, new ones on William St. and Factory St.
Edgar Leonard, who was engaged in wool carding business until
1860, then joined his father-in-law, Joseph Huntington, in the lumber
business until 1863. He re-entered the business in 1870, bought it in
1874. A fire in that year destroyed the saw-mill and cheese box factory,
as well as Babcock & Peck's grist mill and plaster mill. He built
the large factory at the north end of the short dam. In 1882, the firm
of Leonard, Gilmore & Co. was formed with his son-in-law, James A.
Gilmore, and sons, George and William. Upon the death of George Leonard
in 1895, the firm was incorporated as Leonard-Gilmore & Co. and
continued so until 1906. In 1886 the company had bought the old woolen
mill property for $8,000 from T. H. Camp and sold it to Charles Campbell
that year and began building houses on their lots. Many of the homes in
the village were built by Leonard and Gilmore.
The last of the woodworking plants was the Dexter Woodworking
& Builders Supply Co., incorporated in 1906 with capital of $8,000,
under directorship of William E. Leonard, Charles S. Moyer, B. W.
Alverson and B. B Fairchild. The plant was located in the building, near
the New York Central freight station, south of William St., now owned
by I. R. Poole. The company had an unusually large outfit of moulding
knives both old and modern pat-. terns. The firm's assets were sold at
auction in 1941 to settle the estate of Charles S. Moyer.
PULP and PAPER MILLS
The era of the pulp and paper mills in Dexter brought the period of
greatest activity and prosperity to the village. Reputedly the first
pulp made in the Dexter area was on June 23, 1888 at the small Jones and
Hunter groundwood pulp mill which was at the south end of the main dam
in the Town of Hounsfield.
On June 24, 1886, Dr. Charles Campbell of New York bought from
the Leonard & Gilmore Co. the long idle woolen mill for $15,000.
Campbell sold the looms and machinery of the woolen company for $5,000.
On October 8, 1887, the Dexter Sulphite Pulp & Paper Company was
incorporated with. $100,000 capital, by Dr. Campbell, E. Frederick
Bermingham and James Outterson, to produce pulp -hv the Mitscherlich
chemical process. The company was one of the first in this country to
make chemical pulp and had a wide reputation for its product.
Two concrete wings were added to the original four story stone
building; the old dye house was raised and became the digester room. The
dams were rebuilt in 1888, and in 1899 the canal was extensively
rebuilt and enlarged. A saw mill, boiler house and Jenssen acid towers
were added. An explosion of a digester in January, 1903 resulted in the
death of George Hunter and extensive damage which made rebuilding
necessary before resuming operations. A ground wood mill was built on
the Leonard & Gilmore pulp mill site in 1907.
About 1908 the company bought the Howland Bag & Paper Co. at
North Tonawanda and moved the machinery to Dexter. Bag machines were
made here by 20 to 25 skilled machinists. A number of women were
employed in the bag factory which produced about 4,000,000 bags of
different kinds daily. This enterprise was discontinued in 1938.
Dr. Campbell's two sons, Dr. James E. and Dr. Clarence W., owned and
managed the mill before 1920 when it was sold to William Randolph
Hearst, They continued to manage it for him. For a few years the company
was in receivership prior to March, 1942, when K. C. Irving of St.
John, New Brunswick bought it. A new steam turbine plant was built in
1948 and during World War II the company did a profitable business. The
mill ceased ,merations on May 30, 1953 and has been idle since that
time.
The Frontenac Paper Co. was incorporated Sept. 12, 1889 with
$60,000 capital, by Dr. Charles Campbell. F. W. Spicer, Herbert S. Rice
and James Outterson. Richard Marty of Watertown was presi-dent; Fremont
W. Spicer of Dexter, vice-president and general manager; L. S. Lansing
of Watertown. secretary-treasurer. A mill was built on the site of the
first saw mill on Fish Island at the north end of the main dam. The
first paper was made in March 1890. Sometime before 1899, the Frontenac
Paper Co. leased the groundwood pulp mills of Jones & Hunter and the
Leonard-Gilmore Co., thus controlling the pulp making plants with the
exception of the three-grinder plant of the 'St. Lawrence mill.
The walls of the first Frontenac mill building were made almost
completely of glass, but after the Dexter Sulphite Co. took over the
interests, a stone building was erected in 1900-1901. The mill was
operated by the Sulphite Co. until it was sold on Dec. 31, 1947 to I.
Lawrence LeSavoy of New York. He formed the Frontenac Paper Corp. and
operated the mill until July, 1949, when it closed. The building was
almost completely destroyed by a $100,000 fire on May 17, 1950. Abe
Cooper of Watertown later bought the property and now it is owned by
Raymond Frank, who has a small generator plant near the dam amidst the
ruins.
Henry Binninger rebuilt the Binninger &. Strainge shingle
mill property on the western end of Fish Island in 1888. On October 9,
1889, he, with Charles M. Otis, Joseph S. Greene, Charles L. Parmelee,
and J. Atwell, Jr. of Watertown, incorporated the St. Lawrence. Paper
Co. with capital of $50,000. The officers were Binninger, president;
Otis, vice-president; and Greene, secretary-treasurer. The company
failed in 1898 and Darwin B. Gotham bought it at a referee's sale. It
was leased to the Sulphite for two years. In 1903, it was sold by Gotham
to William P. Herring of Watertown and in 1905 he passed title to the
Jefferson Power Co. of Wilna.
On October 11, 1911, the Warren Parchment Co. bought the St.
Lawrence mill property after it had been idle for a time and began
operations, making grease-proof paper. In 1931, the Ron-Noc-O Paper
Corp. of New York took the mill, but after two years, the title went
back to J. J. Warren, who in 1936 sold it to Robert E. Read, Inc. Mr.
Read designed a unique machine to manufacture paper products directly
from pulp, the machine occupy. ing the, full three and one-half stories
of the building. The mill manufactured containers, plates, dishes and
other products from molded wood pulp and other fibers. This company went
through bankruptcy in 1942, and the Water Falls Paper Mills of Maine
acquired title which they sold in 1946 to the Dexter Sulphite Pulp and
Paper Co. Abe Cooper bought it when he took the Frontenac ruins.
The only industrial property active at present is the Dexter
Hydro-Electric Corp. owned by Raymond B. Frank, Hydraulic Engineer of
Limerick. He now owns the Frontenac and St. Lawrence mill sites and the
former ground wood mill building of
the Sulphite which had been converted to a power plant. The power
generated is sold to Niagara Mohawk Power Corp.
