Appleton Farms, Ipswich, Massachusetts

Appleton Farms "is one of the oldest continuously operating farms in the country, established and maintained by nine generations of the Appleton family." Per their flyer.

1794 House, now used as an Office, Museum and Visitor Center on the 1,000 acre working farm.

Period room in the Visitor Center.

Updated kitchen which will used to give cooking classes, using many of the items they grow. They are even going to make pizza (note: newly purchased item on table).

Lots of trees, fields, fences, and animals such as cows and chickens. They sell homemade cheese, milk and others products here.

Entrance to the dairy and miscellaneous barns.

Above photo was taken from inside the below picture.

I'm thinking fall will be a nice time to visit again. Can't wait to see the colors.

The Bay Road 1640

Owl Hoot Maple Farm -- What Surprises Awaited Me

We, my husband and I, were in an area far from home and in an country he had never been. We passed a sign for the Owl Hoot Maple Farm and I knew I had to stop. Because I really love maple candy and syrup, we decided to check out the store. The owner, Dianne Jones came to the door, and invited us into her kitchen. Unfortunately, no candy was available, but within minutes, I found out a wealth of information.


I told her how my aunt once owned a 144 acre maple sugar farm many years ago, and Dianne asked her name. Yes, you guessed it, they had met. Pretty amazing, since Dianne was in Quebec, Canada and my aunt then lived in Vermont. I was already excited, until I learned that she knew a lot about my family genealogy, that being of the Ten Eyck line, and pointing to the large photo in her kitchen she said it was of the Ten Eyck property. That was thrilling. But, it gets better.


Since Dianne knew some of my genealogy (which I was in the process of discovering my Canadian roots in 1999), she verbally gave me some of her husband's lineage. Her husband, John is my 6th cousin! And, it get's better...their son is married to my 2nd cousin!


Throughout the years, Dianne and I have kept in touch, and sharing bits of information. My cousin called several times this fall expressing an interest in her ancestry. That was very exciting.  In one email, Dianne wrote, "Did you know our sugarbush is part of the first TenEyck settlers property. We still can see stone foundations of at least two building sites, and some old bricks that was used for a chimney."


For the past 18 years, Dianne and John have been hosting their Owl Hoot Sugaring Off Party in April, to raise money for the local hospital. Last year over 500 people attended.


Other link about the event.
Brome Missisquoi Perkins Hospital (additional pictures)
Below is the flyer I took from my visit in 1999, I'm so glad I saved it, and especially glad I stopped in.

Ten Eyck Farm, Dunham, Quebec, Canada

In September 1999 my husband and I went on a research trip to Dunham, Missisquoi Co., Quebec, Canada for four days. Traveling to this area of Canada took less than seven hours, so it wasn't a very long trip from Massachusetts. I was extremely well prepared because I knew exactly where I wanted to go, had the addresses of those I wanted to meet,  and had mapped out the cemeteries.  It all came together.

The first stop was at the Missisquoi Historical Society in East Stanbridge, a goldmine of resources. I had communicated with the archivist and knew the hours of operation and their holdings. Later, I met with a cousin, who came quite a distance to meet me at my B and B. The owners were very accommodating to us...I'm thinking, although they spoke French and I only English.

Another thing my husband and I did was drive all over the county and that of Brome County looking at gravestones. Another cousin had just visited the area several months earlier and found a number of our shared ancestors, so I was extremely fortunate. She had given me a marked map and copies of her photos. In all, I located 22 direct ancestor graves! I was very lucky.

The last wonderful aspect of the trip was, I went to the old Ten Eyck homestead.  I have no idea how old the house is, but the land has been in the family for well over 200 years.  My grandmother grew up in the house, and when I was young, we went there for a long visit, as my grandmother's brother's family now lived there. The brother was deceased, but his wife was kind enough to invite us in for a long chat about the family. One thing led to another, and I found out that the wife was born in the city where I now live! You just never know what you are going to find out when you talk to somebody.

This trip still brings back sentimental thoughts. It was a perfect trip, perfect weather, and perfect memories.

The photos below are three photos taken that day at the house. And one below was scanned from the book, Dunham 1867 - 1992 (Anniversary Book),  (Pub. Editions Louis Bilodeau and Fils Ltee, Sherbrook, Quebec 1992). 

Ten Eyck Farm, Dunham, Missisquoi Co., Quebec, Canada

Ten Eyck Farm from Google Earth.

(The house is at the top of the circle, above the word Chemin.

I love this photo taken by Dianne Jones. I met her during our 1999 trip we have several connections. She even knew my aunt and uncle who lived in Vermont.

I'm certain it gets very cold in the winter.

 

I asked the photographer, Kathy Harris-Miltimore if it was taken in Dunham and if I could use her photo. It was taken on Beattie Street, not really my ancestor's house. She also gave me permission. This shows you how beautiful the area is.