Have a quick read on the history of this farm.
The very first record of ownership of this property is dated 1820. A gentleman
by the name of Mr. Stark picked the property of 100 acres literally “out of a
hat” and built a little cabin on it. Mr. Stark however moved away and the
property was returned to the crown shortly after. The old ruins of the
foundation can be found on the West side of the existing sugar bush, by the line
fence.
In 1826, Mr. William Anderson received the crown deed to the property but there
are very few records of any activities on the property between 1826 and 1851.
It was in 1852 that the very first Mr. John Mather purchased the property when
he was 30 years old. A log barn was built where the existing barn is located
today, he resided in a log house in the village and started a wagon-making
business. In 1856, he purchased another 50 acres but unfortunately passed away a
year later in 1857 at the age of 35. His wife remarried and moved to Paisley,
Ontario with their 2 sons, John and Henry, who were too young to take over the
farm at that time. No records have been found of any activities on the property
between 1859 and 1869.
In 1870, John and Henry moved into their father’s log house in the village and
relocated their father’s log barn to where the “Machinery Barn” is today. That
year, they built the first extension of the main barn. This part is still
standing and can be seen from inside the existing barn.
In 1875, the property was equally divided in two, each brother holding 50%, and
together they started farming the property.
In 1888, the village’s very first Cheese Factory was built on the North side of
the property (off the 6th Line), set up as a cooperative venture, where as much
as 100,000 pounds of cheese were produced in a good year. It unfortunately
burned down in 1929 and its foundation ruins are still visible today.
In 1890, Henry sold his half of the property to his brother John who moved their
father’s log home onto the property and it became the farmhouse.
The milking parlor was added to the main barn in 1907 and in 1910, John passed
down the family farm to his son, John Mather. A hen house was also added to the
main barn that year, the very same one that is used even today. 1928-29 saw the
kitchen and 2 bedrooms being added to the farmhouse. The kitchen had a walk-in
pantry with a sink and a hand pump.
In 1944, the property was passed on to the second born son, Lyall Mather, since
the first-born son, John Earl Mather, moved off the farm to become an Engineer.
Lyall and his youngest brother, Ellis, both shared the farm responsibilities. In
1959, a devastating fire destroyed much of Lanark village. Lyall, and his mother
were just returning from the village from purchasing bread and could see the
“glow” and smoke rising into the sky from the farmhouse. It must have been quite
the sight… In 1974, new government regulations mandated that a new “milk house”
be built to store milk under controlled conditions.
Today, the farm is a little different than what it used to be so long ago.
Instead of a milk farm, it’s now a vegetable and guinea fowl farm. The Farm Gate
is where the milk used to be stored, hence the slopped floor and drainage hole.
However, where the hens laid their eggs back in 1910 is where they lay today.
The fields that were cultivated so long ago are being cleared today to once
again be cultivated. The vegetable garden is still in the same location as it
has been for so many years before. Lyall Mather’s grandmother planted a
beautiful apple tree in the back of the house when she was a young bride and the
tree still produces absolutely wonderful fruits. Everywhere you look, there is a
piece of history on this farm that dates back to the late 1800’s. It is such a
privilege for us to be here today and we thank the Mather family every day for
making it such a wonderful place to call home.
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