By Larry Robinson
OGDENSBURG — A walking tour of some of the most historic structures still remaining in Ogdensburg — and in St. Lawrence County — will take place on Sept. 8 as part of ongoing efforts to mark the 150th anniversary of the incorporation of Ogdensburg as a city.
The so-called “Walk and Talk” tour is a free public program for adults that will take place at 10 a.m. Sept. 8.
Participants are asked to meet at the First Baptist Church, 603 State St., prior to the walk.
The walk will encompass a tour of historic homes and buildings in the city, as well as information on the prominent people who resided on State Street in the early days of Ogdensburg’s founding. The tour will end at City Hall, according to Ogdensburg Historian Julie Madlin.
“This area was part of the city’s business district and the site of the first bank in St. Lawrence County,” Ms. Madlin said. “State Street was also the home of many prominent citizens, including Congressman John Fine, Louis Hasbrouck — a founder of Ogdensburg — and George Hall, a businessman and great philanthropist.”
She said the goal of the walk is to educate both visitors and Ogdensburg natives about the significance of the Ogdensburg State Street area as it relates to the development of St. Lawrence County.
“I think it is just a great way to get out and see the city in a different way,” said Ms. Madlin. “I recently talked to a lady who asked me why I was doing a tour of State Street. She said there’s nothing there. I was shocked, because to me, there is so much history on that one street that I had to stop myself on how many historic sites I would be able to highlight. So I stopped at 18.”
Ms. Madlin said she has already installed 13 QR barcodes linking to videos she created along the street, and five more narratives will soon be installed.
“There really is so much history there it is amazing,” she said. “I meet people all of the time who are still upset about urban renewal in Ogdensburg. But they miss the fact that we still have so much fantastic architecture in the city.”
One of the buildings to be highlighted during the high tech walking tour will be the Dorwin Mansion on State Street. Ms. Madlin said it is a classic example of a style of architecture known as the “Shingle Style.”
Built in 1892, she said the building was constructed at the height of the architectural style in the north country. Unique qualities include a monochrome appearance related to the fact that shingles used in the construction are unpainted.
“They also featured expansive wraparound porches, an asymmetrical facade and irregular roof lines.”
Ms. Madlin said the mansion in Ogdensburg was constructed of Potsdam sandstone and was almost razed in 1947 by a company that wanted to put a gas station on the site.
Those attending the upcoming walking tour in Ogdensburg are asked to bring their own smartphones or other devices if they want to link to the history videos of each site that have been created by Ms. Madlin.
The Walk and Talk program focuses on the history of Ogdensburg. The tour route connects State Street with the Library Park National Historic District. The program is made possible through the generosity of the Northern New York Community Foundation and the Sweetgrass Foundation.
For more information, contact Julie Madlin at jmmadlin@gmail.com
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