Let’s talk about the past….

Although our farm is relatively new in its current incarnation as Huckleberry Trail Farm, we do know that the land has a rich history. We keep learning more and more about it each day.

We purchased the land from the Bowers family, the same Bowers in Bowers Store Road. When we took possession of the land, there was a farmhouse, a chicken house, an outhouse, a milking barn and the most beautiful view. Unfortunately, the farmhouse, chicken house and outhouse were beyond reasonable repair. Instead of just tearing them down, we partnered with several local fire departments and allowed them to use the structures for a burn training exercise. That was quite an experience!! You can view some photos and video here. Luckily, we still have both the view and the milking barn.

We have begun working to restore the milking barn. It still has what we believe are most of its original structure. We’ve been told that the red brick in the walls is local terracotta brick that isn’t made anymore. The roof may be rusted a bit, but it is still solid and has lots of “farm charm”. When you walk into the larger room in the barn, you will still see the original milking stantions for the cow’s heads as well as what we believe is a hosedown trough used to clean down the barn after milkings. The smaller room next door has a large old zinc sink. You can see pictures of the barn here.

There is a depression in the land that runs along the whole property from east to west. We have it on good authority from more than one person that this is the old stagecoach road- the wagon trail that ran out west. If you look very closely, you can actually see in some spots that the base of the depression has two additional parallel ruts where wagon wheels would have worn down the ground even further.

We keep finding out more in bits and pieces as we meet our neighbors in the community or as people stop by to say hello and share a memory or two. Do you know something more about the farm that you can share with us? Do you know someone else who might know more of the history? We would be very grateful if you could share with us. As we make new memories, we want to work hard to try and preserve the rich history that came before us for our family’s future generations.