John W. and Erena Alexander Rogers Keeney Farm facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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John W. Keeney
and Erena Alexander Rogers Farm |
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | 5300 Monroe Street Franklin Township, Michigan |
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| Area | 256 acres (104 ha) |
| Built | 1835 1865–1868 (farmhouse) |
| Built by | Riley Butrick |
| NRHP reference No. | 01001020 |
| Added to NRHP | September 24, 2001 |
The John W. Keeney and Erena Alexander Rogers Farm, often called the Keeney Farm, is a special historic place. It is located at 5300 Monroe Street (also known as M-50) in Franklin Township, Lenawee County, Michigan. This farm was named a Michigan Historic Site and added to the National Register of Historic Places on September 24, 2001. A cool fact about the farm is that its apple orchard has been growing apples since 1875. This makes it one of the oldest working apple orchards in Lenawee County!
Contents
History of the Keeney Farm
The story of the Keeney Farm began in 1835. That year, Jonathan B. Keeney, who was born in Lyme, Connecticut in 1815, bought the land. Later, in 1846, he sold the land to his brother, John W. Keeney. John W. was born in 1810 in New London, Connecticut.
Around 1865, John W. Keeney hired a local builder named Riley Butrick. Butrick helped to build the main farmhouse that still stands on the farm today. About ten years later, in 1875, John W.'s son, Joseph Keeney, started the first apple orchard on the property. Joseph loved growing plants more than managing the farm. So, his sister Emma and his three children, Frank, John R., and Ruth Keeney, helped run the business side of things.
Farm Innovations and Growth
John R. Keeney became very important for the farm's success. He was born in 1882. He first moved to Chicago to work as a salesman. But in 1916, he came back to the farm. John R. brought many new and smart ideas to how the farm was run. Because of his efforts, the Keeney Farm grew to be one of the biggest fruit producers in the area. In 1922, he even added special cold storage barns. These barns helped keep the fruit fresh for longer.
In 1923, John R. married Dorothy Bladon Elton, who was an opera singer. A few years later, in 1926, the couple updated and improved the farmhouse. More modern refrigeration units were put in during the 1930s. The farm also started growing Christmas trees. Eventually, they began a "pick your own" sales idea. This allowed people to come to the farm and pick their own fruit or trees. Some parts of the farm's landscape, like the stone wall along M-50, were built between 1926 and 1950.
Frank Perry, one of Joseph's children, passed away early. In 1963, John R. Keeney bought out his sister Ruth's share of the farm. The farm was then passed down to John R.'s sons, John William Keeney and Frank Perry Keeney. In 1980, John William became the only owner of the farm.
About the Keeney Farm Today
The Keeney Farm covers a large area of 256 acres (which is about 104 hectares). This land includes the main farmhouse, open fields, woodlands, a pond, and, of course, the famous apple orchard. Most of this land, all but 10 acres (4 hectares), has been owned by the Keeney family since they first settled there in 1835. The farmhouse sits on a small hill. In front of it, there is a concrete wall decorated with fieldstones.
The Farmhouse Design
The farmhouse is a two-story building. It has a style called "Upright and Wing." This means it has a taller, main part (the upright) and a shorter part attached to the side (the wing). The house has a strong foundation made of fieldstone and its outer walls are covered with clapboard siding. You can still see some old Greek Revival design details on the house. These include narrow corner pillars, a wide decorative band below the roof, and special windows around the front door. The taller part of the house has three window sections across its front and a gently sloped roof. The wing section has three window sections on the first floor and two on the second, also with a shallow roof.
