Farms

Developers eyed the extensive farmland in West Andover after World War II. Once Routes 495 and 93 were built, the area became a prime target for industry. One by one farmers sold their land and businesses moved in and residential dwellings were constructed.

In 1920 the population of Andover was 8,268. There were 206 farms. 
In 1950 the population of Andover was 12,437. There were 92 farms.
In 2005 the population of Andover was 31,247. There were 5 farms.

See

• "Andover's Last Farms" by Rita Savard, Andover Townsman, August 4, 2005, pages 4 and 5. (In the Andover File under "Farms")

Bailey Farm

The Bailey Farm on Laurel Lane was bought by Roger Lewis in 1939. In 1968 it was sold to Arkright-Boston, who leased the property to Hewlitt Packard. The farm specialized in strawberries.

See

• Andover a Century of Change:1896 - 1996 by Eleanor Motley Richardson, (974.45 Ric), page 66, page 67 and page 229.

Bolton's Clover Farm

Bolton's clover farm, was located on Lowell Street. It was part of the original Woods farm that was sold after William Wood's death. Clover, grown on a large portion of the farm, was used for feed for the farm's cattle.

See

• Andover, What It Was, What It Is. : 300th Anniversary, May 30 - June 2, 1946, Section 8 - Andover's Industries and Business Houses (974.45 And)

Funari Farm

A granite marker,dedicated to the founders, appears on the Furnari Farm site. It was a 50 farm on the banks of the Merrimack River. Part of the old farm now belongs to Avis. See

• Eagle Tribune, July 11, 2003.

Lewis Farm

Roger Lewis, owner of the Lewis Farm on Lowell Street, helped to pass legislation stop development of farmland. The Agricultural Restriction Law provided funds for farmers to enable them to continue farming their land and resist the high sums offered by developers. Mr. Lewis did sell some of his land to developers and then bought a farm in South Deerfield where the cost of land was cheaper than in Andover.

See

• Andover a Century of Change:1896 - 1996 by Eleanor Motley Richardson, (974.45 Ric), page 66 to page 67.

Loosigian Farm

The Loosigian Farm, located on Lowell Street, has been a working farm since 1910.

See

• "Loosigian: 81 Years and Counting," Andover Townsman, April 4, 2002, page 1
• "Farm Bounty Recovering for Wet Spring," Andover Townsman, July 20, 2006
• Andover Vertical File - Farms

Maddox Farm

The Maddox Farm, located on the Merrimack River, once encompased a huge tract of land but as of October 1999 the Maddox family had sold all but two small parcels. In the early 1950's they sold to the Loosigian family (see entry above). The Loosigians operated the farm as Pleasantview Farms until 1976, when it was sold for industrial development.

See

• "Family Farm was where HP, Pictel and Cabletron are Today", Breaktime, October 1999. (This article is in the Andover Vertical File under Farms.)
• "Past and Present," Andover Townsman, June 6, 2004. (This picture is in the Andover Vertical File under Farms.)

Nabydoski Farm

The Nabydoski Farm, encompassing 40 acres, closed in 2005. The town maintained that because the garbage on the farm attracted seagulls, it was responsible for the high coliform count in the Pinnacle Brook and thus posed a health risk.

After a long battle with the town, Mr Nabydoski sold to developer William Johnson in October of 2004, but held the actual sale for more than a year as Mr. Nabydoski negotiated to continue living on the property after the sale was completed.

See

• "Neighbors Say His Farm Really Stinks," Andover Townsman, May 8, 2003, page 7
• "Farmer Agrees to Move the Rest of His Livestock," Boston Sunday Globe, January 9, 2005
• "Farmer Wonders What He'll Do," Eagle Tribune January 20, 2005, pages 1 and 8
• "Nabydoski's Fines Continue to Soar," Eagle Tribune, September, 22, 2005
• Andover Vertical File - Farms

Noke Farm

Noke Farm was the summer home of Charles W. Ward of of Brookine in the early 1900's. It was situated on what is now Holt's Hill, the highest peak in Essex County. Ward was a decendent of Nicholas Holt, one of the first settlers in Andover.

See

• Charles W. Ward Reservation
• The First Three Generations of Holts in America, by the Historical Committee of the Holt Association in America, p. 153.

Rennie Farm

The Rennie Farm was located at 61 Argilla Road. One of their major crops were strawberries.

See

• Andover a Century of Change:1896 - 1996 by Eleanor Motley Richardson, (974.45 Ric), page 66.

Richardson Farm

The seventy acre Richardson Farm, located on Elm Street, was sold for the establishment of Merrimack College in 1947.

See

• Andover a Century of Change:1896 - 1996 by Eleanor Motley Richardson, (974.45 Ric), page 175.

Shattuck Farm

The Shattuck Farm is registeded as an Offical Massachusetts Historical Site. Believed to have been populated in 6,000 B.C., in the 1970's the state allowed archaeological studies of the site to protect it from industrial development.

See

• "The Ghosts and Voices of Shattuck Farm, Today, June 18, 1975, page 10
• "8,000 Years of Man's Past Sought at Shattuck Farms", Andover Townsman, November 11, 1977.
• Andover Vertical File - Farms

Sylvan Hollow Farm

The Sylvan Hollow farm, a poultry farm, was located on Boutwell Road.

See

• Andover a Century of Change:1896 - 1996 by Eleanor Motley Richardson, (974.45 Ric), page 66.

Wild Rose Farm

The Wild Rose Farm, owned by Sid White, was located on Lowell Street. In 1960 Mr. White moved his herd to Argilla Road in 1960 and built a dairy bar on Andover Street. After the Dairy Bar was sold, Village Deli and other businesses occupid the structure.

See

• Richardson Andover Century of Change

Andover a Century of Change:1896 - 1996 by Eleanor Motley Richardson, (974.45 Ric), page 26.

• "Past and Present," September 29, 2005, Andover Townsman

--Eleanor 16:02, September 6, 2006 (EDT)

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