Town struggles to save farmland

The 74-acre Sunny Rock Farm, tucked in a corner of north Walpole and run by the Buttimer family for generations, was a thriving operation from the early 1920s until about 12 years ago, when there were no Buttimers able to tend the farm.

Eight acres of Sunny Rock were recently sold by the family for luxury homes. The Trust for Public Land, working with the local Citizens for Sunny Rock Farm, believes another 30 homes could be built on the farm’s remaining acres unless the land is protected.

The trust put down a deposit to keep the $2.95 million farm off the market until June 15. It has secured a $1 million pledge from an anonymous source and a second pledge for $100,000 from the town’s conservation commission. But an additional $1.85 million is needed to meet the agreed-upon price.

“We have a long way to go,’’ said Darci Schofield, the organization’s project manager. The trust has done much of the title work, appraisals, and environmental assessments on the property, Schofield said.

The Trust for Public Land and Citizens for Sunny Rock Farm say they have a vision for the land. Eight acres would be reserved for athletic fields, an acknowledged need in town. A large portion would be leased to a farmer willing to grow food for the community, food pantry, Walpole schools, and local restaurants. Wooded areas would serve as wildlife habitat and allow for passive recreation such as hiking. The property, once purchased, would be donated to the town and overseen by the local conservation commission.

Schofield said the trust has a great deal of experience in agricultural restoration. “We’ve done a lot of farm projects in Massachusetts and brought them back to active agriculture,’’ she said.

Longtime residents recall buying their milk, fresh eggs, produce, and much-sought-after “Buttimer pies’’ from the Sunny Rock Farm for decades. Families still have fond memories of choosing pumpkins and mums there, and enjoying tractor-pulled hayrides during the fall. Sunny Rock was also the headquarters of the local 4-H club, where youngsters raised goats, sheep, poultry, and rabbits.

“For people who grew up here, that’s where everyone went to get our turkeys, pies, and Christmas trees,’’ said Matt Fearnley, a Citizens for Sunny Rock Farm member. “The henhouse is still there.’’

Henrietta and John Buttimer, natives of Ireland, lived in Dedham for a year before buying the farm property in 1921. Their sons, John and George, later took over the operation. Eggs and glass-bottled milk were delivered in the family’s “woody’’ station wagon. Goods were later sold at Sunny Rock’s farm stand.

“John was the business head in the family, and he put the store up,’’ said Marjorie Buttimer, a Walpole native who married the younger John and has lived on the farm since 1951. “Everybody in town could tell you it was really a nice store, with a potbelly stove and everything.’’ Both Buttimer brothers are now dead.

Schofield said the Trust for Public Land has been talking to local officials for more than a year. “The Board of Selectmen voted to accept the donation of the property if the purchase price is raised, but the selectmen chose not to bring public money to the project,’’ she said.

Selectmen chairman Eric Kraus confirmed his board’s interest in preserving the farm, but not through a tax increase. “There are other priorities right now, so the timing isn’t right,’’ Kraus said.

Resident Betty Cottrell, who supports the Sunny Rock Farm proposal as long as her taxes don’t go up, said there were about 20 farms when she moved to town in 1945. The Buttimers, she said, had one of the larger operations. “They were well known all over,’’ Cottrell said. “All the farms are gone now, and I miss them.’’ She said she hopes preservationists can save the farm, “but if it involves another override, I wouldn’t be in favor of that.’’

The slogan of the farm supporters, “We’re going to rock the farm,’’ reflects their enthusiasm, Schofield said. Support for the farm is growing. The Citizens for Sunny Rock Farm’s facebook page, listed under the group’s name, grew from 10 to 87 members in just two weeks.

Citizens for Sunny Rock Farm member John Stadtler said the financial focus is currently on getting large donations. Then smaller fund-raisers will be planned. The group hopes its efforts meet with success.

“This was the last working farm in Walpole, and we could return it to that,’’ Stadtler said.

The trust and the citizens group have scheduled a public walking tour of Sunny Rock for 10 a.m. to noon on Feb. 11, hoping to spread their enthusiasm that day and generate further financial support.

Christine Legere can be reached at christinelegere@yahoo.com.