Farm History

Frank & Amanda Williams

This farm and orchard has been in the family since 1912, when Felix and Erik’s great-grandfather Frank Williams purchased the land. Frank built a cabin and sauna in 1914, then invited his wife Amanda to come live on the land with him.

The house that we live in now was finished in 1920. Before the furniture arrived, it was used as a social gathering and dance hall for the Finnish families in the area.

Frank and Amanda kept cows, chickens, pigs, and at least one pampered horse. Vestiges of their gardens remain — grape hyacinths grow by the walkways; onions sprout in the pasture. A dozen apple trees Frank planted comprise the old orchard.

Alfred with kids, 1934

Frank & Amanda, 1962

Frank & Amanda with daughter Edith

Alfred Williams

When Frank and Amanda passed away, their son Alfred succeeded them as the steward of the Williams farm. Alfred was not interested in farming, and the land became his hermitage — gradually taking on more and more of his eccentric character.

Alfred let blackberries climb over much of the property, and every summer we’d visit the farm with our family, bringing buckets to fill with sticky-sweet summer delights.

Alfred died in 2000, and the farm’s future became uncertain. In 2011, the four of us — Felix, Sola, Erik and Maia — became stewards and started writing the latest chapter.