Thanks to the Northern New York Community Foundation I've been able to fund a number of projects. The latest is a film about the Silvester Gilbert Home, which was located on State Street.
The Gilbert house was a Georgian style stone house built in about 1821 by early resident Silvester Gilbert. Georgian style homes were prevalent in the thirteen colonies throughout the 18th century. These homes typically are constructed of stone or brick with a symmetrical arrangement of windows and doors on the front of the building. Windows are usually multi-paned sliding sash windows in a 6 over 6 pattern. The front door may have a transom window over it. The Gilbert family lived in this house for 50 years.
Silvester Gilbert was born in Otego, New York on September 24, 1787. He came to Ogdensburg in 1810 establishing himself as a hatter. AfterSil the War of 1812 he formed a partnership with Judge Averill as a merchant. This partnership was dissolved in 1818.
Silvester Gilbert was a prominent early citizen of the village of Ogdensburgh. Among his many accomplishments was helping to form one of the first Masonic lodges in Ogdensburg, becoming a Master in 1826. He held many state offices for the Masons and was a member for 55 years.
He was elected Supervisor of the Town of Oswegatchie and was a delegate in 1839 when General William Henry Harrison was nominated for president. On the local level, he was elected village clerk in 1817, village trustee in 1832, and village president in 1835 and 1856. He was elected to the New York State Assembly in 1827 as a Whig.
Gilbert was named a commissioner of the Oswegatchie Navigation Company in 1831, which was formed to dig canals linking Black Lake, Gouverneur and Canton.
He was elected as a vestryman and warden of the Episcopal Church and was instrumental in completing the building of St. John’s Episcopal Church here in Ogdensburg.
The Ogdensburg Academy was established in 1835 with Gilbert listed as one of its trustees.
He married Lois Ranney in 1818, who died in 1819. They had one son. Lois Ranney was the daughter of Capt. Seth Ranney, who served in the War of 1812 and Eleanor Matthews. He then married Nancy Ann Seymour, daughter of David and Nancy Seymour. They had 12 children.
Silvester Gilbert died in 1865 and is buried in the Ogdensburgh Cemetery. After his death his fellow masons passed a resolution which said “his life has been characterized by a high tone of moral worth which won for him the regard of his fellow citizens.”
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