The farm contains three hundred and twenty acres of land, of which one hundred and fifty acres are enclosed with a good board fence, and about fifty-five acres under cultivation. The farm also has thirty acres of wood land, composed of hard wood and tamarack. The committee complimented Mr. (S. P.) Chipman, the superintendent of the farm, and his wife, for their efficient management of its affairs; and they suggest the building of a good barn and the purchase of more stock. (The Minneapolis Daily Tribune, Wednesday, December 1, 1869, Page 4)
The Poor Farm is about nine miles distant from the city, and is located within a short distance from Hopkins Station, on the line of the St. Louis and Minneapolis Railway. It embraces 320 acres of land, including meadow, rolling prairie and timber in convenient diversity, but the far greater portion of its undulating surface is easily susceptible to cultivation, while the soil is generally of a rich, sandy loam, finding its fertile base in a small tamarack marsh located in the central portion of the farm, and within easy range of the house used for the accommodation of Superintendent Norman Lockwood and family, and the indigent or unfortunate placed under his kindly charge. The first sight of the farm was obtained in a few moments after crossing the railroad track at Hopkins station, and may be not inaptly described as a magnificent cereal panorama, stretching along the right side of the wagon road leading to the Poor Farm buildings. The high rolling ground, in an area of nearly sixty acres, is covered by a most luxuriant growth of wheat, flanked on its southern and western extremity by other crops, farm buildings, and the very productive territory allotted to corn, oats, beans, potatoes, &c., under the conscientious and skillful management of Superintendent Lockwood, and his son, William, who is entrusted with the immediate control of the farm work. Each field indicates that the name “Poor Farm” is a misapplication of terms. Each crop shows the most careful attention, and that the domain donated to charity is as skillfully tilled as any equal section of territory in Hennepin county, while stretching away to the left beyond the little marsh alluded to, and relieving the forest growth to the southward, is the meadow land from which the nourishment for the fat-ribbed and sleek coated animals of the poor farm is obtained. The landscape from the highest point on the farm, a short distance west of the residence (and now covered with a luxuriant growth of corn and unromantic beans) presents many points of attraction to the lover of rural scenery, and with its alternating strips of cultivated ground meadow and forest growth, can hardly be excelled in any other portion of the county or State. This much can be said without the shade of exaggeration. Without indulging in more extended description the writer will give some information concerning the acreage of various crops as given by Mr. Lockwood: Wheat, 60 acres. Corn, (old land,) 28 acres. Corn, (new land,) 6 acres. Oats, 25 acres. Potatoes, 4 acres. Beans, 2 ½ acres. Turnips, 4 ½ acres. Tame and meadow grass, 100 acres. Garden vegetables, 1 ½ acres. The product from these fields last year paid the Poor Farm expenses and left a margin of profits in the account amounting to $1,000, while the prospects are even better for the present season, on account of the increase in the cultivated area and the splendid growth of all crops on the farm. Last year 1,400 bushels of wheat and oats were raised, but this year, according to the careful estimates of Mr. Lockwood, the total product in these fields will reach 2,000 bushels at the least calculation, and the yield in other fields will be equally prolific and bountiful, giving assurance that the poor of Hennepin county will be abundantly supplied with the necessities of life next Winter, no matter what may transpire in other elements of the community. With the above imperfect mention of out-door peculiarities at the farm, the writer must turn to other features in its general management, and the wise and judicious administration of its affairs by the Board of Commissioners. Live Stock. In the line of stock, the Poor Farm boasts of its seventeen cows; three three year old heifers, eight yearlings and ten calves; its nineteen hogs, young and old; its four horses, and its young Durham of seventeen months, which promises well for an animal of his immature years. All show liberal keeping, and evidences of neglect are not to be found in the ranks of age or youth, so far as “the dumb brutes wot can’t speak” are concerned. The Buildings. The barn, a commodious and conveniently arranged structure, providing excellent shelter for animals, implements and forage, was built in 1871 at a cost of $3,000, and answers its purposes exceedingly well. Thus far, about forty tons of hay have been raised to its lofts by an ingenious contrivance, which defies intelligible description, but it hoists hay at the rate of 500 or 800 pounds per lift. A new Elward Harvester stands in readiness to manipulate the grain fields, after 80 additional tons of hay have been properly stored. An intelligent and effective system is observed in all the out-door operations on the Poor Farm, and, thanks to the humane impulses of the matronly guardian of in-door life, Mrs. Lockwood, the debilitated or crippled inhabitants of the Farm reveal the presence of untiring kindness and benevolence. The Poor Farm Dwelling. Owing to the imperative calls in other directions, the references to the residence building itself must be brief and imperfect, but the public can rest assured that everything within is in excellent condition. The furniture is plain but substantial and comfortable. Every apartment shows scrupulous cleanliness, and is well ventilated and kept. The indigent are provided with quarters which might well excite a feeling of envy in many a traveler on life’s rugged road, who would prefer suicide to a career as a public charge. While all able-bodies are expected to earn their honest bread by service on the farm, the diseased or wrecked in body are the recipients of the kindliest attention from Superintendent Lockwood and his good wife. And there are strange characters there to whom no passing mention can do justice or excite public interest in their behalf. Patrick Lynch, born in St. Patrick’s day, ninety-eight years ago, seems to be the venerable patriarch of the present flock of twenty-one members, and the old man still talks of service in the British army seventy years ago; of the Seminole war in Florida, and his march to Fort Snelling years ago, with the old Fifth Infantry, and service under Col. Davenport and Major Dearborn. This centenarian veteran wanted to enlist in the war to suppress the rebellion, and he is still indignant because he was refused on account of age, and proposes to pass the remainder of his span, which he claims to be 103 years, in the enjoyment of a proprietary interest in the Poor Farm of Hennepin. “Old Pete,” who has a son at New Ulm, and is still upright but infirm under the weight of 88 (98) years, after various vicissitudes of fortune, has been a resident since the purchase of the farm ten years ago, and is a strange but harmless character. A mysterious Englishman named Russell passes the major portion of his time locked in his room, hiding the shell of a curious spirit from the gaze of curiosity or pity. Whence he came remains a mystery, and he will probably die without revealing the incidents of his checkered life to a living being. And thus the twenty-one guests of the Poor Farm range down the scale of unfortunate or improvident life from the centenarian to the kicking babe in the cradle, only fourteen days old, and emerging into the tumultuous world with an avoirdupois of only four pounds of pulpy gone and pink flesh, and vigorous cries. (The Minneapolis Daily Tribune, Thursday, July 29, 1875, Page 4)