In 2000, the Pratt Northam Foundation Board of Directors purchased the Dr. Kenneth P. Seeber Horse Farm on the East Rd. in Town of Lowville out of mortgage default. 

Beginning in the mid-1990’s, Dr. Seeber, a veterinarian specializing in the care of race horses, began building the Maple Ridge Horse Farm on the site of the former Harold and Helen Boshart dairy farm.  This absolutely beautiful 180 acre complex overlooking the Black River Valley and the high peaks of the Adirondack Mountains and including the main house, horse paddocks, five-eighths mile trotter track, stables, maple sugar bush, and naturally fed pond was rapidly deteriorating without regular care and maintenance. 

So, the Foundation’s Board made the decision to purchase the farm to:

1.     Maintain the farm's natural and commercial assets;

2.     Return the property to the community as a viable community resource.

The Maple Ridge Committee of the Foundation’s Board of Directors immediately set to work performing two functions: 1. overseeing the maintenance of the facility and 2. soliciting public input for the best use of the 180 acres in perpetuity.  After extensive input from village, town, county, and state officials and after a major open house attracting hundreds of people from the interested public offering comments and suggestions, the Maple Ridge Committee recommended three goals for the property which the full Board of Directors supported.

The Foundation’s goals (in order of priority) for the returning the properties for community use are:

·        Provide a home for the administration and delivery of needed human service programs

·        Provide a site for family recreation programs

·        Provide new or maintain old jobs, while returning all or portion of the property to the property tax rolls

In 2008, the Maple Ridge site is in metamorphosis with four entities converting sections of the complex bringing the Foundation’s community goals to fruition.

Maple Ridge Center, Inc:  Ownership of this 49.8 acre parcel, including all of the buildings, was transferred to the Adirondack Mennonite Camping Association in October, 2007. Maple Ridge Center is being operated as a place “for youth and families, for the community, the church and beyond.” The Center is the home for the Tug Hill Bluegrass Festival in June and the Lowville Falls Arts Festival in early October. For more information: www.beavercamp.org

Maple Ridge Center viewed from the East Road, Town of Lowville.

The Park at Maple Ridge Ownership of this 56.3 acre site, including most of the wooded acreage, the pond and the race track, was transferred to the Lewis County Agricultural Society in October, 2007. The Agricultural Society plans to develop the park for multiple recreational uses. For more information: www.lewiscountyfair.org
 

The Park at Maple Ridge as viewed  from the entrance through Maple Ridge Center.

Maple Ridge pond - Site of future swimming area.

Maple Run Homes A complex of 1800 square ft. townhouses with single stall garages are being built on the parcel’s most scenic acreage off from NYS Route 26. In 2008, fourteen units are completed and ready for sale. For more information: www.lcida.org/MapleRunHomes.html

Disabled Persons Action Organization (DPAO) Ownership of this 2 acre site on NYS Route 26 was transferred to the DPAO in 2006. The DPAO constructed a new building on the site that houses its Lewis County office and respite care for clients and their families. For more information: www.nccsa.com/dpao.htm

Disabled Persons Action Organization's respite home viewed from NYS Rte. 26.

Remaining Parcels The Foundation is interested in working with community organizations and individuals interested in developing the remaining parcels for community benefit. A 13 acre parcel on the East Rd. in the Town of Lowville and approximately 30 acres off from NYS Route 26 are still available. Both parcels are in the Town of Lowville Water District. For more information contact Tom Yousey, Executive Director: ttlyousey@frontiernet.net