Beaver River, New York
| Beaver River | |
|---|---|
| Hamlet | |
  Beaver River Location of Beaver River in New York | |
| Coordinates: 43°54′13″N 74°54′36″W / 43.90361°N 74.91000°WCoordinates: 43°54′13″N 74°54′36″W / 43.90361°N 74.91000°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| County | Herkimer |
Beaver River is a hamlet that is six tenths of a mile square, at the east end of Stillwater Reservoir, in the town of Webb in Herkimer County, New York. The hamlet is surrounded by the Adirondack Park. The hamlet has a year-round population of eight, that increases during the summer as many people have camps in this wilderness area. There are 125 private properties, and three commercial businesses. No roads lead to the hamlet; it is accessible only by hiking, rail car or boat in the summer and by snowmobile, snowshoes or cross country skis in the winter. There is no electrical service. The town is named for the Beaver River. The New York Central Railroad right of way, on the National Register of Historic Places passes through the hamlet; an existing bunkhouse is a part of the historic property.
History
Beaver River was created in 1893 by railroad builder Dr. William Seward Webb as a stop on his newly completed Adirondack and St. Lawrence Railway, which became the Mohawk and Malone Railway and ultimately, the New York Central. Webb owned some 200,000 acres (810 km2) in the area, which was popular with hunters and fishermen. Extensive logging began at the turn of the century. In 1902, the Norridgewock Hotel was built, which became the social hub of the community. A school house was built in 1912 by early settler Ben Bullock; the school continued to operate until 1965.
Sources
- "A Short History of Beaver River" by Bill Donnelly, Town of Webb Historical Association in Old Forge, NY
- Beaver River Property Owners Association
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