WINTHROP — Senator Joseph Griffo, R-Rome, recently visited Brookdale Orchard to view the property and to meet owners Joseph and Margaret Carr.

The orchard had operated as a pick-your-own business for 44 years, according to the Carrs.

But a late frost this past spring killed many of the apple buds and flowers in the orchard, resulting in a near total loss of crop.

With many of the trees proving to be problematic to maintain in recent years, Joseph Carr, who is 96, made the difficult decision to cut down more than 600 trees.

The orchard is no longer open to the public.

Located at 1997, Rt. 49, the Carrs now hope a future owner will replant and start a new orchard on the property.

“Joseph and Margaret were looking forward to another successful season,” Sen. Griffo said.

“Unfortunately, Mother Nature had other plans. I thank the Carr family for everything that they have done for the community and region. I appreciate their commitment to agriculture, Joseph’s service to our nation and the family’s long and successful history as a small business owner in St. Lawrence County.”

History of the Orchard

Joseph served in the Navy in World War II. After leaving, he was employed as a Border Patrol agent, New York State Trooper and Village of Massena Police Officer. He also owned Carr’s Vending. Margaret, affectionately known as “Margie,” retired as an educator and school psychologist at Massena High School after 32 years.  

Joe and “Margie” have been married for 70 years, are the parents of fraternal twins Lynn and Ed Carr and have dozens of grandchildren.

Joseph and Margaret Carr purchased the farm, which was originally owned by a Civil War veteran, in the late 1950s. They built a new home there in 1967, added a horse barn and began preparing the land for

The orchard opened in 1977 and was known for its Honey Crisp apples, as well as St. Lawrence, McIntosh, Cortland and Liberty varieties. At one point, there were more than 700 trees on the property.

Joseph managed the orchard with help from family but did most of the work on his own. From time to time, he would hire local people, as well as the Amish, to help with pruning, clean up and picking. The family would routinely give away apples to locals, farmers, hunters and those who could not afford them.