Frederic Remington Art Museum
Ogdensburg, New York
June 28, 2025
HISTORY
The city of Ogdensburg has a rich history. The territory in which it is located has been inhabited by Indigenous peoples for at least 2000 years. The earliest European settlement in the area was around 1749 and was a French mission. This settlement was near the site of the 1760 Battle of the Thousand Islands. This battle was between British and French forces. In the end, the British would win, with France handing over its land in Canada and East of the Mississippi to them. The British would consider this community a part of Lower Canada (Quebec). This would remain under British rule until the American Revolutionary War in 1796. The first settlers under the American flag would arrive that same year and would name the new village Ogdensburg, after and early landowner – Samuel Ogden.
During the War of 1812, Ogdensburg was captured by British forces. This was to end the blockades on the St. Lawrence and the harassment that was being conducted by the community. In the absence of American forces, local merchants restored trade with Canadian towns across the river.
In 1810, David Parish – a prominent individual in the shipping and lumber industry, built a large house in Ogdensburg. He would live here until 1816, in which he returned to Europe. After his departure, other Parish family members would occupy the property. Other family members included his brother, George Parish, and his nephew, George (this George Parish was the son of Richard Parish – George and David’s brother). Another well known individual to live in the house was a woman by the name of Elena Ameriga Vespucci. Known by the locals as “Parish’s Fancy”, Ameriga Vespuscci lived in the house with George Parish (the nephew). Rumors surrounding how she came to be a part of the Parish household swirled throughout the community. One of those rumors was that she was won during a poker game.
Elena Ameriga Vespucci was born in 1804. When she arrived in America, she was determined to latch on to man of wealth and importance – which she found in the son of the President, John Van Buren. It is said that her life with John Van Buren was going well when the two were stranded at a tavern near North Drum during a snowstorm. It was said that Van Buren as in possession of $5000 in gold that a client had entrusted in him in order to purchase property. With time on his hands, some alcohol and a deck of cards, he decides to play a few games of poker with a man – George Parish. George Parish promptly wins all but one of Van Buren’s gold coins. In a desperate attempt to get the gold back, Van Buren purposed one last draw- a coin flip. Heads, he gets back all the gold; Tails, George would get the girl. George Parish walked out of that tavern that evening with a bag of gold and Ameriga Vespucci – who didn’t object to this new arrangement. Whether this story is true or nothing more than folklore, what is true is that Ameriga did end up at the Parish Mansion. Here, she was nothing more than a bird in a gilded cage. The women of Ogdensburg shunned her and referred to her as an Italian Jezebel. Ameriga would live at the mansion from 1841 to 1859. At this point George Parish sent Ameriga to Paris, with a large sum of money to live out the rest of her life. Ameriga would die in Paris in 1866.
The city of Ogdensburg has a rich history. The territory in which it is located has been inhabited by Indigenous peoples for at least 2000 years. The earliest European settlement in the area was around 1749 and was a French mission. This settlement was near the site of the 1760 Battle of the Thousand Islands. This battle was between British and French forces. In the end, the British would win, with France handing over its land in Canada and East of the Mississippi to them. The British would consider this community a part of Lower Canada (Quebec). This would remain under British rule until the American Revolutionary War in 1796. The first settlers under the American flag would arrive that same year and would name the new village Ogdensburg, after and early landowner – Samuel Ogden.
During the War of 1812, Ogdensburg was captured by British forces. This was to end the blockades on the St. Lawrence and the harassment that was being conducted by the community. In the absence of American forces, local merchants restored trade with Canadian towns across the river.
In 1810, David Parish – a prominent individual in the shipping and lumber industry, built a large house in Ogdensburg. He would live here until 1816, in which he returned to Europe. After his departure, other Parish family members would occupy the property. Other family members included his brother, George Parish, and his nephew, George (this George Parish was the son of Richard Parish – George and David’s brother). Another well known individual to live in the house was a woman by the name of Elena Ameriga Vespucci. Known by the locals as “Parish’s Fancy”, Ameriga Vespuscci lived in the house with George Parish (the nephew). Rumors surrounding how she came to be a part of the Parish household swirled throughout the community. One of those rumors was that she was won during a poker game.
Elena Ameriga Vespucci was born in 1804. When she arrived in America, she was determined to latch on to man of wealth and importance – which she found in the son of the President, John Van Buren. It is said that her life with John Van Buren was going well when the two were stranded at a tavern near North Drum during a snowstorm. It was said that Van Buren as in possession of $5000 in gold that a client had entrusted in him in order to purchase property. With time on his hands, some alcohol and a deck of cards, he decides to play a few games of poker with a man – George Parish. George Parish promptly wins all but one of Van Buren’s gold coins. In a desperate attempt to get the gold back, Van Buren purposed one last draw- a coin flip. Heads, he gets back all the gold; Tails, George would get the girl. George Parish walked out of that tavern that evening with a bag of gold and Ameriga Vespucci – who didn’t object to this new arrangement. Whether this story is true or nothing more than folklore, what is true is that Ameriga did end up at the Parish Mansion. Here, she was nothing more than a bird in a gilded cage. The women of Ogdensburg shunned her and referred to her as an Italian Jezebel. Ameriga would live at the mansion from 1841 to 1859. At this point George Parish sent Ameriga to Paris, with a large sum of money to live out the rest of her life. Ameriga would die in Paris in 1866.
