St. Regis Paper Company -Abandoned photography
St. Regis Paper Company
The final chapter in Grandma’s Legacy (Read Part One here and Part Two here)Thank you so much for taking this particular journey with me, while longer than most, it is for my beloved Grandma to take her “home”
As dusk fell upon us, our mission intensified as we tried to find our last stop. The St. Regis Paper mill, where my great-grandfather worked as a Chemical Engineer. Our mapquest search was coming up empty, but we knew it was in Deferiet.
How hard could it be to find? Ha! A lot harder than we thought.
At last, we came upon a neighborhood where a man was coming out through a gate toward the street. I rolled down the window and asked if he knew where the mill was.
He stared at me oddly, quietly.
I thought he wasn’t understanding what I was referring to. The joke was on me as he pointed to the other side of the street! A “duh” moment, if ever I had one.
This nice gentlemen, Harry, listened carefully to my desire to find my family history.
Harry told us how the mill had closed 7-8 years ago, and a buyer was demolishing it for scrap. He kindly said he’d ask his wife if she remembered anyone by the name Goodwill while I took some pictures.
We drove up to this massive place and I got out, taking in the reality that my very own great-grandpa would have walked down the same road.
If you have seen all my Abandoned Photography posts, you understand my passion for the story behind the buildings.
This building? It was a tiny part of my story. My grandma’s story, her father’s story. Part of the world my Grandma painted for me with my lifetime of questions.
I was standing in front of it. The paper mill.
And how very sad it was, to witness its crumbling demise. There was eerie silence, punctuated only by the loud dripping of water and who whoooo, who whoooo, echoing off the walls.
Here is the best surprise in this story…
When we drove out of the property, Harry was waiting at the gate. He gave us a house number up the street and told us to go see Janet Zando, the mayor. That he’d called ahead and she was expecting us.
So that is how we found ourselves one crazy day, sitting in the mayor’s kitchen, discussing Deferiet and the old mill.
Aside from being an engaging and generous hostess, turns out Janet was the mayor AND historian. In fact, she just happened to have authored a book all about the area. And the chances of that are….?
I bought two, one for Grandma and one for me. It’s not every day the mayor/author/historian autographs a book for you in her kitchen!
Janet gave us a fascinating history of this mill town, and was able to answer all our questions. At one time in history, this was considered a marvel in the papermaking industry.
However, as she explained, the needs for paper changed and so did the village as the industry faltered.
Several pictures in her book are taken the year my great-grandmother passed away. The people in them? They would have been the coworkers of my great-grandfather.
Who knows? They might have dined together, shared a ride, or worked on projects with Fred.
What an unexpected blessing Janet and Harry were on our adventure. The kindness of strangers toward a lady with a camera and a dream…
(As I amend this , 8+ years after these photos, I could never have imagined the interest this post would have sparked. For all who have stopped to share their memories, their loved ones, and the stories connected with St. Regis Paper Company, thank you!)
Check out Micheal Kleen’s video about the abandoned St. Regis mill here.
***IMPORTANT: Most places prohibit trespassing, for legal reasons. Zoom lenses are critical. For SAFETY reasons. I urge you to gain permission before photographing places of ruin. The floors, walls and ceilings might be unstable. There could be dangerous chemicals, depending on the facility. You might not be alone, and in danger.
Helpful resources to preserve your family history
- Heirloom: Living and Leaving a Legacy of Faith
- AncestryDNA + Traits: Genetic Ethnicity + Traits Test, AncestryDNA Testing Kit with 35+ Traits, DNA Ancestry Test Kit, Genetic Testing Kit
- 23andMe Health + Ancestry Service: Personal Genetic DNA Test
- Family tree magazine
- Recipe Cutting Board, Handwritten Recipe Cutting Board,Personalized Recipe Cutting Board,
- *Disclosure: I only recommend products I do/would use myself. This post may contain affiliate links that at NO additional cost to you, may earn me a small commission to help support this blog. Read full privacy policy here.
This was a lovely trip down the memory lane. It reminded me a lot about the stories my grandfather shared with me when I was young, I wish I could revisit all those places with him again and make a documented memory of it all…
What kind of places did he share with you? Someday you might get your chance, I sure never thought I would!
I was an engineer for St Regis in the Corporate Eng Dpt in Jacksonville,Fl. I went to Deferiet a few times. Actually visited all our mills in the 70s and 80s. I knew Ado Zando who came to us from Deferiet (possibly related to the mayor). I was one of the younger ones. The majority are now dead. The retirees would lunch together every qtr until the pandemia.
