19th century Johnsburg — Quite the entrepreneur

He was quite the entrepreneur.

“W.H. Baker is known as one of the enterprising men of North Creek. He conducts a hotel in that place, also a drug store, and it is rumored he will soon open a shoe store here,” The Morning Star of Glens Falls reported on Oct. 26, 1893. “He is also engaged in various other branches of business, furnishing employment to a large number of men. … Mr. Baker expects to embark in another enterprise in the way of a grist mill, which he will erect near his present sawmill plant in the near future.”

In other 19th century Johnsburg news collected from historic newspapers of the region:

• The South Johnsburg correspondent boasted of a local infrastructure project.

“The new iron bridge across Mill Creek, near Dunn’s Mill, is completed,” the correspondent reported in The Morning Star on Sept. 27, 1890. “It is a credit to the town and also to Highway Commissioner Montgomery.”

• W. H. Roblee was making improvements to his hotel at North River.

“The North River Hotel is one of the most popular hostelries in the Adirondacks, and a prosperous season is looked for,” the North Creek correspondent reported in The Morning Star on June 19, 1890. “By the way, Dennis Donohue, the hotel gardener, is a successful horticulturist.”

• Tourists began arriving by train on June 23.

“The regular summer train between Saratoga and North Creek, on the Adirondack Road, commenced its trips on Monday in charge of Conductor Phillip Whittaker,” The Morning Star reported on June 25, 1890.

• “Henry Hewitt is opening a garnet bed. The result so far is quite satisfactory,” the Johnsburg correspondent reported in The Morning Star on Oct. 2, 1890.
• “The Folsom Landing Bridge Company’s boarding house is nearly enclosed,” the Riparius correspondent reported in The Morning Star on Oct. 3, 1890.
• The horse was in a hurry to get to church.

“Rev. J. Grimshaw’s horse had a lively run Sunday,” the North River correspondent reported in The Morning Star on Dec. 12, 1890. “The clergyman was thrown from his carriage near Balm of Gilead Brook, but, fortunately, no damage was done.”

• “The dam across the creek at North Creek gave way at three o’clock Monday morning, and half of the structure was carried downstream,” The Morning Star reported on Aug. 30, 1893. “A considerable portion of the mill was also demolished, and the creek was soon strewn with floating pieces of the wreck. A new dam and mill will be erected soon.”
• “A school is at last decided upon, a long-needed want, as many children in this vicinity have been neglected in regard to an education in neglect of parents to push the matter along,” the Riparius correspondent reported in The Morning Star on Sept. 23, 1893. “Your correspondent heartily extends a success to all who have taken a hand in the matter.”
• “Thomas Eldridge of Johnsburg will re-establish a stage line between Glens Falls and North Creek, and will make the first trip today,” The Morning Star reported on Oct. 2, 1893. “The stage will leave North Creek Monday and Friday of each week at eight o’clock in the morning, and Glens Falls on Tuesday and Saturday at the same hour. Headquarters in Glens Falls will be at the Collins House.”
• Charles W. Noble retired from the Johnsburg Board of Assessors after 20 years of service, The Morning Star reported on Nov. 13, 1893.

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