Taylor-Bray Farm
Taylor-Bray Farm Preservation Association
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Explore the Farm
"I've lived here my whole life and had never been to the farm. I am kicking myself for it now!"
Whether you are a Cape Cod native, a wash-ashore or are vacationing on the Cape, a visit to Taylor-Bray Farm is well worthwhile. The Farm has been here since the days of the Plymouth Colony so needless to say, there is history here. But that's not all, take a look around; there's a lot to see and do
Samuel Taylor Farmhouse c1783
The house was built by Samuel Taylor shortly after he returned from service in the Revolutionary War. The house has been renovated and is furnished with period pieces. The summer kitchen has a rotating display of farm related items including a portion of the Bray Brothers Collection.
Black Flats Marsh & Boardwalk
Walk out the boardwalk at the farm. The view you will see is largely what Richard and Ruth Taylor saw when they came to this then isolated place in 1639. The Chapin Beach dunes are to the west and beyond them, Cape Cod Bay. The Town of Dennis, once part of Yarmouth, is on the far side of Chase Garden Creek running through the marsh.
The Animals
From its earliest days, the Farm has been home to a variety of animals and livestock. We don’t know what livestock the early Taylors or George and Willie Bray kept when they lived on the Farm. We do know Robert Williams raised prize winning sheep and, at one point, pigs were raised. We have our own livestock now.
So come say hello to them.
c1640 House Site
The original Taylor house was an “earthfast” (post in ground) hall and parlor house about 27′ by 18′ with a later 18th century addition. The hall, the larger room with the hearth, was the heart of home activity and the only heated space, while the smaller parlor was a reserved for adults. Children would have slept in the unfinished second floor.
Taylor-Bray Barn
The barn at Taylor-Bray Farm dates from the early 19th century with an extension added in the early 20th century. The barn served the Taylors, the Bray Brothers and the Williams and Karas families well. It has been a focal point of the farm’s festivals for more than 20 years. But it has clearly suffered the ravages of 200 years of New England winters. Now, with grants from the Community Preservation Fund, the barn is being restored.
Community Garden
For information about the garden and reserving a plot, contact the Town of Yarmouth Senior Center, (508) 394-7606.
Blueberry Patch
Taylor-Bray Rock & Plaque
This large glacial erratic was probably a landmark to Native peoples long before Richard “Of the Rock” Taylor settled here. The “rock” moniker was used by Yarmouth residents to distinguish him form another Richard Taylor in town in the 17th century. At some point, the Bray Brothers attached a commemorative plaque to the rock.
Native American Presence
Native peoples were familiar with this area they called Hockanom, a name still in use today. Archaeological evidence collected over several seasons of fieldwork at the farm document a rich pre-colonial past ranging from 10,000 years ago to just before the Taylors settled on the land about 1639.
The Caretaker House
For may years, the caretakers for the farm have lived there. The house is currently being used by the Taylor-Bray Farm Preservation Association while the barn and office space there is being renovated.
Samuel Taylor Farmhouse - c1783
The house was built by Samuel Taylor after he returned from service in the Revolutionary War. The recently renovated house is furnished with period pieces. There is a rotating display of farm related items in the summer kitchen including a portion of the George and William Bray collection.
The farmhouse is open during festivals and times listed in the events calendar on the home page. There are picnic tables near the farmhouse should you like to use them.
Visit the Animals
We have animals. It is a farm, after all. The friendliest animals have to be Henry and George, our goats. Chloe is our Scottish Highland cow, reclining in the pasture. Despite her size, she is quite gentle but with those long horns, you don’t want to get too close. Maybe some day, you’ll get a ride in the donkey cart we’re training Sam and Nestor to pull. We have a flock of chickens too. And of course, there are the sheep.
Come visit all of them. Any time is a good time to come but an especially good time is spring when the new lambs arrive.
Black Flats Marsh & Boardwalk
After you have seen the animals, walk out the boardwalk into Black Flats Marsh. The view into the marsh is largely what Richard and Ruth Taylor saw when they first came to this isolated farm in 1639. The Chapin Beach dunes are to the west or left and beyond them, Cape Cod Bay. The Town of Dennis, once part of Yarmouth, is on the far side of Chase Garden Creek and the marsh. In the spring or summer, you may see osprey nesting on a platform in the marsh about 100 yards to the north of the boardwalk.
Come to a Festival
The Sheep Festival is in June. Watch our sheep being sheared and Border Collies herd the sheep.
In October, enjoy the Fall Festival for hayrides, cider and pumpkins.
In December, visit the farm for your Christmas tree and other holiday items. Enjoy a hayride, weather permitting, and, of course, visit the animals.
Don McIntyre Trail
Come to the farm to enjoy the serenity of a quit walk through the woods along the Don McIntyre Trail. Take a hayride along the trail during a festival. If you have done that, you know how enjoyable that is. What you may not know is that taking that walk or hayride was made possible by the foresight and work of one man, Don McIntyre.
Taylor-Bray Bees
Did you know we are keeping bees here at Taylor-Bray Farm? One of our dedicated volunteers has reestablished a colony along the marsh near the blueberry patch. Our bees help to pollinate the blueberry patch, pumpkin patch and the community garden plants. Farm neighbors also benefit as all the trees and plants in an radius of about three miles are pollinated by the bees.
If you come to observe the hives, be very careful. Don’t disturb the hives and don’t get stung.
History
While this area has been a farm for almost four centuries, it has been inhabited far longer than that. Recent archaeological work revealed that the site has been seasonally inhabited for as much as 10,000 years. That work greatly enhanced our knowledge of the early farm, its residents and the native people who have inhabited the area for so long. No further fieldwork is planned for the near future.
As you can see, there is a lot to do at the Farm, so come visit.
The farm is open seven days a week from dawn to dusk.
There is no admission fee at the farm although donations for the care of the animals
and the maintenance of the buildings and grounds are greatly appreciated.
Taylor-Bray Farm Preservation
Association
P.O. Box 66
108 Bray Farm Road North
Yarmouth Port, MA 02675
P.O. Box 66
108 Bray Farm Road North
Yarmouth Port, MA 02675