Town of Fremont
Sullivan County, New York
who was easily one of the leading summer hotelmen in Sullivan County. On the top of the mountain at an elevation of over 2,000 feet, he built up what seems to be an entire village, golf course and all, fronting on the lake, yet isolated from other resort hotels.
The John Holpp family was also prominent in developing the Tennanah Lake area. A daughter, Kitty Anderson, developed a big hotel on the outlet of the lake on the site of Fred Poley’s hotel of wood cutting days. Almost the entire shore line is built up by summer homes. Many of them are fine buildings.
Low Pond, east of Tennanah, has now become Lake Anawanda and surrounded by summer homes - the owners of many live in Liberty.
Trout Pond has retained its name - but that is suitable for the purpose - and is now a camp for boys and girls from New York City.
The John Holpp family was also prominent in developing the Tennanah Lake area. A daughter, Kitty Anderson, developed a big hotel on the outlet of the lake on the site of Fred Poley’s hotel of wood cutting days. Almost the entire shore line is built up by summer homes. Many of them are fine buildings.
Low Pond, east of Tennanah, has now become Lake Anawanda and surrounded by summer homes -
Fremont Thriving Community
Fremont Center with the advent of the Buckley tannery became a thriving community. The tannery itself was a big enterprise. I can remember the tannery buildings when the late Casper Engert owned them. Many of them were still standing - maybe all of them - when I first saw them about 1900. Gradually they rotted to the ground. In the community were maintained blacksmith shops, wagon makers to keep wagons and sleighs in repair, harness makers, and various other skilled workers to supply the needs of the workers that served the tanneries.
Following the Civil War, a G.A.R. Post, Bell Post No. 80 (Grand Army of the Republic), was organized at Fremont Center. This was an organization of veterans of the Civil War similar to the American Legion of today. Bell Post No. 80 boasted a membership of 85, which made it one of the biggest posts in Sullivan County. Their membership extended into all of western Sullivan County and into nearly Delaware County, extending as far as Cooks Falls and the eastern part of the town of Hancock, Delaware County.
G.A.R. Records Still Intact
The records of this G.A.R. Post are intact today in the hands of Jim Wilcox, who lives on the farm where his father, Omer Wilcox, lived north of Fremont Center. The elder Wilcox was a Civil War veteran, served the post as secretary and when the post disbanded was I possession of the records. Omer Wilcox was a prisoner of war, held by the Confederate Army in Libby Prison at Andersonville, Virginia, and he took pride in the ownership of a picture of Libby Prison that hung framed on his wall.
Speaking of Omer Wilcox, who all his life worked for Seward Miles of the Mileses tannery, was the father of a big family. A story current in Fremont is that Seward Miles once said to Omer Wilcox, upon noticing his growing family, “I’m going to give you a deed to this farm when you have eighteen children.” Omer missed it by two. I talked this over with his son, James, who tells me he heard the story many times but doesn’t believe it true. Whether true or not, Omer never had title to the farm. His son, James, had to get his title from the heirs of Seward Miles.
Speaking of Omer Wilcox, who all his life worked for Seward Miles of the Mileses tannery, was the father of a big family. A story current in Fremont is that Seward Miles once said to Omer Wilcox, upon noticing his growing family, “I’m going to give you a deed to this farm when you have eighteen children.” Omer missed it by two. I talked this over with his son, James, who tells me he heard the story many times but doesn’t believe it true. Whether true or not, Omer never had title to the farm. His son, James, had to get his title from the heirs of Seward Miles.
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PO Box 69, Fremont Center, NY, 12736
Tel: (845) 8876605, Fax: (845) 8876605
WebMaster: Rita Greier
Tel: (845) 8876605, Fax: (845) 8876605
WebMaster: Rita Greier