The Hatch hotel was built by Harry B. Hatch on the Port Kent and Hopkinton Turnpike. It is mentioned in a 1869 account of a smuggling attempt from the Canadian border.
Fort Covington Sun, June 30, 1887
[A story of a fishing excursion to Ross Mill that started at the Ayers House in Duane.]
…Next was the old land mark where once the Hatch Hotel of"ye olden time" entertained the adventurous traveler, and the bold hunter whose deeds and exploits served to while away the long evenings on the mountain side, while the four horse daily coach with its weary passengers was a noted event, when the proud hostess no doubt displayed her willingness to provide an ample supply from her store of substantials to appease their keen appetites. The brook near by is Hatch Brook. One and three-fourth miles further on is Ross Mill about seven miles from Ayers House, which was accidentally burned several years since...
Chateaugay Record and Franklin County Democrat, October 6, 1933
…It was about 1830 that Harry B. Hatch and family moved into what was later the town of Franklin in Franklin county, and opened a hotel near a fine stream, since called Hatch Brook, and on the Port Kent and Hopkinton Turnpike. Later Mr. Hatch built and operated a saw mill about one half mile south of the hotel. In 1836 the town was erected from Bellmont and Mr. Hatch was the first supervisor. His was the last house in the northern part of the town which extended south through the forest for thirty miles. The story is told of a man later elected supervisor, who resided in the extreme south part of the town. One morning he started to drive to Malone to attend a session of the board. After driving steadily all day he stopped for the night. (doubtless at the Hatch Hotel) and inquiring what town he was in was thunder-struck to learn he was in his home town! At the saw mill Mr. Hatch only cut the very finest pine as the demand for lumber was slight, the nearest available shipping point being Port Kent. The railroad through Malone was not built until 1850. Saw mills were erected early on all streams in Northern New York but it is doubtful if any of the owners made money. Even as late as 1865 Sydney Paddock, of Burke, sold No. 1 Hemlock dimension stuff for $7.00 per thousand, delivered, which even at that was double the price received fifteen years before by Goodwin in Bellmont.
In Duane township there is a Studley Hill, by far the steepest grade in the county, leading to the Port Kent and Hopkinton Turnpike. As teamsters from Malone, Bangor and Moira used this road in the early days over which to haul produce to Port Kent, Mr. Hatch prevailed on the Board of Supervisors to assist in building a new road across the flat a mile east of Studley Hill. Mr. Hatch took charge and built the road but there was much bitter opposition by Duane residents and hotel keepers who knew they would lose business after the new road was constructed. The road was put through in 1849—the famous year of the discovery of gold in California—and because of the gold rush, when the name of that commonwealth was on every tongue, the road was designated "The California Road" and is still called so. On three occasions irate citizens of Duane tore out the bridges but Mr. Hatch rebuilt them until the objections gradually died out. It is not likely there are a dozen people in the county who know the reason for so naming this road. Apparently there seemed no reason for it.
Later Mr. Hatch secured a position at Clinton Prison, about 25 miles due east through the unbroken forests, the prison in the early days being designated as the "Siberia of New York." Mr. Hatch came home occasionally and his wife continued keeping hotel. On one of his visits in the winter of 1850 he was taken ill, as was his six weeks' old son Harry. It developed into smallpox not an uncommon ailment in those days. Both were violently ill and Mr. Hatch soon passed away. The roads were deep with snow and just at this time a violent three day storm descended on that territory. Mrs. Hatch had been alone during their illness, but fortunately, just in advance of the storm, a colored itinerant minister, Elder Charles Bowles, came along and offered to stay and help. A coffin had to be made and as no boards nearer than the distant mill were available the pantry shelves were taken and used for that purpose. At first the body was placed in the deep snow drifts near the door, and later, as the snow melted. was buried under a tree for six weeks until taken to the little Duane cemetery under the shadows of Debar Mountain. Mr. Hatch was only 42 years old. His wife was born in 1804 and died in 1874. Mrs. Hatch used to tell how near death the baby seemed on several occasions. Its face was a mass of sores and when it healed the skin came off all at once like a mask. The writer recalls this man's face as being badly pitted…
Mrs. Hatch soon sold out to Richard L. Ross who operated the saw mill for a few years. The latter. was an expert chemist and a gentleman of fine education, formerly of Albany. The property was dissipated, a splendid library hawked about Malone book by book, and the place went to ruin. The mill burned and the first time the writer visited that section on a fishing expedition there was a skidway of what had been handsome pine logs four feet in diameter slowly rotting away...