I came to the mill frequently in the late 70’s from the Bucksport, ME mill. Met Ado as well during 12 years with St. Regis Paper. Bob McDonald was a VP and considered the mill his baby. Stated in FL in 67 and left in 79. Thanks for sharing these photos it was a busy place when I visited. Papermakers tying their best to make it go with tiny old machines in the same place their Dads and Granddads did same. God Bless them!
Hi Allen, thank you so much for sharing your story!
Hi my name is Thomas Martin & my grandfather Carl B. martin started with the St. Regis Paper Co. as a book keeper in 1912. He rose to the position of Vice President in 1936 & resigned as an officer in 1936 but remained on the board until 1956
Hi Tom, wouldn’t that ba something if they knew each other!
I too worked at the Deferiet Mill in 1978, 1979, 1980. It was my first professional position after receiving my masters at Ohio State although I was from nearby Rome, NY. I worked in the Personnel Dept as the Safety Mgr/ Pers Ast. I worked with a Gino Zando who ALSO was the mayor at the time!!! Was he Janet’s father? A couple years ago I too went exploring there through the ruins and took some pics on my cell. I was in the second floor office right next to the entrance of the train loading docks.
It is such a delight to read these stories, of those with their own experiences at the mill. Thank you so much Ray for sharing, this made my day 🙂
Hi Ray,
It’s been a long time. How are you doing? I remember taking a trip with you from the Sartell mill to the Deferiet mill back in 1991 to attend the IBPS training. It was a fun trip. One night you found a sports bar where we could watch your favorite boxer Tommy “Hit Man” Hearns in a title fight. I hope this finds you well.
Tom Dougherty
Hi Ray hope all is going well! I worked there for 18 years 1979-1997 My father Dick and uncle Bernie also worked there for several years.
Hi Mike would you happen to know a George Hall that worked as a security guard in the security station at the gate?
I’m Kevin Killian, grew up in Deferiet, lived on “snob hill” as the villagers called it! Our street was where mill management lived, my dad was Mel Killian, second in charge behind Les Smith who lived in Herrings. I worked in the mill summers while attending college at Clarkson-we were known as “summer help”.
My dad died from colon cancer on September 11, 1966; I’ve long suspected the chemicals inside the mill were a contributing factor. As kids we played all day long while the mill’s smokestacks belched out droves of polluted smoke.
After graduation I went to work for St. Regis at their corporate offices in NYC. After a couple of years, we were relocated to West Nyack in Rockland County and a few years later, after a hostile takeover attempt by Sir James Goldsmith, which St. Regis fended off, the company was forced to sell itself to Champion Paper as it could no longer sustain further efforts to avoid being talked over.
I have a million memories of Deferiet and the mill, but I can’t even bare to visit the mill property anymore as it is so depressing to look at such a wasteland.
Thankfully Fort Drum is right nearby as it helped employ so many people after the mill closed.
Thanks to all the hard working men and women that made Deferiet great!
Thank you for sharing your story! It has been such an unexpected delight to see how this post sparked so many memories!
Did Deferiet have a baseball team in the 40s and 50s? If so, what league?
Yes. Their bas. Ball. Ram said. Can be t raced back to. The early 1900’s.
Hi, Kevin — I worked in West Nyack for 10 years in the Bag Packaging Dept. in the Technical Center (Now a Jewish Community Center) and moved into the ill-fated Corporate HQ (Now the Salvation Army area HQ) from the time it opened until Champion broke us up in 1986. My Dad, Norm Koch got me a job running blueprints there in 1974. He ran Bag Packaging Machinery, having been hired as a packer mechanic in Allentown, PA in 1950 (my birth year), and worked his way up through sales, first in Buffalo, then Brookline, MA, where he managed the local sales office before getting transferred to West Nyack. He moved to Denver with Bag Packaging in 1978, then to Salt Lake City. He was given a package in 1985 by the Champion ownership, and retired back to the Allentown area.
When we moved over to the new building, I think we were on the second floor. Stone Container bought our division in 1986, and we all tread water waiting to find out if we’d get a job or a package. I still recall watching the Challenger rocket explode in our office suite in W. Nyack, as nobody had anything better to do while we awaited our fate!
Christa, thank you for this. St. Regis played a huge part in many people’s family history, and your memories are eloquently shared.
Thank you so much for sharing something that I didn’t know mattered! What I mean is, never thought about. I actually imagined my mom walking down those streets, and going into that church. Kobe that you had this odd opportunity!
