Preserving Sweetwilliam Farm

Preserving Sweetwilliam Farm

Status update for Jan 1st:

Secured 548 signatures on the petition for a special town meeting.

Town meeting will be January 11th, 7pm at Nipmuc HS. Child care will be provided.

Status update for Nov 4th:

The Board of Selectmen denied the article pertaining to the Farm preservation to be on the docket for Nov. 16, 2010. Friends of Sweetwilliam Farm is currently collecting 200+ signatures to force a special town meeting.

Please note:
     - You MUST be a registered Upton voter to sign the petition.
     - Signatures are needed by Tuesday, Nov 16th.

How can I sign?:
1) Visit Sweetwilliam Farm Country Store: Sat-Tue, noon-5pm.
2) Visit Fin & Feather Sports: Mon - Tues 10:30 am - 5 pm
                                        Wed -Thurs 9 am - 6 pm
                                        Fri 8:30 am - 6 pm
                                        Sat 8 am - 5 pm
                                        Sun 9 am - 4 pm
3) Nipmuc HS, Screening of 'END of Suburbia', Nov. 9th, 6-8 pm, showing at 6:30pm
4) There are about 30 volunteers going door to door with in the town.
5) Contact Friends of Sweetwilliam Farm at friendsofsweetwilliamfarm@charter.net. and someone can come to your home.

The Upton Open Space Committee is delighted to report that the owner of Sweetwilliam Farm has made a commitment to preserve this amazing historic property. The Committee is proposing to use Community Preservation Act funds, grants and private donations to protect this beautiful historic farm.

Sweetwilliam Farm is a working farm preserving what little remains of Upton's agricultural history. Farmed for 140 years,it still retains the characteristics of a farm from the mid 1700's. The land was once owned by the grandfather of Eli Whitney and the 18th century farmhouse was built by his uncle, a revolutionary war veteran.

The importance of this land lies not only in it's history and the spectacular view from North Street, but in its value as a trail corridor connecting Upton State Forest tot eh east, and the Warren Brook Conservation Area to the west. These areas in turn connect to open space parcels in Grafton and Hokpinton. If conserved, Sweetwilliam Farm would be part of a complex over 2,000 acres of protected land an link an extensive trail network used by horseback riders, hikers, cyclists, skiers, birders and others who enjoy the outdoors.

Reasons to Appreciate Sweetwilliam Farm:

The proposal is fro the town to purchase 60 acres of woodland and purchase a Conservation Restriction (CR) on most of the remaining land, including 18 acres of open pasture and agriculture land. The CR protected land would reamian in private ownership. The CR would allow for farming to continue, preserving the agricultural heritage of the land, but preclude development of the property. The spectacular view from North Street would be protected. The town would acquire a parking area and a deded east-west trail easement. The owner would maintain the land and continue to pay taxes. The town owned land would be managed by the Conservation Commission. Preservation funding would come from grants, private donations and money already collected under the Community Preservation Act. There would be no increase in taxes to Upton citizens. A vote to preserve Sweetwilliam Farm is expected to occur at a November, 2010 Special Town Meeting.

Prepared by Friends of Sweetwilliam Farm, Sept 2010.

For more information conatact the Friends of Sweetwilliam Farm at:
E-mail: friendsofsweetwilliamfarm@charter.net
Website: http://www.sudburyvalleytrustees.org/
Town of Upoton website:

ht/www.upton.ma.us/pages/open-space-comm/current-initiatives/sweetwilliam-farm.php

Sweetwilliam Farm
153 North St. Upton, MA 01568
508-529-2000

* seasonal hours *

Current Hours:
Sat & Sun: noon-5pm

Closed Jan - Mar, re-opening April 1st

Scout, school and party functions may be held any day.

members of: Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce
NOFA - Northeast Organic Farmers Association