In 1879, Nathan P. Wooley – a civil war veteran, purchased the house. In 1889, he was appointed Chief of Police, but it was short-lived. He sold the house to George Hall in 1896. When Wooley died in 1914, it was reported that he was Ogdensburg’s oldest citizen.
George Hall was a philanthropist and a close friend to Frederic Remington. He had a keen interest in the civic affairs of Ogdensburg, serving as Mayor for three terms and was on a variety of charity boards. George, with John C. Howard would gift the house to Eva Caten Remington in 1915. Eva was the widow of Frederic Remington. George Hall died in 1918 of pneumonia.
John C. Howard was also a philanthropist and close friend to Frederic Remington as well. He worked for George Hall’s coal company, making his way through the ranks, eventually becoming President upon the death of Hall. He was also a driving force in setting up a bridge to Canada for the region. In a tragic turn of events, he was crushed to death by a railroad boxcar near his winter home in Florida in 1940.
Frederic Remington was born in 1861. Right from the beginning, he showed interest in artistic expression. He would get accepted at Yale School of Fine Arts. In the summer of 1879 he would return home, where he met Eva Caten. Immediately he knew that she was the “one” and would call her every day. Remington would return to Yale that Fall, but would keep in touch in Eva. During this time, he would write to Eva Caten’s father. In this letter he asked for permission to marry Eva. He received a letter back with the words ‘No’. Although there were many reasons to the disapprove the marriage, it was thought that Remington, who was 18 at the time, was too young to marry. Upon the death of his father and receiving his inheritance, Remington took off immediately to Kansas, where he ended up a sheep farmer. His mother and Eva were not interested in his misadventures and did not support him in this decision. In 1884, he would propose to Eva once again and this time she accepted. He then dissolved his sheep farm, but managed to purchase a saloon in Kansas City. After their marriage, Eva found out about the Saloon and left Frederic and moved back East. In 1885, he left Kansas City, wandered the desert for several months, and then returned home to reclaim his marriage. This would be the start of his full-time art career – illustrating for Harper’s Weekly and Outing, a number of articles on the west written by Theodore Roosevelt. He would publish a book, a number of magazine pieces, paint many pieces and sculpt many bronze sculptures. As he began to age, he began to fear it. He was not a healthy man – his obesity and drinking were causing him stress. In 1909, as the age of 48, he died from complications after an appendectomy.
His death would leave Eva a widow. With no children and no idea about their finances, she was left with the task of turning Frederic’s estate into a source of income to sustain her lifestyle. She began to manage copyrights and productions of sculptures, and began to work on establishing a permanent memorial for her husband. In 1915, Eva would move into the mansion that George Hall gave to her after the death of her husband. Her sister, Emma, would live with her there as well. Emma was also childless, having never married. Emma lived much of the time with Frederic and Eva and when she wasn’t living with them, she would frequently visit. Both women would live in the house until Eva’s death in 1918. After her death, her husband’s name seemed to disappear from the public mind for many years. This was mostly caused by the way her executors handled her estate and the remaining art. In her will, she had bequeathed her estate to the Ogdensburg Public Library. These unsold sketches, paintings and sculptures were stored in an unsecured area of the library, where a fire would eventually break out. Most of the artwork was salvaged and transferred to what would become the Frederic Remington Art Museum. The museum would open its doors to on July 19, 1923 as the Remington Art Memorial.
Today, visitors can walk through the halls of the old mansion, viewing Remington’s artistic works, family possessions and personal content, as well as local artwork. Recreations and replicas of Remington’s work are also available to purchase for those who find his pieces fascinating.
For more information or to plan your visit, check out their website: https://www.fredericremington.org/
George Hall was a philanthropist and a close friend to Frederic Remington. He had a keen interest in the civic affairs of Ogdensburg, serving as Mayor for three terms and was on a variety of charity boards. George, with John C. Howard would gift the house to Eva Caten Remington in 1915. Eva was the widow of Frederic Remington. George Hall died in 1918 of pneumonia.
John C. Howard was also a philanthropist and close friend to Frederic Remington as well. He worked for George Hall’s coal company, making his way through the ranks, eventually becoming President upon the death of Hall. He was also a driving force in setting up a bridge to Canada for the region. In a tragic turn of events, he was crushed to death by a railroad boxcar near his winter home in Florida in 1940.
