Farm ID 3761

The farm was settled by the Twitchell family a little after 1810, remaining with the Twitchells until 1950 or so. (Friends living on the land in 1984 created a 35-page history of the farm. Was a subsistence family farm throughout. We have a picture showing the barn in Civil War era with a house that is now gone, and another picture showing the present house and taken seemingly in the era noted above.

Farming activity since 1982 when we bought the property has included fairly large garden producing for our own use, a flock of Hampshire sheep -- up to 30 head, a couple of cows for one or two early years, alpine goats -- up to 10 or 12 at a time for 30 years, producing milk for our own use and that of others, and raising chickens selling eggs to neighbors. Until 4-5 years ago we made hay, storing it loose in the 40' X 60' barn, sometimes almost filling it.

The farming was part time, as my wife worked as a school nurse and I as a pediatrician. I had grown up on a dairy farm in Vermont and so was interested.
My own view is that the farm is unique in that, representing a subsistence-type family farm, it has remained more or less the same for over 200 years. In addition, its location on a little traveled road, yet close to town, and with a beautiful view, makes it attractive. Therefore, we regard the place as a resource that ought to continue existing and being used. There is a conservation easement administered by Western Maine Foothills Land Trust.

The ownership arrangement is this: a daughter living in Los Angeles owns the place under a "living will" arrangement. We envision options that would include a prospective owner/renter living in a four-room apartment upstairs (yet to be converted) during a transition period prior to our departure; or someone buying the place outright, and we would leave; or someone leasing the place with an eye to purchasing it, and again, we would leave.