Stump pulling was a spring chore in the early days of land clearing. The tough roots were impossible to burn so farmers pushed them into a fence formation and they would last many more years than an ordinary fence.

The stump fence in this 1905 photograph was on the Peter R. Taylor farm in Pleasant Valley. It was the line fence between the Taylor farm and the Norman I. Young farm. In this photo, posed against the fence, is Lotta Taylor Wheeler, wife of Mr. Frederick Wheeler.1905. Hammond, NY.