Photographer left trove of images from Orleans County, including Lake Ontario scenes

Fred Holt captured this image of a boater at the Oak Orchard Harbor on Lake Ontario.

By Catherine Cooper, Orleans County Historian

“Illuminating Orleans” – Volume 4, Number 29

Lake Ontario is a stunning spectacle at any time. We are invariably drawn to try to capture its more dramatic moments, mid-summer sunsets in particular.

Twilight was photographer Fred Holt’s favorite time to study the lake. He took many photographs of this particular scene, from the angle in the above photo and the one below. The photos are serene and have a timeless quality.

Frederick Holt was born in Gaines on May 13, 1900, the son of Benjamin and Frances (Bennett) Holt, who had immigrated from Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. Benjamin was a quarryman, the family lived on South Clinton Street in Albion.

These two row a boat towards Lake Ontario.

While still a high school student, Fred enlisted with the Reserve Officer Training Corps and was appointed First Lieut, Company L, 12th Regiment, New York State Cadet Corps. He graduated from Albion High School in 1919 and was later employed as Treasurer at the Marine Midland Bank.

In 1942 , he re-entered the armed forces and was appointed Second Lieut. Company L, 65th Regiment of the New York Guard. On his return to civilian life, he was appointed as the Albion office manager of the Birds-Eye Snider Division of General Foods Corporation and in 1958 was appointed manager of Hunt Foods, Inc.

Fred Holt captured Orleans County scenes for more than 60 years.

Photography was his passion. He chronicled scenes and events in Albion for over 60 years – Albion street scenes, farming scenes, parades, majorettes, school plays, a rich chronicle of the times. In 1927, he photographed scenes of the Barge Canal water break at Eagle Harbor and also the seizure on West Avenue in Albion of one of the biggest illicit distilleries in New York State. He won prizes for several of his artistic compositions.

Following his death, his wife, Anne, donated his work to the Orleans County Department of History. There are hundreds of photographs, slides and negatives, as well as the ledgers where he meticulously recorded his work.

Holt’s photographs have a luminous quality that is distinctive and compelling.

We will share other examples in future columns.