SMALL BUSINESSES
During the development of the village numerous smaller business
establishments flourished as there was demand for their services and
products. William Ross had a carriage shop on Lock St.; Thomas Hunter's
harness shop was on a site near the Dexter Hotel. Solomon Moyer, William
Wright, Martin Williams, Abner Reeves ran the early blacksmith and
wagon shops in various locations.
Dexter's location on the river, near Black River Bay, brought the
natural sequence of boat building and boat liveries, fishing, boating
and sum-trier resort trade. Details of boat building in Dexter are few,
but old news items give some information. In Nov., 1874, "the schooner
Augustus Ford of Oswego, built at Dexter in 1853," was wrecked in a gale
at Port Maitland, Ontario. A. M. Baldwin had a boat works for a number
of years in the 80's and 90's, building many skiffs and small pleasure
boats.
The Brownville Steamboat Company, incorporated in 1891, operated a
boat for freight and passenger traffic between Brownville and Dexter
for about three years. Older residents remember the large launches which
were well patronized, particularly before the advent of the trolleys in
1899, as transportation to Brownville and later for pleasure cruises.
Some of the boats recalled were: Pastime, which made her first voyage on
May 24, 1892; Grape Island Belle, Bass Island Belle, Winona and
Konoskioni. Boat excursions on the Bay and outings at Camp Foster and
Bailey's Park down the river brought large crowds and flourishing trade
to the locality.
MERCHANTS
One of the first successful merchants was James Bell who rose to a
place of prominence in the state as well as in the village. He built a
large storehouse on Water St. on what is now Sulphite property and
operated a store there. Later he moved the store to the little building
at the southeast corner of Lakeview Dr. and Liberty St. "Family Grocery"
can be seen faintly on a clapboard of the building, now a dwelling. In
April, 1852, he bought the site at the northeast corner of Canal and
William St. from Lawrence Hayes for $800 and erected a brick store. This
property was acquired on March 5, 1870 for $3,000 by 0. M. and G.
W.Wood, who ran a successful business for many years. Their sign is
still to be ,seen on the south side of the structure.
Early assessment rolls, directories and news-paper clippings give
the names of some of the merchants during the 1800's. F. W. Winn &
J. B. Kimball, general store; Josiah A. McWayne, N. P. Gould, William
Houghton, Edwin S. Clark & Wallace Hill, drygoods and general
merchandise; John T. Wood and Heman F. Wood, boots, shoes, groceries and
drugs, hides and skins, and pork packers; J. H. Roseboom, G. S. Casler,
tin & stove shops and hardware; Jacob Bass, furniture and butcher;
Moyer & Yerrington, butchers; J. H. Stokes, 0. L. Kane, G. H
Kimball, Farnham Corey, Robert Thompson, boot and shoe makers.
TAVERNS and HOTELS
Taverns existed in Dexter from the earliest days as in most pioneer
communities. The first tavern, referred to as the "Old Red Tavern" was
erected by David Little, the second settler in the village,. in 1815 or
1816. The site is referred to as being back of the 1878 location of the
post office which was in Gayk)rd Casler's tin shop in the W. H. Winn
building.
In 1831, M. H. Stafford was operating a tavern "near the locks"
which was probably in the same building erected by Little. Other
hotel-keeper's names as they appeared on early assessment rolls —were:
Peter Wolf, 1860; Jay D. McWayne, 1874; A. **inaca, 1863; Jr. R.
Alexander, 1864; Thomas Maldoon, 1865; Elias Smith, 1865; Chas B.
Bowers, 1866.
Emerson's history refers to Peleg Mattison as an early
hotelkeeper and deeds show he purchased lots 4 and part of 6 on William
St. where the post office and Marsaw's store now stand. This hotel
burned in 1856.
The northwest corner of Water and Brown Sts. was the site of a
succession of hotels. The first was run by J. E. Baker, J. P. Shelley,
Henry Craw-ford, A. Vinaca in succession. J. R. Alexander rebuilt a
hotel on the site after a fire and this, in turn, was burned. The last
and perhaps the most elaborate on the site was built by 'Charles B.
Bowers in 1866. A news clipping of about 1868 described it as "one of
the largest country hotels in the county. Its frontage is 92 feet, while
the rear is 140 feet. Since 1866 several additions have been made, and
recently a very extensive hall 36 by 62 feet has been added. This hall
which is arched and nicely frescoed will accommodate two hundred couples
at once. This is a favorite resort during summer months for fishing
parties and pleasure seekers. Mr. Bowers, the agreeable landlord, keeps
boats, fishing tackle and all utensils necessary to health and
amusement; and as the fish in the river and bay are very plenty, great
numbers avail themselves every season of the facilities here to be
enjoyed in the piscatorial way". The Bowers House burned in 1874 and no
hotel was rebuilt there.
Thomas Maldoon, beginning in the 1860's ran an eating house and
billiard saloon in what is now the Dexter Hotel. Others operating a
hotel in the same place later included: Matilda Maldoon, Thomas and
Mayme Jackson, William Carroll, Mr. and Mrs. Wallace Black, Mr. and Mrs.
Floyd Kitto, and the present proprietors, Mr. and Mrs. James Kirch.
The Underwood House, which stood at the southwest corner of Canal
and Lock Sts. was built about 1883 by William H. Underwood and run by
him until 1898. After his retirement it had a succession of proprietors,
including H. D. Reed, Charles Cummings, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Fagg. In
1913 it had the name Kahuahgo Inn. It was burned in 1933, and razed
later.
RIVER TRAFFIC & BRIDGES
River traffic being important to the locality, the state legislature
authorized construction of locks and canals around the rapids and falls.
The Black River Lock and Navigation Company was formed in 1810. Wooden
locks were constructed in 1815, large enough only for the passage of
Durham boats. About 1828, larger stone locks were built. The one at
Dexter ran from a point near the north end of the short bridge along the
northerly side of the Leonard-Gilmore property. The Woolen Mill built a
long power canal which crosses Canal St. at the business section and
runs parallel with Water St. to the mill building.
