Boat house, Loon Lake, NY
FRANKLIN
Franklin County
New York
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Loon
Lake
Loon Lake, NY
1920s

Main House

Loon Lake
Letter and Portrait of Gerrit Smith, Abolitionist
July 08, 1859

Letter from the
abolitionist
Gerrit Smith
about a visit
to
Plattsburgh, NY
The Town of Franklin was removed from the Town of Bellmont on May 20, 1836. It contained about half of
Township #9 and all of Township #10 of the Old Military Tract.
The first settlement in Franklin was made in 1827 by Isaac G. McLenathan and William Wells, from Jay in Essex
County.  In 1852 there was a great conflagration in which the town was destroyed by fire.
Later settlers included many escaped or emancipated slaves and poor white men who were provided
homesteads by Gerrit Smith, a member of the Underground Railroad, for the consideration of "one dollar".  
Gerrit wanted to "have all share in the means of subsistence and happiness which a bountiful God has provided
for all."
Historian
Teresa Eshelman
eshelman@usadatanet.net
Alder Brook, Box 202, Star Rt #1
Ausable Forks, NY 12912
518-891-1052
COMMUNITIES IN THE TOWN OF FRANKLIN
Alder Brook, Franklin, Forestdale, Franklin Falls, Goldsmith, Loon Lake, Merrillsville, Molasses Corners, Onchiota, Rainbow Lake,
Sugarbush, Union Falls, Vermontville, White Fathers
Fleur de lis
Royal Savage Emblem
Royal Savage Emblem
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