Love, your mom!
Yeah! I am so happy I could give you that piece Mom. I love you
This is beautiful, Christa. I have actually responded in a better note by e-mail, but can’t connect to send it out. I’m going to have to change my server tomorrow and will send you all my new address when I get it.
Thank you so much for sharing something that I didn’t know mattered! What I mean is, never thought about. I actually imagined my mom walking down those streets, and going into that church. So glad that you had this odd opportunity!
Love, your mom!
I am so thankful it impacted you ♥
Thank you so much for this post regarding the paper mill in Deferiet. I have been wondering why so many of my Polish ancestors’ relatives headed to Deferiet, NY. Think I know why now. Each person I’ve found who was from Bulaja, Austria, indicated on their immigration record in the early 1900s-1910s that they were going to Deferiet. However none of them stayed long. Never could find any of them listed in the census after their immigration. Your post has given me some insight for my genealogy search! Many thanks again!
Hi Jeannie! Thanks for the information! My Grandma has told me many stories about the fascinating people she met as a girl. Each nationality had such wonderful things that characterized different neighborhoods and contributed to the community at large.. Some she admired their gardens, some their cooking, some their fastidiousness. She treasures those memories. All such wonderful people. Good luck!
Who was your Grandma ? I grew up in Deferiet with the Mayor Janet Zando. M I use to live in the Polish Block next to the mill. I should know some of the people you are writing about.
Hi, Richard. My name is Pat Goodwill Wilson. My family moved to Deferiet in the fall of 1938, when I started third grade with Nellie Allen, our teacher then. My dad was Fred Goodwill. He was a chemical engineer, as Christa wrote, and established the chemical lab in the mill, which allowed them to do paper testing there instead of sending it off-site.
I loved Deferiet. I rode my bike all over town in the summer, ice skated on the river in the winter. I do remember family names of Siedlecki, Ganarecki (sp), Ventiquattro, Palladino, etc. We had a wonderful mix in that little grade school. I didn’t know Janet Zando; I’m much older than she is, I’m sure, but she was kind enough to write to me after Christa’s visit, and we shared some memories between us. Her book is a treasure; it brought back good memories. We were only there for four years. My second little brother was born there, bringing our count to four children, and we needed a bigger house. We lived at 16 Parker Ave, across the street and down a bit from the store/post office. We moved to Carthage when I started seventh grade.
Janet and myself were born in 1946 so you already had moved out of Deferiet. Ii grew up in the Polish block until they tore them down 1959
Richard, that must have been difficult to see that piece of history torn down…
Hi, Richard. My name is Pat Goodwill Wilson. My family moved to Deferiet in the fall of 1938, when I started third grade with Nellie Allen, our teacher then. My dad was Fred Goodwill. He was a chemical engineer, as Christa wrote, and established the chemical lab in the mill, which allowed them to do paper testing there instead of sending it off-site.
I loved Deferiet. I rode my bike all over town in the summer, ice skated on the river in the winter. I do remember family names of Siedlecki, Ganarecki (sp), Ventiquattro, Palladino, etc. We had a wonderful mix in that little grade school. I didn’t know Janet Zando; I’m much older than she is, I’m sure, but she was kind enough to write to me after Christa’s visit, and we shared some memories between us. Her book is a treasure; it brought back good memories. We were only there for four years. My second little brother was born there, bringing our count to four children, and we needed a bigger house. We lived at 16 Parker Ave, across the street and down a bit from the store/post office. We moved to Carthage when I started seventh grade.
Hi,
You might have known my family, the Pultoraks. You didn’t live far from them. My family lived there until 2015.
Did you know any with names of Sczcepek or Pelc?
My great grandfather, Anthony Pelc, came over around 1912 and worked at the mill. My great grandmother, Petronela, came in 1913 and lived in Deferiet. They were from Poland. Anthony stayed at the mill until he retired. Maybe our relatives were friends!
I visited the old mil on October 16, 2015. As a young service technician for Huyck Formex, Inc., a company that sold forming fabrics and drainage foils to the mill, I spent many days and nights in the mill from 1971 to 1974. At the time I called on the mill, there were 6 fourdrinier paper machines operating. The mill was losing money because of low productivity and high costs. The products sold by my employer were novel, at the time, and the Mill Manager Bob McDonald, Assistant Manager Jay Herr, Engineer Bob Pinkham and Superintendent Tiny Lamora, gambled and purchased a Fab-Foil system for the number 2 machine. The system reduced operating costs remarkably and we then install the systems on all machine over the next three years. These systems helped keep the mill going and enabled it to remain profitable.