Since navigation of the river was important to Dexter there was
considerable interest in the work at the mouth of the river in keeping
an open channel. Appropriations from Congress were made in 1836, 1837
and 1838 for construction of piers on either side of the river in the
marsh, and a number of Dexter men were engaged on the project. Much of
the material and lumber supplies for the wood-working establishments and
for the Sulphite mill were brought up the river on small vessels in the
earlier years. The first large digesters for the Sulphite mill were
floated along the lakes from Cleve-land and up to the mill site in 1888.
Dexter's location required the erection of bridges for its growth
and prosperity, particularly [once] part of the Dexter Village
Company's property was on the Hounsfield side. Before 1836, ferry
service or a floating bridge were the only means of transportation to
Fish Island and across the river. Hough notes that "money was raised for
a bridge at Fish Island in Dexter in the years 1835, 1848, 1849 and
1850." The long covered bridge over the main channel was erected in
1848. This and the short covered bridge over the north channel were
replaced by steel spans in 1900, at costs of $22,000 and $7,000
respectively. In 1935, the short bridge was replaced by a concrete and
steel structure.
Public Services
FIRE DEPARTMENT
The village has had planned protection from fire since 1874, when the
village board took action after there had been two serious fires that
year. There had been an attempt in 1866 to organize for the purchase of a
fire engine, but the committee failed to carry through and "all went by
default." Following the destruction of the Bower's House in January,
1874, the Village Board appointed a com-mittee to examine the stovepipes
and chimneys in the business part of the village. Later in the year,
the Leonard pulp mill, Babcock & Peck's grist mill, and several
smaller buidings were destroyed in a conflagration on Lock St. On Dec.
29, the village eiectors passed a resolution by a 29 to 23 vote to raise
$500 for purchase of a fire engine. On May 5, 1875, a fire engine was
delivered from Rumsey & Co. of Seneca Falls, cost $50025. Attempts
in August of that year to "raise $100 to purchase lot, $100 to erect
engine house, $100 to buy hose" resulted in negative votes.
In December 1876, the Village Board "resolved that George Babcock
act as a committee on building house for fire engine, also that the
Clerk be hereby instructed to collect amount subscribed for said
pur-pose and pay for said house." The house must have been built, for in
March, 1879, Joseph Underwood was instructed to to repair it. There was
an $8,000 fire on Feb. 10, 1879, which destroyed several blocks on
Canal and Water St. "The fire engine was frozen up, which of course was a
drawback" the news account stated. On March 18, it was resolved by the
Village Board that "Leonard, Whitney & Frost be a committee to see
that the Fire Engine is kept in order and organize a fire company."
It was on Nov. 26, 1886, that a meeting was held at the Underwood
Hotel to organize a Fire Department. W. H. Underwood was chairman and
Dr. Charles Douglass, secretary. Thirty four men turned in their names
at that meeting as prospective members, and a committee was appointed to
secure more. On Dec. 19, 1886, Winfield Scott Bayley was elected the
first chief. The Department was incorporated during 1889 and on March
12, 1890, it became a member of the Firemen's Association of the State
of New York.
On Feb. 14, 1887, the village electors approved by a 34 to 30
vote the raising by tax of $400 for con-struction of a fire house. In
March of that year a lot on Water St. was bought from Mrs. Betsy Bell
for $40 and the present building was completed late that year. The
building has been used as a meeting hall and numerous village activities
have been carried on there through the years. The Department has always
been active socially and in area Volunteer Firemen's affairs.
A Ladies' Auxiliary was organized Sept. 9, 1948, to assist in
sickness, disaster, legislation, and to aid the firemen as needed. The
first officers were Oleta Lamon, chief; Jean Cean, assistant; Mabel
Butler, secretary; and Irma Liddy, treasurer. The local Auxiliary is a
member of the State Association and of the Jefferson County Auxiliary
which was organized at Dexter in November, 1949.
ELECTRICITY
Most modern public utilities and services became available about the
turn of the century. Electric power and lighting was available somewhat
earlier, however. In December, 1899, G. V. Cornell of Newark, N. J, who
was connected with the U. S. Electric Light Company, installed electric
light plants in the Sulphite and Frontenac mills. January 17, 1892, "the
business section of the village is now lighted by electricity, also
several private resi-dences."
A special election in November, 1901, resulted in a vote
favorable to taxing to provide the street lights. A franchise was
granted on Nov. 30, 1901. A news clipping of Dec. 3, said "The bids for
lighting the streets of Dexter by 20 electric arc lights were opened
Saturday and the contract awarded to Hunter & Osborne, who will at
once begin setting poles and stringing wires. The contract is for five
years at $1,000 a year, lights to burn all night." August, 1902, "Hunter
& Osborne's electric light plant is a success. The Village is now
lighted as well as any city or town in Jefferson Co." The Dexter
Electric Light & Power Co. was incorporated in May, 1905, with
$100,000 capital by Edward and Catherine Hunter, Celestin and George H.
Burns. In 1913, other direct9rs added were J. B. Taylor, C. C. Burns, F.
A. Rogers, and 0. A. Kline. The Niagara-Mohawk Power Corp. now serves
the village.
TROLLEYS & RAILROADS
A franchise was granted on Feb. 27, 1899 to the Brownville &
Dexter Street Railway Co. to extend the electric railway from Brownville
to Dexter. The first trip was made with great ceremony on July 5, 1899,
and for a number of years there was heavy excursion travel on the line
as well as its regular service to residents. The last ride was on March
8, 1931, and since then public transportation to Watertown has been by
bus. The Dexter and Northern Railroad provided one passenger train daily
from 1909 when the run started, until March 23, 1925, when passenger
traffic was discontinued.
TELEPHONE
There had been telegraph service for a number of years before the
advent of telephone service, which may have been around 1901-1902. On
Nov. 13, 1901, the Village Board granted the petition of James K.
Whittaker of New York City to construct a telephone system. A news
clipping of June 4, 1902, stated "the Bell Telephone Co. have a gang of
30 men at work setting new poles through the village," The first phone
service was by direct wire from Watertown to O. M. Wood's store.
A franchise was granted Feb. 20, 1908 by the Village Board to H.
A. White and. Edward Mullin of Dexter with "the right and privilege of
setting and maintaining poles, wires, cables and fixtures for the
purpose of conducting a telephone business." The Township Telephone Co.
was incorporated iii November 1909 by Wiggins & Clark of Chaumont.
The Dexter exchange of this company was first located in Brayton C.
Foster's coal office an Water. St. The first regular operater was Mrs.
