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Appleton Farms and Grass Rides [12]
Detail Map (75k)
Area Map (60k)
Location: In both Ipswich and Hamilton. Entrance at Lamson Field on Highland Street, Hamilton very soon after the intersection of Mill Street (coming from Topsfield Road, Ipswich) and Goodhue Street.
Parking: On the property just inside the gate.
Permitted: Hiking, nature study, bird watching, picknicking, cross-country skiing, snow shoeing. Horseback riding is limited to specific trails in Appleton Farms but is not allowed in the Grassrides. Dogs on a leash may be walked in the Grassrides, but not in Appleton Farms. (Please note)
Hours: Open year round from dawn to dusk.
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History
Appleton Farms, including The Appleton Farms Grassrides, is one of the oldest, continuously operating farms in the United States. It was established in 1638 as a land grant from the Town of Ipswich to Samuel Appleton, his wife, and five children, all Puritan immigrants from the village of Little Waldingfield in Suffolk, England. It has been owned and operated as a farm by over nine generations of Appletons until September 1998, when it was passed to The Trustees of Reservations in accord with the will of Colonel Francis R. Appleton, Jr. “as a memorial to myself and my father for the recreation, benefit, and enjoyment of the public in perpetuity."
The agricultural legacy of the Appleton family is a distinguished one. The farming operations have been varied; Guernsy cattle and milk; White Holland turkeys; timothy, clover, and alfala hay; corn and root crops for animals; and lambs; cordwood and timber, apple cider, butter and cheese and most recently a high quality garden compost have all been byproducts of the farm.
A pamphlet with more information is available at the parking lot by Lamson Gate or from The Trustees of Reservations at the Northeast Regional Office. (978 356-4351).
Trails
A designated trail departs from Lamson Field. It crosses a stone wall and splits into two trails, one leading north (to the left) into Appleton Farms and the other leading south (to the right) into Appleton Farms Grass Rides.
The whole property consists of approximately 1,000 acres. Trail distances can be figured from the accompanying map. The Trustees is currently working with a steering committee of volunteers to develop a management plan for the property and when this is completed, it is anticipated that more of the property will be opened to the public.
