Casey Farm facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Casey Farm
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Casey Farm
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 Location in Rhode Island
Location in the United States
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| Location | 2325 Boston Neck Rd., North Kingstown, Rhode Island, U.S. |
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| Built | 1725 |
| NRHP reference No. | 73000006 |
| Added to NRHP | August 14, 1973 |
Casey Farm is a really old farm located in Saunderstown, Rhode Island, USA. Today, it's a special museum where you can learn about history. Historic New England takes care of it, and everyone is welcome to visit!
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A Look Back at Casey Farm
Casey Farm sits on a huge piece of land, about 300 acres (121 hectares). This land has stayed together for over 300 years! It stretches all the way from the Narrow River to the Narragansett Bay.
Who Lived Here?
The main house at Casey Farm was built a long time ago, between 1725 and 1750, by Daniel Coggeshall. Later, it became the home of Silas Casey when he married Daniel's daughter. The farm stayed in the Casey family for many generations. Eventually, the family gave it to an organization that helps save old places, now called Historic New England.
Farm Life and Changes
In the past, Casey Farm grew food for people nearby and even for other countries. Because it was close to Newport, Rhode Island, the farm owners could get fancy things from England. This helped them live a stylish life.
However, things changed during the American Revolutionary War. The town of Newport was burned, and the farm's good times ended. After that, the Casey family often lived somewhere else. They would rent out the farm to other families to work the land. But they always kept two rooms in the main house for themselves. They loved coming back to the farm for summer visits, seeing it as their family's special home.
Famous Family Members
Casey Farm was also the summer home and final resting place for some important people. These included Silas Casey, a general during the Civil War, and Thomas Lincoln Casey Sr., who was a military engineer. Another family member, Edward Pearce Casey, became a famous architect in Washington, D.C.
In 1955, the Casey family gave the farm and many old family papers to Historic New England. This helped make sure the farm would be protected and shared with future generations.
Visiting Casey Farm Today
Today, Casey Farm is still owned by Historic New England. It's a working farm that grows healthy, organic vegetables, herbs, and flowers. These fresh foods are grown for families who sign up for a special program called Community Supported Agriculture.
What You Can Do
When you visit, you can take a guided tour of the farmyard. You can also see the old cemetery where six generations of the Casey family are buried. Casey Farm also hosts a farmers market every Saturday morning from mid-May through October. Here, you can find organic produce and other local goods.
Fun for Kids
Casey Farm has lots of cool programs for children during the school year and in the summer. Special "farm teachers" lead activities in the fall and spring for students.
The farm even works with schools across Rhode Island on a project called "Project Chick." Teachers and students get to raise and hatch baby chicks in incubators! During the summer, Historic New England offers different summer camps at Casey Farm. These camps are for kids aged 3 to 13 and include both week-long and single-day programs.
Want to Learn More?
- Open-air museum
- List of cemeteries in Rhode Island
- National Register of Historic Places in Washington County, Rhode Island
- Silas Casey
- Thomas Lincoln Casey Sr.
- Edward Pearce Casey
