Rangeley in Franklin County, Maine — The American Northeast (New England)
The Whip Willow Farm / La ferme de Whip Willow
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 11, 2008
1. The Whip Willow Farm / La ferme de Whip Willow Marker
Farm, tavern, dance hall, boarding house, post office, or library?
First explored by Europeans in 1760, settlers came to Rangeley in the early 1800s to farm and to harvest the abundant timber in the mountains. Early settlers cleared land to grow food and raise livestock.
Over time, farms like the Lamb family's Whip Willow Farm that once occupied this site evolved to meet the changing needs of the growing community. This working farm also served Rangeley as the first tavern, post office, and lending library, as well as a dance hall and boarding house.
Generations of the Hinkley and Lamb families were born, lived, and labored on this site, once a farm. (Here, circa 1900) Like many farmers, the owners patched together a living, turning to many other occupations to earn cash. INSET: Team of work horses and Virgil Lamb who married the author of the poem.
Ferme, taverne, salle de bal, pension de famille, poste ou bibliothèque?
Les explorateurs européens sont arrivés à Rangeley en 1760 et les premiers colons s'y sont installés au début des années
this page online
Avec le temps, des fermes comme Whip Willow de la famille Lamb qui occupait ce site ont évolué pour faire face aux besoins de la population croissante. En plus de ses fonctions agricoles, la ferme a servi à Rangeley de première taverne, de poste, de bibliothèque, et aussi de salle de bal et de pension de famille.
Les familles Hinkley et Lamb sont nées, ont vécu et travaillé pendant des générations sur le site de cette ancienne ferme. (Ici, vers 1900) Comme de nombreux fermiers, les propriétaires devaient varier leurs occupations pour survivre et gagner leur vie. ENCART: Attelage de chevaux de trait et Virgil Lamb, mari de l’auteur du poème.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1760.
Location. 44° 57.111′ N, 70° 38.309′ W. Marker is in Rangeley, Maine, in Franklin County. Marker is on Main Street (Maine Route 4) just south of Dallas Hill Road, on the right when traveling south. Marker is located at the south end of the Whip Willow Farm Overlook, a scenic pull-out and parking lot overlooking Rangeley Lake. Touch for map. Marker is in this post
2. Marker detail: Whip Willow Cake Shop poem
Years and years ago, when Rangeley was young,
Home through the woods came a horse and pung
Driven by Grandma; she’d forgotten the whip
When she left, so she stopped and broke off a slip
Of a willow. Pulling up in the dooryard that night,
The whip was stuck in the ground, upright,
Forgotten. Taking root, it grew and became
The “Whip Willow.” See now, how I came by a name!
Tel. 16-14
Ruth E. Hinkley, Prop.
Rangeley, Maine.
Home through the woods came a horse and pung
Driven by Grandma; she’d forgotten the whip
When she left, so she stopped and broke off a slip
Of a willow. Pulling up in the dooryard that night,
The whip was stuck in the ground, upright,
Forgotten. Taking root, it grew and became
The “Whip Willow.” See now, how I came by a name!
Tel. 16-14
Ruth E. Hinkley, Prop.
Rangeley, Maine.
Other nearby markers. At least 1 other marker is within walking distance of this marker. Trophy Trout Discovered / La découverte de truites trophées (here, next to this marker).
3. The Whip Willow Farm / La ferme de Whip Willow Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on April 19, 2020. It was originally submitted on April 18, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 161 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 19, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
