n the months following a July fire that caused an estimated $1 million in damage to his farm equipment, local farmer John Kemmerer is rebuilding and re-equipping, remaining grateful for community support. One of the first essential items to be purchased was a John Deere tractor.
STANFORD — News spread rapidly in the aftermath of a devastating barn fire last July that caused an estimated $1 million in damage to Stanfordville farmer John Kemmerer’s stored equipment and hay. Response was quick as his wide community of friends sprang into action to raise funds to assist with purchasing new equipment.
Progress in acquiring replacements for the farm equipment has been steady, evidenced during a conversation with Kemmerer on Saturday, Nov. 23.
The fire on the 100 acre hay farm had raged on Thursday, July 18, a hot blaze fueled by stored hay, ruining the equipment stored in the affected barns.
Three barns, the office, and all equipment had been lost in the fire, along with a huge percentage of the stored hay, Stanford Town Supervisor Wendy Burton said.
“Multiple area fire companies assisted in fighting the fire,” Burton said. “It smoldered for many days.”
Since the fire, Kemmerer said he has purchased numerous pieces of equipment, including a 2014 Ford F530 flatbed truck, a JCB hay telehandler and a Norden hay accumulator, and a John Deere 348 baler. He has also purchased a New Holland skid steer.
Coming in January will be a new Quonset-shaped metal structure measuring 40 x 80 x 20 to store hay, Kemmerer said, pleased to be anticipating its delivery. Other barns on the property offer sufficient winter storage space for the equipment, Kemmerer said.
Since the fire, equipment purchase costs have been partly covered by insurance and largely covered by the generosity of friends and community residents.
“The community outpouring was just amazing,” Kemmerer said. He particularly noted the efforts of Dani Nicholson, who he said was instrumental in helping with the fundraising effort by visiting local businesses and community members who gave generously.
“There were just so many local friends,” Kemmerer said.
An early thought of town supervisor Burton’s had been, “We can do a fundraiser and maybe even a barn raising.” She recalled that volunteers had built a structure in the town park; perhaps they could do a barn raising.
Immediately following the fire, residents Julia Descoteaux and Steve Bruman launched a GoFundMe effort and a Kemmerer family friend, Courtney Haire, launched a similar fundraiser. By combining their efforts, they were able to reach further out into the community. All proceeds went directly to the Kemmerers, Burton said.
“Money started coming in immediately and it’s continued for quite a long time,” Burton said, roughly estimating total proceeds of $100,000 as of late October.
A live auction at Bangall Works had raised $25,000, enabling Kemmerer to purchase a used John Deere tractor that is in daily use.
“They are a beautiful family; the community came together to help,” Burton said. “What you put out into the world comes back to you.”
In the wake of the violent hurricanes and flooding experienced in North Carolina in the fall, Kemmerer responded with a shipment of hay to help farmers facing extreme loss.
Burton said the Kemmerer family’s impulses have consistently been to help their community’s needs. Accordingly, John Kemmerer sent a load of horse-quality hay to North Carolina. Kemmerer recalled the shipment consisted of 18 to 20 round bales. He added that he plans to send more soon.
One round bale is equivalent to 15 to 18 regular square bales, Kemmerer said. Round bales are generally more economical for farmers than purchasing standard square ones, he added.
Kemmerer’s daughter, Emily Hay, has started a family foundation, Century Farms Foundation Inc., to provide aid to long-established small farms and farmers in need. A goal is to sustain small family farms facing daunting competition from agribusiness ventures.
SALISBURY — David Graeme Townsend was born July 23, 1930, in Mineola, New York, to Rachel Townsend (Maxtone-Graham) and Greenough Townsend. David and his older brother Antone grew up in New York City and Long Island. Some of his early life was spent in Scotland in his mother’s family home, Cultoquhey, which is near Perth in the Highlands. Here he enjoyed summers with all his Maxtone-Graham cousins. Many of these cousins would remain close with David for his entire life. One cousin, Charles Smythe, even came to America to live with David and his family during the war where Charles became like a brother to David and Antone. David went to St. George’s in Newport, Rhode Island for a while and then on to Lawrenceville in New Jersey. He finished high school at the Basil Patterson School in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Immediately after high school, David enrolled in the US Marine Corps and served two tours in the Korean War. He was always very proud of his military service. After his service David attended the Sorbonne University in Paris for two years and then the University of Madrid for one year. Even though David never finished his formal education, he always remained an avid student of history and language. In his travels his skill with foreign languages was sometimes a problem because he spoke with such a good accent that it was sometimes falsely assumed that he was fluent.
David always believed that travel was important in life. One of his great trips was in the 1950s when he rode from England to Turkey on his motorcycle. Throughout his life travel with his friends and family created many fond memories. Eventually he returned to New York City, where he worked for various Wall Street firms and H&R Block. There he became skilled as an investor, which would serve him well throughout his life.
