Johnson - Urs Boxler Photography

Johnson
The community post office was also located in the store in those days and Mrs. Holden served as
postmaster for six years. The couple sold the store and retired from active work about ten years ago.
"I've seen some great changes in Hannawa Falls during my 78 years here," remarked Mr. Holden ...
... [jig-saw puzzles] is on of their hobbies.
The development of the water power of the Racket River at Hannawa Falls was one of the outstanding
events in the history of the immediate vicinity, in the opinion of Mr. Holden who besides operating the
general store also served as a constable in the community for nearly 40 years.
"... The canal and the power house were started about 1899 and finished in 1900 and 1901. This little
hamlet was a thriving community at that time. Besides the regular inhabitants, there were about 600
Italian workmen who came here to work on the canal. My store did a great business in those days."
Mrs. Holden remarked that she will always remember the day the new dam was completed. Members
of several families residing along the river, the Holdens included, had to flee their homes to escape the
backing up of the water.
Before the power project was begun, the Racket river at Hannawa Falls was about 60 feet wide where
the present concrete bridge now stands. There was a small cove northeast of the highway bordering
the main stream. A little island ... stood in the middle of the channel.
The power company purchased the homes of several residents along the south shore of the river as it
was evident that when the dam was completed, the backwater would fill in this space ...
On the morning of the day when the land was to be flooded, families started moving to new homes.
Horses were used to cart furnishings from the dwellings. The water rose so rapidly during the morning
that by noon when the final load of goods was brought out, the horses were obliged to wade in water
up to their stomachs, Mr. Holden said. He estimated that the water line came up 25 feet during the
day. The former site of several homes in now the Coney Island south bay.
Mr. and Mrs. Holden are both enjoying good health this winter. They have two children. A son, FLoyd
resides at SOnyea. A daughter, Mrs. Bertha Manley and family, reside with Mr. and Mrs. Holden since
their home was destroyed by fire several months ago.
Children of HATTIE COFFEE and HOWARD HOLDEN are:
i. BERTHA MYRTLE 6 HOLDEN, b. March 18, 1890, Hannawa Falls, St. Lawrence County, NY, USA 105 ;
d. December 14, 1974, Hannawa Falls, St. Lawrence County, NY, USA 106,107 ; m. MARTIN F.
MANLEY, August 30, 1906, Gouvenour, St. Lawrence County, NY, USA 108 ; b. March 12, 1886,
Hannawa Falls, St. Lawrence County, NY, USA 109 ; d. 1954, Hannawa Falls, St. Lawrence County,
NY, USA 110 .
Notes for BERTHA MYRTLE HOLDEN:
Woman, 84, Artist, Dies
Potsdam -- Mrs. Bertha M. Manley, 84, Hannawa Falls, artist and widow of Martin Manley, died
Saturday night in Potsdam Hospital.
...
She is survived by a son, Howard (Pete) Manley, Hannawa Falls, four grandchildren and three greatgrandchildren.
Mrs. Manley was a well-known North Country painter, with some of her paintings currently on exhibit
in the library at Canton ATC.
Register Report of Various Families Coffee: 44