Pickings from Sanborn Mills Farm

Farm Pickings

News and Updates from Sanborn Mills Farm

— November 1, 2022 —

19th Century Benches Saved for the Grange

A set of 12 benches dating back to the 19th century, originally installed in Kensington Grange in southeastern New Hampshire and then used in the Kensington town hall, have been obtained by Sanborn Mills Farm and will be restored and installed in the reconstructed and restored Loudon Grange at the Farm. Once the installation is complete, a sign in the Grange will describe the origin and uses of the benches in Kensington. One can imagine the Kensington townspeople of 150 years ago sitting in these benches, rising on occasion to debate a point during Town Meeting or getting up to dance to a fiddle tune at a social gathering. 

Meanwhile, restoration of the Grange has continued through the fall. All six of the large 20-over-20 paned side windows, which were constructed here at the Farm by our carpentry team, have been installed. And work on the Grange’s loft and its curved balcony front is ongoing. While an exact completion date has been scheduled, it is anticipated that the first public use of the fully restored Grange will occur later in 2023. 

Frank Whittemore and Alan Tuthill from Kensington, N.H. put one of the old Kensington Grange benches to proper use inside the under-restoration Loudon Grange at Sanborn Mills Farm. 



Six of these 20-over-20 windows are now installed in the side walls of the Grange. The windows were made here at the Farm by our carpentry team.

Fall Sheep Shearing

Siri Swanson of Yankee Rock Farm in Vermont returned to Sanborn Mills Farm this week to shear our nine ewes in the Barden Barn. The wool from these sheep will be cleaned, carded, and then used in our Fiber program.

Our sheep, which are Border Leicesters, were none too happy about the prospect of being sheared, but once they were in Siri’s hands they became calm as sleeping babies — well, for the most part (there’s always one who won’t get with the program easily). It’s a pleasure and also an education to watch a real master like Siri work her skills.

Photo Credits

Photo of Frank Whittemore and Alan Tultin courtesy Town of Kensington.

All other photos by Steve Bjerklie.