And who among us wouldn't like to see just a little bit of nostalgia? Here, for your viewing pleasure, are a few gentle reminders of today/yesterday in Heuvelton. First of all, we want you to know that YOU ARE HERE! The village sign has been there for a long time, but you will notice a couple of additions as you round the gentle curve coming into Heuvelton from the West on route 812.

There is even a Millennium sign just to the left of the photo, not shown. Unfortunately, we don't have a picture of that yet.

Hey, we're just getting started! What do you want for the first try anyway?

Hmm, anyone remember what date Heuvelton was incorporated on? If anyone knows, let me know and we'll add it to the information.

And then, of course, there is the unforgettable Main Street of Heuvelton, with the Amish flavor added. If you haven't lived around here in a long time, the Amish buggies and families are in the area with their Amish life styles, horses, buggies, and farms, saw mills, furniture making, and many other businesses. I love watching the horses trotting by with carriage behind, the occupants waving politely. They are a most charming people when you get to know them.

And who hasn't spent some time in Richardson's Hardware store? If you couldn't find what you wanted there for your farming hardware needs, it probably didn't exist. It was an excellent source for all of the most common and a lot of not so common hardware anywhere in the county. Unfortunately, Mr. Richardson closed the store for the final time in January of 2000. It's kind of a sad feeling to drive by and see it sitting empty, but if anyone has ever deserved a pleasant retirement ... .

If anyone knows how long Richardson's were in business in Heuvelton, we could add it to this page as a historical tidbit for posterity.

The village sports four churches, three of which we have pictures of; hopefully we will have the 4th one soon - they are presently in the process of painting and improving the property. But many of you will remember these three (soon to be four) churches fondly, I am sure.

These are, of course, the Methodist, St.Raphael's, and the Wesleyan Methodist churches. We will add the Presbyterian church as soon as we have a picture.

If you have a favorite picture you would like to see on this page, please, feel free to send us an email with the picture, or we can even scan the photograph if you will send it to us. We promise to return the picture, but unfortunately, cannot be responsible should it become damaged or lost.

Meanwhile, here are some other village pictures posted for your consideration:

The 1887 Heuvelton Mechanics Band

The Sheffield Farms of the 1930's

 And how about the Ice Storm of 98?

See some great historical buildings in Ogdensburg by visiting:

Recently, while helping with Spring Cleaning at Jane's Mother's house, she came across a 2 January 1967 Ogdensburg Journal Sunday paper. In that paper were some interesting pictures and a neat poem about the history of Heuvelton. I present them here for your enjoyment and comment:

A 1967 "Vision of the Future". Sorry it might be hard to read: the paper was pretty yellowed and hard to scan.

Nothing to do with Heuvelton, I just thought it was interesting enough to put here.

The Old Iron Bridge. Those of you who know bridge construction know that this same technique, from the 1800s, is still used today around the world. It must have been quite a site.

Looking south on Main Street, of course.

The Snyder House in Heuvelton.

The Van Heuvel House

And finally, this poem from the same newspaper about Heuvelton:

The following `epic' poem was submitted to the recent Historical Writing contest sponsored by the St. Lawrence County Historical Association and the county's Yorker Clubs. The poet earned a special prize donated-by the St. Lawrence County National Bank at Heuvelton for his efforts it was announced this week by Vice President Lynn Thompson. Bill Woodward, the author, is a student at Heuvelton Central School and is the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Woodward, East Road, Heuvelton.

After it was surveyed by Judge Edsall of Madridtown,

People built a bridge which they thought was sound.

But this bridge they do say

In 1805, at the age of eight, was swept away.

Fordsburgh and East Branch were names of this place,

Where pioneers the frontier did face.

Bristol, Havens, Osburne and Jones,

Were names of the people' who built their homes.

In 1805 jairus Remington came,

And for two reasons we remember his name.

He built an inn en the site of the Grove,

And to his sawmill many drove.

The sawmill was the first frame building here, But many; many more .Were soon built near.

But 1806 was also sad for this little town,

Since David Seymour, working on the bridge, was drowned.

This was the first person to become dead,

And this new town had a feeling of dread.

The date 1920 was, a. red-letter year,

For J. A. Vanheuvel came from New York to here.

The name of the town was changed about then,

From Fordsburgh to Heuvelton to honor this man.

in 1825 Dr. S. Sherman came,

To help cure a fever which 'was to blame

For 18 deaths and considerable grief.

The good doctor tried hard to make this plague brief.

In '28 religion came

Methodists, with Joseph Brooks the minister's name.

So ends early history of this little town,

which we now refer to as Heuvelton.

