Crystal Spring Farm will have an open house on Essex Day for all the curious fans of Historic Preservation to view the progress of this Early Essex Farm House and Carriage Shed.
The owner Willie and his main worker Pete will be on hand to show some of the work and explain some of the early building techniques used to build and preserve the structure. It is still a work in progress, and we are just starting structural work of the early untouched Carriage Shed which is quite the vernacular gem of the property. Please feel free to stop by between 10:30 and 3 for a look thru.
Willie,
Thank you for giving Tracey & I a tour of the Crystal Spring Farm House – You and Pete did an unbelievable job restoring the farm house, it is beautiful!
Conni
This was the home of my gt. grandparents, Charles and Mary Hayward. Mary was Charles’ second wife (Phebe Wardner was his first and the mother of his 5 children. She died in 1904 and never lived here) My grandmother, Lydia Hayward, who was Charles and Phebe’s 4th child, and my grandfather, Ben Morse, were married in the front parlor of this house November 20, 1920. Two years before that (according to my grandmother), on Nov. 18, 1918 my gt. grandfather, upon hearing of the armistice of WWI, lit all the gas lamps in the house in celebration of the end of the war and in anticipation of the return of his oldest son, Wardner Hayward, from the fighting in Europe. This was a big deal, as Charles was known to be very frugal and lighting all the lamps would have been wasteful at any other time. Charles Hayward died in this house in 1925. When I was growing up, Charles’ youngest son, Albert Hayward owned the home. I recall the strong, sweet smell of apples which permeated the old wood throughout the attached shed. It’s wonderful to see the reconstruction of this home.
Thank you so much for sharing your memories and the history of the family that owned this home!
You’re welcome. I’ve always been sentimental about this farm due to my grandmother’s stories and my visits while Uncle Albert and Aunt Connie Hayward lived there. My grandmother would be delighted that it’s being cared for. I grew up in Essex.
I’d first like to thank Cheri Weston for her very accurate input. My grandfather was Wardner Joshua Hayward, the first son, and second, only to his older sister, Calla, born in 1880…..My grandfather was born in 1892….and was the WWI (Purple Heart) recipient to my Great-Grandfather’s candle lit reception….When I was a young boy, my Grandfather’s younger brother, Albert…..operated the farm with milking cows….I have great memories of playing, as a young child in his hay barns……and also, enjoying the treats his wife, Aunt Connie ALWAYS had at the ready…..as well as Donna……she was a gem then…..and still is….Ed Mason