Taylor–Bray Farm facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Taylor–Bray Farm
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| Location | Jct. of Bray Farm Rd. N. and Nottingham Rd. Yarmouth, Massachusetts |
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| NRHP reference No. | 92000287 |
| Added to NRHP | September 29, 1993 |
The Taylor–Bray Farm is a really old farm in Yarmouth Port, Massachusetts. It was first settled by Richard "of the Rock" Taylor way back in 1639. Back then, this area was part of the Plymouth Colony.
A long time ago, in 1638, Stephen Hopkins, who was a passenger on the Mayflower, was allowed to build a house and cut hay near this farm. But the very first house built by an Englishman in Yarmouth was actually built by his son, Giles, in 1638.
Contents
A Farm Through the Ages
This farm has a fascinating story of different families who lived and worked here.
The Taylor Family's Legacy
The farm stayed in the Taylor family for many generations, for a very long time! It wasn't until 1896 that Lucy W. Taylor sold the farm.
The Bray Brothers Take Over
Lucy Taylor sold the farm to two brothers, George and William Bray. They had worked for the Taylors and were probably distant relatives. The land Lucy sold was about 50 acres (20 hectares). It included fields and marshlands. These lands could produce about six tons of hay each year. This hay was a mix of salt hay (from the marsh) and fresh hay.
The Bray family kept the farm running successfully until 1941. They continued to gather salt marsh hay from Black Flat Marsh. This hay was important for feeding their farm animals. The Brays were also known for selling their yummy strawberries and blueberries. They often sold them from a wheelbarrow right on Old Kings Highway!
The Williams Family's Care
In 1946, Robert J. Williams bought the farm and its 88 acres. He bought it by paying the taxes owed on the property. Robert moved from New Jersey and worked for a gas company until he retired.
Robert, his wife Katherine, and their son Robert Jr. lived on the farm. They worked hard to fix up the old farmhouse and the land around it. They also improved the barn and a small apartment. This apartment was built into the side of a hill, next to a huge ice-age boulder!
Robert Williams brought sheep to the farm and took care of them. Even though he had a full-time job, he raised the sheep with great pride. He was a proud Welshman! He even showed his sheep at county fairs all over Massachusetts. He sheared their wool and sold it. He also grew lots of vegetables and had wild and cultivated blueberries and raspberries. The farm provided a lot of food for his family.
Robert Jr. built a house nearby for his new wife. His son was born there in the mid-1950s. Later, the family moved to South Yarmouth. Robert's grandchildren loved spending weekends at the farm until the mid-1960s.
In the 1970s, the Williams family sadly sold the farm. Katherine became ill, and it was too much work to keep up with the property. They sold it to a developer, but they made sure the farmhouse and barn would be saved. The Williams family truly saved the farm from being destroyed, both in the 1940s and again in the 1970s! By the late 1980s, the farm changed owners many times, and the buildings started to look neglected.
Saving the Farm for Everyone
In 1987, people worried that the land might be used for something other than a farm. So, the Town of Yarmouth decided to buy the property. Their goal was to "maintain the farm for historic preservation and conservation." This means they wanted to keep it as a historic farm and protect its natural environment.
Since then, people who live in the farmhouse act as managers. They welcome visitors and teach school groups about the farm's history and nature.
A Special Historic Place
The Taylor–Bray Farm is a rare example of the old farms that used to be common in this area. Because of its importance, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1993.
Today, the farm covers about 22 acres (8 hectares). It borders Chase Garden Creek and the Black Flats marsh. There are four main buildings:
- A 1⁄2 Cape farmhouse (a type of house).
- A barn.
- A caretaker's cottage.
- A small storage building.
You can still see a small group of sheep living at the farm today!
Working Together for the Future
The Taylor–Bray Farm Preservation Association (TBFPA) is a non-profit group. In 2001, they started working with the Yarmouth Historical Commission. Their goal is to fix up the property so more people can enjoy it. There's still a lot of work to do to fully restore the old farmhouse and barn, which are from the late 1700s.
Early Farming Life
An old, unpublished story about Richard "Rock" Taylor, written by Mrs. Elizabeth Bray, tells us about farming long ago. It describes simple cow-houses, basic shelters for crops, and the types of fruit trees they had. This information mostly applies to the larger Hallett farm nearby, but it gives us a good idea of what farming was like.
- Cow-houses: These barns only sheltered the cows and other animals. Their food, usually salt hay, was stacked outside.
- Crop shelters: Crops like corn were stored in simple shelters made of poles. Only the roof was made of boards.
- Fruit trees: Kentish cherry trees were planted around the edge of the orchard. They helped protect the less strong trees inside. Apple trees were often not very good quality, but some were good types like Pignoses (a winter apple) or Foxwell (a fall apple). Sometimes, good types were grafted onto the weaker trees.
- Pear trees: Pear trees were also often not very good quality. But there were grafts of special types like the French Sugar Pear and the Black Worcester. Later, they got the Catherine (from Boston) and the Orange types. These pear trees were strong and lived for a long time.
