History of the Farm

 

Nearly 245 years ago, in 1780 - just four years after America declared its independence - a farming family built their home on a Connecticut hillside. That farmhouse still stands at 249 Granville Road today, and while we may never know the name of that original farming family, we know they chose this land for the same reasons we farm it today: rich soil, good drainage, and a perfect spot to feed their community.

 

From research we know that by 1855, the farm was owned by Lemuel Colton, and after his death in 1858, his son Marshall A. Colton continued the farming tradition. He farmed this soil for over 50 years until his death in 1908.

 

After changing hands, the farm became home to Eric and Marie Bloomberg. Eric raised turkeys here while also working as a machinist. When Eric passed in 1945, the farm stayed in the Bloomberg family for nearly 60 more years - three generations calling this place home.

 

Their son Albert Bloomberg became a dairy farmer, working this land until 1956. He lived here for 77 years, milking cows in the same barns where we now store our equipment. His sisters, Agnes and Dorothy also made this farmhouse their lifelong home. Dorothy was the last of her generation, passing in 2004 after decades of watching over this historic property. The farm then was passed to her son Christopher Clapp who owned it until 2022 when he passed, and we purchased the farm.

 

From Turkeys to Dairy to Flowers and Vegetables....

It's incredible to think about the continuity: Eric's turkeys, Albert's dairy cows, and now our pumpkins, sunflowers, carrots, and beets - all nourished by the same Connecticut soil that has been feeding families for nearly two and a half centuries.

 

Even the challenges connect us to the past. In 1980, a fire heavily damaged one of the barns - the same kind of setback farming families have faced and overcome for generations on this land.

 

You're part of this continuing story when you visit our farm stand or pick sunflowers in our fields.   You're stepping into a story that spans from America's founding to today.

 

Every tomato we grow, every sunflower that blooms in our U-pick field, every pumpkin that will ripen this fall is part of this incredible agricultural legacy.

 

The Bloomberg family cared for this land for 59 years. The Colton’s before them for over 50 years. Now it's our turn to be stewards of this historic farm, and you - our customers and friends - are helping us write the next chapter.

 

Thank you for choosing to support our farm and for being part of nearly 250 years of farming history at 249 Granville Road.

 

From our historic farm to your family, 

 

The Michaud's.