Groton Market At The Williams Barn

The Williams Barn circa.1840 was built in the mid –nineteenth century. It is a representative example of the early timber framing reflected in American barns of this period. The Barn is located on ninety-three acres of town owned conservation land at, 160 Chicopee Row. In the late 1990’s the Barn was nearly forgotten, in near collapse and covered in vegetation. A number of thoughtful, hardworking volunteers in town including three generations of Williams (Wyatt’s) helped save the Barn. Today it stands in grand style without the animals, although, there are some on occasion. The property has an antique in-ground silo too, one of the few to be restored in the northeast! The Barn is preserved in a living museum style; it honors the town’s agriculture roots. The Williams’s barn has many of its original tools and objects. The Barn committee warmheartedly looks forward to, presenting this old-new landmark. It’s a place for families to visit and enjoy the simpler things in life! The Committee enjoys informing and educating the public on such topics as agriculture, local history, conservation and the environment. The Williams Barn Committee has something to offer everyone throughout the year. The Committee host events that capture the days of our past such as, the Groton Farmers Market, July-October including live music, then Thanksgiving Farmers Market Saturday before Thanksgiving, Groton Women's Club has their Holiday Green's Sale the first Saturday in December, in April Groton Local had their Earth Day event with us and hopefully again in 2013, the first Saturday in June The Local Native American Council held their second, Open House with us, also every year in June over a three day period we with the Groton Women's Club host the entire Groton/Dunstable 3-4 grade class. They are treated to, what life was like for a child in the 1840's. There is always someone or something to see at the Barn. Al Wyatt (Williams) is there most days working on something. Stop in and say hi, he may be fixing a roof or rebuilding a wagon but he always has time to chat and share the history of the buildings. Hiking the old cart paths around the farm is fun for the whole family; explore the countryside, stone walls and old foundations. See if you can find the old kissing tree (Williams and Wyatt family members carved their initials in it for over a hundred years.) Try to imagine… the vast-pastures that existed on both sides of the walls and envision… what life was like 160 years ago in Groton.