Moving from New Jersey to Chenango County - Katie Olson
by Katie Olson
  • July 9, 2024
  • 5 mins story
1. Each story will be categorized into one or more of the following categories. (Community, Home, Enterprise, Nature, Agriculture, Narratives, Opportunity). Looking at these words, what stories come to mind?

[0:00]

I’m from New Jersey so I relocated upstate and the funny thing is it’s actually Facebook that brought me here. Everybody goes “where did - you know - how did you get here? How did you end up here in Chenango County?” And I actually saw a Facebook post for an old historical home that was for sale. Right in downtown Norwich on south Broad. So we came up and saw it and I just fell in love with the area. The entire area but especially the rich history; the architectural history to me is just phenomenal. So that was that; Facebook brought me here and we moved up here after falling in love with the area. 

[0:42]

My go-to thing to do in Chenango County. Well, the outdoor resources are phenomenal. So, hiking, kayaking, biking, you name it. There’s outdoor activities galore and I think that’s what drew me to it as well - this area is - the nature around here. I mean it’s just absolutely stunning and breathtaking. Every season. [laughs] So definitely outdoor activities and my dogs - I have four dogs and they love it. So [laughs] spending time with them outdoors is probably my favorite thing to do. 

[1:18]

The fact that it snows a couple feet around here every year, I love that. I definitely did not get that living in New Jersey. So, the snowfall is absolutely amazing and [laughs] our dogs are actually huskies, so them pulling me around in a sled with, you know, about two feet of snow on the ground - that’s probably the funniest and most fond memory I have. [laughs] 

[1:43]

So most of my time is spent working [laughs] and also volunteering and being part of the community - trying to, you know, spend my time helping others and… I love renovating my home. It’s an 1870 home so it needs a little extra work and love but- really spending my time putting it into that. And then, giving back to the community is how I like spending my free time. 

[2:09]

Even just the history of Chenango - the word Chenango - and the rich roots with, you know, the Native American and Indigenous peoples in this area. So I just, I love the history of the land and the people and just everything about it. 

Submitted to:
In-Person Recorded