Sutton Farm (Shelburne, Vermont) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Sutton Farm
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 Location in Vermont
Location in the United States
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| Location | 4592 Dorset St., Shelburne, Vermont |
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| Area | 104 acres (42 ha) |
| Built | 1792 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| MPS | Shelburne, Vermont MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 04001132 |
| Added to NRHP | October 7, 2004 |
Sutton Farm is a historic farm property located at 4592 Dorset Road in Shelburne, Vermont. This farm started way back in 1788. What makes it special is that one family, the Suttons, ran it continuously for nearly 200 years! The farm also has a very well-preserved farmhouse built in the Greek Revival style. Because of its long history and unique buildings, Sutton Farm was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2004.
Contents
What Makes Sutton Farm Special?
Sutton Farm is in a country area of northeastern Shelburne. It covers about 100 acres (about 40 hectares) of land. Dorset Road actually cuts right through the middle of the farm. The main farm buildings are on both sides of this road.
The Farm's Layout
On the west side of Dorset Road, you'll find fields where crops are grown. On the east side, the land is used for crops, pastures for animals, and hay fields. Some of the boundaries between these areas are marked by old stone walls.
The Farmhouse and Other Buildings
The main farmhouse is on the west side of the road. It's a brick house built in a style called Cape. It was first built around 1815 using wood. Then, around 1830, it was covered in brick. This is also when its Greek Revival features were added.
Next to the house, there's a garage and a chicken house. Both of these were built in the 1930s. Across the road, on the east side, you can see a long barn and silos. These were built in the middle of the 20th century.
The History of Sutton Farm
The land for Sutton Farm was bought in 1788 by Benjamin Sutton. He came from Greenwich, Connecticut. Benjamin and his family first lived in log cabins on the property. The main farmhouse we see today was built later, in the mid-1810s.
Unique Features of the House
The farmhouse has a special feature: a very tall "kneewall" on the upper floor. A kneewall is a short wall that supports the roof. This tall kneewall is rare and only found in a few other old homes in northeastern Shelburne. This suggests that a specific local builder might have designed these houses.
Family Ownership Through the Years
The house was finished with brick around the 1830s. This was probably when Benjamin Sutton's son, Bryon, took over the farm. The Sutton family continued to farm the land themselves for many generations. They worked the farm until about 1985. After that, farmers from the land next door started to manage the farm's operations.
