The 1757 farm house that is the main building at the Waters Farm in Sutton, grew over the decades as additions to the family created the need for additions to the home. 

The Farm is now a living museum and listed on the National Register of Historic Places and still offers the same rural charm of open fields, apple trees, sugar maples, chestnuts and a view of Manchaug Pond. It also offers a schedule of lively events this fall for the whole family to enjoy.

The highlight of the calendar is the 45th Annual Farm Days on Saturday, Oct. 18 and Sunday,  Oct. 19. From 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. on both days, kids and grown-ups will have a blast viewing the antique tractor/engine show, animal exhibitions (including 4H animals) craft vendors, food vendors and a tractor pull which will prove which machine has the most muscle. Want to try some unusual transportation? A barrel train will make its way around the farm and tractor pulled hay rides will provide some good, old-fashioned fun. Visit with a robotics club and meet and greet your local police and firefighters. Youngsters can work off some energy in bouncy houses.

Interested in traditional crafts? You can watch a pottery demonstration, visit the hammer mill and see a pottery or shingle-making demonstration. 

Delicious homemade apple crisp will be on sale and souvenirs are available in the Peddler Shop.  The Sutton Historical Society will be set up in the Darling Barn.

Take a tour of the old farmhouse that was home to six generations of the Waters family, before being generously donated to the town by Dorothea Waters Moran, the last of the line, in 1974.

Within the old walls, you can witness the passage of centuries – with beehive ovens and open hearths for cooking, borning room, whale oil lamps, pewter plates, tables, chairs and bookcases that all belonged to the Waters family.

What’s new on the farm

While bringing the past to life, Waters Farm still has an eye on the future, said Brian Garrett, volunteer and member of the board of directors. 

“One of the big innovations is improving handicap accessibility for the farm,” he said. Along with that is development of a visitors’ center in a building on the property.

Fundraising for the project going well, Garrett said.

“We’ve gotten a lot of grants and a lot of donations. A lot of local businesses have donated materials and efforts, doing projects here and there,” he said. “Our goal is to get it open next year for Farm Days.”

More than $750,000 has been raised with another $500,000  identified as being needed for interior buildout, audio-visual needs and security, furnishings and for accessibility improvements.

Lead donor commitments have been made by Unibank and bankHometown. The town of Sutton has provided an ARPA grant for septic. Friends of Waters Farm have also made IRA Required Minimum Distribution donations to the project.

To those who want to contribute manpower for the farm’s upkeep , volunteer work days will be held on Saturday, Oct. 4 and 11 from  8 a.m. – 12 p.m. Help out with grounds maintenance, small carpentry projects, building clean-up and general farm work.

Farm Days general admission is $15 per adult, $10 for military and seniors, and children under 5 are free. 

Waters Farm is located at 53 Waters Road, Sutton. Visit WatersFarm.org or www.facebook.com/WatersFarmPreservationInc/