Historian's Corner



Charlene Cole
Sandy Creek/Lacona Historian
Historian's Corner
April 7, 2017

Dexter Woodard documented farm scenes and families through his photographs by going house to house throughout the area.

Hobart J. Palmer was born in the Town of Boylston January 13, 1892, the son of James H. and Eva (Webb) Palmer. November 15, 1911 he was married to Miss Hannah Lounsbury, the daughter of Newton and Nettie (Mead) Lounsbury. Most of their life together was spent in Lacona. His obituary read in part, “Hobart Palmer was a mild chap who, as far as we know, didn’t have an enemy in the world. He went about his way being kind and decent, and was a good citizen of the community. Is there much else you can expect of a fellow?”

He died July 18, 1946 at the age of 54. We have a large collection of photos developed on post cards of people and events taken by him in the archives.

Photography has come a long way since G. W. Huested maintained a studio in Sandy Creek in the late 1800’s. His son, H. R. Husted, apprenticed here with his father and gained a wide reputation for over 20 years. At one time his studios were located in Mannsville, Pulaski, Mexico, Camden, Orwell, Sand Bank (Altmar) and Watertown.

As photography became less technical and cameras more common, local photographers recorded people and events which were often developed on post cards.

For nearly 25 years beginning in the 1920s Tracy Killam was the professional photographer here and his pictures appeared regularly in the Sandy Creek News. About 1935 with Arthur Wart and William Potter, he founded the Quarter Film Service. Located on the second floor of the Sargent Law Office (later WSCP Station) this fast photo finishing business was very successful. After the partnership dissolved and the disastrous fire of 1945 forced a new location, Tracy moved to the Ralph Smith Block on Harwood Drive. He then turned almost exclusively to photo-engraving, the bulk of his business being with the Holstein-Friesian World and the Corse Press. But Tracy was an artist with a keen sense of humor and he continued to enjoy creating unusual effects with the camera. Especially remembered are Tracy and Irene’s Christmas cards, masterpieces of trick photography.

T. Raymond Dunn left his mark on Sandy Creek, although photography was only his hobby. He was an excellent linotype operator at the Corse Press during the 1950s and his pictures appeared frequently in the area newspapers, children and pets being his favorite subjects.

Since David L. Morrow became a staff member of the Holstein-Friesian World in 1953, he was most generous with his talent as a photographer and is noted for photographs of special occasions.

Charlene Cole
Sandy Creek/Lacona Historian
1992 Harwood Drive
Sandy Creek, NY 13145
315-387-5456 x7
office hours: Friday 9am to 2pm
www.sandycreeknyhistory.com