Ive been asked to tell about living on the famous Milky Way Farm. We moved there in l947 when I was eight years old. Daddy was foreman of the whiteface dairy Hereford barn. They had a herd of over 200. The farm was very modern for its time. The cows were milked by machine even at that early date. He had to go to work at 2 a.m. and 2 p.m. for that many cattle. To give a little history of those of you who do not know about the farm, it was built by Frank Mars of the Mars candy fortune. He purchased 2,805 acres near Lynville, Tennessee. On this farm he built 30 barns, 70 cottages, and the world famous crooked sheep barn, that was in Ripleys Believe It or Not. He also built his own mausoleum on a site overlooking the farm. He died at the age of 51 and was in the mausoleum until 1941 when his wife moved him to Chicago. In l945 the farm sold to Albert Noe. We lived there when Noe owned the farm. It was a wonderful life. The farm was self-sufficient. We did not have to pay rent, utilities, or water bills. Our home was modest but we had living, dining, kitchen, two bedrooms and a bath. These cottages were for the workers on the farm. Mars had built for himself a 2,500 sq. ft. home that we called The Club House. It has 20 bedrooms and a dining room table that seats 40. At that time, there was a tennis court and swimming pool. Mr. Mars also bred and sold white-face show Herefords. People came from all over the United States to buy off-spring of his famous bulls. I have a catalog of one of their sales. My mother noted that one sold for $28,000. Remember this was in the early 50s. The farm was beautiful. Flowers, magnolias and fruit trees were every where. The children of all of the workers could roam the farm with no fear because all the families knew each other. The entire 2,800 acres had white rail fences surrounding the farm and different areas. It was a beautiful place and even though we didnt have much money, I didnt know we were poor. We were rich beyond belief with beauty and happiness on that farm. We lived there until I was in the 12th grade. Mama and Daddy finally owned their own little farm adjoining Milky Way. My daddy had a heart attack in front of one of the barns at the age of 67. He was still working for the owner (the farm sold several times). Another interesting note that a lot may not know is that Buddy and Billy May of Athens owned the farm at one time. They turn the Club House (or Manor) into a corporate bed and breakfast. After Buddys death, Billy sold. It was in disrepair after that because the next owners went bankrupt. Now the Jones family is renovating the farm and trying to bring it back to its glory.
Posted on: Fri, 01 Aug 2014 00:27:18 +0000