The Oregon Plains Road runs north from State Street in Bloomingdale five miles to the Gabriels-Onchiota Road one mile south of Onchiota. The area between Onchiota and Bloomingdale is known as the Oregon Plains. The name dates to 1862 or earlier, and was likely derived from the Oregon Territory that was in the news in the 1850s, though local hermit William H. Smith in one account claims to have given name to the area.
Labeled simply "Tree Job" on the reverse, this photo may have nothing to do with the planting of Red Pines, but it does come from the Town of Franklin and the era looks about right.
Courtesy of LuAnne Keith RileyPlattsburgh Press-Republican, May 12, 1978
…Beil said the red pines on the Oregon Plains were planted in the 1930s, to stabilize the soil of the former farmland. Red pines were picked because they were thought to be disease-resistant, Beil said…
Adirondack Daily Enterprise, August 21, 1953
This 'N' That
Blueberry season is here again! There was a time when the success or failure of the blueberry crop hereabout made a great difference to many people who depended on it to earn an extra bit of money.
The territory between Onchiota and Bloomingdale, (known locally as the Oregon Plains) was once almost entirely covered by blueberry bushes, but it is now pretty well reforested by trees which were planted by the State Conservation Commission some 35 to 40 years ago. There are also many, many acres of other land in the general vicinity of Onchiota, Vermontville and Bloomingdale which once bore bumper crops of blueberries, but which have either been reforested by the State or have grown up to brush which has crowded out the blueberry bushes. The berries are still quite plentiful here in some areas in an ordinary year, but this year we had late frosts which blasted the blooms before the berries had set. So about all we have left is the season, minus the berries.
Back in the early days as soon as the berries began to ripen the pickers from "outside" (Altona, Plattsburg, Redford, Saranac Hollow, and other villages) began to come in. They arrived with horse and buggy, or with team and two three-seater wagons. They brought their tents, camp equipment, and sometimes the whole family, and in a very short time little villages of tents were set up at likely places near the brooks and springs in the blueberry territory.
Those pickers who strove for quality rather than quantity handpicked their berries. These brought higher prices than berries that were "drummed" — (the bushes were hit by a small dish or stick and the berries were drummed into a large dish or pan held underneath the bush) or by "scooping" — (the dish was swung around with some force, hitting the bushes and collecting as many berries as possible). Needless to say, by either of these methods many of the berries were jammed. They would not keep as well and did not bring so good a price, but of course a person gathered more of them in a day. In each of these methods the ends of the bushes were broken off, which injured next year's crop, and many green berries and leaves were gathered. To clean these from the good berries a blanket or large pan was placed on the ground and the dish of berries held high and poured into the receptacle below. If there was no wind to "fan" out some of the dirt another person fanned them to clean them.
As a sideline to berry packing many of the men engaged in horse-trading and one had to watch out that he didn't get beaten if he traded horses with them. Of course many of them were honest.
No one living seems to know just how far back this sort of business had been going on, but when the late George Tyler was 9 or 10 years old, (about 80 years ago) he went one day with his father, the late Jonathan Tyler, to look for their cow. After searching for the cow for some time they heard her bell, but when they got where they could see her, they found she had been caught by a band of blueberry pickers who were in the process of milking her. Just why Mr. Tyler and his son didn't make their presence known and claim the cow is not known, but they decided to hide in the bushes and watch while. When the milking was finished the men turned the cow loose, apparently expecting her to go peacefully about her grazing, but that particular cow had a special hatred for horses, and with her long, peaked horns would rip and tear every one she could get at. So as soon as the cow was let go she turned and hooked the blueberry picker's horse which was tied nearby. After hooking the horse several times she ran off and evaded all attempts on the part of the pickers to catch her.
When the men had given up and returned to their camp, Mr. Tyler and George caught the cow and led her home, still without being seen by the pickers. Although the horse was torn so badly that it died the men never dared complain to Mr. Tyler about it.
Adirondack Daily Enterprise, August 17, 1978
Arthur Parker Sr. of Duprey Street in Saranac Lake told this correspondent that he read the story on blueberrying in the Adirondack Daily Enterprise. [This appears to have been a story based on the Helen Tyler piece above.]
He said that as a boy he was one of those berrypickers. He came to pick berries along with his mother and father, Mr. and Mrs. Ambrose Parker, and any other members of his family from West Chazy.
They came in a heavy farm wagon drawn by horses and pitched a tent. Parker said he helped to pick the berries and sold them to a buyer for 11 cents a quart.
Many days they would pick three bushels of berries. He also said that he helped to plant the pine plantation at Oregon Plains in the Town of Franklin at the west end of the Swinyer Road, around 1923 or 24.
He said the story brought back many fond memories.