Saint Regis, Deferiet was a great industrial manufacturing marvel and a world-class operation during the last century. I worked in the paper manufacturing industry for 40 years and have witnessed the decline, closure and demolition of this once great American industry. The US and Canada are littered with old paper mill sites from long ago.
Sam, what a treat to hear part of your story! Thank you so much for sharing, I really appreciate it
I loved your comment. I worked there for 22 years and my brother Bruce worked there for almost 30 years. I loved seeing my father mentioned Bob Pinkham!! He put his heart and soul into that place.
Greg, what fun to see your dad’s name up there! THESE comments are why I love exploring places. They mattered, they were part of someone’s story…our story. Thanks so much for saying hello
Hi Judy my name is Joe Amedeo , I woked at the mill from april of 1971 to june of 1999. Before I worked at the mill in the mid to late 60s I knew Ed Pultorak who ran the grocery store in deferiet. My father delivered fruit and vegetables to the store,we used to eat lunch there once in awhile. Ed would fix us a sandwich . My father and Ed were friends. I was a teenager at the time. I used to work with my father during summer vacation from school.
Hi Sam! Dave Baer here. My job as Process Engineer was my first out of college. I worked for Paul Plante, knew Bob McDonald, Coleman Larlee, Tiny Lamora, Jay Herr, Bill Bannon and a lot more. I had a lot of interesting assignments. I put the library together in the upstairs office, built a map of the fresh water sewer system using dyes( very bad today), measured all the fresh water usage points and discharge points in the mill in order to minimize water use and help calculate how big a water treatment plant to build. About 1974-1975. I learned so much from those guys and many others. Old memories.
I WORKED THERE 20 YEARS,I WOULD’NT HAVE WHAT I HAVE TODAY IF IT WAS;NT FOR THAT MILL.THE INTERNET IS A GREAT THING , BUT THE NEED FOR THICK CATALOGS FOR SEARS, J.C. PENNY, PHONE BOOKS,AND NEWSPAPERS ARE NO LONGER NEEDED BECAUSE OF IT.
Hi Gary, thanks for visiting my blog! I am amazed everyday by the power of the internet, but I love and miss the old catalogs. I buy ones in antique stores sometimes, because they become important contributions to history I think.
I’m Stan
I worked there for 28 years
I ended up machine tender on #6 paper machine
My father worked there for 40 some years
A lot of good people worked there heart and soul for that place
A lot of good memorys there
A lot of good paper makers worked there
Sure miss the guys
Hi there Stanley, I appreciate your comment, what years did you and your dad work there?
Your dad must have worked with my grandfather there! Anthony Pelc
My dad retired from the Deferiet mill in 1998-9ish he had started working there as a young man fresh out of the marines. I even worked there one summer when I was in college. So many memories. Loved seeing your pictures.
Thanks Jean, I appreciate your memory share…it sounds like many locals worked there for entire careers. Things have changed so much in that regard!
The picture with the 810 # Steam Sign is where I worked for several years. I was the Generating Turbine Operator/Steam Engineer. I have missed that place more than once over the years.
Tom, when you looked at the picture, did you see the disrepair…or did your mind show you the memories of how it was when you worked there?
Thanks for posting I had no idea what the name of this paper mill was. It is hard finding info on it. I live 20 minutes away from it and would never have found it, but thanks to ingress (A gps game) Deferiet has 3 portals. I would love to wander the grounds and capture it before it is totally gone. I did fly my drone around it, which makes for an easy way to see it AND share. Here is a link to the video on my site, I will also have a few aerial photos in the Aerial Gallery. https://danforthphotography.smugmug.com/Videos/Aerial/i-tX8PkZ3/A
Hey there Patrick, I really enjoyed seeing your aerial photos of a place special to our family! Thank you for sharing and I am super glad you found something useful here!
Hi Christa my name is Joe Amedeo , I worked at the mill for 28 years. I know and knew many people who had worked there.Did you read the book rats, scabs and robber barons?
HI Joe, sorry it took so long to see your comment! Forgive me. I haven’t heard of the book, was it based on the mill in part?
