North Country At Work

Demick Farm in 1971 – Demick family came from Vermont in 1824, Ebenezer was the patriarch. In 2016, the family was in 8th generation of settlement on this Hammond, NY farm.

Demick Farm and Motel in the early 1960s. Hammond, NY.

“Jumping” hay with a jump press, which made hay bales by compressing hay using human power. Horses are hitched in background to a sweep-power which compressed the bales further.  On right there is a “Stillyard scale,” used to weigh the compressed hay bales. At the time, this was the only way to bale hay for […]

Steve McCormick with six draft horses working the ground with spring-tooth harrow. Circa 1930s. Hammond, NY.  Originally taken by the Watertown Daily Times.

Threshing time in late summer on a Hammond farm, using a traction steam engine and an elevator threshing machine. Oats being fed through the machine to separate grain from straw. Lots of workers, possibly a neighborhood work circle, some bringing in the grain, some feeding it. Robert Rutherford and Daniel Stout are within the men […]

Maple sugaring operation, including sugar shack (steam is from boiling down sap inside shack); note buckets for gathering sap. Circa 1930s. Watertown, NY.

Unidentified man with hand drill making tap hole in maple tree. Circa 1930s. Watertown, NY.

Two unidentified men tapping maple trees. Note bucket and cover on the ground waiting to be hung on the smile once the hole is completed. Circa 1930s. Watertown, NY.

Maple sugaring at 141 Flower Avenue. Unknown man gathering sap. Circa 1930s. Watertown, NY.

Man and woman grading and sorting potatoes at a farm using a machine with different sized meshes. As potatoes roll along the chute, they fall through different hole sizes. The workers remove debris as the potatoes are moved along. Circa 1940-1950. Unknown farm in Jefferson County. Check out this related story on a potato farm […]