ARLENE FOLTS

Arlene Folts was born December 3, 1905 in Norway, daughter of Fred and Margaret Durand.

She has been a resident of the Town of Russia since 1929. She and her husband built her present home on Route 8 in 1962. Prior to that the family lived in the large house, now owned by the DeLucia’s. Arlene remembers when the house was across the road until Route 8 was reconstructed in 1939. The Folts' never moved out of their home while it was being relocated which took two weeks. It was sometimes scary when trucks went under part of the house even though it was blocked up high enough.

Arlene married Nelson Folts in 1927, he died in 1982. They had two daughters, Aletha Whitney who died in 1994 and Alberta Weakley. Mrs. Folts also has nine grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.

She and her husband operated a sawmill on Route 8 for over 25 years. They donated the old water wheel that Grace Paull had at the Feed Mill Gallery.

Arlene has always been a very active participant in the community. She has belonged to Cold Brook Methodist Church since 1929. She still helps at their Rummage Sales and at their fried dough booth at the Ohio Snow Bash. Years ago when she belonged to Cold Brook Methodist Church Helpers they had Koffee Klatches at the Old Feed Mill. They raised funds to benefit the church. Their financial support was a substantial factor in keeping the church alive.

Mrs. Folts is also a long-time member of Olive Branch Garden Club in Ohio, Eastern Star, Middleville Grange, and Kuyahoora Senior Citizens where she has been Sunshine Secretary for over ten years.

She has always been a very good neighbor-always ready to help out or provide food. Her neighbors, relatives, and friends especially enjoy her baked beans.

At 95, Arlene is proud to still be driving her own car. For years she took several ladies on weekly grocery shopping trips to Herkimer. This habit started when Merrill George's bus run discontinued in 1953.

Arlene thinks the Town is very peaceful, very neighborly and safe even though she was robbed several years ago. But her family was more upset than she was.

She remembers when back in the 1930's the roads weren't scraped and people used the fields and no cars from November to May.

Arlene enjoyed Cold Brook in the 1940's and 1950's when the village was a busy place with Wilcox's garage, Carpenter's Store, and Rommel's Homemade Ice Cream Shop.

Mrs. Folts is an inspiration to all who know her. To her age is just a number and a positive attitude is very important.