Hometown

For many Clarkson students, traveling to campus means a long road trip or even a flight. For me, getting to campus starts with a drive from Gouverneur. I am Riley Shepherd, a Computer and Electrical Engineering student at Clarkson. Although I am not a commuter, the trip is nothing new to me. I live close enough to campus that a night off can include a drive home to spend time with family before heading back to Potsdam.

Many students arrive at Clarkson without knowing everything the surrounding area has to offer. As someone who has lived in the North Country and traveled between Gouverneur and Potsdam countless times, I know there is much more to the area than the fields and farms you see from the road.

Follow along as I take you on my trip from home to campus and highlight some of the places that make the North Country unique.

We start in Gouverneur, a small town in New York’s North Country located along Route 11. If you are traveling to Clarkson from the southern parts of New York, chances are you will pass through town on your way to campus. One landmark you are sure to notice while driving down Main Street is the giant Life Savers candy roll located in the village park. This monument honors Edward John Noble, a Gouverneur native who purchased the Life Savers business in 1913 and helped transform it into the nationally recognized brand it is today.

A large, horizontal monument of a Pep-O-Mint Life Savers candy roll, complete with torn silver foil wrapping on the left end, mounted high on black support posts. The sign reads "Pep-O-Mint Life Savers: The Candy Mint with the Hole" in bold white and yellow lettering against a blue background. The monument sits in a grassy median dividing a town street lined with trees, cars, and traffic signs. In the foreground, a smaller white sign reads "Gouverneur Chamber of Commerce Business of the Month."

The Trip

As we leave Gouverneur, one of the first local attractions along the route is Emerald Greens Golf Course. The course features 18 holes and hosts both leagues and public play throughout the season. Continuing north, you will pass several Stewart’s Shops, a North Country staple known for ice cream, coffee, and quick stops during long drives. Along the route, there are also numerous local businesses, thrift stores, and restaurants that can easily be overlooked if you are focused on reaching campus.

The next community along the drive is Hermon. While small, the town is home to antique shops and a local ice cream stand that make for a worthwhile stop during the warmer months.

Continuing north brings us to Canton, one of the larger communities in the area. Downtown Canton offers a variety of local shops, restaurants, and entertainment options, including a movie theater. If you have extra time during a visit to Clarkson, Canton is a great place to spend an afternoon exploring. Just outside of town on the way to Potsdam, you can also find a miniature golf course, another hidden gem that many visitors never realize is there.

Before long, the drive ends in Potsdam and at Clarkson University. While I have made this trip more times than I can count, it serves as a reminder that there is much more to the North Country than what you see through the windshield. The next time you travel to campus, consider making a stop along the way—you might discover a favorite local restaurant, shop, or attraction that turns a simple drive into part of the Clarkson experience.

Exterior view of a Stewart's Shops storefront under a partly cloudy sky with green trees in the background. The building has light beige siding, a gray shingled gabled roof, and white supporting pillars resting on stone bases. The prominent "Stewart's Shops" logo is mounted above the main entrance. Windows display advertisements for pizza, cheeseburgers, and a "Sweet Land of Liberty" sign, alongside hanging flower baskets and an American flag visible inside.