Frequently we share a different historic image on the Essex on Lake Champlain Facebook page and invite our viewers to play some Vintage Essex Trivia.
What do you think of this old photograph? Do you recognize the location or the buildings? Do they still resist today in any way? When do you think this dates to?
Here is what the community already had to say:
Bill Mock: The Willsboro dam, the pulp Mill, and the Old Grist Mill
Bryan Nelson Elder: Willsboro & the Boquet River. The brick building pictured on the left is the only thing standing.
Both commenters believe this is on the Boquet River in Willsboro, past the bridge in town and near where the former dam was. Do you agree?
Below is the backside of the photo and there is a label on it! It reads “Stafford Sawmill” and “Boquet 1894”. Although I’m not completely sure about the other portion of writing. I believe it says “and” or “old” something mill. I can’t make out what the word in between is. “Wollin” is what it looks like to me, perhaps that is a name? Or it’s “wooden”? Or maybe I’m far off-base. What do you think?
Do you think this is in Willsboro or is this referring to the Boquet hamlet near Essex? The caption on the back made me think that at first, but looking closer I’m leaning toward the former. And I’ve never seen any remnants of mills on the river in that area – though that isn’t to say there were never any there!
Do you have any thoughts to share about this? Please leave a comment below!
If you have any vintage Essex images or artifacts to share, please let us know!
Kathy Reinhardt says
Maybe the writer meant “woolen.” Definitely Willsboro. Structure on the right looks newly built. Maybe that’s why the photo was taken then.