College Farm
College Farm
| Address | 100 Cook St |
| MACRIS ID | BIL.203 |
| Built | 1740 |
| Moved | 1965 |
| New Address | 93 Cook St |
| Other Lot Structures | Shawsheen Valley Technical High School (Built 1970) |
In 1641, the Shawshin wilderness was granted to Cambridge. Cambridge granted several farms along the Shawshin River to important residents. One such farm was granted to Harvard College. The grant was for 100 acres, but a 1744 survey found it was actually 230 acres. Harvard College held the property for income via tenant farmers until 1754.
William Gleason purchased the farm in 1754 and his family held it until 1850, when his grandson William moved to the village. The farm grew hops and raised cattle.
Harvey Crosby owned the farm next and grew black beans, selling them to the army during the Civil War. Then it was bought by the Hunter family from Virginia. They tried to grow tobacco for three years, but it was unsuccessful, so they sold to Pollard. Pollard's wife refused to live on such a remote farm, so he quickly sold to Blake, who sold to Richardson in 1890.
In the mid-1960s, the town wanted to establish a vocational school, and this land was selected. The house was moved across the street to accommodate the new Shawsheen Valley Technical High School.
Harvard College has a number of documents pertaining to the maintenance of the farm in their Hollis Archives.