Mayme Jackson who started in 1911 when there were 197 patrons. The
location of the office shifted to the Underwood Hotel in 1918 when night
service was begun, and in 1933 to its present location at 121 Canal St.
The company has continued to expand and on April 16, 1955 the Dexter
exchange was converted to a dial system.
NEWSPAPER
Dexter had its own newspaper for 45 years in the "Dexter Free Press",
which was founded in 1899 by George W. Hubbs as a monthly paper. In
1900 it was purchased by T. L. James of Syracuse who ran it as a weekly
for a brief period before selling it to J. F. Kimball. It was soon
resold to Hubbs who formed a partnership with Claude 0. Phelan. The next
owner was Fred H. Gee of Syracuse who built in 1906 the three story
concrete structure on the north side of William St. across from the
Hubbs Block. In 1914 Emerson C. Smith bought the paper and in 1916 the
block. The final edition was run off April 26, 1944; the paper having
been run for a few months by Smith's sons, following his death in
October 1943. Now the community is served by the "Watertown Daily
Times", with a Dexter Correspondent.
BANK
The First National Bank of Dexter was organized Oct. 19, 1906 with
capital stock of $30,000. Austin A. Phelps was elected president at the
meeting on Nov. 8, 1906 and James Outterson, vice president and J. W.
Northrup, cashier. There were 73 original stockholders for the 300
shares. In December 1934 stock was increased to $50,000. Those who
signed the articles of association were Charles Foster, Herbert V.
Clark, James A. Gilmore, Gilbert A. Foote, William H. Underwood, James
T. Outterson, A. A Phelps, Clarence W. Campbell, De-witt C Middleton,
George A. Ruttan and William F. Lee.
Business was conducted in the Eveleigh block on William St. On
April 17, 1912 William Underwood sold a 40' x 60' plot at the west
corner of Brown and Water •streets for the present site of the cement
block structure which was opened for business in 1913.
WATER and SEWER SYTEM
The municipal water and sewer system was installed in 1926-1927 after
authorization for a $150,000 bond issue was approved by a 136 to 105
vote on March 19, 1925, and $5,000 more on March 15, 1927. There had
been previous unsuccessful at-tempts to secure approval of a bond issue.
A well was drilled on the Zimmerman property, East Grove St. and the
main pumping, purification and water softening processes are still
conducted there. Further expansion of the water system took place in
1940 when a second well was opened on the Game Farm Road, outside the
villlage limits. The reservoir tank is 60 feet high and 30 feet in
diameter with a capacity of 317,000 gallons. Located on the former
Hilliker Farm property at the highest elevation in the village, it is an
airview landmark with the name "Dexter" painted on two sides.
DOCTORS
The village has been served by one or more doctors, usually in
residence, since about 1836. Probably the first, Dr. William A. Wood,
who was born in Vermont in 1805 and studied under Dr. Bates of
Brownville, came to Dexter in 1836. He remained until 1844 when he moved
to Wisconsin.
Dr. Edward Sill came to Dexter about 1853 and practised here
until 1876 when he went to Watertown. Edward Hungerford of railroad
fame, native of Dexter, recalls his grandfather as a man well beloved by
all whom he served in other roles as well as doctor. Dr. Sill was
village tax collector and also served as a deputy sheriff. His home was
at the corner of Orchard and William St. where Henry Binninger later
built a large house.
Dr. Arthur J. Benedict is mentioned as practising here in 1877.
Dr. Charles E. Douglass came in 1877 nad practiced in Dexter until after
1890. He was active in village affairs, particularly the Fire
Departmment. Dr. Albert L. Morgan, a Civil War veteran, and an 1873
graduate of the University of Michigan, came to Dexter in 1883. He was
also prominent in village affairs, serving as clerk for some years,
president of the board of education and health officer for 35 years. He
retired in 1927 and died March 29, 1929 aged 83.
Dr. Charles C. K. Phelps opened his practise here in April 1899,
but the next year went to Oneida County until 1905 when he moved to
Sackets Harbor where he was prominent until his death in 1938. Dr.
Gilbert A. Foote practised here for 50 years before his retirement in
August 1940. His first office was a small building on Canal St. near the
telephone office site. He built the Foote block in 1902. He was a
trustee of the village for several terms, health officer for a number of
years and was a director of the Dexter bank when it was organized He
died August 16, 1941 aged 82.
Dr. Clarence T. Fowler, a 1903 graduate of Dexter High School,
practised here from 1928 until his death in 1941 at the age of 58. He
was mayor of the village in 1924, school physician for eight years and
health officer for a year. Dr. Mark R. Harwood took over Dr. Foote's
practise in 1940 and was here until 1941 when Dr. Gustav J. Lowenstein
took his place. Dr. Lowenstein went to Rochester in January 1944 and his
office in Dexter was taken over by Dr. Samuel Marritt who had assumed
Dr. Phelp's practise in Sackets Harbor in 1938. Dr. J. B. Bickel bought
Dr. Marrit's practise in June 1946 and maintained an office in Dexter
until November of that year.
The only resident physician in the village now is Dr. Harold C.
Livington who came to Dexter in November 1947 and in November 1950
opened a new suite of offices on William St. Dr. Bruce D. Babcock
established his practise here in 1948 in his glrandparents' old home on
'Canal St. He left in December 1952 for duty in the Air Force and has
not yet returned to Dexter. Dr. Alexander R. Penn came in April 1954 to
practise with Dr. Livingston and was here until his accidental death in
December 1954.
SCHOOLS
A school was one of the early institutions of the village but it has
not been determined exactly when or where the first public school was
established. No early records of the school district have been found and
deeds are not completely traceable for the first public school
buildings. Traditionally, the first schoolhouse was part of what is now
the residence of Charles Avery at 128 West Grove St. If the building
stood on that site before 1851, it [was on S. Newton Dexter's
farm][missing two or three words of text] Dexter sold to Job Hayward for
$175 a two acre plot which includes the present Avery and Frank [F.]
Smith homes. This was part of the land reserved [with] the farm sold by
Mr. Dexter to William Hilliker. Perhaps the school building stood on the
"Public Square," designated on the original village map for "religious
and educational purposes", and was moved when it was converted to a
dwelling.
It is known that from about 1846 to 1869 district 7 schoolhouse
was at the northwest corner of Kirby and Liberty streets. It still
exists as the main part of the home now owned by Mrs. C. Robert Smith.
