Watertown, New York is a city surrounded by the natural beauty that is the North Country. The Adirondack Mountains, Tug Hill Plateau, the St. Lawrence and Black Rivers, along with Lake Ontario, make Watertown a wonderful place to live.

The founders of Watertown settled here because of the power of the Black River and its many waterfalls. Many industrial businesses harnessed the river for its waterpower. These businesses created products that gained national and worldwide acclaim.

This book tells the story of Watertown's birth and growth. It includes approximately 1,300 pictures, which provide a visual look at the people and businesses that nurtured that growth. Prominent citizens gave back to the city they loved with a library, a park, hospitals, churches, schools and many other contributions.

As you read, you will see how Watertown grew from a small agricultural village into an industrial powerhouse of the early twentieth century. You will meet the people who left a lasting legacy of architecture and recreation. You will see Watertown as it was and as it is now.