Westview Farm

The white sign on this barn is no longer readable, but it used to say "Westview Farm":

This is the barn at the Huffman's, just west of Bill's farm on Route 15. This was the farm of Luther Putnam (1842-1929), who was Pager's grandfather. More pictures of the barn:



Joel Putnam (1814-1908) came to what is now Bill's farm in 1854. This farm came to be known as "Wayside Farm." Joel had one child who survived into adulthood, the aforementioned Luther (1842-1929). In the 1870s Luther started farming next door, on what came to be known as "Westview Farm."

"The two farms were worked together a good deal and the pastures were never fenced apart as long as Luther lived." (From "History of the Putnam Farm," by J. Kinsley Putnam, 1948; included in "The Story of the Putnams," by Harold and Lois Putnam, 1994.) Although the two farms were adjacent, they were in different towns and different counties. Wayside Farm was in the town of Cambridge (Lamoille County) while Westview Farm was in the town of Westford (Chittenden County).

Luther Putnam had nine children from two marriages. Five children survived into adulthood. One was J. Kinsley Putnam (1874-1967) who took over Wayside Farm from his grandfather, Joel. Another was Alice, who married Lester Cook. Alice and Lester Cook took over Westview Farm from Luther. Westview Farm passed out of the family in 1965, after both Lester and Alice died. Wayside Farm stayed in the family, passing from Kinsley to his son, Harold (Pager), and then to Bill. It is now known as the Putnam Family Farm.

Wayside Farm was mostly known for dairy and maple products. But Westview Farm was mostly known for its horticultural products. The first major product was potatoes. Luther "collected over 100 varieties and kept them distinct, and from 1880 for 10 or 12 years he took most of the prizes at State and County fairs and established a good trade in seed potatoes earning the title of Potato King." (ibid)

Later on, Luther became well known for apples. In 1895 he built the "fruit house." This is the house across from the Huffman's, where the Fosse's now live. Luther built this house to store apples, and only later converted it into a dwelling. Luther sold apples, and probably small amounts of other fruit, both wholesale and retail. I have seen an old newspaper photo of a retail roadside stand directly across the road from the barn pictured above, which the accompanying article said was the first roadside stand in Vermont. Here is what Kinsley had to say about it: "About 1900 the State took over the main roads including No. 15, Burlington to St. Johnsbury, and with automobile travel there was sale for fruit at a wayside stand and here Luther Putnam did a prosperous business until his death [1929]." (ibid)

One last item about the barn pictured above: I can remember as a kid helping a crew of neighbors put on the metal roofing that you see in the picture.

Feel free to add additional information or memories about Westview Farm in the comments!

UPDATE: When I was growing up, the Coolums lived in the "fruit house": Joyce and Henry, and their son Greg. Joyce died on 5/23/08, the day before her 87th birthday. The obituary was published in the Burlington Free Press on 5/31/08 (it's easier to search the online obituaries if you know the name and date of publication). Henry and Greg both died years ago and Joyce had been in a nursing home for several years.

CORRECTION: Joyce and Henry Coolum's son was Creg not Greg.