In 1958, at a party in Manhattan searching for a bathroom, David serendipitously found himself in the adjacent apartment. There he found the love of his life Helen Gaylord. David and Helen dated for a couple of years before getting married Nov. 12, 1960 in Rockford, Illinois. For the next 14 years they lived and worked in New York City. Sheila was born in 1963, and Lila followed in 1967. In 1963 they bought an old Connecticut farmhouse in Amesville, from David’s aunt, who had owned the property for forty years. The home, fondly called River House due to its proximity to the Housatonic River, was used as a weekend and summer house until 1974 when the family moved to Connecticut permanently. Helen and David would live at River House for 54 years and became fixtures in the Amesville community. Over the years, David was involved in various ventures: owning a model train store, operating six vacation cottages by the Housatonic River, and buying and selling land. He also continued to work in the investment world well into his nineties. David loved country life and developed many lifelong passions. He learned to ski at 44, built and sailed iceboats, fly fished, water skied on the local lakes, constructed an elaborate model railroad in his basement, and hiked with his dogs on the nearby Appalachian Trail. David and Helen always had at least two dogs and a few cats as well as guinea pigs and fish at one time!
David always loved boats and trains. His first boat was called Moonraker and was kept on Long Island. Daystrar was a small water ski boat he used on Twin Lakes and took on summer camping trips to Lake George and Thousand Islands, New York. He moved on to a Grand Banks Cabin Cruiser in the mid-1980s. He named the boat La Bayadere (a famous ballet) in tribute to Helen, who was a dancer. He would embark on many adventures in this boat up and down the East Coast from Mystic, Connecticut to Bar Harbor, Maine. His most ambitious trip took him to the northern end of Labrador, Canada in 1992. David enlisted many friends and family members to “crew the boat”. He also helped a man on the West Coast captain his boat, Grocery Boy, from Seattle to Alaska, again including many friends and family members to assist with the journey. His final boat was a smaller one called Swallow that he kept near his house in Bath, Maine. Trains were another passion of David’s. He went on many trips by train and enjoyed driving around with his “train nut” friends simply to watch passing trains. His daughters remember being forced to picnic in a garbage dump on a western road trip just to catch a glimpse of an oncoming train! David and Helen continued to travel well into their eighties with France and Scotland being favorite destinations but also more exotic locations like Patagonia. They also loved spending time with their granddaughters Claire and Danika Nimlos and attended all their high school and college graduations as well as many soccer games and concerts.
In 2017 David and Helen moved to Falmouth, Maine permanently to be near family. Helen preceded David in death December 24, 2022. In November 2023, David went on one final cruise up the East Coast to Nova Scotia at the age of 93 on the Serenade of the Seas with son-in-law (Mark Nimlos), close friends (Doug Saksa/Steve Ann and Mark Corrigan), and his caregiver (Shelly).
On November 17, 2024, David died peacefully at his home in Falmouth, Maine with family and his rescue cat Nala by his side. He is survived by daughters; Lila Portland, Maine and Sheila (Mark Nimlos), Golden, Colorado; granddaughters Claire Nimlos (Peter Nimlos), Arvada, Colorado and Danika Nimlos, Pasadena, California; brother Antone Townsend, Highlands Ranch, Colorado; niece Maggie Townsend, Highlands Ranch, Colorado, Goddaughter Elspeth Hilbert, Santa Fe, New Mexico, and California family; Joan, Hunt, Corie, Riette (Ralph Fallant), and Sean Burdick, Redwood City, California.
A memorial will be held Oct. 11, 2025, in Falls Village, time and place to be announced.
Donations in lieu of flowers can be sent to: Great Mountain Forest, 10 Station Place, P.O. Box 534 Norfolk, CT 06058 greatmountainforest.org
Please visit www.lindquistfuneralhome.com to view David’s tribute page and to sign his online guestbook.
EAST CANAAN — Richard George Ralph, 84, a beloved father, grandfather, and friend, passed away peacefully on Dec. 4, 2024, at his home in East Canaan, surrounded by his family. Born on Sept. 23, 1940, in Cornwall, Connecticut, he was the son of the late Marie (Kennedy) Ralph Negri and George Yeaton Ralph Jr.
Richard was the proud owner and operator of Richard Ralph and Son Rubbish Removal for many years. Known for his strong work ethic and reliability, he built a trusted business that served the community. After his retirement, his son Richard took over the reins, continuing the family tradition. Richard’s friendly demeanor meant that there weren’t many in the area who didn’t know him, and all were met with warm greetings and hearty waves.
Richard was known for his love of guitar playing and singing. From a young age, music was his lifelong passion. His vibrant presence could often be found at celebrations and events, where he would eagerly get up with the band and sing a song. Richard’s enthusiasm for music brought joy to everyone around him.
He leaves behind his children; daughter Leona Riley and her husband William of Clayton, North Carolina, and son Richard Ralph and his wife Joel of East Canaan. Affectionately known as “Papa Richard,” he is also survived by seven grandchildren; Holli (Riley) Dunlavey and her husband Jeff, Kristen (Riley) Ford and her husband Jon, Ashley (Riley) Riva and her husband Tyler, Ashley Chance, Jessica (Ralph) King and her husband Jordan, Justin Ralph and his fiancée Taylor Wheeler, and Lauren Ralph, as well as sixteen great-grandchildren.
