LAFARGEVILLE -- One hundred years ago next year an event took place a mile south of this village that seemed destined to bring to Lafargeville the fame of a college center. In 1838 Bishop Dubois purchased the mansion and farm of John LaFarge, on the present state road, establishing there a Catholic seminary that he named St. Vincent de Paul, and opened under Rev. Francis Gooth (?).

Such was the origin of Fordham university. Had it remained, Lafargeville would have been known across the continent as sons of the college now spread Fordham’s fame thru the states. Instead, a succeeding prelate, Bishop Hughes, complained that Lafargeville was too remote from the populous centers from which students were drawn. He removed the school close to New York where St. John’s college was established to continue its work.

Thus opportunity passed Lafargville. But the seed of educational desire sown a century ago may have instilled later citizens with thoughts for the improvement of the youth of Orleans township, bringing perhaps the gift of the present fine school building, with its endowment insuring an income toward maintenance, to relieve the taxpayers of the village and affiliated districts.

When Bishop Dubois established his seminary, the mansion of Baron LaFarge was one of the finest residences in the North Country. Residents recall the demolition of the main building a number of years ago, and the quantities of lead included in its ornaments and about roofs and windows.

The house was of the typical plan employed by early French settlers in Northern New York, still represented in miniature form by many limestone dwellings in Jefferson county. There was a high main upright, with lofty rooms reached by a wide hall. On either side was a story and a half wing, with high dormer windows, and a one-story extension on the read containing kitchen and servants quarters.

Exchange by LaFarge of the manor house for a school was quite acceptable to the village, altho they probably had no conception of the asset a college might be to their community. LaFarge was not a popular land owner. In first years of his proprietorship, when he had sought to oust squatters and collect from tenants, there were threats of violence and it is said he abandoned his Perch lake lodge that had been built by Joseph Bonaparte, thru fear of bodily harm.

First known as Log Mills, Lafargeville grew slowly after its first-settler came in 1819, and was but a hamlet in 1838. In 1850 it included only 50 dwellings, with 312 inhabitants. Fifty years later it had grown to 500 persons.

Two decades ago it was one of the important hay shipping stations. Now it contains one of the largest milk depots but has lost the few industries that once drew power from the creek. In the fifties an effort was made to renew the educational opportunity that so nearly had come to it. An academy was erected but the countryside failed to give proper support and the project was abandoned.

Baron LaFarge, from whom it was named July 4, 1823, was a wealthy merchant and importer from Havre, France, who bought heavily of Northern New York acreage, and remained in this region from 1824 to 1840. He later was American agent for the dethroned Louis Phillipps (sic) of France.

Only one wing of the mansion is preserved, forming the farm home on that part of the great estate still retained at the manor site. It gives little indication of its former glories or the royal parties and glittering assemblages (sic) that marked it during LaFarge’s occupancy.

Note: The photo of the left wing of the mansion was located on this scrapbook page. The legend of the photo appearing in an unknown newspaper in 1937, stated: “Left wing, now all that remains of the LaFarge mansion, seen from across the site of the main part of the residence.” Also, in ink, was the following handwritten message: “Geo. Hunneyman, Charles (or Clark’s ) great-grandfather helped build this.”