Christa,
My name is Terry Sanderson, I lived in and around Deferiet from 1950 to 1968 when i went into the Marines. My whole family worked at ST. Regis, my dad Arlington, his dad, my great grandfather also my moms dad Mac Mchale. I know many of the people that have posted here. Janet Zando and here family were good friends of the family. SHe had a younger sister Mimi. There were also the Miterko brothers, George, Mike, Frank and probably a couple more. It is good to read about the history of the mill, but it is also sad to go back and see its demise. A lot of family made a good living from making paper and now most of that is going by the way side. Still have friends in that area but the military took me to many different places around the world. but Deferiet will always be home.
My grandfather worked for st.Regis for years. Started is Watertown NY and retired in Jacksonville Fl. He retired has vice president of the company. His name was John McDermott. I LOVE looking at old stories and pictures of the mills.
Thank you
Hey Tommy…..it’s Uncle Bill. How interesting we both stumbled across this article about St. Regis. This mill is where he got his start with the company. His amazing story went from the bottom to the top. I get prouder of him every day.
Edward E. Merrick was a machine operator at the St. Regis Paper Co. for several years. In Dec. 1992 he lived at 223 State St. and died at A. Barton Hepburn Hospital Ogdensburg. He was married to Maude Macleod, in 1951 and had a daughter and son. The son Edward C. died prior to him.
Today I stumbled upon this website and have enjoyed recalling the fine people with whom I worked between 1972 and 1980. I was the Personnel Manager beginning in 1973 during the period when Bob McDonald, Coleman Larlee, Paul Plante, Bob Carroll, Bob Pinkham, Tiny LaMora, Jay Herr, Bob Ferguson, Bob Foster, and the list goes on were consumed by rebuilds and overhauls of all 6 paper machines, Beater Room and Super Calendaring equipment. Everyone wanted to save the mill, union leaders and management alike and the total mills team came together to make it happen. There was a point in time during this period where some major issues needed to be addressed such as paper machine lines of progression, along with other key issues. To best accomplish this the three production bargaining units agreed to bargain jointly, which was a first at Deferiet and key to the success that followed. The IAM was also helpful in the process to work towards a re-alignment of maintenance tasks. I am very happy to have run across this website and continue to have fond memories of the fine family of folks who worked there, including and especially Deanna DeLosh, Gail Erwin, Ray Martin(ez), Tom Eaton, Roger Sonstroem with whom I worked.
Hi Christa,
My father was Ralph Kenan, and he was a Chemical Engineer, having started with St. Regis at the Deferiet Mill in 1948, transferred with the Bag Division to West Nyack in 1962, and then finally transferring to the Cantonment Mill (Pensacola, FL) in 1972, and retiring in 1983. He passed away this May 2nd at the age of 92 and was always very proud of his St. Regis “heritage”. The company was very good to our family, as I received a college scholarship from them, as well as being able to obtain summer work at the plant while I was home each college summer. As a young boy, we were able to vacation at Sunbeam, the St. Regis hunting club, and have many fond memories. Since his passing I have found several articles, awards and pictures of his St. Regis career. Is there a museum of St. Regis artifacts or a place to share these?
Thanks, Dan Kenan
Hi Dan, thanks so much for sharing your story! My grandma happened to be visiting when you comment came in. I told her about your Dad, and she estimates he might have come in just after HER dad, who was a chemical engineer there until just prior to that. Wouldn’t that be fun if they knew each other?
My great grandfather Anthony Pelc was a foreman at the mill, according to his obituary. He retired around 1957. I know he worked there for a very long time. I would love to know if anyone knew him. I don’t know much about him at all, only things I’ve found through research.
Accidently ran across this article, and so glad I did. My dad [John A. McDermott] started working at this mill doing janitorial maintenance. Over the years he moved up the line to become the paper machine operator. Went backwards into maintenance because he saw the dead end in operating the machine. Over many years he rose through the company; Went to Tacoma as superintendent of the paper machine side; Went to Jacksonville to oversee construction of new mill and became General Superintendent here; then became General Superintendent of all the mills; Eventually they offered him Vice President of engineering and production, and moved the engineering division to Jacksonville. Near the end he was offered the presidency, but opted to retire instead. This is the first time I have ever seen anything directly related to the Defariet mill. It adds another piece to my memories of my dad.
Thank you so much for posting.
Hi Christa, happened across this site while looking up the mill. My dad (Wilmer Schriock) work there from about 1956 to his retirement about 1993 or 4. He was originally from N.D. and ended up in the area stationed at Ft. Drum in the middle 50’s where he met my mom; a local girl from Carthage. After marrying in 56 they moved back to N.D. to work on his dad’s farm since my dad had no job. He had applied for a job at the mill before they left. After about six months he got a call saying he had a job if he wanted. His dad said go, there wasn’t any future for him on the farm. My parents left and never looked back. He started shoveling coal and worked his was up to repairing the machines. The mill gave my parents a great life and my sister and I a great childhood.
