Dairy Barn at Community Farm – Simsbury CT

Description

“The property long known as the Town Farm on Wolcott Road in Simsbury has both an interesting past and an exciting new future. The property was originally donated to the town by Amos Eno… in 1883, ‘to be used for the occupation and maintenance of the town poor’ according to the deed. Over the years, the town has managed the property in various ways, all with meeting this requirement as a guideline. The new Community Farm of Simsbury, Inc., in cooperation with other nonprofit organizations and the town, will be establishing programs in the areas of education, community service, historic preservation, and agricultural conservation and land management.

“Originally, the 140-acre farm and its farmhouse were home to poor residents of Simsbury who worked on the farm. After World War II and through the 1950s, a dairy farm was run on the land. The last indigent resident moved out of the farmhouse in 1981 when the town decided to close the poor farm. At this time, town officials explored different options for the property that would fulfill the charitable intent of the deed.

“The dairy barn which now houses animals and is a working space for students, was built as a WPA project during the Great Depression and completed in 1938. CFS continues the practice of farming organically and maintaining the organic certification on the property. This policy helps to protect the Farmington River which adjoins the property.” (communityfarmofsimsbury.org.)