APRIL 25,2023
As part of the free Houghs Neck History Series, Patti Williams presented “The Littlefield Farm” at the Houghs Neck Congregational Church.
From 1858 to 1889, the Littlefield brothers owned the 58-acre Littlefield Farm, purchased for $5,000, one of largest operating farms in Houghs Neck at that time. Where was it? How did it make money? Animals? Crops? Based on a wonderful cache of primary documents we learned how the farm operated. The farm, owned by brothers George and Rufus Littlefield, had a wholesale and retail milk business and also for 20 years supplied the local Houghs Neck summer community with milk, eggs, and vegetables. In 1870, the northern 20 acres of the farm became the first residential development in Houghs Neck (today’s Bay View Ave). A majority of the talk was based on primary documents including deeds and 15 years of personal records kept by Rufus Littlefield.
As a special treat during this talk there was a farm stand, provisioned by the ladies of the Seaside Social Club of the Houghs Neck Congregational Church. Based on the groceries bought by the Littlefield Family, there were breads, pies, cookies, jellies and more available for purchase.
The final two talks in the series were the Hotels of Houghs Neck (May 18) and Building The High-Level Sewer Line (June 1).
From 1858 to 1889, the Littlefield brothers owned the 58-acre Littlefield Farm, purchased for $5,000, one of largest operating farms in Houghs Neck at that time. Where was it? How did it make money? Animals? Crops? Based on a wonderful cache of primary documents we learned how the farm operated. The farm, owned by brothers George and Rufus Littlefield, had a wholesale and retail milk business and also for 20 years supplied the local Houghs Neck summer community with milk, eggs, and vegetables. In 1870, the northern 20 acres of the farm became the first residential development in Houghs Neck (today’s Bay View Ave). A majority of the talk was based on primary documents including deeds and 15 years of personal records kept by Rufus Littlefield.
As a special treat during this talk there was a farm stand, provisioned by the ladies of the Seaside Social Club of the Houghs Neck Congregational Church. Based on the groceries bought by the Littlefield Family, there were breads, pies, cookies, jellies and more available for purchase.
The final two talks in the series were the Hotels of Houghs Neck (May 18) and Building The High-Level Sewer Line (June 1).