Maple Bank Farm History
Experience one of the oldest continually running farms in the US
Farming in Roxbury since 1730
Our rich and vibrant history is evident in all that we do at Maple Bank Farm.
Our connection to this earth and community began in 1730 and this relationship has been carried through to create a lasting foundation for success with the farm today. We continue being guiding by the rhythm of the seasons, carrying on so much of what was treasured by earlier generations.
We are caretakers of this land and it of us.
Maple Bank Timeline
The Beginning
Maple Bank is one of the oldest family-run farms in the United States. It has been in the Hurlbut family since its formation in 1730.
Jonathan Hurlbut, the son of the first settler of Roxbury, had farmed in Roxbury since the early 1700’s. The Hurlbut’s settled the original farm in the center of Roxbury on six acres, granted to him by the King of England. Jonathan established what is now Maple Bank Farm in 1730. He built a small house within 100 feet of the current farm stand, which was lived in by 3 generations of Hurlbuts. The original foundation can still be seen today.
In 1766, Gideon Hurlbut increased the farm by 44 acres, 10 acres for plowing, 8 acres for clear pasture and 8 acres for mowing.
Started as a subsistence farm with oxen, a horse, cows, sheep, and pigs, the farm provided tobacco, flax, and wheat to sustain their family.
1700s
1800s
The Next Generations
By the early 1800's the farm had passed hands to Thomas Hurlbut, son of Gideon, who played a key role in expanding the family farm by adding additional acreage.
Thomas and Rhoda Hurlbut's son Garry married Ann and in 1830 they built the existing farmhouse on the hill to the right of the farmstand. The house took them over a year to complete construction and has housed 5 generations of Hurlbuts.
Garry and Ann's son Henry, after being inspired by a trip to Illinois, added another 34 acres to the farm along Ranny Hill. This additional acreage brought the farm to 114 acres.
Norman and Sons
In the early 1900’s, Norman Hurlbut, the son of Henry, began producing products for the market. He transitioned from a small dairy operation into the poultry business.
He began delivering eggs and poultry to households in Danbury and then expanded to Waterbury. There were as many as 3,300 poultry layers for eggs alone. They also raised broilers, turkeys, geese and ducks, dressing up to 125 poultry a week, and producing many more turkeys during Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Orchards were also established which are the origins of the heirloom apple varieties still being sold.
In the 1950’s, Lewis and Alden Hurlbut continued the retail routes to Danbury and Waterbury, selling fresh produce and eggs out of a pickup truck three days a week.
The farmstand started as a picnic table next to the farm driveway, piled daily with fresh pickings on a self-service basis. In 1963, Alden and Lewis built a more permanent roadside stand in the style of a gable barn.
1900's
1980
Cathy & Howie
Cathy and Howie Bronson have been operating Maple Bank Farm since 1980. Both have a strong background in agriculture.
Howie grew up in Washington, CT on his father’s dairy farm. This solid foundation grew as he studied agriculture at the University of New Hampshire. Howie’s love of the land spread from dairy to include fruit and vegetable farming.
Cathy, Lewis' daughter, grew up on Maple Bank Farm, learning with a hands-on approach.
Cathy and Howie married in 1978 and have two children, Linnea and Christopher. Cathy and Howie, the fifth generation living in the farmhouse.
Focusing on the local customer’s needs, Cathy and Howie built a new stand in 1986, to handle an expanded line of farm products, ranging from mixed baby salad greens to custom knitted wool stockings. The roadside farmstand has a backdrop of sloping hills dotted with sheep who wander down to the split rail fence hoping for a snack of fresh vegetables or fruits.
Cathy and Howie feel very rooted in the values so often associated with farming, as their love of living off the land is deeply ingrained. They take joy in sharing the fruits of their labors with so many loyal and appreciative customers.
Preservation
After careful consideration since 2016, 2020 saw an extremely exciting development for the future of Maple Bank, when the Bronsons made the decision to protect the farm through the Farmland Preservation Program in partnership Northwest Connecticut Land Conservancy.
Fifty-One of the eighty acres of Maple Bank are protected in the agreement, including the farmstand, apple orchard, greenhouses, flower beds, pick-your-own blueberry fields.
2020
2022
Kirby
Kirby started working at the farm in high school, and decided to make agriculture his career after working in the field and at the farm stand. He earned a degree in agricultural science at Cornell University in 2017, and started his career in Austin, TX as a greenhouse manager.
In 2022, Kirby made the decision to return to Roxbury to continue Maple Bank's legacy.