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.

The Nelson R. Olney Sr. Family of Woodgate & Utica, New York

Standing: Nelson Ray, Jr.(1st son), Richard Lee(3rd son), Robert Charles (2nd son).

Seated: Nelson Ray, Sr., Linda Jean (youngest daughter), Ella Lillian (Olney), Marilyn (oldest daughter), Donald Herbert (4th son).

This photo was taken in Utica at the Sunset Ave residence in the parlor. The year is 1948-1951.

At one time, Nelson Olney had the largest farm in Woodgate, New York. People came from near and far for a bushel basket of his potatoes.

Presently, as of this date (August 21, 2008) only Nels Jr., Robert Sr., Marilyn(Palaski), and Donald, Sr., are living.

For we are the same our father's have been...

"For we are the same our fathers have been;
We see the same sights our fathers have seen;
We drink the same stream, we feel the same sun,
And we run the same course our fathers have run.


"They loved, but the story we cannot unfold;
They scorned, but the heart of the haughty is cold;
They grieved, but no wail their slumber will come;
They joyed, but the tongue of their gladness is dumb,


"They died, aye! they died; we things that are now,
Who walk on the turf that lies over their brow;
Who make in their dwellings a transient abode,
Meet the things that they met on their pilgrimage road."


Charles Lewis Olney, Age 16 years
3rd Son of Archie & Elva Chandler Olney

What began as one of the Babcock homes, and a look at the Chandler/Olney homestead.

Much has changed with this little place since it once stood as an ice house storage building on the shore of White Lake.

I remember it as this small, three room camp. As you walked into the place there was an immediate door to the left that went into a narrow room that once housed the chemical toilet.

From what I've been able to find online, this place was once owned by the Babcock family before being purchased by Nelson R. Olney. I believe at some point back in the late 1940s or early 1950s, Mr. Olney rented the place out to the school teacher that taught at the school. The school sits next to the (above) building. I'll present some more on this building at another time.

The camp has (since the 1950s) undergone some major changes. Mr. Olney let his 4th son, Donald H. Olney, live there for a time prior to his son's subsequent enlistment in the Air Force sometime in the early 1960s. After that, Mr. Olney's 3rd son, Richard, bought the one acre property and the adjoining open field. This field can be clearly seen in the above picture. It is to the left, and it was used for growing potatoes. There were several families around Woodgate that had gardens. Mr. Olney's primary property and homestead located a little further down Bear Creek Road was identified as a farm. Nelson Olney, Sr. was the oldest son of (originally) three sons born to Archie and Elva Chandler Olney.


The Chandler homestead (pictured here) passed in ownership from Nelson and Uretta Moon Chandler to their daughter, Elva. Elva Chandler Olney then passed the homestead to her oldest son, Nelson Ray,Sr., and his brother, Lee Emerson. There originally had been three sons, but the youngest boy, Charles, died due to an accidental hunting incident involving a careless placing of the shotgun he took with him that afternoon. I'll share the rest of that story at some other point in time. This is a view from the east side of the Chandler/Olney homestead. That woman looks to be Mrs. Uretta Moon Chandler, with two of her children.
(names unknown at this time)
This is a picture of the west side of the Chandler/Olney homestead. This picture looks to have been taken in the middle 1950s. The person in the picture is unidentifiable presently. The homestead was subsequently 'control burned' in the early turn of this century by Robert C. Olney, Sr., with the help of the Woodgate Volunteer Fire Department. The reasons stated for the destruction of the building has a very involved and interesting story to it. One that I am not at liberty to share at this time.
The end of a spectacular building... family homestead, birthplace to both Chandler's and Olney children... shameful, say's the Woodgate Farmer.