Silo House with a View - color
by Carol Lynn Coronios
Title
Silo House with a View - color
Artist
Carol Lynn Coronios
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
OK - so it's not really a house. I don't think. But doesn't it look like one? And wouldn't it be an amazing view? First step out the door would be rough, though.
Fairdale Farm in Bennington, VT was founded in 1892. When its original founder passed away in 1946, his family sold the farm to its employees. At one time, this farm consisted of 3000 acres and employed 50 people. Throughout the years, Fairdale raised Horned Dorset sheep, Ayshire cows, and chickens. It also operated a dairy and a sugar house to make maple syrup.
When Garelick Farms purchased the dairy, Bill Holden, the previous manager of Fairdale Farm bought the land and now raises and milks Holsteins. Bill was born and raised on the farm - so in one way, it's still a family farm!
There are a myriad of stories about the house. Depending on who you ask, it's where the cow that jumped over the moon lived. Or it's where the Pegasus horses were trained.
Much more mundane, the real history is that the silos were installed in the 60s, and the owners devised a unique way to use one auger to get the corn or grain into both silos. They installed the one auger and built an arm off it which they could swing from one silo to the other. But of course, that meant that the silos couldn't have their normal caps. One cap needed to fit over both silos so the arm could be swung from one to the other.
At that time, with the milking operation, the dairy processing plant (which included soft cheeses, cottage cheese, and ice cream), and the sugaring operation, the farm was a popular field trip destination. The 'house' was designed and built in North Adams, MA and transported to Bennington by truck - and installed over the tops of these two silos. It served as one more attraction for all who visited the farm or drove past on Route 9.
I heard today that the farm was sold last week. The land is zoned Agriculture Forever (or VT's equivalent).
Uploaded
April 13th, 2014
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Viewed 502 Times - Last Visitor from Cambridge, MA on 04/23/2024 at 9:21 PM
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Comments (32)
Carol Lynn Coronios
Thank you, Kathy (2x), HH Photography, and Mary Carol! I appreciate your comments, likes, and favs. Kathy, for as many years as I've driven past, I never knew the reason/story until I asked Jill, the wonderful woman who owns Vermont Confectionery, if she knew anything about it. She told me the stories and a bit of the history, and pointed me toward more research. Thank goodness, the property can't be developed, but the 'house' is in pretty rough shape, so I'm glad I had brain and camera together to get this image before it only existed in my memory.
Kathy Barney
WOW! This is really wonderful! I remember seeing this when I ventured to Bennington from Albany. I still can't believe it is built this way. Fantastic capture!! lvf
Carol Lynn Coronios
Thank you all for your comments, likes & favs! I appreciate each and every one! Carol Montoya, this is on Rte 9 coming in to Bennington from NYS. Big red barn and tile silo by the road (Vermont Confectionery - BEST ice cream! and super people) - silos down the hill behind the roadside building.
Carol R Montoya
Wow, never seen this before, I guessed I missed something Bennington, VT. Wonderful capture!
Richard Reeve
Yes, it does look like a house! Great image and thank you for the detailed description too! L/F
Carol Lynn Coronios
Thank you, Stephen and ladies! Janice Rae - are CO's silo homes like this? Or is the house built one room over the other IN an old silo? I have a friend/neighbor who incorporated an old (much shorter) silo into his home. Very cool!
Janice Rae Pariza
They have 'Silo Homes' here in Colorado, they live in them, great places! Excellent image...
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