Fire ravages Kemmerer Farm

Fire ravages Kemmerer Farm

The sign at the entrance to Kemmerer Farm in Stanfordville in January 2023 displays its status as a Centennial Farm.

Photo provided

STANFORDVILLE — A fire destroyed two hay barns and all the farming equipment at Kemmerer Farm in Stanfordville Thursday, July 18.

Fire companies from Stanfordville, Millbrook and neighboring towns fought to contain the fire, but they couldn’t stop it from devastating the property. Investigators have not released the cause.

John Kemmerer and his family have lived in the area for decades. John owns the 100-year-old farm which comprises more than 100 acres. The farm is foundational to the area’s agricultural history and setting, and was named one of two Century Farms at the New York State Agricultural Society’s annual meeting on Jan. 12, 2023.

Emily Hay, John’s daughter, formed the Centennial Farm Foundation. “The goal of CFF is to help support centennial farm workers through debt fulfillment grants along with business planning for the future and property tax aid assistance.”

A GoFundMe has been set up to benefit the Kemmerers as they begin to rebuild their farm. Wendy Burton, supervisor of the Town of Stanford, calls upon the community for support for the Kemmerers during this challenging time. In a message to the community she wrote: “Now is the moment we can come together as a community and give back to this remarkable family. Together we can ease the burden of this terrible event for the Kemmerers.”

Latest News

Stanford home market sees nine sales in July and August

Built in 1820, 1168 Bangall Amenia Road sold for $875,000 on July 31 with the transfer recorded in August. It has a Millbrook post office and is located in the Webutuck school district.

Christine Bates

STANFORD — The Town of Stanford with nine transfers in two months reached a median price in August of $573,000 for single family homes, still below Stanford’s all-time median high in August 2024 of $640,000.

At the beginning of October there is a large inventory of single-family homes listed for sale with only six of the 18 homes listed for below the median price of $573,000 and seven above $1 million.

Keep ReadingShow less
Dutchess County Sheriff’s Report
Village of Millerton offices on Route 22
John Coston

Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office Harlem Valley area activity reportSept. 18 to Sept. 30.

Sept. 23 — Deputies responded to 1542 State Route 292 in the Town of Pawling for the report of a suspicious vehicle at that location. Investigation resulted in the arrest of Sebastian Quiroga, age 26, for aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in the third degree. Quiroga to appear in the Town of Pawling court at a later date.

Keep ReadingShow less
Out on the trail
Nathan Miller

Hunt club members and friends gathered near Pugsley Hill at the historic Wethersfield Estate and Gardens in Amenia for the opening meet of the 2025-2026 Millbrook Hunt Club season on Saturday, Oct. 4. Foxhunters took off from Wethersfield’s hilltop gardens just after 8 a.m. for a hunting jaunt around Amenia’s countryside.

Millbrook Library dedicates pollinator pathway garden

Joining in the fun at the dedication of the new pollinator pathway garden at The Millbrook Library on Saturday, Oct. 4, local expert gardener Maryanne Snow Pitts provides information about a planting to Lorraine Mirabella of Poughkeepsie.

Leila Hawken

MILLBROOK — Participating in a patchwork of libraries that have planted pollinator pathway gardens to attract insects and birds to their native plantings was one of the accomplishments being celebrated at the dedication of a new pollinator garden at the Millbrook Library on Saturday, Oct. 4.

“A lot of work went into it,” said Emma Sweeney, past President of the Millbrook Garden Club, who started the local library’s initiative two years ago.

Keep ReadingShow less