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Those identifying the Mattocks’ farm picture of last week are:
Harold French, Kenneth Gernert, A. L. Brown, Donald Bruce, Russell Van Noy, Bob Ward, Lee Cleveland and Mr. and Mrs. Smith of Troy. Frederick Mattocks of Columbia Cross Roads, Harry Packard and Harold Warner of Sylvania. The Mattocks farm, known as Valley View, has about 120 acres of land, 25 acres being in woodland. A mixed herd of 38 Guernsey and Holstein cattle are raised on the land which is partly cultivated in oat, hay and corn silage crops, the rest being pasture land. Some chickens are also raised on the farm, the chickens being of the Nichols “meat strain”, a special breed of chicken well known in New Hampshire. The Mattocks have had the farm for the past 14 years, but the farm has been in the family for the past 24 years. Mrs. Mattocks who was Iva Ayers, says her father, Joseph Ayers, owned the farm formerly having purchased it from Harry Fudge. John Jones had owned that farm before it was sold to Fudge. |
Mr. Mattocks has a hobby of carpentering. His grandfather was noted for his skilled carpenter work and Mr. Mattocks is well known for his work, too.
A disastrous fire that razed the barn, home and sheds occurred in 1927 due to a defective chimney in the home. “It was a windy day, that February 2nd,” says Mrs. Mattocks, “and the firemen could do nothing to save the buildings.”
Doing most of the carpentry work Mr. Mattocks rebuilt the barn, the home, the 2-story brick henhouse and sheds. In 1943 they purchased a neighbor’s farm, adding to their farm holdings. A farm pond was built in 1952. Plans of the immediate future call for some ditches to conform with soil conservation practice.
Reminiscing, Mrs. Mattocks says that it was in 1942 when they sold their horse team that was used on the farm and purchased their first tractor.
The name of the farm was formerly Lone Pine, a name coming from the huge lone pine that should (**typo in original – should read “stood”?**) guard at the front of the house. It was so badly damaged by the fire in 1927 that it had to be cut down. The new name of the farm, Valley View, came as a result of comments by visitors to the farm of the wonderful view from it of the valley which cradles Sugar Creek.
As for former historical interest, Mrs. Mattocks says she believes that a lime kiln was located in the vicinity of the farm, but “it must have been abandoned long before Fudge and Jones owned the farm.”
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