In 1870 the property was sold to James Bigwood by Edwin S. Clark, Josiah
A. McWayne, George H. Rounds, school trustees. The deed reads in part
"and is the same lot that has been occupied by said school district No. 7
of the Town of Brownville by district schoolhouse for the past 20
years."
The first brick building was erected in 1869 on the corner of
Liberty and West Bradley St. (part of the Public Square) and forms the
south east section of the present building. Crowded conditions forced
the construction of a large addition to the west side of the building in
1896. On March 9 of that year, the Union Free School was organized and
on June 24 was granted membership in the University of the State of New
York by the Board of Regents, and an academic department was set up. It
was advanced to a high school in 1899.
In 1906 expansion was again necessary and a [brick] high school
building was erected to the north of the original building. Continuous
growth of the school required further building in 1922 when the two
structures were joined and two additional rooms added. In 1940, the
shop, shower rooms and extra classrooms were constructed in an addition
to the northwest side of the high school building. The latest move in
school improvement has been the merging of Dexter Union Free School with
Brownville-Glen Park Central district and planning for erection of a
new junior-senior high school building of the General Brown Central
district.
Burt W. Alverson, who became principal in 1894 and served until
1935, was the school head through its greatest period of development and
was largely responsible for its reputation as a fine educational
institution. It was during his tenure that the Training Class was
organized in 1916 and continued until 1933. Mrs. Alverson, who had
joined the faculty as Addie Bigwood in 1896, was the director and
teacher of the Training Class. In a one year, post graduate course
students earned a teacher's certificate good for three years.
At present the school serves a wide rural area, as well as the
village, for most common district schoolhouses have been closed and the
pupils are transported by bus to the village. The present enrollment is
416 with a faculty of 20 full time and 3 co-operative plan teachers.
Melvin W. Allison is principal.
An Alumni Association was formed in 1900 with 14 members. A
banquet for alumni and honoring the graduating class has been held
annually during Commencement week since 1902. A unit of Parent-Teacher
Association of the State and National Congress was formed in 1945, with
Mrs. Garnet Elliott as the first president. The Association initiated
several special projects at the school, including dental inspection and
care, dancing classes and parties and assembly programs. The members
took an active part in the campaign for the school merger and bond votes
in 1954.
LIBRARY
Dexter's library is a relatively new addition to the educational
facilities of the village. It might be said that the Dexter Free Library
was "founded with grocery coupons", collected largely through the
efforts of Mrs. Ellington Crysler, Mrs. Harry Liddy and Mrs. Leta
Williams. An advertising contest in 1924 offered volumes of the classics
as prizes. The Herbert V. Clark Co. in Dexter was headquarters for the
contest in this area and the store staff helped the women secure the
labels and cartons of various grocery products for "ballots" in the
contest. Dexter won the second prize of 250 volumes.
An organizational meeting for a library had been held Sept. 7,
1923 at which Frank Morgan was chairman and Mrs. Bert Wood, secretary.
The nineteen persons present voted to form the Dexter Free Library
Association with membership dues of one dollar. Officers elected on
Sept. 25, 1923 were Oscar E. Schultz, president; C. L. Bowman, vice
president; Mrs. H. W. Dorr, secretary; Mrs. Leta Williams, treasurer.
Trustees were J. A. Lee, 0. E. Schultz; C. L. Bowman, Mrs. Herbert Long,
Mrs. Liddy, Mrs. Williams and Mrs. Dorr. In the first year 151 members
were enrolled. Later, funds were appropriated by the Village and Town of
Brownville and membership dues were discontinued.
Mrs. Liddy was the first librarian, serving until 1928, and was
followed by Mrs. Mayme Jackson, Mrs. Dorr, Mrs. Ethel VandeWalker, and
Miss Marjorie Barbour, present librarian. The library opened first in
the Eveleigh block on William St. and was successively in the Hamburg
block; the small building at the rear of the present Markham block; at
Mrs. Dorr's home an Water St.; the Chidester block on Lock St.; and its
present location in the Smith block on William St. In 1948, the Dexter
Library joined the Regional Library Association. The Library was given
property on Kirby St. by the Fremont W. Spicer heirs and a building fund
is currently being developed.
Churches
Religious groups were formed early in the village's history and good records are generally available for each church.
PRESBYTERIAN
The records indicate that the first society to officially organize
and continue without interruption was the Presbyterian. It was formed on
July 2, 1839 with the assistance of Rev. Marcus Smith and Rev. Isaac
Brayton of Watertown and Rev. Dexter Clary of Brownville. The eighteen
persons who started the society were Alfred Knapp, John and Sarah Bell,
James A. Bell, John and Harriett Knapp, Persis Wood (first wife of J. A.
Bell for 18 days), Oliver D. Freeman, Joseph and Eliza Hungerford
Huntington, Johias Hinman, Maria Hinman (married Ora Haskell), Joseph D.
Bealls, Mary A. Bealls (married Oliver Freeman), Dr. William A. and
Betsy Ann Wood, and Joshua Eaton, Jr. The incorporation of the church
took place Sept. 20, 1842, and the trustees elected were Joshua Eaton,
Joneph Huntington, David H. Freeman, Harvey Crocker and Levi Smith.
Services were first conducted in the early school house in which
the organization took place. After the Episcopal church was built in
1840 the Presbyterians worshipped there for a time; then in a vacant
storeroom belonging to J. A. Bell; and later in the "new" school house.
Finally a brick church was built in 1849 on the northeast corner of
Liberty and West Kirby St.
The building was extensively remodeled and
refurnished in 1893 when the old gallery and hall and the high pulpit
were removed and the box-seats with doors were replaced by modern pews.
On Feb. 20, 1916 as Rev. G. T. Wood was conducting evening service, fire
broke through from the furnace in the basement and the building and
furnishings were damaged to the extent of $2,500. The building was
repaired and the annex at the rear of the church built about the same
time.
EPISCOPAL
It is likely that the Episcopal Church had been holding services for
some time prior to the meeting at 3 P. M. on July 14, 1839 at which it
was incorporated. The meeting, held in the district 7 school house where
services had been held, was presided over by Rev. Ferdinand Rogers, the
first rector. John Bradley and Gilman Wood were elected wardens, and
Edmund Kirby, Jesse Babcock, Ora Haskell, Solon Stone, James A. Bell,
Andrew Wood, Israel I. Griffin, and Robert Anderson were vestrymen. The
incorporation papers in the name of "The Rector, Church Wardens and
Vestrymen of All Saints Church in Dexter, Jeff. Co." were signed by
Rogers, Bell and Bradley.
