Celebrating since 1840.

History of the Howland Farm…

 The Howland Farm is located in a fertile valley with a long history. From radiocarbon dating, the earliest human habitation in the valley was around 4500 years ago. One hundred years before Columbus, the population of the valley was greater than today, due to the success of the Iroquois centered in this area.

 Following the Revolutionary War, nearly free land given to war veterans brought many settlers. The modern era began with the building of the railroad, visible from the farmhouse, by Hungarian contract laborers in 1868.

 Settlers were attracted to the valley by the abundant water. There are still three dam sites, used by water-powered sawmills, visible on the farm. A short walk leads to a freshwater spring that flows all year.

 Horse agriculture ended following World War II. The last of the much loved Howland Farm workhorses, Queen, died in 1968.

The current farm size of 218 acres is comprised of the original farmstead, established in 1842, and three parcels added over the years.

Visitors to the farm sense this long and rich history as they explore the banks of the New York State protected trout stream, or hike to the backwoods cabin built from the staves of an old wooden silo by our father, John Howland.