History

Where do we start?

Our adventure began in March of 2021, the day we signed a million papers, spent our life savings and became the caretakers of this little piece of paradise.

This 200+ year old farm was already  here waiting for us, with tons of history already in place. I will start as far back as I have researched which is 1855.

1855

Jacob Carmer and his wife Catherine sell the farm to Wilhelmus Hotalen. I have learned from the details on census records that Catherine was illiterate. I also learned from the 1855 Deed that the farm came with an en-slaved Man. Wilhelmus paid and extra amount of money to grant this man his freedom.

Historical side note: Wilhelmus is super cool, and very interesting. I am constantly asking my self as we renovate the farm house, would Wilhelmus approve? What did he wear, what did he do for fun?

Wilhelmus Hotalen was a single man in his mid 30's when he acquired the property. He was un-married. During Civil War he was the County Surveyor. He bought and sold many properties in the area, but Old Shadowbrook was his home. His younger brother John died suddenly in 1861. Wilhelmus took in John's wife Jane and their 3 young children, Manning, Wesley and John Jr. Jane's 2 older children had already lived on the farm with Wilhelmus helping him with the work. 

1888

The Big Snow, the blizzard of 1888. The snow was so high that the family had to climb through the small windows above the porch roof to get out to the barn to feed the animals.

The farm was a working dairy farm, the cows were milked and the milk canisters were put into the spring house to keep cool until the Creamery's wagon would come and pick them up and take them to nearby Branchville.

1891

Wilhelmus passes away at the ripe old age of 72, and leaves the farm to his 2 nephews, Manning and John, poor Wesley had passed away many years prior. Jane continues to live in the house

1900

Jane passes away. It is very clear that she and Wilhelmus never had a relationship. Her gravstone reads, " Devoted wife of John Hotalen" Manning and his wife Rosetta buy out John Jr's portion of the farm. Manning and Rosetta raise their 9 children in the house, and continue to farm the land as a dairy farm.

 Rosetta and Manning's Children with their grandmother about 1908

1920 Fire

The large main barn burns in a terrible fire. Pieces are salvaged to build a smaller barn near by.

1929 Boot-legging

The farm has apple trees growing up the west side of the shadow brook and the apples it grew were made into Apple Jack, a sweet whiskey. There was a large bell at the house that was rung to warn the bootleggers in rare case the law might be nearby. We have heard stories of a man in big coat walking from the farm out to main road, his coat clinked as he walked so slow, on his walk back he walked with a faster pace, whistling and the coat swinging over one shoulder. Our Neighbor thinks the remains of the stills are still up in the hills along the brook.

Rosetta and Manning about 1930. The car looks to be a 1929 Model A Ford cabriolet. Maybe they were able to buy this car with their boot-legging money. 

1932 

Manning passes away, His oldest son Blace helps with the farm. Blace served in WW1, when he returned he and his wife Pearl build the small cottage next to the farm house.

1939

Rossetta passes away, with her passing the Hotalen legacy had come to an end. The farm had to be sold.

1940 The Kauffman Family

William Kauffman loved the woods. He and his wife Anne dreamed of owning a weekend retreat, a large piece of land with a stream, and they particularly wanted the property to be on both sides of the road. They drove around on weekends looking at farms and land for sale with their 2 children Bill and Margaret. I believe it was a friend of a friend that connected the Kauffman's with the Hotalen family. The farm was everything they had dreamed of, and a deal was set. Kauffman purchased the farm in March of 1940. Kauffman with the help of his son renovated the farm house, bringing it back to life. When the Kauffman family acquired the farm it was still without electricity.  Their grand children recall stories of these days. The spring house was used to keep the lunch basket and the food cold for the weekend. The 3 seater outhouse in the back was the only source of relief.

 1942 Electricity

 William and Anne sign a right-of-away for the power company allowing them to bring electrical power through their property to the area up the road to the neighboring families. Electricity and running water were installed as last. Many years passed.

1968 Retirement

William and Anne build their retirement home across the road from the farm house in the big field. The house is solid, built like a fortress. The old farm house becomes a rental. The farm now has 3 houses. the new house, the farm house and Blace's small house.

1984 Changing Hands

After the passing of William and Anne, the farm passes to their daughter Margaret and her husband Don. Margaret and Don were active in the community, selling their Christmas Trees and watching over the property. They renovated Blace's house and called it Sparrow's Rest. They also did many improvements to the property.

2019 The Silver Compass

It was time for the farm to change hands once more. Don had sadly passed away. A farm is a lot of work! It was a lot for the 3 grand kids now all gown, up to tackle. There was a lot of praying for the right solution as this was not an easy choice to make. There was an estate sale at the house.  I love estate sales and this was a very special place, of course I had to go. I learned about William Kauffman and his family from his granddaughter, I found beautiful oil paintings, a small metal bonsai tree and a beautiful silver compass. 

 2020 The Set Up

After much searching for our "Forever Home" and being faced with much disappointment, We had placed a offer on a historic dream home in Green Township. No, no, what I thought was my DREAM home; the culmination of every fantasy I had ever had as my soul in this body. Unfortunately, our offer was the bargaining chip for the sellers Right of First Refusal (complicated real-estate jargon) A previous deal they had already negotiated, we were excited and in love and not real-estate gurus. It left us broken hearted and hopeless, asking why. It was 10 days to Christmas and Bill said "Pull it together and lets get through the holiday for the kids". I was ready to give away all my earthly possessions and join the hippies in the desert eating peyote. But, I held it together pretty well. 

I woke up the morning after Christmas and sat in bed thinking what now? I sat and stared at the oil painting I purchased at the estate sale, thinking about how much love and work and positive metal energy I put into finding our forever home. Then all of a sudden it hit me. "Hey!, I never really explored if Old Shadowbrook Farm could be an option". We knew it was for sale but it seemed out of our league. I crunched a few numbers and it worked!! So we took a chance and came to see the Farm. We were numb from being let down before, just going through the motions. We walked the beautiful land in a semi-conscious state, not willing to have our hearts broken again. We went home, sat at the bar in our old basement had drinks and laughed at each other and how this farm had everything we were looking for, and how much work it needed. We made an offer, we negotiated, we were under contract. We cried. 

 2021 The Closing

We closed on this property in March. We bought a farm and inherited a family. During the closing process we became close with the grand children of William and Anne Kauffman, they are our parents age, but they are super cool. They had amazing photos and even better stories. We felt a warm welcome, and now had built in cheerleaders for the major tasks ahead. This is where we were meant to be the whole time.

So here we are...

Renovating a farm house, planting trees, raising our family, while both working full time jobs. Keeping it real.

The painting now hangs in our dining room. I brought all the stuff back to the house I bought it from. Maybe the silver compass led us home.

 Thank you to the Martin Family for all the amazing photos and sharing their personal history. It is our treasure.