It is certain that All Saints was the first church building in the
village. On Aug. 23, 1839 a committee composed of Capt. Bradley, Major
Kirby, S. Woad, Andrew Wood and J. A. Bell were authorized to contract
for the erection and completion of a building "including the bell and
fixtures, stove, furniture, dressing of the pulpit, etc, at a cost not
to exceed $2,300." The church is located on West Bradley St. on the
southwest corner of the "Public Square". The church was consecrated on
Aug. 31, 1840 by Bishop Delaney. Extensive repairs were made in 1874,
and again in 1900 the church was rebuilt and refurnished and stained
glass windows installed. The original high steeple was toppled in a
severe wind storm on Feb. 10, 1939 and the present low, cupola-type
steeple surmounted by a cross was set.
UNIVERSALIST
The Universalist Church was the second to incorporate and to erect a
building, antedating the Presbyterians in both these events. The
incorporation of the "First Universalist Society of the Village of
Dexter, Jeff. Co." [took place at a meeting] Sept. 5, 1841 at which
Ralph Lascell and Thomas Broadbent presided. Notice had been posted "at
session room in Dexter where the society statedly meet to worship", but
the location of the room is not known. Itinerant preachers of the Black
River Association had held services occasionally from 1839 and fairly
regularly during the year before incorporation. The first trustees were
H. Boughton, minister; Thomas Broadbent, John Maynard, Solon Stone,
David Baker, Francis W. Winn and Eleazar Parker.
Subscription of funds for building was started and a frame structure
seating 250 and costing $1,500 was erected on East Kirby and Brown St.
and dedicated on Dec. 22, 1841. The church usually has been served by
the pastor of the Universalist Church in Watertown. There was a
rededication program on April 2, 1893 following the completion of
substantial repairs and improvement of the audience room. In 1901 it was
noted that, although a small church organization, the Dexter society
held a unique position in having had a proportionately larger number of
students at Canton Theological School than other Universalist parishes
in the state.
METHODIST
Although it was claimed in 1876 by Rev. Sanger Dewey that "the M. E.
Church was the first of any religious denomination in Dexter, a class
being organized in 18--, when the place was known as Fish Island", proof
is not at hand. The first incorporation of the Dexter Methodist
Episcopal Church occured on Aug. 11, 1856. On that date "all male
members of full age belonging to said church and congregation and not
already incorporated met at the residence of Daniel Cole, where they
statedly attend for Divine Worship in the town of Brownville in said
county and did elect Henry Bailey, H. J. Harris, David Cole, Richard
Edgerly, Rufus Day as trustees of said church congregation to take
charge of the estate and property, belonging unto and to transact all
affairs relative to the Temporalities thereof, they and their
'successors to be known as 'Trustees of the Dexter Methodist Episcopal
Church'.
It would seem that this took place in Limerick for early church
records state that "preaching for many years was in Limerick, one and a
half miles distant. In 1869 it was restored to Dexter when Rev. S. M.
Warn was pastor who occupied the 'Good Templars Hall' as a place of
worship" This would have been the second floor of the Bloom building.
A second incorporation took place on Aug. 10, 1874 the papers
being signed by Rev. S. F. Danforth and O. L. Kane. The first trustees
were Farlin Ball, Henry Binninger and A. T. Knox. Property on West Kirby
St. was purchased from Peter LaRock and a church seating 200 was
erected in 1874 at a cost of $1,750, which was nearly paid for before
dedication and the balance of about $50 in 1876. By 1899, under Rev. F.
G. Severance, membership had increased to such an extent that a larger
church was deemed necessary. Subscriptions of $2,000 were secured and
the new building was dedicated on Nov. 22, 1899. From 1874 to 1912 the
pastor served both the Brownville and Dexter charges. Rev. Philip Tonkin
came to Dexter as the regular pastor in 1912. When the Pillar Point
Methodist Church closed in 1927 many of its members joined Dexter. In
1949 the basement of the church was renovated for class rooms and dining
and kitchen facilities at a cost of over $22,000. The new facilities
were first used at an anniversary celebration on Nov. 22, 1949.
CATHOLIC
The youngest religious organization in Dexter is St. Elizabeth Roman
Catholic Church. The church was incorporated March 26, 1906, by Rt. Rev.
Henry Gabriels, Bishop of Ogdensburg; Rt. Rev. Joseph H. Conroy,
vicar-general; Rev. Joseph Pontur, pastor; and Joseph McNeely and
William J. Sloane, trustees. Catholics had been attending mass at
Brownville before this date, and were served by the priests of the
Brownville church. After the organization of St. Elizabeth, named for
Rev. Father Pontur's mother, services were held every other Sunday in
Bloom's hall.
A cement block building 50 ft. x 37 ft., with interior finish of
steel, seating 150 was constructed on East Bronson at Orchard St., and
was dedicated on. March 14, 1909, by Bishop Gabriels. Rev. Father Lehane
of Sacred Heart Church of Watertown delivered the sermon, and Rev.
Father Pontur celebrated the mass. The priests who served Dexter and
Brownville were Rev. Father Pontur and Rev. James J. McGowan. Later,
Chaumont and Dexter were served by the same priests, who have been Rev.
Father Condon, Rev. Edward Bernier, Rev. Edward Pierce and the present
priest, Rev. Edward Burns.
CEMETERY
Dexter's cemetery is situated one mile outside the village limits, to
the east, on the Game Farm Road. Since the earliest records of the
Association were destroyed by fire in 1870, it is not certain when the
cemetery was laid out, but the first land was purchased in 1850.
Although markers dated as early as 1821 are found in the cemetery, they
doubtless were moved from some other cemetery, at a later date. Over a
period of years the grounds have been expanded until at present there
are about 10 acres.
The first soldiers and sailors monument to be raised in this part
of the state was erected in 1865 in the southwest section of the
cemetery. One face of the tall marble shaft bears the inscription "This
monument is erected by the citizens of Dexter and vicinity to perpetuate
the memories of those who sacrificed their lives in defense of our
country against the slave-holders' rebellion". The other three faces of
the pedestal are filled with the 26 names of the citizens who did not
return. A smaller monument in the small park in the center of the
village was given by Charles L. Gunn "in remembrance of his comrades of
the Civil War". It was unveiled on May 30, 1918 with the Sons of
Veterans in charge of the program.
