Not far from the Austin Dam, the historic dam that collapsed and flooded out a community. I remember smelling the coal smoke and hearing the gun shots ring out from the hills as I explored this little hick town with a general store and some fairly run-down houses deep in Appalachia.
Old Route 8B is a 1915-era routing of NY 8 and 30 between Wells and Speculator that is now a dead-end after the lower bridge was closed some time ago. It runs between Auger Falls and Speculator, passing closely by Austin Falls. Old Route 8B is most famous for Robert Garrow killing a camper at the Robb Creek Mill and then fleeing up Fly Creek Road. There are several campsites along the road, and Austin Falls is a scenic location where the Sacandaga River runs through a narrow floom. The road, while paved with concrete and letter covered with two layers of asphalt only receives the most minimum of maintenance, and is quite rough and disjointed in locations. Old Route 8A refers to the 1915 routing of NY 8 and 30, which at one time ran closer to Auger Falls and wound into the valley, taking a closer path to the Sacanadaga River.
That part of Lake Champlain that is little more then a river, where Vermont dips down into what otherwise would appear to be New York State.