Nelson Ray Olney Sr.

In 1925 in Woodgate, then called White Lake Corners, you had to have at least one horse. People had farms. They grew potatoes and other vegetables. They raised cows, sheep and chickens. Wildlife was plentiful. There was no television and you were lucky as a family to have quiet evenings reading books, or letters or writing to loved ones elsewhere.

By the 1940s, the Olney farm was pretty well known. But don't search the MidYork Library system. They don't appear to have as well-rounded a community view in photographs as they have in reportings made from one particular family. I would suppose that priacy also played a large part in why some families slipped beneath the radar. The Chandler's, Olney's and the Moon family each contributed to the small community. They were families grown on hard work and love.

Another Photo of The Woodgate Homestead

From age of the car parked at (what was) the back entrance, this photo looks to be taken during the late 1920s.

In later years, the bushes along the sides of the house were removed. Two apple trees had grown to the left side area of the photo. No bushes blocked that first window, which by the way was where the original parlor was housing a superb collection of older family portraits. Unfortunately, Robert C. Olney Sr., son of Nelson R. Olney Sr., disposed of the wall mounted portraits and the piano, which dated back to the mid 1800s. It is now believed, while no 'official' notations have surfaced that Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th President of the United States, and an earlier State Legislator and Governor may have visited the Chandler Homestead during the span of time from 1886 -1918 while engaging the Adirondack Guide services of Nelson R. Chandler.

In the late 1940s until 1964, the Olney farm had been known by the locals to be the largest and most fruitful in providing farm produce. It had the distinction of being the largest pieces of total acreage in producing quality grown white and red potatoes.