Washington Sargent of Dexter, who was sexton for 18 years before
his death in 1918, was active in securing funds by subscription and
superintending the erection of the stone vault-chapel near the main,
south entrance of the cemetery.
MEMORIAL FIELD
After World War II, Memorial Field was developed through community
effort to commemorate the services of all who served the United States
in the armed forces at any time. The Village took title to the nine and a
half acre plot on West Grove St., near Brainard St., on April 29, 1947
for an athletic field and outdoor recreation center.
CIVIC, SOCIAL, FRATERNAL
Social and fraternal activity was especially vigorous in the village
during the last quarter of the 19th and first of the 20th century. The
early center of much of this activity was the Opera House near the short
bridge. First known as Wood's Opera House, the hall was on the third
floor of the building which housed stores on the street level on Canal
St. All types of entertainment were offered there and a number of the
lodges and patriotic groups held their meetings in the roams. The
building was destroyed in a fire in 1894.
The new, Jones Opera House was built in 1900 at a cost of $6,500
and this burned in June 1902. Again rebuilt, it was owned by Mrs. C. E.
Jones when it was destroyed by fire on New Year's Eve 1932, and never
rebuilt. The Firemen's Hall and Bloom's Hall on Water St., and after
their erection at later dates, the Grange Hall and Odd Fellow's Hall,
were centers of much community activity.
Early fraternal organizations which have been disbanded for some
years included the Julius Broadbent posts of G. A. R. and Sons of
Veterans; Sons of Veterans Auxiliary; Red Men, Konoskioni tribe; Degree
of Pocahontas, Leahtawanta lodge; Foresters Lodge 490; Maccabees and
Lady Maccabees; and the Independent Order of Good Templars, a temperance
group.
The oldest of the currently active organizations is Dexter Grange
724, which was started Jan. 30, 1891 with 33 charter members. H. O.
Gilmore was master; W. H. Everett, lecturer; Albert Allen, secretary. A
hall was built at a cost of $1,369 by Leonard & Gilmore Co. and
dedicated Oct. 25, 1894. Total membership is now 186, with 11 golden
sheaf members and two with more than 60 years of membership. A Juvenile
Grange, first organized in 1936 with Mrs. Oren Banks as first matron,
was reorganized in 1954 with Mrs. Leonard Walker as matron and Gary
Lidster as master.
Dexter Lodge 767, I. O. O. F. was instituted Dec. 14, 1896 and
Frank B. Williams is the only one living of the 74 charter members. The
lodge first met at Wood's Opera. House and later at the Grange Hall. The
Odd Fellow's Hall was built in 1905 at a cost of $5,000. Rivergate
Rebekah Lodge 526 was started May 14, 1914 with Mrs. Gaylord S. Casler
as first noble grand.
The Twentieth Century Study Club was started Oct. 7, 1902. when
Miss Mabel Strainge was elected president; Addle Bigwood, vice
president; Celestine Rounds, secretary; and Mary L. Winn, treasurer.
Sixteen charter members signed the club book. The local club had two
delegates at Gouverneur on May 21, 1908 when the Northern New York
Federation of Women's Clubs was formed. The Study Club joined the
federation and Miss Winn was its first treasurer.
Jesse E. Smith Post 583 was the second American Legion unit
formed in Jefferson Co. when it was organized in August 1920, with 23
charter members. Sherman Anderson was the first commander and Bert
Steele and Willis Bellinger the other officers. The Post purchased the
Walter Ayles house in 1944 and dedicated it as a Legion Home on Dec. 6
of that year. The Auxiliary was organized March 15, 1925 with 12 charter
members. Mrs. Ross Liddle was the first president.
Dexter Lodge 1072 F, & A. M. was chartered Dec. 24, 1925 with
52 original members. It was instituted May 6, 1926 and Bert B.
Fairchild was the [pa]st master; Elon H. Gardner, secretary; and Os[car]
E. Shultz, treasurer. The Masons have shared the Odd Fellows Hall and
now the Grange Hall for lodge meetings.
The sportsmen incorporated the Dexter Rod and Gun Club on June
26, 1922 with C. D. Babcock, A. E. Emerson and M. S. Maynard as the
directors. Their first club house was near Bailey's Park on the south
side of the river, after the group was formed about 1915. A club house
was built on the Limerick road at a costof $1,900 in 1923.
Home Bureau units have been active for some years in the village.
The first Boy Scout troop was started here in 1929 with Ross Liddle as
scoutmaster. The Girl Scouts' first troop was organized in 1930 with
Miss Blanche Livermore as leader. Both groups have been reorganized
several times and at present there are a Boy Scout troop, Cub Scout
Pack, and Intermediate Girl Scout troop and a Brownie troop.
Each church has organizations which assist the church and
community; Catholic Sodality; Methodist Women's Society of Christian
Service, Ever Ready Class, Youth Fellowship, Kum-Join-Us Class,
Methodist Men; Presbyterian Ladies Aid, Missionary Society, Church
Helpers Class and Youth Fellowship; Episcopal Ladies Auxiliary;
Universalist men's Reed Club and Association of Universalist Women. A
Couples Club for all the Protestant churches was formed recently.
The Dexter Youth Recreation Committee administers a summer and
winter program for all youth, under the direction of the Village Board
and with aid from the New York State Youth Commission. A Chamber of
Commerce formed a few years ago is not presently active. A new group
known as the Dexter Area Industrial Development Association was formed
in 1954.
OLD HOUSES
The village has a number of interesting old houses associated with
families prominent in Dexter's development. The Jesse Babcock house
built in 1832 was a station on the "Underground Railway". One of the two
stone houses still standing built about 1839 by Capt. John Bradley, was
later occupied by Elisha Parker a village trustee, and then for many
years by the William H. Everett family. The other stone house was built
about 1850 by the Terentia Edgerly family and was owned for over 50
years by the Northrup sisters. The only brick house was built in 1840 by
James A. Bell who served in the state congress from 1859 to 1868 as
well as aiding Dexter's developmment.
Three of the old frame houses were the homes of men who came to
Dexter to work in the woolen mill and became prominent in village
affairs. George W. Walters built the house at 502 Lakeview Dr. in 1848.
