Herkimer County Historical Soc

Moss Island, 1906

his son George L. Smith and Olin W. Timmerman. In researching newspapers they are not always accurate in their reporting. George L. Smith (1864-1946) purchased the remaining stock and became sole owner of the Adirondack Woolen Company in 1906 one year after his father’s death in 1905. The Barge Canal was being built from 1906-1910 right through his property. The mountains of rock had to be leveled to extend the mill site farther north. In addition, several buildings had to be removed and new ones built. In 1946, the floors of the old Adirondack Woolen Company, loaded with paper stock, collapsed causing the death of four men and many believe, indirectly causing the death of George L. Smith three months later on April 25, 1946, according to The Little Falls Evening Times of Monday, July 10, 1961.

New Central Railroad eliminated the Gulf Curve and relocated the Mohawk River, the State then purchased Moss Island and razed Adirondack Woolen Company in July of 1961. There were plans in the works in 1958 to build a Canal Museum and Park on Moss Island. The Society has a copy of the Progress Report dated November 1959 for this proposed project. The report was signed by Donal Hurley (1899-1980) was a businessman and Edward J. Cooney (1899-1980) was the Little Falls City Historian.

After finding Mr. Reagan’s first name, I then looked in the newspaper obituary card file. The card stated the obituary was in the Herkimer Democrat October 19, 1887. It just said he died October 7, 1887, at the age of 80 years. I then went on www.Ancestry.com. I found John Reagan (ca. 1807 -1887) married Catherine (1810-1901) both born in Ireland listed in 1850 and 1860. In 1875, they lived in the town of Danube. The Reagans were not found in the 1880 Census. The 1883 and 1886 Little Falls Directory states that John Reagan lived on Goat Island. John died in 1887. Catherine moved to Mohawk to live with her relative Daniel Crowley (1849-1905). Daniel Crowley had lived on Goat Island in Little Falls in 1883 according to the City Directory. Catherine’s obituary stated that she was found dead in her bed at the home of Daniel Crowley in Mohawk. She died in 1901 and was 78 years old.

I couldn’t write the article on John Reagan without telling the story of Adirondack Woolen Company on Moss Island. It is hard to imagine all the industry that was in Little Falls at one time. Thank you to David Krutz for information on Moss and Goat Islands. In the July issue, the Strand Theatre in Old Forge was inadvertently left out. It is currently owned by Bob and Helen Zyma and has been in operation since 1923. •

Sue Perkins is the Executive Director of the Herkimer County Historical Society

Family Owned, Family Grown Happiness Grows Here!

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The Seeberger Family

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