Winfield's Farm - part 2

I used Google Earth to get an approximate location and directions to the farm. When we turned onto Mud Run road I felt confident, and excited. We then turned west on Britton which was a gravel road. My phone GPS told me to we were here and we turned up a driveway. I noted that the mailbox read Bond which was my uncle Bill's name. When we arrived I knew this was not the place. My heart sank a little.

So we go back to Britton and turn right. Immediately we see the sign that reads Trail 470. We start up the hill. The road is gravel and the surface is uneven. And the trees make it look eerie. The road is so narrow only one car can pass at a time. We pass a very old barn on our left. Then, after 1/2 mile we emerge to a clearing that hooks left.

We can see a house. Two large black dogs come out barking. We don’t get out of our cars. Eventually a man comes out of the house and approaches my car. I roll down the window and say “Hi, my name is Daryle Watson and we are looking for my great-grandfather Winfield’s farm”. He replies, “Yes, this is Winfield’s farm”. We couldn't believe it. Could this really be Winfield's farm? The farm where our grandfathers and their sister Rosa were raised.

We got out of the cars and started taking pictures. The feeling is almost surreal. But something doesn't look right. I see no spring and the house should be further away.

The owner’s name was Tim and he and his wife have lived here for thirty years. I asked about the spring and he pointed to a shed that was built over the original spring. A spring house, of course. This was the place. Everything was here like I remembered it, but my memory was that of a young boy. That's it. Everything would appear bigger. It's perspective.

Then he motioned us to follow him behind the house. He led us to the steps leading down to the cellar. On the first step was this inscription.

"W.S. & B.A. Watson"

This was final confirmation. Winfield had raised his family on this farm. His mother Mary lived here as well. But the original barns used for sheep and cattle were long gone. We took a walk hoping to get a view of the lake, but the years and neglect had hidden the lake.