Big Deer Pond
Encyclopedia
Big Deer Pond is located approximately 1.5 west of Lows Lake
in the Five Ponds Wilderness Area
and the Adirondacks "Bob Marshall Wilderness
" area (there is another in Montana
). It serves as a 1/2 mile water-portage between Lows Lake and the upper Oswegatchie River
. The portage is a total of 3.5 miles through blowdown of virgin timber. Big Deer Pond is noted for being a large shallow pond with numerous bog
plant life. It was initially named Lost Pond by surveyor Verplanck Colvin
before being rediscovered by conservationist Bob Marshall (wilderness activist)
after the turn of the 20th century.
Region (N.Y.) History 19th century "The Hermit" of Big Deer Pond (or Lost Pond) near Cranberry Lake
. Scott was a boyhood neighbor and lifelong friend of J. Henry Rushton (canoe designer) and Reuben Wood
(professional fly-dresser). Scott was a legendary Adirondack guide, trapper and the model for the title character in Irving Bacheller
novel, Silas Strong, Emperor of the Woods (1906). Bachellor also dedicated the poem, Him and Me, to Scott.
Scott registered two patents one for an Railroad Switch and one for an excavation tool.
Scott Philo's one room log cabin was later moved during the winter through the dense woods to Chair Rock on the south end of Cranberry Lake
. It was used as the dining room for the historic Wildcliff Lodge (formerly known as "Hoppie's" and then "Verns") and still sits unoccupied as of 2008. A committee of home owners in Chair Rock was organized to purchase Wildcliff as a means to eliminate the perceived noise and visitors to the area. Wildcliff now sits in disarray with no intent to repair or rejuvenate the historic property.
Lows Lake
Lows Lake is a reservoir in the Adirondack Park in northeastern New York. It is located in the Five Ponds Wilderness Area, southwest of Tupper Lake. The lake is part of the Bog River Flow. While it is largely surrounded by New York State Forest Preserve, the northeast shore is privately held,...
in the Five Ponds Wilderness Area
Five Ponds Wilderness Area
The Five Ponds Wilderness Area, an Adirondack Park unit of New York's Forest Preserve, is located in the towns of Fine and Clifton in St. Lawrence County, the town of Webb in Herkimer County and the town of Long Lake in Hamilton County...
and the Adirondacks "Bob Marshall Wilderness
Bob Marshall Wilderness
The Bob Marshall Wilderness is a wilderness area in Flathead National Forest of western Montana in the United States. It is named after Bob Marshall , an early forester, conservationist, and co-founder of The Wilderness Society. The Bob Marshall Wilderness extends for 60 miles along the...
" area (there is another in Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
). It serves as a 1/2 mile water-portage between Lows Lake and the upper Oswegatchie River
Oswegatchie River
The Oswegatchie River is a river in northern New York that flows north from the Adirondack Mountains to the Saint Lawrence River at the city of Ogdensburg. The river mouth was the site of a Jesuit mission, Fort de La Présentation, founded in 1749. Also a fur trading post, the village had 3,000...
. The portage is a total of 3.5 miles through blowdown of virgin timber. Big Deer Pond is noted for being a large shallow pond with numerous bog
Bog
A bog, quagmire or mire is a wetland that accumulates acidic peat, a deposit of dead plant material—often mosses or, in Arctic climates, lichens....
plant life. It was initially named Lost Pond by surveyor Verplanck Colvin
Verplanck Colvin
Verplanck Colvin was a lawyer, author, illustrator and topographical engineer whose understanding and appreciation for the environment of the Adirondack Mountains led to the creation of New York's Forest Preserve and the Adirondack Park....
before being rediscovered by conservationist Bob Marshall (wilderness activist)
Bob Marshall (wilderness activist)
Robert "Bob" Marshall was an American forester, writer and wilderness activist. The son of wealthy constitutional lawyer and conservationist Louis Marshall, Bob Marshall developed a love for the outdoors as a young child...
after the turn of the 20th century.
Philo Scott
Big Deer Pond was the home of Philo Scott, 1841–1911; Adirondack MountainsAdirondack Mountains
The Adirondack Mountains are a mountain range located in the northeastern part of New York, that runs through Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Hamilton, Herkimer, Lewis, Saint Lawrence, Saratoga, Warren, and Washington counties....
Region (N.Y.) History 19th century "The Hermit" of Big Deer Pond (or Lost Pond) near Cranberry Lake
Cranberry Lake
Cranberry Lake is a lake on the Oswegatchie River in the Adirondack Park in New York in the United States. It is the third largest lake in the Adirondack Park Cranberry Lake is a lake on the Oswegatchie River in the Adirondack Park in New York in the United States. It is the third largest lake in...
. Scott was a boyhood neighbor and lifelong friend of J. Henry Rushton (canoe designer) and Reuben Wood
Reuben Wood
Reuben Wood was a Democratic politician from the U.S. state of Ohio. He served as the 21st Governor of Ohio.Wood was born near Middletown, Rutland County, Vermont. While living with an uncle in Canada, he was conscripted into the Canadian Army at the outset of the War of 1812, but escaped across...
(professional fly-dresser). Scott was a legendary Adirondack guide, trapper and the model for the title character in Irving Bacheller
Irving Bacheller
Addison Irving Bacheller was an American journalist and writer who founded the first modern newspaper syndicate in the United States.- Birth and education :...
novel, Silas Strong, Emperor of the Woods (1906). Bachellor also dedicated the poem, Him and Me, to Scott.
Scott registered two patents one for an Railroad Switch and one for an excavation tool.
Scott Philo's one room log cabin was later moved during the winter through the dense woods to Chair Rock on the south end of Cranberry Lake
Cranberry Lake
Cranberry Lake is a lake on the Oswegatchie River in the Adirondack Park in New York in the United States. It is the third largest lake in the Adirondack Park Cranberry Lake is a lake on the Oswegatchie River in the Adirondack Park in New York in the United States. It is the third largest lake in...
. It was used as the dining room for the historic Wildcliff Lodge (formerly known as "Hoppie's" and then "Verns") and still sits unoccupied as of 2008. A committee of home owners in Chair Rock was organized to purchase Wildcliff as a means to eliminate the perceived noise and visitors to the area. Wildcliff now sits in disarray with no intent to repair or rejuvenate the historic property.