The only farm left in the mid
island area that still keeps horses for farm work is that of Edwin
Edwards of Middle Island, located north of Middle Island about a
mile on Church Lane to the settlement in early years called
Swezeytown but there are no families left there by the name of
Swezey now.
The Edwards farm
has been in the family for over 150 years, with several generations
of Edwards living on and working the farm. Edwin Edwards’ father,
George N. Edwards, was born on the farm and worked it all his life
until his death a few years ago at over 80 years of age.
The farm now is operated
mainly as a dairy farm with crops of hay and corn grown for feed for
the cows on the 50-acre farm. In the years past it was a general
farm and fine crops of sweet corn, strawberries, and other
vegetables were grown here. Mr. Edwards is the last farmer in this
section to keep a team of horses and use them for cultivating and
other farm work, although he had modern equipment also of tractors
and other farm machines. In the years past some of the finest
strawberries grown in this part of the Island were raised on this
farm and buyers of produce came here from the surrounding villages
to purchase them and the other fine vegetables grown here.
A part of the farm known as
“Chestnut Pound” is located a half mile away from the main farm and
has a clay sub soil that holds the moisture so the ground never
dries out and no irrigation is needed. Chestnut Pound got its name
from the forest of chestnut trees that grew in the woods in that
area years ago before the blight killed all the chestnut trees on
Long Island. The tall chestnut trees here were in great demand for
telephone poles and railroad ties and provided an important work for
the farmers during the winter months and brought in considerable
income at a time when money was scarce on the farm.
Mr. Edwards is a great lover
of animals so continues to keep a team of well cared for horses in
addition to pigs, chickens, and dairy cows.