| County: |
Lewis |
| Town: |
Croghan |
| USGS Map: |
Remington
Corners |
| Waterway: |
Oswegatchie
River West Branch |
| Latitude: |
N
44.00545o |
| Longitude: |
W
75.25549o
|
| Drop: |
~10' |
|
There is quite of bit of confusion surrounding this site.
The first piece of confusion is in regard to the existence of
waterfalls. There is not really a waterfall here. Back
in the late 1800s, Louis V. Bisha ran a sawmill here.
Although we don't really know how big it was, there was a
waterfall at that point and we assume it powered the mill.
It had not been in operation long when the mill was destroyed by
fire. Some time later, a dam was constructed there. A
few years ago the dam gave way. A number of property owners
in the area wanted the dam replaced but finances, politics or both
got in the way and that has never happened. All that is left
now are rapids.
The second bit of confusion is in regard to the name. The
falls are referred to as Bisha Falls and the community there is
Bisha Mill. However, this site is at the end of a dead-end,
unpaved road known as Besha Road. This is not a typo.
The Besha family owned property in that area in the early 1900s
and the road was named in their honor. These are two
different families. However, even the official Lewis County
map published by the County Highway Department notes the community
as Besha Mill. Based on our research and other publications,
this is an error. The community is Besha Mill, although we
have also seen it as Beshas Mill.
To access this site, take the Belfort Road from the village of
Croghan to the hamlet of Belfort. Then follow the Long Pond
Road and turn left when you come to the Bisha Road. Go to the
end of this road and you will find a parking lot with a NYS DEC
sign noting that it is the West Branch Oswegatchie Fishing Access
Site, lot 11960.
Note that the area you will be hiking is private land and
posted, but it is a Conservation Easement Public Recreation
Area. Public access is allowed along the river. Go
past the gate past the parking lot into an area known as Long
Level and bear right. The rapids you will come to at the
bend in the river is Bisha Falls.
The West Branch of the Oswegatchie joins the main channel a few
miles downstream, just west of the hamlet of Talcville in the town
of Edwards. This then flows to the St. Lawrence River in
Ogdensburg.
|
