Charles Ottman

Charles Ottman spent his short life in the Village of Wellesley, documenting the community and its residents.

The eldest of 12 children, Charles worked in his father’s saddle and harness shop. In 1902, he contracted tuberculosis and was forced to find a less strenuous occupation. He decided to become a photographer and opened a studio above his father’s business.

Charles’ earliest work was conducted under the name of Otter Portraits – a nice play on his surname! This work mainly consisted of portraits of his family. He later expanded his focus to include group photos, both large and small, and images of school children. In addition, he took views of the village, which he printed as postcards and sold for 5 cents each.

These photographs give a rare, intimate view of Wellesley Village and its people in all seasons. Charles documented his bustling community with his camera, capturing residents at play and at work, its streetscapes, and idyllic rural scenes.

For more than 100 years, some of Charles’ best photographs had been lost to the public until two great nephews donated digital copies to the Wellesley Township Heritage and Historical Society. For historians, this collection of over 40 photos is a treasure trove, from an era when Charles was likely Wellesley’s only resident photographer.