TOUR: Lowville and the Black River Valley

With deep roots in farming, forestry, and transportation, the Black River Valley straddling the western edge of the Adirondack region features a bold history and distinctive communities. As a major Lewis County community, Lowville retains a remarkable collection of 19th- and early 20th-century buildings, illustrative of that period’s rapid population growth, strong workforce, and accompanying architectural vibrancy. We will begin our day exploring Constable Hall, a Federal-style limestone building constructed over the course of nearly a decade before 1820. This home, the product of skilled stone masons and craftspeople, was inhabited by William Constable Jr. and five generations of the Constable family. Here, the family served as promoters of the region and launched efforts to bring people to burgeoning Black River communities. In the afternoon, we will tour downtown Lowville with its broad range of architectural styles, including some particularly stunning Queen Anne homes. On our trek, we will see the National Register-listed Bateman Hotel and explore the ongoing efforts of Tug Hill Coffee Roasters to transform a historic jail into a public-facing café and artisan roastery.

This outing is led by Constable Hall’s Peter Hayes, our friends from Historically Lewis, and passionate local building owners. The tour runs from 10 AM to 4 PM.

The fee is $50 for members and nonmembers.

Please note that this outing includes about a mile of walking on paved surfaces.