The Boyden Farm sits on land settled in the late 1700's by the Fassett family, then owned by the Gates family in the 1800's. A granite monument, on a small hill across route 104 from the Boyden Farm house, marks the Gates family cemetery whose oldest stone dates to about 1810.
Fredrick and Phila Boyden purchased the Lamoille Valley farm in November of 1914. They moved their nine children from Georgia, VT. to Cambridge, VT. by horse and wagon, driving (on foot) their 28 head of dairy cows over 20 miles. They chose the farm not only because of its good location and soil, but - major in their decision - the farmhouse had a dining room big enough to accommodate their large family.
CHRONOLOGY
1810 - The farm and the neighboring village of Cambridge are in the shadow of Mt. Mansfield on a rich flood plain of the Lamoille River with good loam soil that favors the growing of crops and hay.
1914 - Fredrick and Phila Boyden purchased the Lamoille Valley farm in November of 1914. They moved their nine children from Georgia, VT. to Cambridge, VT. by horse and wagon, driving (on foot) their 28 head of dairy cows over 20 miles. They chose the farm not only because of its good location and soil but - major in their decision - the farmhouse had a dining room big enough to accommodate their large family.
1922 - They bought their first tractor, a 1919 International 8-16 HP that ran on kerosene. Fredrick's son Sterns bought it in Middlebury and drove it home, stopping in Bristol for the night. For 20 years Frederick and sons Sterns and Winfred milked the cows, separated and sold the cream and used the whey to feed pigs raised on the farm.
1934 - In the 1930's, the farm sold raw milk, which was transported in milk cans to a local creamery.
1947 - Young Fred helps his uncle Sterns plow the field along the highway. Notice the second silo and the detached milk house. In 1952 the farm made the transition from milk cans to bulk milk tanks. These were some of the first bulk milk tanks in the area.
1960's though 90's - In the 1960's, Winfred's son Fred became a partner with his father and his uncle Sterns and they added the Harvester silos. After Winfred and Sterns died in the 1970's, Fred and his son Mark continued the dairy business that had grown to 200 head, 140 of them milkers. Mark attended the College of Agriculture at the University of Vermont and then rejoined his father on the farm in 1988.
1990's - In the 1990's, Fred's son David and his wife Linda renovated the carriage barn on the farm, planted grapes on the hillsides and started the Boyden Valley Winery. The hot dry summer of 2005 was great for growing grapes. The heat caused the grapes to produce more sugar as they ripened and the average rainfall reduced the danger of fruit rot. David and Linda enjoyed a bountiful harvest. The 2007 vintage will be worth waiting for!
2000's - The dairy cows were sold in 2000 and the farm started raising heifers. In 2003, Mark started a new venture, raising naturally grown beef and pork and marketing it to local restaurants and shops specializing in natural foods. Mark's wife Lauri opened the Milk House Market in 2004, in a renovated part of the barn. The Market sells the farm's own beef and local poultry, eggs and unique Vermont cheeses.
2005 - A music pavilion was built on the farm and a series of summer concerts were offered. Visitors to the farm could enjoy farm tours, hay rides, a play area for children, feeding and petting farm animals, a walk in a 12 acre corn maze and wine and cheese at the winery.
The Boyden Farm men put haying on hold long enough to do some fast prep work for the 2005 music season. Terry Riggs of Fletcher cut the logs and boards, beams were crafted and notched at Sills Post & Beam in Cambridge, and, with crane work from Jim Billado of Milton, the whole project took form in a very short time.
Dreams can come true! Farms can again be places for a close knit community to gather on a summer evening.
2006 - Local builder and artisan Wayne Freeman remodelled this room in the Milk House Market for the new Scoop Shop. The Scoop Shop serves Vermont-made Breyer's ice cream any way you like it -- cones, sundaes, banana splits, decorated or plain, in 8 flavors.
2007 - In winter 2007, the old livestock barn was converted into a new events barn. This early 1800's hand-hewn post & beam structure with 30 ft. cathedral ceilings makes a beautiful gathering place for wedding receptions, family reunions, corporate functions, and summer concerts when it rains. The barn features an open floor plan of 4000 square feet to plan your event. Four raised & railed seating areas with antique oak square tables and matching slat back chairs for 200 guests. Restrooms, caterer's prep area, bar, band & dance floor. All handicap accessible.
