Community Corner

Wakeman Farm Returns to Roots

Board of Finance makes recommendation to approve the lease for a Town Farm.

While the crops and cows changed over time at 134 Cross Highway, the Wakeman family had always used their property as farmland - at least from 1900 to 1970, the year they sold their farm to the town. 

Now, that property will once again return to its agricultural roots.

The Board of Finance voted unanimously Wednesday to make a recommendation to the Board of Selectmen to approve a seven-year lease between the town and the nonprofit organization Green Village Initiative for $1 a year. The Board of Selectmen approved the lease last month, subject to the Board of Finance's recommendations. 

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GVI wants to revive farming practices at the Wakeman property by transforming it into a Town Farm that can be used to both grow crops and teach residents about sustainable living. The group plans to pay for renovations to the vacant farmhouse and hire a farmer to live on the property to grow the crops, which can either be sold at local Farmers Markets, used as teaching demonstrations or both.

More than 80 people attended the board meeting Wednesday, many of whom were students and other supporters of the farm concept.

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Fourth-grader Charlie Colasurdo, a student at King's Highway Elementary who recently spoke to his class about the importance of local farming, was the first to speak during public comment and urged the board to approve the lease.

"Westport used to be known as an agricultural community, now there's only a few farms left," he said. "If we don't take this opportunity to turn Wakeman farm back into what it was meant to be, what will it become? Another big house? We have enough of those around. What we need is an educational farm to remind kids like me and  my brother that you don't have to live out in the country to grow your own produce."

Dan Levinson of GVI agreed. The 2.2-acre property only contains about a half-acre that would be used for farming. The rest of the property contains the house, a barn and open space.

"It's so small, it's really a backyard garden exhibit about homesteading," Levinson said likening the project to that of World War II victory gardens.

Renovations Required

The home, which is in a state of disrepair, requires extensive renovations. With the help of architect Peter Wormser who is volunteering his time, GVI plans to pay to renovate the second-floor and clean up the downstairs to make it livable, Levinson said. He expects the renovations to cost up to $100,000.

GVI also intends on hiring the farmer. The town has no financial obligation, unless the town walks away from the agreement without cause, in which case it would have to reimburse GVI for renovation costs, according to assistant town attorney Gail Kelly.

If GVI doesn't think it can make the project work and decides to walk away from the lease, that would be considered a default on the lease and the town would not be liable for reimbursement, Kelly said.

Some of the Board of Finance members were concerned about the project years down the road, if renovations aren't complete or the farm is not successful and the town is left with the property. Kelly said if GVI does not proceed with the project, it is required to return the property in good repair. Plus, Kelly said any plans or construction must be approved by the town before the group can proceed.

"There's a lot of protection built into this," she said.

Any changes to the home's exterior as part of the renovations must also be approved by the Historic District Commission because the property was designated a historic landmark in 2003. The Queen-Anne style farmhouse was converted from a barn in 1900 to replace an earlier house that burned, according to HDC records.

The History of Wakeman Farm

In 1908, John Wakeman purchased the farm from Mary Meeker and moved from his farm in the Compo Hill area to run a dairy and onion farm on acreage that was located on both sides of Cross Highway. Ike Wakeman was born in that house in 1911. The Wakemans gave up onion farming by 1920, according to the records. After John Wakeman died in 1928, the farm passed to his son Isaac, one of 10 Wakeman children.

In 1936, Ike Wakeman and his wife Pearl moved into the Cross Highway home.

Pearl, who was an only child, met Ike in Framingham, Mass., where she lived and Ike had some relatives, according to a 2007 article written in the Westport Minuteman and kept among the HDC records.

"Becoming a farmer's wife took some getting used to," Pearl said in that article.

After World War II, the Wakemans sold off their cows and expanded their poultry operations. In 1968, they reverted back to growing vegetables.

In the Minuteman article, Pearl Wakeman described Ike as handling all the outdoor work while she and her daughters - Jeanne, Charlotte and Barbara - helped her in the sales room, where they sold chickens, eggs and produce.

The basement of the Wakeman home still contains an egg sorter and "Fresh Connecticut Eggs" order forms.

Jeanne Wakeman Mann of Hamden attended the Wednesday board meeting and said they wanted the town to keep the egg sorter as a piece of history. Her father, Ike, died in 2000. Her mother, Pearl, died in April. She attended the meeting to support the Town Farm.

"Our parents often spoke about losing the agricultural history of farming in Westport once the farm ceased operating," she told the board. " Through this endeavor farming will go forward in Westport."

She was also impressed with GVI's intention of including students in the town farm, by allowing them to learn about farming and perhaps employing some of them as future interns or apprentices.

"It's a great way to grow up (farming)," she said in an interview after addressing the board. "I can't tell you how thrilled I was about this project."

She hopes to return to the farm to buy produce once the vegetables are ready for sale.

Levinson hopes all construction can be completed over the winter and crops can be planted in the spring. Becky Howe, another GVI member, will be the farm director and is looking for the right farmer to fill the position of caring for the Town Farm. As part of his or her salary, the farmer will be able to stay in the Wakeman home free of charge.

Betsy Wacker, vice chair of the Historic District Commission, said the HDC is delighted with the project and would work with GVI to streamline the process.

"This property tells the story of Westport," Wacker said. "The evolution of what was raised there and grown there - this is a chance to enliven the story of this property."


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