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July 31, 2006

Re-birth of the Model Farm

So if you missed Saturday's paper edition then you missed a story that I enjoyed working on greatly. It's about the renovation of Model Farm into a bed and breakfast.

I enjoyed it because it involved two of my favorite things: Quaker history and an old farmhouse. Being the descendant of Quakers from this area, and of Quakers who were farmers, well, I just enjoy learning about the Society of Friends' role around here. Model Farm was built by Quakers as a way to teach farmers in the region modern techniques during Reconstruction.

There was quite a bit of information that wouldn't fit in the space allotted for my story linked above. Owner Ruth Blumer decided she wanted to own a bed and breakfast while hanging out at one along the Blue Ridge Parkway last summer. She said it was like being hit by a two-by-four when she realized that many of the skills she'd picked up in her life were perfectly suited for running a B&B: she likes to cook for big groups, likes to entertain, has an eye for design and experience in small business. She was attracted to High Point because of the home furnishings industry.

"If High Point was in South Dakota, I'd be in South Dakota," she said.

Benjamin Briggs of Preserveration Greensboro also gave a thorough recounting of the house's early history. There was a note that I left out of the story, but he said that Model Farm's mission of teaching modern farming techniques was picked up by N.C. State right around the time the Quakers sold it. State was founded in 1887.

The map doesn't show up online, but it's located off Brentwood Street. And before someone points that out to me, I realize that's not in north High Point or Jamestown. Well, I would've posted it here anyway, but I probably should note that starting right about, yeah, now, this blog is going to be the "High Point & Jamestown" blog. I don't know if we'll get around to changing the name at the top, but it just seems like it ought to include all of High Point.

Posted by Jonathan Jones at July 31, 2006 3:29 PM