From Peck's Lake History: "In the early 1800's Ichabod Peck moved his family from Marlboro, New Hampshire to Johnstown, New York. One of Ichabod's sons, Charles, remained in Johnstown and raised a family. One of Charles' sons, John, born in 1818, began purchasing land in the foothills to the north of the colonial town while he was still a young man. Ichabod was the son of Ichabod and Lydia Walcott Peck of Cumberland, RI. Ichabod and his father, also Ichabod, served in the Revolutionary War where his father was killed. He was a PFC and his father a Lieutenant Colonel. He married Mary Dean in 1780 and had 9 children. Mary died in Hadley, Saratoga Co., in 1814. His second wife was Elizabeth who is buried here with the Watrus family. See the following link and search "Ichabod Peck": http://www.fulton.nygenweb.net/ for more info.
We know little of John Peck's motivation for coming to the southern Adirondacks - perhaps it was a fascination with the rolling hills, ponds, and marshes, the abundant fish and wildlife, and the isolation of the "wilderness". Or perhaps it was a more pragmatic recognition of the commercial possibilities of the region, with its abundant natural resources ready to be exploited. In 1842 John made his first acquisition, known as Great Lot 92, which included the area along the Caroga Lake Road and the Hohler Road. In those days the land was divided into a series of "Patents", which had been early colonial land grants. Great Lots were further divisions of the Patents, and as the land became further subdivided, whole or partial Great Lots were bought and sold. There were earlier owners of these lots, between the original land grant holders and John Peck, but more knowledge of these earlier settlers awaits further research. John continued to purchase other parcels during the 1840's and 50's. Old deeds show that he gradually bought up all the land around the ponds and streams in the vicinity of the present Peck's Lake. The southeast corner of Great Lot 89, comprising the area containing the Peck Homestead and Marina area, was purchased on May 21, 1857.
The Mohawk Hydro-Electric Company, the electric utility in upstate New York (predecessor to Niagara Mohawk), wanted to build a hydroelectric station in the Village of Ephratah, and they needed an upstream reservoir capable of providing an ample supply of water for operation of this plant. Since "Peck's Pond" lay only a few miles upstream, it was the natural choice. Mohawk Hydro-Electric approached Albert Peck with a plan: The power company would build a dam (completed in 1910) at the outlet of the present mill pond and raise the lake level by 20 feet to create their needed reservoir. They would take title to all the land under the new lake and the area needed for construction. In return, Albert would receive a 999-year lease for the control of the new lake to be formed, so that he could retain his resort business. Present day lawyers marvel at the innovative nature of this arrangement, previously unheard of. Of course, there were many details to be ironed out, and much work to be done in preparation. Albert had to buy additional land, so that the newly flooded area would still be under his exclusive control. All the timber had to be cut from the impounded area. (The well-preserved stumps from this cutting remain to the present time and provide excellent cover for the game fish that thrive in the lake.) The road to the north had to be relocated to detour around the area to be flooded."
We know little of John Peck's motivation for coming to the southern Adirondacks - perhaps it was a fascination with the rolling hills, ponds, and marshes, the abundant fish and wildlife, and the isolation of the "wilderness". Or perhaps it was a more pragmatic recognition of the commercial possibilities of the region, with its abundant natural resources ready to be exploited. In 1842 John made his first acquisition, known as Great Lot 92, which included the area along the Caroga Lake Road and the Hohler Road. In those days the land was divided into a series of "Patents", which had been early colonial land grants. Great Lots were further divisions of the Patents, and as the land became further subdivided, whole or partial Great Lots were bought and sold. There were earlier owners of these lots, between the original land grant holders and John Peck, but more knowledge of these earlier settlers awaits further research. John continued to purchase other parcels during the 1840's and 50's. Old deeds show that he gradually bought up all the land around the ponds and streams in the vicinity of the present Peck's Lake. The southeast corner of Great Lot 89, comprising the area containing the Peck Homestead and Marina area, was purchased on May 21, 1857.
The Mohawk Hydro-Electric Company, the electric utility in upstate New York (predecessor to Niagara Mohawk), wanted to build a hydroelectric station in the Village of Ephratah, and they needed an upstream reservoir capable of providing an ample supply of water for operation of this plant. Since "Peck's Pond" lay only a few miles upstream, it was the natural choice. Mohawk Hydro-Electric approached Albert Peck with a plan: The power company would build a dam (completed in 1910) at the outlet of the present mill pond and raise the lake level by 20 feet to create their needed reservoir. They would take title to all the land under the new lake and the area needed for construction. In return, Albert would receive a 999-year lease for the control of the new lake to be formed, so that he could retain his resort business. Present day lawyers marvel at the innovative nature of this arrangement, previously unheard of. Of course, there were many details to be ironed out, and much work to be done in preparation. Albert had to buy additional land, so that the newly flooded area would still be under his exclusive control. All the timber had to be cut from the impounded area. (The well-preserved stumps from this cutting remain to the present time and provide excellent cover for the game fish that thrive in the lake.) The road to the north had to be relocated to detour around the area to be flooded."
