Brownell, Willard Clayton
Birth
Willard C. Brownell was born in Clarksville N.Y. on May 13, 1896 the son of John Brownell and Bertha Wright
Education
Willard attended the one room school house at the end of Bennett Hill Road in Clarksville N.Y.
Occupation
Willard worked as a chauffeur his entire life. His first job was with the Stevens Family of Albany N.Y. who owned and operated the Normanskill Dairy. The Steven's family had a large farm beside the Normanskill Creek near the present Delmar viaduct. In later years a large portion of this farm was donated to the city of Albany and is now a visitors center. Willard made many cross country trips both South and West driving Mrs. Stevens and her daughter. When gas was rationed during WWII, Willard was given a job driving a horse drawn milk wagon for the dairy in the city. He finished his chauffeurs career by driving for Mr. Matthew Bender of Albany N.Y. Mr. Bender was a partner in Bender Printing Co. of Albany N.Y. Willard retired when Mr. Bender stopped working and no longer needed a driver. Willard also worked for many years as a bartender on the weekends. He was one of the main bartenders at Osterhout's Indian Ladder Lodge, one of the Capital Districts most popular restaurant and dancing facility near Thacher Park. After Osterhout's was sold in 1957, he worked for Carp's Tavern on Lark St. in Albany until he retired.
Marriage & Children
Willard C. Brownell married Hazel Long about 1915. This union produced three daughters, Helen Brownell born Oct. 9,1916 died Nov. 29, 1978, Elizabeth Brownell born about 1919 died July 1, 2007 and Doris Brownell
Death
Willard Brownell died in May 1974 and is buried in the Onesquethaw Cemetery in Clarksville N.Y.
Additional Media
Willard Brownell and friend 1901 
A young lad 
A handsome boy 
Spring St. garage in Albany N.Y. 
Willard on his Henderson motorcycle 
Willard in his chauffeurs uniform 
Willard Brownell holding his grandson Willard Osterhout at Warner Lake in 1941 
Willard and the car he drove 
Willard and Hazel Brownell 
Newspaper notice of Willard Brownells death 
A young Willard Brownell 
Willard with one of his hunting dogs 
Willard with his mother Bertha and his brother Elmer and sister Olive in Clarksville NY 
L-R John and Bertha Brownell, Willard Brownell, Edward and Anna Zeh at Indian Head rock formation on the Onesquethaw Creek in Clarksville NY about 1900 
Willards driving license from 1976 
A much later picture of Willard which was used on his chauffeurs license 
Willard on the right when he tended bar at Carp's Tavern on Lark St. in Albany NY 
Tending bar at Carp's tavern 
Willard with his daughters Helen and Betty 
Willard Brownell and Pauline Carpenter 
Willard when he drove for the Steven's family who owned the Normanskill Dairy 
Willard in his apartment at 4 Deleware St. Albany NY 
Willard with his father John wearing the hat 
Willard, Betty and Hazel Brownell 
Willard with 4 of his grandsons 
Willard Brownell with his grandson Willard Osterhout 
Hazel and Willard Brownell at their daughter Helen's home in New Salem NY 
Betty Strauss, Hazel and Willard Brownell with Olive and Carl Herrpwyn at the Strauss camp on Galway Lake 
Willard, Olive, Hazel, Carl and Betty at 4 Deleware St. Albany NY 
Betty, Olive, Hazel, Sam and Willard at the Strauss home in Scotia NY 
Hazel and Willard at their daughter Betty's home in Scotie 
Willard and Hazel with their daughter Helen and Her son John at 4 Deleware St. in Albany 
Willard with his grandson John Osterhout
Sources
