THE HISTORY OF SMITH
                                   MAPLE CREST FARM

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                                                              Farming has been a way of life here for eight generations:

                                                                                 
                                                                       To learn more: www.shrewsburyhistoricalsociety.com

 

1805-1808               Land was cleared to make way for barn construction 

1808-1837               Dairy cows were raised for milk, sheep for wool, and access to "sugar bushes"
                                were forged to allow easier production of maple syrup

1837-1917               Milk cows provided for the farm cheese factory.  Milk was shipped to market
                                as well; transported to Boston via train, and later picked up by truck.  
                                Due to changes in consumer buying habits, the cheese factory closed in 1917.
                              
                                Other farm products included butter and maple sugar.  Maple trees were planted
                                4 feet apart along the farm roadsides in 1850.

1917-1969               Milk production continued along with maple syrup.  The farm house took-in
                                summer boarders.

1969-1987               The Bed and Breakfast was opened mostly as a farm host for the state of   
                                Vermont; encouraging tourism until 1982, when it became a full-time Bed and 
                                Breakfast.

1987-Present          Beef cattle replaced the milk cow herd.  Our hearty Red Faced Herefords graze 
                                the land here in their natural state.  We are proud to offer our natural grass fed 
                                beef for sale, cut to order or processed and fresh frozen.

Smith Maple Crest Farm continues to be one of Shrewsbury, Vermont's last working farms, keeping in step with cultural demands, agricultural changes, and cutting edge technology.  We are proud to be here, and wish to share it with the world.