Stony Farm facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Stony Farm
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | 428 Salisbury Street, Holden, Massachusetts |
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| Area | 7.9 acres (3.2 ha) |
| Built | 1790 |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 95001441 |
| Added to NRHP | December 13, 1995 |
Stony Farm is a very old farm in Holden, Massachusetts. It was built around 1790. The main house is a great example of an old building style called Federal architecture. This farm helps us remember when Holden was mostly farmland. Stony Farm was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1995. This means it's an important historical place.
What is Stony Farm?
Stony Farm is located in southern Holden. It sits on the east side of Salisbury Street. This street is a historic road connecting Holden center to Worcester.
The Farm's Land
The farm property today is about 8 acres. But it used to be much bigger, over 100 acres! You can still see old stone walls there. These walls are common features of old New England farms. The property also has a barn, a garage, and several sheds.
The Main House
The main house is two and a half stories tall. It faces west and has a roof that slopes down on two sides. It also has two chimneys inside the house. The outside walls are made of wooden boards called clapboard siding. The house sits on a strong stone foundation.
The front of the house has five sections. It looks the same on both sides. There are windows next to the front door. Above the door is a decorative band called an entablature. A two-story section extends from the back of the house. Inside, the house has a central hallway. A simple staircase is in the middle hall. The main living room is to the left. It has a fireplace with carvings in the Federal style.
The Farm's History
People used to think the house was built around 1779. But research into old property records shows it was likely built in the early 1790s. A person named Tilla Chafin built it. He put together a farm property of more than 50 acres. In 1828, he sold it to his son. The sale included the buildings on the land.
Later owners made the farm even bigger. However, much of the land was sold in 1974. This land was used to build new homes. The farm buildings, including the garage built in 1936, are well-kept. They remind us of Holden's farming past.