From Peck's Lake History: "In the early 1800's Ichabod Peck moved his family from Marlboro, New Hampshire to Johnstown, New York. One of Ichabod's sons, Charles, remained in Johnstown and raised a family. One of Charles' sons, John, born in 1818, began purchasing land in the foothills to the north of the colonial town while he was still a young man. Ichabod was the son of Ichabod and Lydia Walcott Peck of Cumberland, RI. Ichabod and his father, also Ichabod, served in the Revolutionary War where his father was killed. He was a PFC and his father a Lieutenant Colonel. He married Mary Dean in 1780 and had 9 children. Mary died in Hadley, Saratoga Co., in 1814. His second wife was Elizabeth who is buried here with the Watrus family. See the following link and search "Ichabod Peck": http://www.fulton.nygenweb.net/ for more info.
We know little of John Peck's motivation for coming to the southern Adirondacks - perhaps it was a fascination with the rolling hills, ponds, and marshes, the abundant fish and wildlife, and the isolation of the "wilderness". Or perhaps it was a more pragmatic recognition of the commercial possibilities of the region, with its abundant natural resources ready to be exploited. In 1842 John made his first acquisition, known as Great Lot 92, which included the area along the Caroga Lake Road and the Hohler Road. In those days the land was divided into a series of "Patents", which had been early colonial land grants. Great Lots were further divisions of the Patents, and as the land became further subdivided, whole or partial Great Lots were bought and sold. There were earlier owners of these lots, between the original land grant holders and John Peck, but more knowledge of these earlier settlers awaits further research. John continued to purchase other parcels during the 1840's and 50's. Old deeds show that he gradually bought up all the land around the ponds and streams in the vicinity of the present Peck's Lake. The southeast corner of Great Lot 89, comprising the area containing the Peck Homestead and Marina area, was purchased on May 21, 1857.
The Mohawk Hydro-Electric Company, the electric utility in upstate New York (predecessor to Niagara Mohawk), wanted to build a hydroelectric station in the Village of Ephratah, and they needed an upstream reservoir capable of providing an ample supply of water for operation of this plant. Since "Peck's Pond" lay only a few miles upstream, it was the natural choice. Mohawk Hydro-Electric approached Albert Peck with a plan: The power company would build a dam (completed in 1910) at the outlet of the present mill pond and raise the lake level by 20 feet to create their needed reservoir. They would take title to all the land under the new lake and the area needed for construction. In return, Albert would receive a 999-year lease for the control of the new lake to be formed, so that he could retain his resort business. Present day lawyers marvel at the innovative nature of this arrangement, previously unheard of. Of course, there were many details to be ironed out, and much work to be done in preparation. Albert had to buy additional land, so that the newly flooded area would still be under his exclusive control. All the timber had to be cut from the impounded area. (The well-preserved stumps from this cutting remain to the present time and provide excellent cover for the game fish that thrive in the lake.) The road to the north had to be relocated to detour around the area to be flooded."
We know little of John Peck's motivation for coming to the southern Adirondacks - perhaps it was a fascination with the rolling hills, ponds, and marshes, the abundant fish and wildlife, and the isolation of the "wilderness". Or perhaps it was a more pragmatic recognition of the commercial possibilities of the region, with its abundant natural resources ready to be exploited. In 1842 John made his first acquisition, known as Great Lot 92, which included the area along the Caroga Lake Road and the Hohler Road. In those days the land was divided into a series of "Patents", which had been early colonial land grants. Great Lots were further divisions of the Patents, and as the land became further subdivided, whole or partial Great Lots were bought and sold. There were earlier owners of these lots, between the original land grant holders and John Peck, but more knowledge of these earlier settlers awaits further research. John continued to purchase other parcels during the 1840's and 50's. Old deeds show that he gradually bought up all the land around the ponds and streams in the vicinity of the present Peck's Lake. The southeast corner of Great Lot 89, comprising the area containing the Peck Homestead and Marina area, was purchased on May 21, 1857.
The Mohawk Hydro-Electric Company, the electric utility in upstate New York (predecessor to Niagara Mohawk), wanted to build a hydroelectric station in the Village of Ephratah, and they needed an upstream reservoir capable of providing an ample supply of water for operation of this plant. Since "Peck's Pond" lay only a few miles upstream, it was the natural choice. Mohawk Hydro-Electric approached Albert Peck with a plan: The power company would build a dam (completed in 1910) at the outlet of the present mill pond and raise the lake level by 20 feet to create their needed reservoir. They would take title to all the land under the new lake and the area needed for construction. In return, Albert would receive a 999-year lease for the control of the new lake to be formed, so that he could retain his resort business. Present day lawyers marvel at the innovative nature of this arrangement, previously unheard of. Of course, there were many details to be ironed out, and much work to be done in preparation. Albert had to buy additional land, so that the newly flooded area would still be under his exclusive control. All the timber had to be cut from the impounded area. (The well-preserved stumps from this cutting remain to the present time and provide excellent cover for the game fish that thrive in the lake.) The road to the north had to be relocated to detour around the area to be flooded."
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