… from the Watson’s East Triangle Unit Management Plan.

Human occupation of the Adirondack region took place immediately following the Wisconsin glaciation period (10,000‐8,00BC). Native American artifacts representing all periods of New York prehistory have been found throughout the region, most sites being associated with water bodies. The Oswegatchie River, which is an important resource for this unit, was a boundary between the easternmost of the Iroquois nations, the Mohawks and the Oneidas. Most of the recent history of this unit revolves around hopes and dreams of early speculators and the harvesting of timber. Unfortunately much of this history has gone undocumented.

The major historical events and dates that influenced this unit are described below:

Pre 1770’s ‐ Occupied by Native American Indians

1792 ‐ Alexander Macomb purchase nearly 4,000,000 acres in northern New York for 84 an acre. Shortly following this purchase Macomb was sent to debtors prison. His holdings were taken over by his partner William Constable.  

1796 ‐ James Watson acquires 61,433 acres in Herkimer and Lewis Counties comprised of two triangular pieces joined only by a narrow isthmus.

1809 ‐ James T. Watson inherits the lands of his father, James Watson.

1854 ‐ James T. Watson commits suicide; his holdings in the east triangle, are split among 44 surviving cousins.

1854‐1907 ‐ Through subsequent tax sales all of Watson’s former lands in the east triangle come into State ownership.

1907‐1912 ‐ Through tax sales the State Comptroller sells these same lands to the International Paper Company for a total of approximately $7,600.

1986 ‐ The State of New York acquires title to the remaining lands of International Paper within the Watson’s East Triangle.

1989 ‐ The State acquires 6,737 acres of the Lassiter Tract in fee, and purchases a conservation easement (Oswegatchie Tract) from the Nature Conservancy on 17,749 acres in Lewis County.

1999 ‐ Champion International sells its land holdings in New York State. The State acquires a conservation easement on 110,000 acres of these lands throughout the Adirondack Park, including the Croghan Tract. The State also acquires 29,000 acres of these lands for inclusion in the Forest Preserve. The lands acquired by the State in fee consist mostly of river corridors and other ecologically sensitive areas.

2000‐ The former IP lands are classified by APA, with much of the acreage going into Watson’s East Triangle Wild Forest, while some is classified wilderness along with reclassification of some existing acreage of WF to wilderness.

2006‐ Lands acquired in 1999 from Champion International are classified and added to the unit.