Days before Seat Belts

My father owned a limited amount of land in the Chelmsford and needed additional acreage for haying and raising corn for the 100 plus cows on the farm. He rented la nd in North Chelmsford to raise corn and in Tewksbury/Andover for haying. To reach the Tewksbury/Andover land he would drive the large hay trucks (which were never new or in very good condition) thru downtown Lowell and down Andover Street or by way of Route 495. Driving thru Lowell was a challenge as there were many stop lights and some were at hills. It took some driving talent to stop on a hill with the truck and start up again sometimes with the clutch slipping!!! The Cracker Barrel Restaurantnear the Rt 133 exit is now on the land. To pick up the hay one driver/adult was needed and many teenagers to pick up the hay. We would ride in the back of the empty truck on the way to the hayfield and on the return trip some would jam into the cab of the truck and the remainder would ride on the top of the load of hay!! As I wrote in a previous posting my father was a master at loading the hay. He would load the hay 5 or 6 layers above the side boards and never loose a load on the way home!! In the top 2 or 3 layers he would construct a spot for the reamining kids usually including me to ride for the trip home. Picture this: Large Old truck, loaded high with hay, travelling down Rt 495 and kids on TOP!!!! This was common in the mid 1960's.

Assisting with calving

Joyce Safford my high school friend sent and email that she remembers someone loosing a ring inside a cow!! This actually happened! The farm herdsman, Normand Thibeault, had many varied duties. One was assisting a cow having a difficult birth of a calf. The calf was turned inside the cow and the cow was struggling to give birth. Normand needed to reach inside the cow and turn the calf to the correct birthing position. He did not think of his wedding ring on his finger.The legs of the calf were out and I was pulling on them as he turned the calf. The calf survived but the ring was gone- never to be found. Normand's wife, Georgette, was not too happy about the loss.

Animals Around The Farm

The following memories are from Richard Lewis (son of Walter and Betty):

I have many fond memories of trapping muskrats in the meadow. I also caught a mink once next to what is now a wood operation. I was 14 or 15 years old and I sold the pelts to Sears Roebuck by mail. I received $3.00-$6.00 a pelt.

Another memory I have is killing chickens on Friday's in the killing room behind the barn. I remember we always had to select the right chickens to deliver to the Jewish customers. When we delivered them they always had to be alive.

I also remember on numerous occasions my Dad sending me up the hill to retrieve the newborn calfs and mother and bring them back to the barn. I would pick up the calf barebacked and throw him up on my shoulders with the umbilical cord wrapped around my neck. This was the only way we could get the mother cow back down to the barn.

Two of Mom's Memories

My mom, Joan (Lewis) Crandall posted these memories as comments.  They are great and I didn't want them to get lost as a comment.  I've now authorized her as an author on the blog.  If you want authorship rights too, just let me know and I'll add you on.  

Here are some of my mother's memories from the farm:

- My father, Walter, was a very early riser - 5:00 AM every day.  Cows require 24/7 attention!! Up to do barn chores and prepare for milk delivery routes.  As a kid and teenager I enjoyed sleeping late- my father did not like anyone sleeping late.  My mother would not tell him if I was sleeping in (how nice of her).  If he found out he would call up the stairs in a "strict" voice to get up!! HOWEVER when the herdsman/hired man did not arrive to milk the cows or to do chores- things changed.  He would come up stairs and very nicely wake me up.  "Joan, I need your help in the barn- will you get up?"  I always got up and worked till the chores were done and did it happily- I spent hours working in the barn with the cows and enjoyed it.

- Another nice thing about growing up on the farm - there was always someone there- My mother and father and the employees- herdsman, milk delivery drivers, milk processing plant operators and workers.  I could always find someone to talk, to hang around with, be a kid in the way but having a good time.  My father hired several french canadian herdsman- I worked in the barn after school and they helped me learn to reach French.  And taught me some French words that were not taught in school!!!!

Grandpa and Technology

A funny story about my grandfather and technology.  When I was a kid, technology was having cable TV in your house and a tape player in your car.  My grandfather was not up on this type of technology.  If something happened to his cable TV and he couldn't watch the National News every night, he wasn't happy.  Often the problem was simply turning the cable on using a different remote (something that still plagues many of us!).  But, if this happened we had to go over to his house and get everything set-up for him to watch the news because staying current was so important to him.

Along the same lines I remember being in the car with him one day and talking about how he liked to listen to tapes.  He asked me if it would be hard to install a tape player in his car.  I said "Grandpa, you already have a tape player in your car.  It's right here."  He was so thrilled that he had one already.  I'm not sure if he ever used it, but at least he knew he had it.  And, it made me look like a super smart grand daughter ;) 

Do You Remember Sunny Meadow Farm or Walter F. Lewis?

As time passes, we tend to forget the things that made our town unique and what it is today.  

My grandfather, Walter F. Lewis, was a Chelmsford, MA Dairy Farmer and someone who made Chelmsford part of what it is today.  I often run into people that have fond memories of my grandfather's farm, Sunny Meadow Farm, of him and of my grandmother, Betty (Bessie) Lewis. I've heard many stories over the years, but have never recorded them.  I fear that my grandparents' legacy will disappear because it is stored in the memories of so many people.  

I'd like this blog to be an informal place for memories related to Sunny Meadow Farm, Walter F. Lewis and Betty Lewis.  My hope is that we'll be able to preserve a little piece of history for the town and my grandparents' heirs.  Walter and Betty's three children have seven children among them with 13 great grandchildren so far.  

Do you have something to share?  If so, please post your memories.  And please come back to visit.  I hope in the coming weeks there will be more memories for you to read and relive a little bit of your past.