Historic locations are aplenty in South County, giving residents tons of places to explore while learning about the region’s past.
Casey Farm, in Narragansett’s Saunderstown village, is one such venue, as it has a lengthy history in the area, including a farmhouse constructed sometime around 1750.
Today, Casey Farm remains in operation and is open to the public. You can buy organic produce, visit the museum, or wander the property on your visit, giving you the opportunity to get up close to one of Rhode Island’s oldest facilities.
Here’s a look at the past and present of Casey Farm in Saunderstown, Rhode Island.
The Farm’s History
Although descendants of the Casey family originally purchased the 300-acre plot of land that is now home to the farm in 1702, its history is actually far more extensive than that.
That’s because it’s believed that the Narragansett nation lived in the area starting 10,000 years ago because of the land’s location near Narragansett Bay and its fertile soil. In fact, archaeologists have even discovered stone tools on the farm.
In 1659, a group of investors from Massachusetts and Connecticut purchased over 5,330 acres between Narragansett Bay and the Pettaquamscutt River. The land changed hands multiple times over the next few years before it was finally bought in 1702 by Joseph Morey, an ancestor of the Casey family.
Morey immediately gifted the land to his daughter, Mary, who passed the land to her son, Daniel Coggeshall Jr. It was Daniel Coggeshall Jr. and his wife, Mary, who built the farmhouse the remains on the property.
Daniel’s daughter, Abigail, was married to a man named Silas Casey. But before Daniel could pass the farm onto his daughter, it was taken away from him by Benjamin Gardiner because he failed to pay his mortgage.
Gardiner held the property between 1774 and 1783 when he returned it to the Casey family. Silas Casey was a successful businessman who eventually sold part of the property to his father, Thomas Casey, before transferring the rest to his son, Wanton Casey.
Wanton Casey’s son, Thomas Goodale Casey, eventually took control of the farm in the 1800s and made significant improvements. He then passed the farm to his nephew, Thomas Lincoln Casey, who moved to Washington and rented the house to the Gould family.
The Gould family lived in the house for a few years, with the Caseys returning to summer there.
The farm stayed in the Casey family until 1955, with the passing of Lillian Casey. Lillian and her husband, Edward, had no heirs, so they donated the farm to Historic New England, and the organization has maintained and operated the historic facility ever since.
The Farmers’ Market
Through the efforts of Historic New England, Casey Farm remains in operation. Organic produce is grown on the farm every spring and summer, and there’s a farmers’ market that residents can attend every Saturday between the middle of May and the end of October.
Visiting this market is not only a great way to pick up some local produce for your new home, but it also gives you the chance to check out one of the locations that gave South County its start over 300 years ago.
The farm has a CSA program, too, where you can buy a share of the crop and receive a box of fresh produce every week throughout the summer.
On-Site Museum
There are multiple historic buildings on Casey Farm, some of which remain in operation. The corral has three buildings – the cow barn, the horse barn, and the carriage house – constructed in the 19th and 20th centuries. There are several stand-alone buildings throughout the farm, as well.
In addition to the farm buildings, the farmhouse remains intact and is set up as a museum. The facility features dozens of family heirlooms, including clocks, portraits, awards, and porcelain.
You can also explore the family cemetery, which is home to the gravesites of Silas Casey, a Civil War general, and Edward Pearce Casey, architect of the Washington Monument.
Organized tours are available, too, giving you further insight into the footprint left behind by one of Rhode Island’s most prominent families.
King Preserve
After visiting the farm, it’s possible to do some hiking through the King Preserve, which has a parking area just north of the main house. The trails here head through the woods behind the farm, eventually reaching an incredible beach on the Pettaquamscutt River.
Keep in mind that the preserve is also a hunting area, so you’ll want to wear high-visibility clothing during hunting season and keep a close eye on your dog if you’re taking it for a walk.
Getting to Know South County
As you get established in South County and begin learning a bit about the community, you’ll undoubtedly come across historical places to explore. There are numerous old farmhouses and mansions in the area, each of which has a unique past offering insight into the region as a whole.
Casey Farm is a significant part of South County’s history not only because it’s still in operation after over 300 years but also because it was one of the first pieces of land legally purchased by Europeans in Rhode Island.
Your summers in South County will have a lot of activity, one of which could involve stopping by Casey Farm on Boston Neck Road in Saunderstown.