Great Northern Mall began as a patchwork of farm deeds
Wilmorite Properties began assembling the Great Northern Mall site in the mid-1970s, buying farmland in Clay, New York, in a series of small transactions. In 1975-76, family farmers sold parcels to Wilmorite.
Walter Farnholtz sold 2.5 acres. Lillian Gaylord sold 5.2 acres. Lois and Helen Bettinger sold 1 acre. In 1977, June Hullin sold 5.6 acres, then sold an additional 20.2 acres in 1985.
The largest and most important acquisition was the Higgs property, which was planned as the center of the mall complex…