A contemporary historic farm
Since the landing of the first settlers, New England has relied on farming as a way of life. Rhode Island was settled by outcasts from Massachusetts, and soon these people planted crops, raised livestock and practiced pastoral husbandry. These farmers identified a market and began an active trade in sheep and wool, capitalizing on the resources of Narragansett Bay and its green islands. Through revolutionary times and industrial growth, the Rhode Island farm continued to adapt: growing, cutting back, and changing with the years. This story of the Rhode Island family farm is particularly recognizable at Watson Farm, which has operated continuously over 300 years and has adapted to suit the needs of a changing community. This is the legacy that Thomas Carr Watson Jr. hoped to perpetuate when he deeded the 285-acre Watson Farm to Historic New England in 1979. His dream was that the farm be maintained and operated as a typical working New England farm. Today, Watson Farm is alive with activity, both with farmers tending crops and livestock and visitors who experience a vital part of New England’s heritage. The farm recounts the story of generations of Watsons and tenant farmers who chose farming as a way of life. Watson Farm is a contemporary historic farm — a living museum and part of a continuum that will always be integral to the history of New England.
Click to view full-size image…
—
Size:
39.3 kB
