History or trash? Looking at these pictures, I see a piece of Sunny Meadow’s story that we still have a chance to keep.
Today, the long concrete structure is filled with flowers and garden plants. Before it became a raised garden, though, it served the animals on a working farm. The town’s history confirms that cows used it during the dairy years and horses used it later, when the property became a stable. Around 2010, an Eagle Scout project gave it another purpose as an accessible garden, allowing people who have difficulty bending or kneeling to keep gardening. That is a pretty good second life for an old farm trough. Town garden history
The history goes back much further than the garden. In an interview preserved by the Chelmsford Historical Society, Walter Lewis described starting dairy farming here in the early 1940s and eventually having about 80 head of cattle. The trough and stand may date from those dairy years, but I have not found a record showing exactly when either was installed. I would love to hear from anyone who remembers them being used or has older photographs. Walter Lewis interview
My understanding is that the long trough was used for feeding, with its sloped interior helping move grain down where the cows could reach it. At the end stood the water drinking stand shown in these pictures. Its raised bowl gave the animals a place to drink, and the water supply could also help with cleaning. One early account of the garden project describes the long structure as a water trough, so there is still some history worth sorting out about how it was used over the years. 2010 account of the Eagle Scout project
To me, that is part of the reason to keep these pieces together. They help us picture the everyday work of caring for animals here, back when Sunny Meadow was producing milk instead of community garden vegetables.
The water stand stayed with the trough through updates and repairs until this year. Now it has been removed and sits in the pile awaiting disposal by DPW. I do not know why it was removed or whether anyone considered its connection to the farm’s history.
Today, I showed these pictures to members of the Chelmsford Historical Society and explained what I know about it. They had not been asked, but now they are aware. They could request that it be held and considered for return to its original location. That needs to happen Monday morning, before it is hauled away.
Personally, I think we should retain as much of our farm history as possible. As far as I know, this is the only remaining structure of its kind in town. Keeping the stand with the trough helps tell a more complete story, and once it is gone, we lose that opportunity.
I have brought it to their attention. Now it is up to the Historical Society to weigh in and the town and DPW to decide what happens next.
History or trash? What do you think?