In the winter of 1808 and '09,

A school was opened, which turned out fine.

Dyer Badger taught the youths of the town,

In a school near the site the present one is on.

In 1822, the present site to the district was sold,

And in '25 a stone school was built to teach history of old.

No change was made until '74.

When the old stone structure was standing no more,

Since the old stone building for their needs was not good,

People decided to build a school of wood.

On the top floor of the wooden school,

The Library, office and high school were ruled.

On the first floor were the elementary grades,

Where into ink .wells went many girls' braids.

In 1935 farming methods were taught

To the boys whose parents the Ag Wing had sought:

In '38 the school did acquire

A music-department/for a band and a choir.

In 1940 for cooking and such

The Home Ec department was enjoyed very much.

When the school was consolidated and called H.C.S.

A new building had to be built to avoid a big mess.

The old wood one was torn down and up a modern one came,

And in 1953 it. received its new name.

Twice since new additions have been completed,;

In '58 and '64 - they were built 'cause they were needed

Since my history is finished of the Heuvelton schools,

I feel that I should list the rules.

These are the rules made in 1876 By the Board of Education, with Clerk, J. Rich:

1. You have to have proper order in the school,
2. Hollering or yelling are forbade by this rule.,
3. 2. To leave your department you need the Okay,
4. Of the homeroom teacher, the same as today.
5. 3. You cannot ruin the building, your books or your desk,
6. If you do, you will be in a mess.

from 1829 to Incorporation (1912)

-In eighteen hundred and twenty-nine VanHeuvel built a gristmill,

it didn't take much time.

It's now the Laundromat, but was Griffin's store ,

And at one time, it was even more.

The McFadden Anderson Mill was there located,

given the Post Office was in the part now vacated.

Van Heuvel around this time built a home on a hill

That overlooked the town, and overlooked his mill.

The house was called the Blue Mansion by all,

And many beautiful things decorated its hall.

Van Heuvel spared no money to have his house filled,

he had many luxuries which the poor could never have willed.

John Pickens had two daughters of fame,

Jessie and Bessie both changed their name.

They changed Pickens to Abott and became big stars,

Bessie sang at the Met and was known near and far.

She sang before the Queen and European leaders,

And all of them asked if they could meet her.

In the Civil War Heuvelton was well represented ,

Dan S. Giffin and William Johnson did what was wanted.

They fought for the Union, but Johnson was killed,

and Giffin came back and used his great skill.

He wrote "Pioneer Life", a poem book,

About a school teacher, just how she did look.

In eighteen hundred and seventy five

Not many men are still alive

Who remember the bridge that was built that year --

It was built of steel for $10,000, a price very mere.

Heuvelton was a big market for the turkey.

Until 1926 from "way back in 1853,

The railroad was important in Heuvelton's history.

That's a point which is no mystery.

In 1862 the railroad began

And it seemed without incident from 'way back then

until 1914 when the depot was moved

From the McCadam site to the place it's now "grooved."

In 1940 the greatest thing happened in our town,

When little Heuvelton became a place of renown.

The President and Prime Minister came to sign an agreement,

Which would help to keep all people free men.

The two were F.D.R. and MacKenzie King,

That really was a fabulous thing!

in, 1906 electricity had been installed

In the homes of the Francis' and Delaneys, the first of all,

From 1923 and 1924 '

The Power- House -- do you want to know more?

It' was built by St. Lawrence Utility,

And up rose a monument in this land of fertility.

Incorporation came to the village of Heuvelton,

December: 13, 1912 was- the date it was on.

1914 `brought the concrete walk

In 1917 the Heuvelton, Bank caused talk.

This talk was good and fine to hear,

For now people could bank their money quite near.

St. Lawrence :County National joined with this same,

And to the joint Banks they gave their name. -

On June 28th in '21

A Fire Department was begun.

Claude Preston, the first chief of the department here,

Was the head of a bucket brigade of 27, or near.

A few things happened in 1930

Which are' deserving of celebrity.

Built in the village was a new town hall,

And cost $26,000, really not much at ail.

Also that year the American Legion came,

Robert Woodside Post 550 was its name:

In 1930 the 'Masonic Temple" was acquired,

Transforming a store to temple was a deed to be admired

In 1963 a new Post Office was erected,

Beauty in architecture surely was perfected.

Well, many things have happened in the last few years,

Some brought happiness, others brought tears.

Heuvelton overcomes its problems fast,

And no is it peaceful, peaceful at last.

So pauses the history of this little place,

But there will be more yet for it to face.

-- The End --

End Note from Web Site Manager