Jail Farm

3 acres of former agricultural land. This narrow strip of land which runs from Ventures Field to the Terrace Trails property was abandoned as a farm in the 1970's

From the Daily Hampshire Gazette, January 11, 1935 pages 1 and 15

House of correction raised much produce

Inmates who worked on plot in Meadows are in excellent physical condition.

Major A. G. Beckman, high sheriff of Hampshire County, reports that the house of corrections has the past year had the most successful season in farm produce in many years he says the inmates were very enthusiastic about this outdoor life and at the end of the season every inmate that's employed what is in excellent physical condition as the sun's rays in the Northampton Meadows were very alluring and helpful.

The county has some 3 acres of land in the Meadows where some 12 to 15 inmates are employed under the supervision of Eugene W Brennan an officer at the house of correction the main used on this project are chosen from among those who can best be trusted with this extent of outdoor freedom.

Produce from the farm helps materially to keep down the cost of operation of the institution not only through a supply of fresh vegetables but also through the food which is canned each year under the supervision of Harry W Miller an officer at the house of correction.

Farm produce raised and stored in the bins at the close of the 1934 season comprised: 311 bushels potatoes, 160 bushels of beets, 95 bushels of carrots, 135 bushels of turnips, 25 bushels of parsnips,15 bushels shell beans. There was also put up the following: 1800 dill pickles, 398 gallon cans string beans, 532 gallons canned tomatoes, 1 ton of cabbage which was made into four large barrels of sauerkraut.
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Beside the above which was placed in the store room the men were fed fresh vegetables from the farm during the season as follows: sweet corn, Swiss chard, radishes, tomatoes, peas, and spinach.  During the 1934 year the only vegetables purchase for the jail was 15 bushels potatoes as there were enough of the 1933 crop the last through the season.

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