Hi RIta, thanks for taking time to tell me about your dad! I have so enjoyed all these stories. Never would have imagined these lovely people would find a sense of community in this post that was such a personal venture for me. It is wonderful. Blessings to you!
Great Post, I worked in Deferiet back in 1967 on # 6 Machine, I only worked there about 3 -4 months and went to Rochester, NY. years later moved to Carthage and bought a Mill House in Deferiet, lived there till health forced me into Handicapped Senior Citizen Housing 15 years ago, 3 month ago we bought the House next door to where we lived ! We love Deferiet ! Sad to see the Mill in such a bad shape !
Hi Gary, love reading these details and I appreciate you trusting me here with your story! It has been an honor to see how former employees have found there way here to reconnect.
My Father Daniel Kane, worked 30 plus years for St. Regis..He was a driver based out of Scotia N.Y. This plant was the corrugated box division..The many trips I took with him are lasting memories of quality time..
That is quite a career span! What was it you most enjoyed about those trips with your dad?
I worked at the Deferiet Mill, then Champion Paper, in HR for nearly two years from 1996 till the end of 1997. My wife and I just returned from visiting the place after a 24 year absence. I was saddened to see the condition of the plant. But I have several memories of good people, the friendships I made and the things they taught me while I was there. Thanks to all of you.
Thanks for sharing Bryce! Glad you found this post
Christa,
I enjoyed your superb article regarding the Deferiet paper mill. Thank you for providing this excellent website. My name is Tom Ventiquattro II. I grew up in and around Deferiet. Like my friend, Kevin Killian (previous commenter), I worked as “summer help” at the mill during my college years at Syracuse University and SUNY ESF. My father, Thomas Ventiquattro, worked in the lab at the Deferiet mill before being transferred to the lab at the St. Regis West Nyack facility in 1962. His subsequent employment brought him north again, when he found laboratory work at nearby competitors of St. Regis (J.P. Lewis and Boise Cascade paper mills).
Your grandmother, Pat Goodwill Wilson, may have known my dad. He was born in 1930, so he likely would have been a classmate of hers in 1938 (third grade with teacher Nellie Allen?). Your grandma may have known my father’s siblings. My dad had two older brothers, Paul and Alfred, and two younger sisters, Lorrie and Annie. Incidentally, both of my uncles enjoyed employment at the Deferiet mill. I know of three other people that may have been childhood friends of your grandma. Helen Siedlecki (born in 1933), Teresa Palladino (born in 1931) and Katie Gerace (born in 1927). Katie’s sisters were a little older (Antoinette-“Donna” and Anna), but your grandmother may have known them, too.
Again, thank you for giving readers the opportunity to review your superlative work. Your text, photos and your generous accommodation of commenters combined to give us a nostalgic journey back to the past. That mill pumped lifeblood into our beloved village of Deferiet and the surrounding communities. Kudos for providing the vehicle that enabled our sweet memories to soar, once again.
Hello Thomas! Thank you so much for sharing YOUR family history, it was a pleasure to read. My grandma is having memory issues but DOES remember this time period well. I am definitely looking forward to visiting her soon, and hope to share these names and your story with her. God bless you and have a wonderful night. So glad you found this! You blessed me
1964,as a grand manan nb resident ,worked loading pulp wood on ex WW11 barges to the tune of 5000 cords per barge. logs from Grand Manan shipped to St Regis papermill.I earned 1.45 per hour (good wages for the time) before I returned to school in the fallof 64.stillhave sore hands from prolonged use of a “pulphook”
I’ve driven or ridden past the old mill since the 50’s as we traveled to our place in the Adirondacks, but never took much notice. Yesterday, I caught a glimpse of the large brick building and decided, “I need to find out the history of that place!” Looked up “Deferiet”, and found out the St. Regis Paper Co. started there! Then found your story & photos; all very interesting and satisfied my curiosity. Thank you for posting this; it is far more interesting than I had thought it might be.
Great pictures that bring back fond memories. I was lucky to get summer jobs as a utility man at the mill in the summers of 1961, recovery and wood yard, 1962, beater room, 1963, the #2 machine and the “Seminole Chief”. Without those jobs I would have never been able to afford college.