In December of 2018, we bought the old farmhouse that had been with the Wells family since 1962. While we loved the property, and location, we knew that a lot of work would be necessary to bring everything up to a more modern condition. We removed 1.6 tons of asbestos siding from the exterior. We removed the plaster, lath, drywall, and pulled hundreds of nails - okay probably thousands! We trimmed trees, took down trees, ground stumps, and planted fruit trees. We poured our efforts into the demolition to prepare for contractors to start the full renovation. It was difficult, challenging, and, dare we say - fun! We aspired to create a vision that would fully modernize the farmhouse and hold true to the character-defining features of the original home.

It seemed appropriate for us to understand the context of the history of 1789 Quaker Street, Lincoln, Vermont. To reflect deeply on the men and women who came before us and underwent such laborious efforts to bring into submission the land that would prosperously support families and grow the next generation. It is humbling to ponder these happenings whereupon people who lived before and whose bones now rest nearby.

The purpose of analyzing this land and the foregone inhabitants is to better understand the people who settled, built, and cultivated the land to survive. To feel it. What was it like, how did it work, and who were these people who worked so hard to build a life in these mountains? And to some extent, the work they put into the land was for future generations to enjoy. Which we do. These details of tilling the soil, harvesting timber, milling lumber, and blacksmithing nails, for example, are nearly forgotten skills that early settlers used to survive. Modern technologies have made crafting and frontier skills nearly defunct in our society. Growing food, preserving fruits and vegetables, tending cookstove fires, grinding grain, and the entire life cycle of how to exist off the land has nearly become a part of history. Learning from the past builds stronger futures because humans can learn from skills that their ancestors used which enabled them to get to where they are today. Although we have fully modernized this home, we do not want to forget the hard work it took to settle and survive.

We utilized vital records as a primary source for this research of the land located presently at 1789 Quaker Street, Lincoln Vermont. This was not an easy undertaking. Fraught with detailed, tedious work and met with skepticism by others, we persevered to read through hand-written documents signed and dated over 180 years ago. Imagine a town clerk performing their essential job functions with handwritten studiousness and probably by candlelight. These men and women worked with diligence to preserve vital records with accuracy on original paper with beautiful script writing. Understanding legal real estate terminologies to identify common entries consistent with depictions of the land required adept concentration. With diligence, we were able to follow the journey of those generations who bought and sold the land for survival and lay up in store those treasures that profited others in their inheritance. The vital records research was fruitful and helped identify the important lineage of those who lived before in the home.

Families were raised on the land and in the dwellings situated thereon. Think of the remarkable stories that these men, women, and children could tell because they toiled and provided for their families through rigorous labor, hardships, and unexpected losses. Children were born and unexpectedly died, houses burned down from lightning strikes, animals were raised and livestock was kept. Trees were felled and harvests were kept in store. It is a bygone time of tillage and labor that provided future generations with unexpected luxuries after being sold. Whatever the reasons were, humans’ ruggedness and by their sweat we continue on that legacy. We have worked to create a boutique farmhouse experience to remember these times and bring to fruition a vision that others may enjoy today and can learn from their discipline and fortitude. Let’s reminisce together at Friends’ Farmhouse.