Tucker Farms is a 320-acre farm on Hobart Road in Gabriels that chiefly grows potatoes.
Adirondack Daily Enterprise, January 28, 2002
Tucker Farms honored as a N.Y. ‘Century Farm’
GABRIELS ~ The New York State Agricultural Society announced Tucker Farms of Gabriels was recently recognized as a “Century Farm” for more than. 100 years of Continuous family operation.
Tucker Farms was one of 12 New York farms presented with commemorative plaque and a proclamation from Gov. George Pataki at the society's annual agricultural forum Jan. 10 in “Syracuse.''
The farm was founded in the 1880s. Steve and Tom Tucker currently own and operate the farm.
The farm history is as follows: Benjamin F. Hobart bought his first farm locally in the 1870s in Keeses Mills. In the 1880s, he bought land and took over the operation and raised potatoes and other garden vegetables for the Paul Smith's Hotel, as well as shipping some out via the New York Central Railroad.
Henry's son Frank continued farming and built an in-ground potato storage facility in 1921. Joe Tucker moved to the adjoining property and began farming as well, marrying Frank's sister Flora. With Frank Hobart's death in June 1966, his nephews Mark and Don Tucker owned and operated Tucker Farms Inc.
The farm has 320 tillable acres, 50 of those are potatoes. Cover crops include buckwheat, oats and rye. Hay and mulch, are also harvested. Hand necked garlic, strawberries and other small crops are also raised. Seed potatoes have been grown for nearly 100 years on the family farm.
Since 1937, the society has celebrated farms that have thrived for more than 100 years in the hands of the same family. It is a hallmark role of the organization.
Adirondack Daily Enterprise, March 2, 2002
Lake Clear News
By DEBORAH J. DONALDSON Enterprise Correspondent
Tucker Farms receives honor
Tucker Farms, located on Hobart Road in Gabriels, was recently named a “Century Farm” by the New York State Agricultural Society. Tucker Farms was one of 12 New York farms to receive this award for more than 100 years of continuous family operation. They received a commemorative plaque and proclamation from Gov. George Pataki at the society's annual agricultural forum.
Benjamin F. Hobart bought some property located on the Keese Mills Road in the late 1870s. He worked for Paul Smith at the mill located on that same road for about two years. From there he went to Gabriels to a dirt road that dead-ended and bought some property. That road later became Hobart Road. In the early 1880s, he began to clear the land in order to raise some vegetables, which were sold to Paul Smith. Benjamin also built a house, where Don arid Cynthia Oliver live. Benjamin lived from 1832 to 1892.
Benjamin's son, Henry Hobart, was next to help his father with the land and to raise various crops for sale. When his son, Frank Hobart, came along, he helped his father clear more land. In 1921 they built the first 30-foot-by-60-foot commercial root cellar for potato storage. They were among the first farmers to start growing potatoes with certified seed. It turned out that the soil was good for raising potatoes and since the farm is 1,680 feet above sea level, even the climate was good.
Frank decided to plant spinach to sell to restaurants in New York City, but in order to do that they needed ice to put in the crates, .So from Osgood Pond and Jones Pond, 8,000 cakes of ice were cut each year and put into the ice house. That ice later was chipped and put into the crates of spinach.
Frank also had a vegetable garden and flowers that were sold on St. Regis Lake. Frank built a colonial house around 1925, that is now the home of Linus and Beverly Fobare.
Frank Hobart had a sister named Flora, who married Joe Tucker. They had two sons, Donald and Mark Tucker. Don worked on the family farm with his father and worked part-time for his uncle, Frank Hobart. Mark worked for Frank. Henry Hobart lived from 1863 to 1931. Frank lived from 1892 to 1966.
In 1966 when Frank passed away, he left the farm to nephews Donald and Mark Tucker. Don and Mark continued raising vegetables and potatoes. They had 30 acres of head lettuce and 100 acres of potatoes. They also added more land to the farm.
All of the farm is located on the west side of Hobart Road. It now includes 320 tillable acres, some of which is rented in Harrietstown. They also purchased some of the Hogan Farm in Rainbow Lake. It is said that a lot of local children worked on the Tucker farm over the years. At one time, a car was sent around to pick them up for work.
Mark retired in 1984. Don’s son, Steve, joined the family business in 1977 after graduating from college. In 1985, son Tom came on board to help with the farming.
Don and Ruth built their house in 1952. Ruth helps by raising vegetables and flowers, which are sold to various business and people. It is said that the only day off that Don gets is Thursday. Since 1945, Don has been delivering potatoes to businesses in Saranac Lake and the area on his one day off. I also was told that Price Chopper in Lake Placid takes 200 bags of Tucker Taters a week.
In order to diversify, the Tuckers have started growing five varieties of “you-pick” strawberries, hard neck garlic, straw, mulch hay, forage hay, rye, oats and buck-wheat. I am told that the garlic is very strong.
The most important product, Tucker Taters, is still being sold in many local stores and used in many local restaurants. They now have your basic white potato, red skin potato, Yukon gold yellow potato and an all blue potato. I can tell you that the blue potato tastes excellent tasting and it will match your tablecloth, too.
Hobart Road was officially named around 1966. It had been a dirt road and was paved. When the road was first founded, there was some talk of having it go through to the Harrietstown Road, but that never happened. It still dead ends at what had been the Alexander property, now the home of the Shirley Oehler family. Before that was the Sparks farm where they raised vegetables and animals. All those buildings are gone.
The Sisters of Mercy had 35 acres on Hobart Road and they grew vegetables for the Gabriels Sanatorium. Dennis Riley managed that farm.
Congratulations to the Tucker Family for their “Century Farm” award and the special plaque that they received. To Don, Ruth, Steve and Tom Tucker, a special thanks to you all for your help with this article. Keep growing those delicious Tucker Taters for another 100 years.
Adirondack Daily Enterprise, May 12, 2006
Tucker Farms in Gabriels wins state potato contest
...Steve and Tom Tucker are the fifth generation to grow potatoes and other vegetables on this recognized state Agricultural Society Century Farm. Their great-uncle Frank Hobart won the grand champion of show three times for his Green Mountain potatoes during the 1930s.
Don Tucker, recently retired, sold potatoes to stores and restaurants throughout the Tri-Lakes since the 1940s, two years ago, Steve and Tom launched agri-tourism at the farm with the increasingly popular Great Adirondack Corn MazeTM and farm tours; the award was presented at the Empire State Fruit and Vegetable Expo in Liverpool in February. For more information, visit www.tuckertaters.com.
