Dechow Farm

History

Frederick and Fredericka Dechow emigrated from Germany in 1853, first arriving in buffalo, NY. They purchased land east of the Werner property in 1857. The original Dechow cabin was located to the right of the M-22 driveway entrance still marked by pear trees. Later, the Dechow’s sons, John and Charles, inherited the farm. In 1910, Frank Dago, John’s son, bought the farm and built the present house. Around 1915 he purchased the 160 acre Behrens farm and in 1923 demolished the farmhouse. They raised apples and dairy cows, and sold milk, cream and eggs to area resorts. According to George Kelderhouse, the Dechows had extensive and beautiful orchards located near the path connecting the main house and pasture barn. The orchard was one acre, with 26 trees.

In 1935, Frank Dechow traded the farm for a gas station in Detroit. In the late 1930s, Elmer Klett, who had worked for the Dechows, bought the farm and made many of the modern improvements, such as installing a small but up-to-date Grade A dairy operation in the late 1940s or early 1950s. The Dechow farm was the first in Port Oneida to obtain electricity and plumbing. The Dechows owned four milk cows that produced cream for 300 pounds of butter, two other cattle, two sheep, and four hogs. As with other Port Oneida farmers, the Dechows raised a variety of crops, including bushels of wheat, rye, corn, oats and Irish potatoes. They also cut two tons of hay. By 1880 the total acreage of the Dechow farm had decreased to 128 acres. The greatest amount of land was devoted to raising wheat.

Photo Gallery/Preservation Projects

CLICK PHOTOS FOR LARGER VIEW!