Annals of the Beaver River

Dr. W. Seward Webb is most often remembered today as the person who designed, financed and supervised the building of the Mohawk & Malone Railroad across the Adirondacks [see my post of 4/27/21]. In this post I’m taking a closer look at some lesser-known aspects of Webb’s personal life. Along the way I’ll touch on how his management of his Adirondack real estate empire profoundly influenced the future of the Beaver River country and the surrounding area.   William Seward Webb was born in New York City on January 31, 1851. His parents were James Watson Webb and Laura Virginia Cram.  His middle name was chosen to honor  William Henry Seward, New York’s governor from 1839 until 1842 and later Lincoln’s Secretary of State. When governor, Seward pardoned James W. Webb just before he was to start a two-year prison term for participating as a second in an illegal duel.   In 1861 the Webb family moved to Rio de Janeiro because James W. Webb was appointed U.S. Ambassador ...

Very few remember the role Louis Beach played in the early history of Beaver River Station. Perhaps his most lasting contribution was the construction of the second Norridgewock Hotel. That building, a classic piece of vernacular architecture, still stands 106 years later and is still accommodating guests. Louis Beach also deserves to be remembered for his interesting photographs that document important events at Beaver River Station.  Louis Everett Beach was born in the Town of Watson, Lewis County, NY on October 17, 1878. His parents were George N. Beach and Esther E. Hall. His oldest sister Luella was born in 1859. Louis would have had little memory of her because she drowned when she was twenty and he was still an infant. His brother Henry was sixteen years his senior having been born in 1863. His sister Cora was born in 1866. She married a neighbor, Samuel Moshier, around 1893 and moved to near-by Chase’s Lake. As a teenager Louis often hunted in their sugar bush.   The B...