Around Three Mile Bay

Elaine T. Bock

• Publisher: Arcadia Publishing
• Year: 2008
• Print ISBN: 9780738563107
• eBook ISBN: 9781439621721
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: North American History
• Index: History

Three Mile Bay, located just below the Canadian border in the town of Lyme, was settled between 1810 and 1820. Early immigrants from Canada and Europe were drawn by the abundance of water-powered mills and factories along the areas waterways. At the mouth of Three Mile Creek stood the sawmill of Peter and Richard Estes, built in 1820; from 1860 to the 1900s, limestone quarried in the Three Mile Bay area was known for its superior quality. Resident Asa Wilcox built 48 brigs, propellers, schooners, and other seafaring vessels from 1835 to 1853, some ultimately joining the approximately 500 shipwrecked vessels now resting at the bottom of Lake Ontario. Fishing and selling potash were often carried on by farmers as side ventures. When loads of potash, and occasionally wheat, were hauled to Albany, on the return trip merchandise was brought back to be sold in local stores. For generations, families developed their trades and helped to sustain the hard-working people of the hamlet of Three Mile Bay.

One

COMMUNITY

This 1950s aerial view shows the hamlet. The bay on the right shows the water vessels that belong to area residents and others that have been launched from Bachy’s Marine. The District No. 5 union school appears in the upper left corner of the photograph. When this photograph was taken, the school was still operational. Shown also are the Town Tavern Hotel, the first fire hall, and the Southwell home, lower right. The once bustling hamlet now is a tranquil community. (Courtesy of Jeffrey Grant.)

Young women relax and enjoy the warmth of the afternoon. The house, center, was originally a barn that was brought to its present location from Three Mile Point around 1800. The house on the right was built originally as a summer cottage constructed from old boxes brought from New York Air Brake in Watertown. Houses during this time period were often surrounded by picket fences.

An early constructed native limestone bridge made it possible for the young lady with her fashionable dress and hat to complete the journey over Three Mile Creek. The barn of the Fox farm can be seen in the distance. Barns and farmhouses were a common sight from the 1820s, and John Ross, who was the son of William and Clarissa Whiting Ross, was an expert iron- and woodworker and worked on projects such as this.

The blacksmith shop of Charles Dick opened in the 1890s. Charles helped to meet the needs of the shipping industry and the residents of the community. He was the son of blacksmith Hugh Dick and Johanna Dick. Charles and his wife, Ida P. Maine Dick, left Three Mile Bay in 1908. Charles took the position of superintendent, and Ida became the matron of the old Jefferson County Children’s Home located on the corner of Franklin Street and Keyes Avenue in Watertown.

Ken and Edna Bourcy operated the Sunoco gas station until 1986. In 1951, Ken became supervisor of 110 adult and student volunteers that made up the ground observer post for the town of Lyme. This number of aircraft spotters was the largest of any township in Jefferson County. Jack Phillips constructed the building for the observers, which was then moved to the Three Mile Point Main Street location. By 1957, improved radar warning systems made it possible for the air force to relieve observers of their civil defense duties.

In the early 1800s, roads were dirt, not paved. Houses were built along the traffic path. Several past occupants of this street were Claude Mount, Fred Hamilton, Mabel and Claude Herrick, John Ross, and Viola Fish.

The Taylor boathouse was built in 1905 after John B. Taylor had moved the family home from Main Street to the shore of Three Mile Bay. Each owner remodeled the boathouse to suit their own particular taste.

In the 1950s, George Sager took over the Atlantic gas stat...

Table of contents

• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Table of Contents
• ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
• INTRODUCTION
• One - COMMUNITY
• Two - CHURCHES AND CELEBRATIONS
• Three - SCHOOLS
• Four - EARLY AGRICULTURE AND CHEESE MAKING
• Five - FISHING AND THE BUILDING OF A RAILROAD
• Six - WATERWAYS AND POINTS
• Seven - THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND ORGANIZATIONS
• Eight - EARLY AREA DISASTERS
• Nine - PEOPLE OF THE COMMUNITY