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BUTTERFIELD FARM ANTRIM NH Home to our family since 1800 |
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A big old farmhouse and barn are set among pastures scattered with granite boulders and old apple trees. I lived at Butterfield Farm when I was a toddler, spent many happy days there with our grandparents, Byron and Vera Butterfield, and later raised my family there. It is one of my favorite places on Earth.
In the central panel, the white gate opens onto the old lane that crossed through fields and forests, ending at Gregg Lake. The stone walls signifying the Granite State are flanked by the state tree (white birch) and state flower (purple lilac). This oft-recreated scene was inspired by a watercolor by Uncle Charles, a wedding quilt by my mother, and a pen-and-ink drawing by nephew Chuck McLean. See it on the cover of the little book Seeking Parmenter?
In the central panel, the white gate opens onto the old lane that crossed through fields and forests, ending at Gregg Lake. The stone walls signifying the Granite State are flanked by the state tree (white birch) and state flower (purple lilac). This oft-recreated scene was inspired by a watercolor by Uncle Charles, a wedding quilt by my mother, and a pen-and-ink drawing by nephew Chuck McLean. See it on the cover of the little book Seeking Parmenter?
Key to fabrics and findings:
- Acorns, Birches: Woodsman Byron introduced us to spruce gum (it’s quite bitter), said “Never be without a jackknife”
- Apples: Trees down back, Baldwins for pies and applesauce
- Baseball, Red Sox: Byron was a gangly pitcher when every small town fielded a baseball team
- Berries, Rolling Pin: Vera was well-known for her cookies, doughnuts, and pies
- Bobbin, Quilt, Scissors, Thread: Vera sewed, hooked and braided rugs, quilted, crocheted, and did crewel embroidery
- Carrot, Peas, Radishes: We sat on the porch, shelling peas and snapping beans from the garden
- Cat: The half-wild barn cats deterred rodents from eating livestock grain
- Chicken Wire, Hens: We searched for eggs in the dark and dusty chicken coop
- Clothespins: Generations of women hung wash on the clothesline out back
- Compass: Byron could look at any NH mountain peak and name it
- Cow, Milk Bottle, Sheep: Originally sheep were raised in the 1800s, then poultry, and finally dairy cows
- Dog: Dame Hannah was the last in a long line of farm hounds
- Flag, Red/White&Blue: Byron was a WWI US Army veteran, Uncle Charles served in the US Air Force, Vera belonged to the American Legion Auxiliary
- Flowers, Watering Can: Old-fashioned flower gardens with hollyhocks, peonies, and phlox
- G Clef: Vera was known for her beautiful and moving alto voice
- Gear: Machines make life easier on a farm, from a simple egg beater to a Farmall tractor
- Hammer, Saw: Byron made his living as a farmer, woodsman, and carpenter
- Heart: Our grandparents loved each other and adored us, their only grandchildren
- Holly: Best holidays ever were Christmas at the farm
- Horse: Queenie helped bring in the hay on hot summer days
- Ice Cream: The Log Cabin farm stand featured baked goods, eggs, fresh produce, and homemade ice cream
- In the Shadow of Cedars: Our favorite uncle, Charles, wrote about his ancestor, Major Isaac Butterfield
- Knitting, Mittens: Vera knit countless mittens, scarves, and hats for us
- Pail: What’s a farm without several of these?
- Pig: Byron kept a few pigs each year
- Raccoon: Critters roamed the pastures, woodchucks regularly helped themselves to the gardens
- Seeking Parmenter: Our favorite uncle, Charles, wrote a memoir of place about the farm
- Tartan: Vera’s McClure family was from Upstate New York
- Titanic: Byron and Vera were alive when the Titanic sank
Construction Notes:
The four-inch central panel is surrounded by two rows of Folded Star. The red chicken wire fabric represents the time when the family raised poultry, and the red tartan denotes my grandmother's McClure family.
The four-inch central panel is surrounded by two rows of Folded Star. The red chicken wire fabric represents the time when the family raised poultry, and the red tartan denotes my grandmother's McClure family.
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The old lane depicted in the central panel was re-created by my mother for our wedding quilt. The quilt was used in the Antrim NH Historical Society's 2024 calendar "Quilts of Antrim."
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Copyright Jane McLean, 2024