Waters Farm Building Information for website
Sugar House
When Dorothea Waters Moran donated her farm to the Town of Sutton in 1974 she expressed her desire that “Waters Farm” become a living history education center so that people could visit her farm and touch, smell, and see how old New England farms contributed to our America. Having a Sugar House on the property is an integral part of that “living history” as visitors view the sugar making process.
Construction of the Sugar House began with a generous donation from Attorney Richard Rafferty, who is, as Bud Gurney would say, a “Sutton boy” who demonstrates his continued love of community in part by his dedication to
the farm. Marty Linder did the foundation, Randy Marchant the post and beam work, Bob Anderson was there from start to finish, John Sinacola secured a crane, Fran Donnelly made the hinges at the Sherman Blackstone Shop in Sutton Center, Joe Regan brought in 20 foot long logs, Ted Koopman cut the stock, Janice and Dale Wentworth of North Brookfield donated equipment including an arch evaporating pan and the stacks and shields that go into the roof, Jim Knox made and donated all the chimney pipes and the roof was from Dan Moroney. For all of these and for everyone else who helped and is not mentioned here many, many thanks for a job well done!
A formal dedication of the Sugar House was held during Fall Farm Days on Sunday, October 2, 2005.
At the 28th annual Fall Farm Days held in October of 2007 Waters Farm partnered with the Blackstone Valley Sugaring Association. Fifteen volunteers from the sugaring association put in 172 hours at the Rafferty Sugar House on the Waters Farm property. Over 1200 visitors made the trek down to the sugar house from the farm above to see the evaporator and to learn more about maple sugaring.
Waters Farm is pleased with the new partnership and looks forward to working with the Blackstone Valley Sugaring Association at future events. The Sugar House will also be an integral part of the new Educational Curriculum that will be unveiled in 2008.
Captain Cornelius Putnam Blacksmith Shop
A blacksmith shop was a vital part of any self-sustaining New England farm. Waters Farm was no exception. The original shop at the farm was constantly busy forging nails, hooks, cooking utensils, scissors, horseshoes, plows, wheel rims, and all of the implements used to keep the farm in operation.
The blacksmith shop at Waters Farm was used until the death of Nathan Waters in 1878. After Nathan’s death it fell into disrepair and was eventually torn down in 1890 according to Nathan’s great granddaughter, Dorothea Waters Moran.
This new blacksmith shop, constructed in 1995 and dedicated on October 1, 1995, is named for Captain Cornelius Putnam. Captain Putnam was born in Sutton on January 28, 1782 and died at age 81 in 1863. He was a blacksmith by trade and also served as Captain of the Oxford Militia. Captain Putnam was a regular visitor at Waters Farm as his daughter Ulva was married to Nathan Waters in 1831.
Russell Sibley Putnam, whose mother was born in the Waters Farm house, was the fifth generation to own the Captain’s home and Blacksmith Shop located at the corner of Sutton Avenue and Joe Jenny Road in Oxford. He generously donated the bellows and tools used by the Putnam family for many years to the Waters Farm Blacksmith Shop.
The Blacksmith Shop is a very popular destination during Fall Farm Days and other farm events with the able assistance of Board of Directors member Fran Donnelly and others who are carrying on the blacksmith tradition. The Blacksmith Shop will also be a part of the Educational Curriculum being unveiled in 2008.
(Rod—I don’t have a photo of the blacksmith shop. Much of the narrative for this building was taken from the dedication booklet)
The Darling Barn
This circa 1840 Old English style barn was donated by the David Picard family of the Manchaug village section of Sutton. One of the few of this type remaining in the area, it is of the same type as the barn constructed by Stephen Waters around 1760. That barn was removed by Stephen’s grandson Nathan in 1849 and replaced with a 40 foot by 60 foot structure which in turn was lost in a major hurricane in 1938.
The building was dismanted in 1990 and loaded on wagons using 16 draft horses from three states (Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut) to haul it to the farm. It was stored that February in two trailers. In 1994 it was erected on a foundation in the old pasture.
The “Old English” style construction reflects the type of barn whose main door is located on the length of the building instead of on the gable end. This entrance was high enough to allow a fully loaded hay wagon to enter the barn. The hay was then pitched onto the different levels of the loft floors to the right and left of the center aisle. To the back center loft are floor joists which are not notched as are all of the other floor joists. These joists could be removed or placed as needed and were used for drying grains.
The pitch of the roof was to quicken the run-off of rain and snow which would extend the life of the shakes (rough wooden roofing shingles). In the el near the stairs were three standing horse stalls. Two of the stalls were used for the working farm team, the third for the horse used to bring produce to market. To the back of the barn was the cow linter where up to 9 head of cattle stood.
The Darling Barn at Waters Farm is used extensively for meetings and local gatherings of Scout groups and clubs and houses crafters and demonstrations during Fall Farm Days. Within the Darling Barn you will find many antique farm implements and horse drawn vehicles on display. The cellar of the barn is used for storage.
(Rod—some of this narrative came from the Interpreter’s Guide published by the farm. I don’t have photos of the Darling Barn but Conrad Berthold, the farm photographer, has some fantastic ones. This is my favorite building on the farm)
The David T. Putnam Shingle Mill
In 1888 the Chase Turbine Company of OrangeMassachusetts patented an efficient shingle making machine. One of those machines was sold to the Leonard family of Sutton where it went into production for many years.
Long years had passed when David T. Putnam recovered this piece of history lying in a barn cellar. He took it home to his sawmill where it was carefully restored to operational condition. With his John Deere tractor powering a long leather belt, the saw began the cutting of shingles again.
David Theakston Putnam was a true New England Yankee! Born in 1914 at his ancestral home which had been constructed in 1724, he married Ruth Shaw at her family home on Shaw Lane in Sutton in 1939. They had two children Pennie Putnam Linder and David Jonathan Putnam, and many grandchildren. David Putnam’s wife Ruth, daughter Pennie, and grandchildren Joy and Marty continue to volunteer at Waters Farm.
Before he passed away in 1989, David requested that his wife Ruth give the shingle making machine to Waters Farm where it has been in use since 1990. The official dedication of the David T. Putnam Shingle Mill was held on October 6, 1996.
The Shingle Mill is a popular attraction at Fall Farm Days as crowds gather to hear the hum of the saw and see the finished product.
(Rod—some of this narrative came from the dedication booklet.
Pat)