Richard is also survived by three siblings; Donna (Ralph) Roux of Canaan, Stanley Ralph of Lakeville, and David Ralph of Salisbury, along with many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his beloved wife of nearly 50 years, Cecelia (Tanner) Ralph, his brother Burton Veronesi, and his sisters Valerie (Ralph) Poley and Virginia (Ralph) Cables.
Services will be private at the family’s request. The Ralph family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to all who shared in Richard’s life, and they invite all who knew him to celebrate his memory with a donation to the Canaan VFW Couch Pipa Post 6851, 104 South Canaan Road, Canaan, CT 06018.
NORFOLK — Charles H. “Chip” Collins, 70, died peacefully on Nov. 29, 2024, after a long illness with dementia. He was a beloved husband, father, son, brother, and friend. Chip was a visionary leader whose life and work left a lasting im pact in land and wildlife conservation.
Chip was born Oct. 20, 1954, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Francis H. Collins and Nancy C. Collins. He graduated from St. Mark’s School in 1973, and went on to study history at Colorado College, earning his bach elor’s degree in 1977. In 1992, Chip earned a master’s degree in environmental studies from the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies.
Chip’s job at the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy marked the start of a distinguished 40-year career dedicated to protecting the natural world. He served in several influential roles, including Colorado State Director for The Nature Conservancy and Vice President of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. In 1986, Chip was named the first Executive Director of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. After graduate school, Chip moved to Massachusetts to serve as Vice President of Winslow Management, an environmental investment management firm. In 1995, Chip co-founded The Forestland Group, LLC, a timberland investment management organization, where he served as Managing Director until his retirement in 2014.
Chip married Anne Childs in 1989, and together they raised three children, Teddy, Caroline, and Alice, in Watertown, Massachusetts. Being a dad was Chip’s most cherished role in life. In addition to his professional work, Chip served on the Board of Directors for the Land Trust Alliance, the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, the Institute for Ecosystem Studies, Great Mountain Forest, the Student Conservation Association, the Quebec-Labrador Foundation, Shady Hill School, and the Jane Coffin Childs Fund for Cancer Research.
Chip’s dedication to the environment was matched only by his deep love for wild places and the species that inhabit them. An avid outdoorsman, Chip traveled widely on fishing and hunting trips. He loved growing up on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, calling waterfowl with his dad and two brothers, and spending his summers on Lake Muskoka and Deer Lake in Ontario. He loved exploring the mountains of Colorado and the woods of Northwestern Connecticut.
Chip received exceptional care from many compassionate caregivers as his health declined. He never lost his love for the outdoors. Chip is survived by his wife, three children, daughter-in-law, Tory Collins, his mother, and his siblings, Alice Collins, Francis “Pat” Collins, and Edison “Eddie” Collins, along with many loved family members. A service will be held at Story Chapel in Mount Auburn Cemetery , Cambridge, Mass., at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 29, 2025. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the conser vation organization of your choice.
The Smithfield Church’s traditional Christmas Concert and Tea drew an enthusiastic overflow audience on Saturday, Dec. 7, to hear a varied holiday program performed by the Smithfield Chamber Orchestra, the final concert of the Bang Family Concert Series. The orchestra acknowledged the standing ovation at the concert’s end.
AMENIA — Long a tradition within the Smithfield Valley, the annual Smithfield Church Christmas Concert and Tea thrilled an overflow audience on Saturday, Dec. 7. In addition to offering a varied selection of music within its historically authentic sanctuary space, the concert was dedicated to the memory of celebrated organist Will Carter of Pine Plains.
Performing under the baton of conductor Milt Lee, the Smithfield Chamber Orchestra of 14 members played a varied program of seasonal holiday music, along with Brazilian jazz, folk, Broadway and as an encore, “Jingle Bell Rock.” The audience got into the act with a sing-along portion that proved to be so successful it will likely become part of the annual tradition.
This year’s concert carried additional importance with the dedication of a plaque to the memory of organist Will Carter who in 2008 was the first featured solo organist to perform at the Christmas Concert and Tea. He went on to become the church’s regular organist for Sunday services. The plaque will be permanently affixed near the 1893 Johnson and Sons tracker organ that Carter relished playing. Carter died in the spring of this year.
Matt Finley, Director of the Smithfield Chamber Orchestra and a Pine Plains resident, noted that he first met Carter in Pine Plains, having learned that Carter was the owner and proprietor of the Pine Plains Wine and Spirits Shop, just 200 feet from Finley’s home. The musical connection was made.
Carter had served as church organist at Riverside Church and St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York. He was twice decorated by Queen Elizabeth II for his contributions to church music. His celebrated tenure at The Smithfield Church provided the concluding chapter in his professional performing life.
To view the concert video, go to www.thesmithfieldchurch.org.