George H. Rounds, president of the village in 1864, had built his home
on West Grove St. in 1851, and it has never been occupied by others than
members of the family. Francis W. Winn, long active in village affairs
as were his son and daughter, bought his home adjacent to the Babcock
house in 1849 from G. H. Rounds who had acquired it in 1844 from Nathan
W. Brown.
Although altered when converted to dwellings, two old houses were
originally schools. The house at 128 West Grove St., the original
school, was visited between 1857 and 1861 by President James Buchanan
when he called on his cousin, Mrs. Margaret Buchanan Bell, who then
resided there. The second schoolhouse on West Kirby St. was also the
Methodist parsonage at one time.
"The Mansion", onetime show place of the village, probably was
built for the Woolen Mill owners, but the date has not been determined.
Thomas H. Maghee acquired the holdings in 1853. On a map of 1864 a house
on the site is labeled as the home of Franklin J. Hall, agent for the
Ontario Woolen Mills. It has been included with the mill property in all
transfers of title.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
It is unfortunate that the limitations of this book prevent the
mention of all persons, families, places and events which have
contributed to the history of our village. More complete accounts of
many items mentioned and those which it has been necessary to omit,
lists of village officers and postmasters, and complete histories of
most of the organizations have been prepared and are on file in the
Dexter Free Library, as supplements to this history.
Appreciation is expressed for the co-operation of all who
assisted in any way in the preparation of this book. Family scrapbooks
and documents in the possession of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Casler, Mrs. Mayme
Jackson, Mrs. Tom Jumps, Claude and Fred Maldoon, William Lindsey, Miss
Leila Savage, Mrs. Merton Angell and Mrs. Bruce Majo were most helpful.
Material was secured from records in the Jefferson County Clerk's
office, official village records, the files of the "Watertown Daily
Times", and the following "History of Jefferson Co." by F. B. Hough
1854; by L. H. Everts 1878; Haddock 1894; E. C. Emerson 1898; and the
"Jefferson Co. Gazeteer" 1890.
In Appreciation
The Dexter Centennial Committee wishes to thank all those firms
and individuals whose advertisements and contributions have made
possible the publication of this book and the celebration of Dexter's
one hundredth year as an incorporated village.
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"WHAT HAPPENED WHEN"
1812—Browns built dam; Winegars first settlers 1813—First sawmill in
operation in Feb.
1815—David Little cleared 100 acres, built "Red Tavern"
1816—Wooden locks built
1823—Grist mill built
1827—Solon Stone set up wool carding mill 1828—Stone locks built
1835—Babcock, Davis & Poole linseed oil mill
1836—Jefferson Woolen Co. formed Nov. 7; $500 for bridge; Appropriation
for piers in marsh
1837—Dexter Village Co. formed Mar. 7; Building woolen mill
1838—Post office established Jan. 25; Babcock plaster & planing
mill; Population 600
1839—Thomas Broadbent started f i r s t loom through which wife drew
first thread at Woolen mill; Episcopal & Presbyterian societies
started
1840—Woolen Co. failed; Episcopal, first church built
1841—Universalist society formed and church built
-1842—Jefferson Mfg. Co. formed in Feb. to run woolen mill
1843—Mrs. Eloise Mills Abbott, wife of Rev. G. S. Abbott, Universalist
pastor, held young ladies boarding, school in her home for 3 terms
1844—Liberty (Abolition) party convention held in Dexter
1846—Dexter Village Co. dissolved Jan. 6; Pop. 500-600
1848—Long covered bridge built
1849—Dexter Cemetery Assoc. incorp. Sept. 21; Presbyterian church built
1850—Ship building, steamer "Telegraph", 12 schooner; propellers
1853—"James Wood" and "Clifton" .
1855* Village Incorporation voted May 8; Pap. 528
1861—Dexter said to have sent more volunteers to Civil War than any
other village in county
1865—Babcock & Peck grist mill started; Amend incorp. Jan. 28.
Soldiers monument in cemetery raised
1866—Bowers House hotel built
168—Brick school built; Julius Broadbent post of G. A. R. formed
1869—Woolen mill closed
1874—Bowers House burned Jan. 7; Leonard's saw-mill & factory,
Babcock & Peck's grist & plaster mills burned Nov. 28; Methodist
church incorp. and built
1875—Whitney & Francis flour mill built. Fire en-gine bought
1879—Winn, J. T. Wood, Bass and other buildings burned Feb. 10; Fire
company authorized
1886—Dr. Charles Campbell bought woolen mill property for $15,000
1887—Dexter Sulphite Co. incorp. Oct. 8; Fire house built
1888—Dams rebuilt; railroad branch built
1889—St. Lawrence & Frontenac mills built; Fire Dept. incorp.
1890—First paper made at Frontenac; steam engine for Fire dept.
1891—Dexter Grange formed
1892—Steamer "Pastime" first trip from Brownville May 24
1894—Wood's Opera House fire; Grange Hall built.
1896—Union Free school, annex built; I. 0. 0. F. formed
1898--Change in village elections; Pop. 800
1899—Trolley service began July 5; "Dexter Free Press" founded; New
Methodist church dedicated Nov. 22
1900—Jones Opera House built
1902—Opera House & Randall block fire; Electric street lights
1903—Explosion at Sulphite in Jan., rebuilding of digester plant
1906—St. Elizabeth church formed; Bank organized; High school built;
Leonard-Gilmore Co. closed; Dexter Woodworkers incorp.
1908—Howland Bag Mill factory moved here
1909—Catholic church dedicated Mar. 14; Dexter & Northern R. R.
started
1913—New bank building opened 1918—Gunn monument dedicated May 30
1920—Wm. R. Hearst bought Sulphite mill; Pop. 1164
1922—Addition to school, two buildings joined
1923—Lawton and Bass blocks burned Jan. 30
1926-1927—Water and sewer system constructed; Pop. 1155
1931—Last trolley ride
1933—Jones Opera House fire, Jan. 1; Underwood House & Foote block
damaged
1939—Clark Bros. store fire, Jan. 30
1940—Addition to high school. Pop. 1109 1942—Schreiner grist mill fire,
Feb. 17 1944—"Dexter Free Press" discontinued Apr. 26 1950—Frontenac
mill burned May 17; Pop. 1038 1954 School merger with Brownville voted
May 20
1955—Dial telephone system Apr. 16; Centennial celebration July
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