Crittenden Farm facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Crittenden Farm
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Roadside view of the farmhouse
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 Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Location | Northwest of Savannah on U.S. Routes 224 and 250 |
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| Area | 665 acres (269 ha) |
| Built | 1878 |
| Architectural style | Second Empire, Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 82003540 |
| Added to NRHP | April 22, 1982 |
The Crittenden Farm is an old and important farm in Ashland County, Ohio, United States. It was once owned by a famous sheep farmer. This farm has some very special buildings and parts of land that look almost the same as when the first settlers arrived. It is now a historic site because it tells an important story about the area's past.
The Crittenden Family Story
In 1836, Medad and Sarah Crittenden moved from New York to what is now Chicago. They bought a very large piece of land there, about one square mile. But they didn't like it much, so they moved back east. They settled near Sarah's parents in Ruggles Township, Ohio. Her parents were among the first and most important people to settle there.
Medad Crittenden started raising sheep. He bought a lot of land for his sheep, and sometimes he had as many as one thousand sheep! Medad and Sarah had ten children. One of their sons, Alvin, took over the sheep farming business.
Alvin moved closer to Troy Township and started the Crittenden Farm we see today in 1882. He built a large, modern farm there. Alvin became famous around the world for his sheep. His special Delaine Merino sheep won awards at local fairs and the Ohio State Fair. They even won prizes at big events called World's Fairs!
Because his sheep were so good, many people wanted to buy them. Every year, Alvin sent many sheep to every state in the United States. He even sent large groups of sheep all the way to South Africa. By 1909, some of his sheep were worth as much as $500 each!
About the Farm Buildings
Even a hundred years after Alvin Crittenden started his farm, it was still the biggest farm in Ashland County. It covered about 665 acres, which is a huge area!
The farmhouse was one of the most noticeable buildings on the farm when it was built. In 1909, people thought it was one of the best farmhouses in the whole region. It is made of wood and built in the Second Empire style. This house has been kept in amazing condition. Even at the end of the 20th century, it still looked great. It has many original parts that make it special and unique among farmhouses from the late 1800s in northern Ohio.
Other important parts of the farm include a family cemetery that is still there. There is also a piece of "virgin forest," which means a forest that has never been cut down or changed by people.
Why the Farm is Preserved
In April 1982, the Crittenden Farm was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of important historic places in the United States. The farm was added because of its special architecture and its important role in local history.
The farm is considered a historic district. It includes eighteen important parts. These are fourteen buildings, three other structures, and one site with no buildings. The district includes the main farmhouse and many other farm buildings. Some of these other buildings are built in the Italianate style of architecture.
The Crittenden Farm is one of sixteen places in Ashland County that are on the National Register. Many other historic places in the county are near the town of Ashland. However, the John and Michael Crumrine Farms are also nearby, just a short distance east near Nova.
