There was an Association formed about 1950 but it never had many members and it soon fizzled out.
 
About 1956 a maple tour was held but it was small.
 
In 1967 we were asked to host the state maple tour. I was on the agricultural committee with Lewis County Cooperative Extension. Neil Handy was County Agent at the time, and was active in promoting maple. He felt that if we were hosting the maple tour, we should have an association in the county since we were the largest maple county in the state. He pulled a five dollar bill from his pocket and said "Here is the money for the first membership".  The rest of us followed suit and we had an association started. Some others joined and we had a meeting at which a Board of Directors was elected. I think Dave Lum was the first president. I was one of the directors. Soon after this we had another meeting with a lawyer in Lowville at which time someone from Albany may have been there to help us incorporate and draw up by-laws. A new board was elected.
 
Jefferson, Oswego, and Oneida counties did not have enough maple producers for a viable organization and eventually joined ours.
 
Our maple meeting in 1967 was well attended and was quite a success.
 
Warren Allen is the present secretary of the association and has all the minutes of past meetings preserved, including the first meetings. The organization presently has grown to over 80 members. (Current Members)

Written by Gilbert Lehman

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