Frederic Remington was born in 1861. Right from the beginning, he showed interest in artistic expression. He would get accepted at Yale School of Fine Arts. In the summer of 1879 he would return home, where he met Eva Caten. Immediately he knew that she was the “one” and would call her every day. Remington would return to Yale that Fall, but would keep in touch in Eva. During this time, he would write to Eva Caten’s father. In this letter he asked for permission to marry Eva. He received a letter back with the words ‘No’. Although there were many reasons to the disapprove the marriage, it was thought that Remington, who was 18 at the time, was too young to marry. Upon the death of his father and receiving his inheritance, Remington took off immediately to Kansas, where he ended up a sheep farmer. His mother and Eva were not interested in his misadventures and did not support him in this decision. In 1884, he would propose to Eva once again and this time she accepted. He then dissolved his sheep farm, but managed to purchase a saloon in Kansas City. After their marriage, Eva found out about the Saloon and left Frederic and moved back East. In 1885, he left Kansas City, wandered the desert for several months, and then returned home to reclaim his marriage. This would be the start of his full-time art career – illustrating for Harper’s Weekly and Outing, a number of articles on the west written by Theodore Roosevelt. He would publish a book, a number of magazine pieces, paint many pieces and sculpt many bronze sculptures. As he began to age, he began to fear it. He was not a healthy man – his obesity and drinking were causing him stress. In 1909, as the age of 48, he died from complications after an appendectomy.
His death would leave Eva a widow. With no children and no idea about their finances, she was left with the task of turning Frederic’s estate into a source of income to sustain her lifestyle. She began to manage copyrights and productions of sculptures, and began to work on establishing a permanent memorial for her husband. In 1915, Eva would move into the mansion that George Hall gave to her after the death of her husband. Her sister, Emma, would live with her there as well. Emma was also childless, having never married. Emma lived much of the time with Frederic and Eva and when she wasn’t living with them, she would frequently visit. Both women would live in the house until Eva’s death in 1918. After her death, her husband’s name seemed to disappear from the public mind for many years. This was mostly caused by the way her executors handled her estate and the remaining art. In her will, she had bequeathed her estate to the Ogdensburg Public Library. These unsold sketches, paintings and sculptures were stored in an unsecured area of the library, where a fire would eventually break out. Most of the artwork was salvaged and transferred to what would become the Frederic Remington Art Museum. The museum would open its doors to on July 19, 1923 as the Remington Art Memorial.
Today, visitors can walk through the halls of the old mansion, viewing Remington’s artistic works, family possessions and personal content, as well as local artwork. Recreations and replicas of Remington’s work are also available to purchase for those who find his pieces fascinating.
For more information or to plan your visit, check out their website: https://www.fredericremington.org/
STORY COMING SOON!!!
OVILUS 5 WORDS
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WITCH PERCENT SINGLE GARDEN AGGRESSION MOP RELEASE DRESS GRACE FRESH HEAVY CLUB DAY GUY ASSAULT KNOT STAB AMELINE CABLE THANK CHIEF ELEMENTAL IRON RAPTURE PEOPLE STUFF WINDOW SIGN TERMS LITTLE ESPECIALLY DROP SET OLDER I RODGER 9 TEAM PALACE PUDDLE MAXIMUM SIXTY WELL |
SHOWN
HOLD CHEST ALONE OI ALICE MONEY ARMS NONE THOSE BEG DISTURB BLIND CRAYON BUILDING AIM STILL MORES PAGE LADY FIND LIVING RING MONUMENT BEER SISTER STUFF LINGER STATEMENT ESPECIALLY IDA SON WAGO SOUTHERN MASTER AMELINE TONE MIKE FRESH SURFACE DRESS. |
SPIRIT TALKER WORDS/PHRASES
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DANCING
I MADE THAT SOUND NO I CAN’T INFERNAL LEONARD THE CHAIR OF TORTURE IVY FOURTEEN MY LIFE WAS AMAZING TOWARDS HAUNTED COCAINE SEE MY SHADOW 1970S THEY MEAN YOU HARM ANYBODY SOUTH PATIENTS I ONCE LIVED HERE PEOPLE CAN’T HEAR ME WE’RE LISTENING SPANISH DONKEY ANCIENT SPIRIT IS THIS A RITUAL WHAT’S THAT DEVICE NANA MY THROAT HURT AT THE END PRAY DON’T BE FEARFUL I DIED IN MY SLEEP |
AGREE
SIT AND TALK I MUST GO NOW I CAN SEE YOU ALL CUT HAD A HARD LIFE I’VE BEEN HERE 300 YEARS THUMBSCREW YOU ARE WISE PAINTED EYE THE SHADOWS ARE ME YOU ARE HARMONIOUS SOMEONE’S WATCHING JOSH KILL SECRETS INFERIOR TABLE VIOLET INVESTIGATOR CAN YOU MOVE LOCATION? MY DEATH WAS PEACEFUL THERE’S MANY OF US DAMNATION CHRISTOPHER MOORE TALL ELMER ARGUE |