OXFORD – The Oxford Historical Society presented “Historic Maple Trees of Oxford,” for their April 21 spring meeting at the Depot-Museum. Guest speaker Greg Owens, the DEC Senior Forester from Sherburne gave a power point presentation about the historic fluctuation of tree growth in Chenango County and the influences of change. In addition were Oxford commercial maple syrup farmers, Lawrence and Suzanne Wilcox, and Charles and Winnie Vigus and family who shared insights into the challenging business of modern syrup production.
The program began with Greg Owens’ “Chenango’s Regrown Forest,” a history of settlement, clearance and re-growth of our area’s trees. With illustrations and photos, his slide show depicted the landscape changes over the years. At one point the land was 75% cleared of trees! Thanks to Pres. Roosevelt’s Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camps of employed men (of which there were five in Chenango County), while stimulating the economy, replanted many trees that we enjoy today. Chenango County’s re-forested land, 70% of it now, helps provide clean water and oxygen for our healthy environment. Toward the end of his presentation, Greg narrowed his discussion in on red, black and sugar maples.
The DEC Forester shared up-to-date information about the many maple trees being used for lumber and firewood but the decline of trees being tapped for syrup. In NY State, maple syrup production has gone from 600,000 gals. in the 1930’s down to 220,000 gals. in 2007. There are two probable causes: white tail deer and Forest tent caterpillars. These two pests, which especially enjoy sugar maples, defoliate trees so much so they can’t produce a sufficient amount of sugar for tapping and are also stunting forest regeneration. Maple trees are also being used for firewood in our county, as one-in-nine people heat with logs. This gave rise to discussions with the professional syrup makers.
Charlie Vigus and Lawrence Wilcox are the patriarchs of their two very successful family businesses, both situated in Oxford. They’re both major suppliers of syrup for this area. Charlie, his wife Winnie, their son Gene and his family are farmers on the old Hopkins Farm now known as “Vigus Enterprise,” which has been in business for generations.
Lawrence Wilcox, Supervisor of Oxford Town, runs “Wilcox Maple Products” with his family. They’ve been producing syrup for decades on the family farm; however, he’s the first generation to make syrup commercially.
Both Charlie and Lawrence shared interesting findings about tree sugar content, the duration for a tap hole, spout extensions and other modern equipment details. Today, all you will see is “the blue line” – no galvanized hanging buckets - just permanent tubing. With technological developments, sap evaporation into syrup has increased from 140 gallons per hour to upwards of 400 gals/hr. According to Vigus, fewer farmers today are making maple syrup because the equipment is expensive and “it’s so labor intensive!” The two men were both disappointed with this spring’s mediocre sap production. Wilcox remarked, “Last year was a banner year – conditions were perfect!” and humorously added, “We’re farmers; we’re never happy.”
The meeting was adjourned and nearly everyone stayed to enjoy maple leaf cookies and friendly conversation.
The OHS presents interesting exhibits and educational programs, free to the public, five times a year. The next meeting date will be June 9 at 7 p.m. If you would like to be a part of the OHS, annual membership is $10 per person/household. For info call Fred Lanfear, OHS President: 843-9446 or e-mail: Museum@OxfordNY.com .