- Red Pine Farm was run by George and Wanda Lingg up on Bovina road (what is now the Schumann farm). In 1964, the rate, according to their ad in the New York Times, was $45 a week, with children under 12 costing $30. They boasted an 80 head dairy farm, a 50 x 50 pool, and farm animals, including ponies and donkeys. Emma Rosenthal and Andy Griggs have shared pictures and memories of their stays at Red Pine Farm at http://inbedwithfridakahlo.wordpress.com/2006/08/11/my-travels-with-charley-boston-or-bust-part-v/. Also note that a number of other people shared their memories in the comments field. Linggs sold the property in the late 1960s to TV star Bob Denver.
- Crescent Valley Farm was a 275 acre dairy farm run by George and Anna Trimbell and their sons. Located on Crescent Valley Road, their rates were $55 to $35 per week. Their New York Times ad from 1966 offered "good home cooking and baking" with historical places nearby. The ad also noted that "We have three sons."
- Elms Farm was on Coulter Brook (where Isabell Irvine Russell spent her childhood). Cliff and Gert Hall ran this as a vacation farm in the 60s and 70s. Joan Townsend recalled working there and that Gert's sister Millie Reinertsen did a lot of the cooking.
- Suits-Us Farm on Pink Street was owned and run as a resort by the family of Alex and Elisabeth Sellhorn Rabeler from 1956 until 2005. In their New York Times ad from 1966, they noted that the farm had a heated filtered pool, tennis court, horseback riding and "cookouts followed by moonlit hayrides." Their ad also said "Families only." Felicia (Bunny) Campbell has a blog which includes photos and memories of Suits-Us Farm over the year. Go to http://www.bunnybrowse.com/memories-suits-us.htm to see her pictures. And thanks to Bunny for sharing. And if you're on Facebook, there is a Suits Us Farm group that you can join.
- Ferris and Wilhemina Sellhorn Todd ran a vacation farm on Pink Street called Buena Vista for 11 years in the 1960s and early 1970s. Joan Archibald Townsend recalled working there in her teens and remembered what a great cook Mrs. Todd was. Mrs. Todd's sister was the Elisabeth Rabeler who, with her husband Alex, ran Suits-Us Farm.
- Burn-Lou Century farm was run by Harold Lounsbury and his first wife, Mary Burns Lounsbury and later for a time with his second wife, Anna Boggs Hobbie Lounsbury. The farm had been in the Burns family for over 100 years.
Here's a brochure from Suits-Us:
So interesting! I really enjoy your blog. Love the pictures from Suits Us.
ReplyDeletehi Jen
DeleteDid you go to Suits Us Farm? I did as a kid and also worked there the summers of 1978 through 86...best place on earth
Do you know if Elms Farm is still around? I would love to visit. I went as a child in the 1970s. I remember loving it. I have such fond memories of the farm.
ReplyDeleteI use to go to the Elms as a kid in the early 60s we 3 years in a row .I went back three years ago and it's not the farm anymore but I did walk down to the old pump house on the river use to fish there and it's still up .I loved that place remember going to the dairy with Clifford hall early in am have a ton of good remembies it the farm
DeleteThe property still is there, though it is no longer a resort but a private residence. Mr. Hall passed away some time ago, but Gert still is with us. She lives in Bovina Center now.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for your reply. I truly appreciate it : )
DeleteMrs Hall just recently passed away in June 2018 at the age of 91.
DeleteHere's Mrs. Hall's obituary: https://hallandpeet.com/tribute/details/1332/Gertrude-Hall/obituary.html#tribute-start
DeleteI visited the Burn-Lou Century Farm with my family every Summer for many years. Such happy memories of milking the cows, going on moonlit hay rides, and catching frogs in the pond. Harold, (affectionately known as Uncle Harold) and Mary and Anna were so wonderful, and treated us like family. Does anyone know if the farm still exists and who owns it?
ReplyDeleteThe farm still does exist, owned by Michael and Heidi Gogins. It is a private residence and no longer a resort, but if you are interested in visiting, let me know and I'll get you in contact. I think they'd be happy to show you around. They've done a good job maintaining the house.
ReplyDeleteI am game if you are Mar!
