Station Post Text: You are standing by Nourse Brook, one of the headwaters of the Assabet River.  The brook flows north into George H. Nichols Reservoir near the Mill Pond School. The stone and concrete dam creating this pond is over 150 years old.  The brook has always been a reliable source of water for the farm, even in the driest summers.  It was the source of drinking water for the house until the Town extended its water mains along Nourse Street.  Today its principal use is to provide water to irrigate the farm’s crops. Our irrigation pump is standing on the left side of the pond.  It is used to irrigate the nearby fields.

Traditionally, ice was cut from the pond in the winter and stored in an ice house (no longer in existence) below the pond. The ice was used for cooling milk at the barn, prior to its shipment.

Notice the fencing on either side of this road. It is used to contain the cattle and horses that graze in the fields during the spring, summer, and fall. The horses that graze here are Percherons, traditional draft or working horses. Many of you may recognize Molly, the white draft horse. We also have three black horses – Precious a mare and her two colts – May and Ollie. You can identify Precious by her somewhat shorter tail.