Vee & Bettie Harvey

Bettie lived with her parents on county route 15 in the town of Smartville, New York.

They meet in Redfield New York, at a dance in the Falvey’s hotel that was original Ben Lewis House now is where the gas station is now. They dated for a while and got engaged I post a picture of the announcement that was in the paper. They moved into the house on county rt. 17 two places south from where the sawmill used to be. Vee worked at the sawmill that was called Wilson sawmill. Bettie was a housewife. Oh, I almost forgot they was married on June 21, 1953. On February 15, 1954, Vivian Martin Harvey Jr was born. I will post a lot of newspaper articles on them. Bettie worked part time cleaning the Oscowego club.

On February 19, 1955, Albert William Harvey was born. On May 20, 1955, Vivian lost his Father James Henry Harvey he was 104 when he died. January 29, 1956, Clinton James Harvey was Born. On February 20, 1957, Leona May Harvey was born. In 1956 Vivian started to work for Oswego County Highway Department his main job was spraying tar in summertime for the roads so they could put stones on the roads. In the winter it was plowing snow. In 1959 the bought the house on county route 47 used to be the grants home, and moved in, in late 59 early 60 they had a house fire. May 7, 1960, Bethel Ann Harvey was born. The house was live able and they worked on fixing it up. On November 30, 1962, Jean Marie Harvey was born. Vivian is a charter member of the Redfield Volunteer Fire Department; Bettie joined the Auxiliary. Vivian joined the Odds Fellows, Bettie Join the Rebecca Lodge. Both of them went high in the ranks. On October 29, 1963, Ellen Louise Harvey was born. Ellen was a very sick little girl there will be a story about her in the tribute section, she died on December 5, 1963, at 4 am. Bettie worked for Blossom Ouderkirk whom owned the Redfield Square in the center of Redfield as a cleaner.

She also worked for Super Duper grocery store during the summer months. , in Camden, New York in the meat department, in 1971 Bettie started to drive school bus for Sandy Creek Central. She also started a ceramic business called Easy Going Ceramic. She then went on to have a little store in the Ceramic shop sold bread, milk, candy, cigarettes etc. before build another building for her ceramics. In 1975 they had a chimney fire from kitchen stove, and we moved in with Mahles until they could rebuild the inside of house did a lot of remodeling, also had a fire in the living room chimney in 1972, not much damage except to living room. They change the ceramic shop into the Easy-Going Diner. They Join Queen Village Square Dancing club. That is why we have a picture of Vivian Dressed like a women and Bettie dressed like a man was one of the crazy things they did. They were part of the group of people in 1976 that started the Redfield Old-home Days back up until they turned it over to the Fire Department .Vivian retired from the OCHD in May of 1981, Bettie retired from driving school bus in Oct of 1991 and then went on to sub until 2008. They both enjoyed snowmobiling, playing cards, they raise cows and chickens and pigs. Had the own garden it was huge. Vivian and Bettie renewed their vows on their 25th anniversary, and again on their 50th anniversary. In 1992 they spent winters in Florida until 2000. When they bought a place on state route 13 in the town of Williamstown, New York. In 2008 in October Vivian got real sick throwing up blood was in hospital for couple weeks, had cirrhosis of the liver, he never really recovered he die May 11, 2009. Bettie moved in with Bethel and Denny Mothersell in Lacona. They all spent summers in Williamstown and winters in Lacona until the sold the place in Williamstown in April of 2014. Bettie was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2011 and in 2020 ended up needed more care than she could get at home and was placed in Samaritan Keep Home.

Vivian got his high school diploma in 2007, Bettie got her high school diploma in 1992. Vivian was also Redfield Highway Superintendent in 1983.