Hilltop Farm facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Hilltop Farm
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1550-1760 Mapleton Ave., Suffield, Connecticut |
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| Area | 236 acres (96 ha) |
| Built | 1913 |
| Architect | Westhoff, Max; et.al. |
| Architectural style | Late 19th And 20th Century Revivals, Mid 19th Century Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 04001463 |
| Added to NRHP | January 12, 2005 |
Hilltop Farm is a special old farm in Suffield, Connecticut. It was started in 1913 by George M. Hendee. He was famous for helping to create the Indian Motorcycle Manufacturing Company. This company made some of America's first motorcycles! Even though the main house was taken down in 1961, many of the original farm buildings are still there. Hilltop Farm is now listed as a historic district, which means it's an important historical place.
Discover Hilltop Farm
This historic farm covers over 230 acres of land. It is located in the northeast part of Suffield, Connecticut. Most of the farm sits between Mapleton Avenue and the Connecticut River.
The farm has different groups of buildings. The main part includes a large dairy barn and a chicken house. There is also a tobacco barn and many smaller buildings. Two old houses from that time are also on the property. A newer house was built where the original main house used to be.
South of this main area are two smaller groups of buildings. These were once farms belonging to other families. George Hendee bought these lands to create his large estate.
Who Was George Hendee?
George Hendee grew up in nearby Springfield, Massachusetts. He first started making bicycles. In 1898, he began making motorcycles. These motorcycles were called "Indian" and became very popular. This success made him very wealthy.
In 1913, Hendee started buying farmland in Suffield. He wanted to create a "gentleman's farm." This kind of farm was often owned by a wealthy person. It was usually run more for pleasure or as a hobby than for making a lot of money. Hilltop Farm mainly focused on dairy farming.
Hendee loved working on his farm. He left the Indian Motorcycle company in 1915 to focus on it. He stayed involved with the farm until 1938. At that time, he had health problems and decided to leave the estate. He sold it in 1940.
Hilltop Farm Today
After George Hendee sold the farm, it was divided into smaller parts. Some areas were used for new purposes. His main house was taken down in 1961.
Even so, many original parts of the estate remain. This includes the beautiful landscaping designed by Carl Rust Parker. The farm buildings that are still standing are now owned by the town of Suffield. A local group helps to take care of them. This ensures that Hilltop Farm's history is preserved for everyone to enjoy.
