Saturday, January 7, 2012

Sunset Ridge Farm and Hiddenhurst Beyond



PHOTOGRAPHER'S JOURNAL: Sunset Ridge is one of the few remaining dairy farms in the area. In fields where they are not pasturing cows they are raising corn, and a lot of corn grows here and around Hiddenhurst. Hiddenhurst itself is idle though maintained. From this spot and a few others, one can imagine the valley when farmsteads dotted the hilltops and cows and corn and crops were everywhere. From Hiddenhurst looking west beyond the rail trail where the milk runs have ceased, and the chugging is all cyclists now, you can see the ruined silos of Hanover Hill, gaunt at the edge of the valley.

I took this photo just before the summer solstice a bit over six months ago. I was here again the other day. The wind was cold and ice puddles dotted the field. What a difference a solstice makes. Otherwise, it probably looks much as it did a hundred years ago. It will not be so a hundred years hence.

6 comments:

Ginnie Hart said...

These farmsteads somehow bring back the glory of our past, Ted, in your hands!

Emery Roth said...

I do my best. Thanks, Ginnie.

Unknown said...

Farm scenes always pull deep at my heart. May these farms last long!

Emery Roth said...

The foreground farm is going strong. The man who runs it is full of energy and works hard to maintain his dairy herd and many acres of hay and corn. The farm in the distance is Hiddenhurst. You can read about it in WIKI. The "Farmhouse," next to it is a large, palatial mansion encrusted with classical detailing. The family who live there don't seem to make any use of the barns, but they are relatively recent structures without much character except from a distance. From a distance they are spectacularly dramatic.

Trotter said...

Lovely, even for urban people...

Emery Roth said...

Alas, suburbia is creeping. Thank you.