Sherborn, Massachusetts

History (con't)

There were several railroad stops in town, one of them on the Whitney farm. The Milford Branch Railroad, built between Milford and Framingham in 1845 to connect Milford 's thriving shoe factories with the Boston and Worcester Railroad, passed across the property east of the Whitney farmhouse.

In 1889, Frank Whitney inherited the property from his father, James R, expanded the dairy herd and added three new hen houses. His flock soon doubled, reflecting an interest in poultry farming that was common at the time.

A fire destroyed the original 18th century homestead in 1910, and the house was rebuilt in Victorian Eclectic style. Additional Whitney homes were destroyed by fire early in the 20th century.

An archival photo from 1907 indicates that the Whitney Farm buildings and surrounding landscape has retained its mid-19th century historic appearance. The Whitney Farm has stayed intact, primarily because it was passed down through generations of a single family. The farm was sold in the mid-20th century, but it continued to be farmed, until its recent purchase by Rising Tide Development Company.  >> Threat

1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 5