Lawrence's Corners: Historical Marker

Before West Chazy was called "West Chazy," it was called Lawrence's Corners until 1824, then Lawrence's Mills until 1833 when the village finally began to be called West Chazy. The village gained the name "Lawrence's Corners" from one of its original settlers, William Lawrence. Although Stephen Atwood was the first settler in West Chazy, William Lawrence was the one to begin to develop the village.

Historical Marker commemorating the original name of West Chazy.

William Lawrence was born in 1772, probably in Canaan, Connecticut. He later moved to North Hero, which is where he met his wife, the daughter of another one of the original settlers of West Chazy, Solomon Wood. In 1800, the Woods and Lawrence moved to Chazy Landing. Lawrence immediately began to develop Chazy Landing. In 1801 he built a "rude wharf," then in 1802 he built the first tannery, and he began tanning leather and making shoes. Additionally, William Lawrence became one of the first town officers becoming second constable in 1804. Then in 1818 Lawrence decided to move to West Chazy along with his brother-in-law, Amasa Wood. The following year, William Lawrence built his home which was built as a space for both town meetings and for religious services. Lawrence always considered the development of the town to have started with the construction of his home.

In 1824 William Lawrence became the second postmaster in West Chazy, and the village adopted the name of Lawrence's Mills. Interestingly enough, it was after this name change that Lawrence began to build his mills. In 1830 he built a carding mill along with a cloth and dressing shop, a trip-hammer shop, and other works.

Home of William Lawrence

Where the historical marker stands today is the site of a stone home that belonged to Colonel Putnam Lawrence, William Lawrence's eldest son. Putnam Lawrence was also an active member in his community, becoming postmaster in 1849 for West Chazy. Putnam also took on the many businesses that his father had started, turning William's mill into a sawmill. In 1861 when Abraham Lincoln called for volunteers to join the Union Army to suppress the rebellion in the South, Putnam answered that call. He was placed in command of the 32nd New York State Militia which was mustered in on April 25, 1861.

Both William and Putnam Lawrence were true leaders in the West Chazy community, hence why the village was named after their family for fifteen years. The historical marker outside the former home of Putnam Lawrence was erected by the Friends of the Chazy Public Library in 1985.