Howdy Everybody!

I wanted to extend a warm welcome to each of you as you pack for your farm weekend. Carriage Stone Farm is the second chapter of a dream I had to move to the country and show an old farm some love. I’m proud to share it with you.

Explore our farm activities, click the link below to learn more!

Farm Activities

It is important to know that this is an authentic farm experience. There are about 150 Black Angus Cattle (the number increases almost daily from births) on the farm. They are kept in the fields surrounding Carriage Stone Farm. The red barn in the distance has been converted into housing for our farmhands.  

The farm itself has hosted families for over 250 years. The stone ruins, including the outside kitchen, the cellar and on the side of the home, the fireplace hearth, were home to the Dutch Mennonite family that settled here after escaping the fighting between the Lutherans and the Catholics during that split in the mid 1700’s.

The main house was built in two parts by very successful architects from Baltimore and DC. Take time to appreciate the craftsmanship and the solidness of this home. The front half (now the side kitchen entrance) was built in 1809 and the rear of the home (now the living rooms and den were built in 1850. The red outbuilding was home to 3 slaves (the family split on this issue and half moved to Ohio) and the Swisher Barn was built using massive timbers in 1810 and then added onto in 1890.

Be sure to look for the farm’s namesake…the carriage stones that would assist travelers onto their carriage. They are located alongside the current driveway. The old stone columns can be found in front of the house and the barn and had the home’s address and were used as a gate and to tie up for your horse. The road originally ran right past the home on the opposite side of the current road. It is lined with stone walls and runs all the way to town, though sections have crumbled over time. Today it appears to meander into the woods behind the barn. I invite you to explore the old barn but always have a buddy with you in case you encounter an animal or fall and get hurt. Look inside but please don’t enter for your own safety. 

There is currently a book being written by an historian at Bridgewater College about the farm and its past. So many of our guests have left the farm acknowledging that they are better for having been here. I wish the same for you. 

The most recent couple, renovated the farmhouse in 1985 and died in 2008. The house sat vacant and uncared for until my best friend and partner in this business purchased the farm and got to work. The bathrooms, foyer and a few other sections of the house are clearly very 80’s. The owners loved DYNASTY and felt very glamourous having the bathrooms done up in their particular way so we decided to lean into that and leave them as we found them.

The heating and cooling of the home is layers upon layers of technology of the time. The AC is controlled through the three electronic thermostats. We lock these during fall and winter. The heating is done through the 9 thermostats placed throughout the home that control the radiators. We have set the temp to a comfortable setting and locked the devices. There are just too many (12 thermostats total) for the guests to manage. If you have a concern about the temperature in the farmhouse, please text me and I will adjust it for you, we want you to be comfortable, but I believe you will be. You can always open a window if you choose. 

I’ve washed and placed fresh eggs from our ladies in the coop and placed them in the fridge with the farm bacon.

PS – There’s a DRIP COFFEE MAKER on the coffee bar. We have provided ground coffee with chicory! Yum!

Going forward, take note of my mobile number below and lets communicate via text or phone call. I’ll text you on your day of arrival with Tony Tips and more info…safe travels.

Here is a link to share this message to everyone in your group!