06/15/2026
Here's today's PHOTO OF THE DAY!!! This picturesque view of the Au Sable River takes us to Keeseville, New York and a prominent lost landmark once known as "Prescott's Mill." The immense 5-story structure was built of native sandstone and occupied the riverbank just above the village's "Arch Bridge," where this photo was taken. It began life as a woolen mill in 1836 but the operation was not a success. In the decades that followed, the mill was expanded by other companies for the manufacture of products like axes, chisels, wire and bolts, iron axels for wagons, and even cotton stockings. In 1878 the site was purchased and refitted again, this time as a furniture factory by the firm of "Rufus Prescott and Sons." Updated with the "latest improvements in machinery for making chairs and furniture," the mill employed a workforce of over 100 people! Following World War II, the company moved away from traditional furniture and began to manufacture stylish wooden cabinets for radios and later, for early TV sets. But, the changing times meant that the writing was on the wall. After a century in business, Prescott's mill was shuttered for good in 1964. Just five years later on May 20th, 1969, smoke was spotted rising from the vacant building by the staff of the nearby Keeseville National Bank and within 10 minutes time, the building erupted in flames. Fueled by a hundred years of varnish from the furniture that made it famous. Many gathered to watch, fearing that the blaze could spread and claim the adjacent buildings of downtown, but, quick work by local firefighters saved the day. In the aftermath, only a heap of rubble and the blackened sandstone walls remained. Today, a small park overlooking the Au Sable marks the site where the old landmark once stood.