Frontier Palladium, March 6, 1862
EDITORS OF PALLADIUM :—You readers in South Franklin and in the vicinity of the beautiful Summit Ponds were very much amused at reading a Communication in your paper over the signature of “Woodsman." History records the fact, that on the 5th day of April, 1858, an Act was passed by the Legislature of the State, without any application for the same, by Petition of the people, for the establishing a road from North Elba in Essex County to the Hopkinton Turnpike in Franklin County. Up to July 12th, 1861, the Commissioners had drawn from the Comptroller $2,592.38. The expenditure for improvement on road up to this date, could lot have been but a small per cent of the money; received. The amusing feature in the communication of Woodsman, is, its extreme absurdity; to he appreciated only by those familiar with the proceedings of the Commissioners so far—and also the futility of soil and local value of the territory over which said road is to pass. Experience in State Road Acts, has been a hard and severe teacher to the settlers in the vicinity of this proposed Road. It is but a short time since, that a large amount of money was expended by State Commissioners in constructing a road—commonly known as the Hayes Road—and although thousands. of dollars were expended in the construction of the said Road, it remains, only as an evidence of the criminal folly of selfish speculation. And were it not for the annual migration of People from St. Lawrence Co. to gather Blue Berries, the said Hayes Road could only be identified by the second growth of timber, which ere this time would have covered its surface. It will be remembered that this now proposed Road passes through the same valley and plain, in a northerly and southerly direction from the village of Bloomingdale direction from the village of Bloomingdale northerly on the line of this proposed Road, to the east end of the Rain Bow Pond, he distance is supposed to be something over seven miles. Its Geography is a valley—level, alternation of marsh, sand plain and cedar swamp. This valley will average about one and one-half miles in width, and on the easterly and westerly sides, is a range of uneven, broken, bluffy hills. So far, Mr. Woodsman, the country through which you propose to take the people's money to construct a road, in an agricultural point, is only a barren waste. From Rain Bow Pond to Kimpton's it is heavy timbered land, following a ravine or notch in the mountains, a distance of ten or twelve miles. There is not a settler on the line of the proposed Road for a distance of about fourteen miles, and the valley from Bloomingdale north for seven miles, will become of agricultural importance, about the same time that the majestic White Face, becomes a fertile plain. Then admit, as you say, that from Rain Bow northerly to Kimpton's, there may be some tillable land at the base or on the side of the range of mountains, I would ask you Mr. Woodsman, suppose we now had a good road from Bloomingdale to Kimpton's, how many years would pass away-before there would be settlers sufficient to keep said road open and passable, especially in winter? I answer you that in all human probability—a century would pass away first. As evidence of my position—let me ask you—how many settlers have newly established themselves on the line of the Port Kent and Hopkinton Road, within the last twenty-five years? When you have answered this question, you will be compelled to admit that this new road is wholly impracticable—unless the State will further authorize you, to appropriate a fund for the establishment of stations or traveler's homes—along the said Road.
The Port Kent and Hopkinton turnpike was a necessity ; and the Legislature evidenced a charitable and Christian spirit in making the necessary appropriation.
The great and fertile County of St. Lawrence was destitute of a market for her products—hence the necessity. Could you bring to your aid like and kindred arguments, perhaps the settlers would not be so unanimous in opposing this road. But unfortunately for you, the facts are the reverse of this. The market for the farmer in this Vicinity is at his door, and when verging from-that, it is mainly to-the westward. We are not exporters; and in all human probability will not be far a great many years. Now Mr. Woodsman let me tell you of what benefit your road might be. I have heard several of the citizens of Bloomingdale make the remark, that if it was not for its gross injustice they would be glad to have the State Appropriate
Franklin, county money to make them a good road to the Blue Berry Plains. This is the only interest that St. Armand and Franklin, can have in your Road. And the temptation thrown out in your letter to Malone people, that it would give them a shorter and better road to the beautiful Summit Ponds, otherwise, hunting grounds, will hardly be sufficient I think, to cause them to disregard the real interest of the people in the south part of the County. Mr. Woodsman, you show great intimacy and knowledge of the great pecuniary interests of the Commissioners, when you say they do not own any land along the line of said Road;—have you forgotten that one of them at the last tax sale in Albany, invested something over five hundred Dollars at tax sales for lands in this region? If you have—I would advise you the next time you lodge with the said Commissioner, that you correct yourself on this important point. Woodsman, you are right when you say, town Commissioners could not agree to spend their money on such Road. And had you said the people generally, it would have been as true.
Woodsman, I supposed I were acquainted with the principal roads in this vicinity; but, I must confess that I know of no road leading from Vermontville to Brighton, through Oregon. This much I do know— that after the North Branch State Road proved an entire failure—for the great purpose for which it was made, namely, by which, lumber could be more cheaply and easily conveyed to market from Keese's Mills, that the people of Vermontville attempted to direct the travel from Keese's Mills away from Bloomingdale; and hence a scheme for a road from Vermontville to Brighton. But said road has not been opened farther than the Point where your proposed Road intersected it.
The reason of the failure of North Branch State Road, is—that it was impossible to keep it open during the winter; notwithstanding the great amount of lumber which was necessary to haul over it. And if this road running across the same plain—with not half the distance of open country, and having from ten to fifteen teams laden pass over it daily--could not be kept open during the winter, how can it be possible that your proposed road can be kept open for winter travel, with not on an average having one team daily pass over it, and having more than twice the distance of open plain to pass over. Woodsman, you display considerable tact in your attempt to bolster up so constitutionally a diseased patient. The residents on the old hilly route as you term them, are not so credulous as to believe, that, were your road established—the travel would go any other—excepting by their door. 1: They know that three-quarters of the travel over the old road, is not directed to the region of the lakes. 2. They know if it was, it would be impossible to reach them by your new route. Woodsman, let us be willing that the tax payers may be heard. Let us reflect that said road Act was passed by the Legislature without any petition from the people; which makes the thing savor a little of personal interest. And when we reflect that one, if not more of the Commiesioncrs, have often expressed the wish that said Act could be repealed; let us shake off our passions—and go honestly to work—and get this Act dissolved.
ALPHONSO A. RAND.
FRANKLIN. Feb. 18th, 1862.