DeleteI just, last night, came across a picture of the Main House and another area of Red Pine Farm. I would love to post these. Not sure how! I visited Red Pine Farm (we called it Linggs) since I was an infant in 1955 until it closed around 1968 and was sold to Bob Denver who brought wild animals onto the property. The last year Mrs. Lingg offered me a job in the Snack Bar, I had a ball! Worked lunch and then swam in the pool the rest of the day. I wish my children could have had the experience and memories I have from Red Pine Farm. Does anyone know where their is? I don't remember her first name. I also have Wanda Lingg's recipe for German Pancakes, she used to make them for me and I ate them in the kitchen!
ReplyDeleteTypo... I was asking if anyone knows where their daughter is.
DeleteOh my gosh, before staying at Crescent Valley and then Burn Lou, my family went to Red Pine....I don’t remember it. I was a year old when they closed. My brother was 6. My mom said they had the most wonderful food there! I’m sure the recipe is wonderful
DeleteHi Kathleen, that place sounds like it was amazing..sounds very similar to where I visited and also worked, Suits Us Farm...they too had a Main House and Mrs Rabeler would make the best German Pancakes along with so many other delicious things..these places are cherished for a reason and it's too bad most are gone..be well
DeleteMy family went to Red Pine Farm every summer for a week at the end of August, from about 1960 - 1967. I was 13 the last summer we were there. I loved going there, and I'm still in touch with some of the other kids whose families went that same week each year. In answer to Kathleen's question, the daughter was Joni Lingg. I have no idea where she is now.
DeleteThank you so much for this blog. For whatever reason, I was recently thinking of „Burn Lou Century Farm“...made a note to look it up.
ReplyDeleteI recognize the names of all the farms listed in Bovina, but remember fondly both Crescent Valley Farm and Burn Lou. For years my family spent a week or two there in the summer (first at Crescent Valley and later at Burn Lou). Without hesitation I can say some of my best memories are from those times. In town there was a little general store, I think called Russels, where you could buy candies from a glass case and they would go into the appropriate sized paper bag that hung on a special rack above. It was really a thing of the past- at that time! More than 40 years ago now. We used to go horseback riding too, I don’t remember the name of the place, but I think the family’s name was Dorsett. I think there was a historic one room schoolhouse down the road from Crescent Valley. I can see it all now :-) What wonderful times.
hello and great memories...yes Russell's was and still is the general store in town..It is owned by different owners now but it's so great that it's still there and it's a vital part of Bovina Center..we used to walk there from Suits Us Farm, that's where I visited and also worked for many summer, best memories always..the horseback stable was called Hilltop Stables and was there for years...cherish the memories, Bovina Center N.Y. is the best place on earth
Deletethank you for the info on elms farm.my parents used to take us there from L.I. in the 60's.i took a motorcycle ride there last week and found it.i ook a few photos.i would have liked to walk up the driveway to take more,but didn't want to freak anyone out...……...lol bob-freebird3x@hvc.rr.com
ReplyDeletehi Bob, that motorcycle rife must have been amazing...mu family went to Elms Farm a few times in the 1960's..I was born in 67 and that's around when we started going to Suits Us Farm, an amazing place where I worked for many summers...Im sure your memories of Elms Farm are amazing..be well, Glenn
DeleteI spent 2 years in the carraige house while attending Delhi.....the beginning of some of the best memories....anybody out there?
ReplyDeletehi
DeleteThe Carriage House at Suits Us Farm? I went there for a long time...did you stay up on the roof floor? what years? I also went to SUNY Delhi In the 80's
I heard JoanieWandas daughter was on her way to a school reunion and past of a heart attack . The memories I have of that place are priceless.
ReplyDeleteIn 1961 I worked at Lingg's as a waitress with four other girls from Delaware Academy. There was a picture of us in the Delaware Republican Express. I tried to find it just today but I didn't remember it being so far up Bovina Road. It was my first job and I'll always treasure the memories of how perfect it was.
ReplyDeleteMy Aunt Anna McCumber worked for Lingg’s and then for Denver as a housekeeper. Our family homestead was just up the dirt road a bit.
DeleteDid you find it? It's still there and recognizable. If you have any pictures or souvenirs from your time there I'd love to see them.
ReplyDeleteMy name is Bridget I started going to elms farm when I was 4. We went for 6 years 1971 to 1977. I have to say it was the best time in my life!!! I loved mrs. Hall. Loved to collect eggs for breakfast. One time I fell, all eggs broke!!! Mrs. Hall just hugged me and said it was ok. Loved to ring bell for breakfast. And ride the ponies. Made lots of friends. Even got engaged at 8 in the chicken coop!!!! To a boy named Tommy Faunce. To the Hall family thanks for the great memories. 🥰
ReplyDelete