The Buildings

When Hoagland Gates purchased the core portion of the Broadlands Property in 1929, many of the earlier farm buildings were extant. Hoagland dismantled the severely deteriorated fieldstone farm house. He reused the stone for new barnyard walls and salvaged interior woodwork and fixtures, such as paneling, mantels, shutters, stair rails, and doors, for use in his new tenant houses. The farm’s existing bank barn, granary, and wagon house were retained and incorporated into the layout of Gates’ new farmstead.

Hoagland Gates built three one-and one-half story tenant houses on the property, all within the primary farmstead cluster. He had also intended to build a main house, but after the stock market crash of 1929, the plan was put on hold, and two of the tenant houses were re-modeled over time for use by the family. A two-and-a-half-story dairy barn and an adjacent silo were also built around 1929. The complex of interconnected old and new buildings were arranged in a generally rectangular format and were linked by low stone walls to create an interior barnyard court, which all of the buildings opened onto and were focused upon.

This oblique aerial photograph of Broadlands Farm was taken during the 1970s. Although the surrounding farmland began to be rented to other farmers as early as the late 1950s, Hoagland Gates’ widow, Margaret, continued, with the help of her daughters and hired hands, to manage the core of the Broadlands complex throughout the third quarter of the 20th century. Margaret Gates died in 1981 and in 1988, the farm and the adjacent lands were sold for development.

The large bank barn at Broadlands served as the centerpiece of the farm’s agricultural life. The impressive building was constructed by Benjamin Bowen prior to 1855.

Listen as Anne Gates Copley talks about the Broadlands and its buildings.

Black and white photographs of the farm as it looked in 2013, taken as a part of a larger determination of eligibility for the property.

Black and white photographs of the farm as it looked in 2013, taken as a part of a larger determination of eligibility for the property.

Black and white photographs of the farm as it looked in 2013, taken as a part of a larger determination of eligibility for the property.

Black and white photographs of the farm as it looked in 2013, taken as a part of a larger determination of eligibility for the property.

Black and white photographs of the farm as it looked in 2013, taken as a part of a larger determination of eligibility for the property.

Black and white photographs of the farm as it looked in 2013, taken as a part of a larger determination of eligibility for the property.

Black and white photographs of the farm as it looked in 2013, taken as a part of a larger determination of eligibility for the property.

Black and white photographs of the farm as it looked in 2013, taken as a part of a larger determination of eligibility for the property.

Black and white photographs of the farm as it looked in 2013, taken as a part of a larger determination of eligibility for the property.

Black and white photographs of the farm as it looked in 2013, taken as a part of a larger determination of eligibility for the property.

Black and white photographs of the farm as it looked in 2013, taken as a part of a larger determination of eligibility for the property.

Black and white photographs of the farm as it looked in 2013, taken as a part of a larger determination of eligibility for the property.

Black and white photographs of the farm as it looked in 2013, taken as a part of a larger determination of eligibility for the property.

Black and white photographs of the farm as it looked in 2013, taken as a part of a larger determination of eligibility for the property.

Black and white photographs of the farm as it looked in 2013, taken as a part of a larger determination of eligibility for the property.

Black and white photographs of the farm as it looked in 2013, taken as a part of a larger determination of eligibility for the property.

Black and white photographs of the farm as it looked in 2013, taken as a part of a larger determination of eligibility for the property.

Black and white photographs of the farm as it looked in 2013, taken as a part of a larger determination of eligibility for the property.

Black and white photographs of the farm as it looked in 2013, taken as a part of a larger determination of eligibility for the property.

Black and white photographs of the farm as it looked in 2013, taken as a part of a larger determination of eligibility for the property.

Black and white photographs of the farm as it looked in 2013, taken as a part of a larger determination of eligibility for the property.

Black and white photographs of the farm as it looked in 2013, taken as a part of a larger determination of eligibility for the property.

Black and white photographs of the farm as it looked in 2013, taken as a part of a larger determination of eligibility for the property.

Black and white photographs of the farm as it looked in 2013, taken as a part of a larger determination of eligibility for the property.

State Historic Sites Inventory Form for Broadlands Farm

Determination of Eligibility Form for Broadlands Farm