Farm History Timeline

Philip James Jones purchases land on Israel Hill, in the White Hills of what is now Shelton, Connecticut. A recent Welsh-Irish immigrant, Philip establishes a farmstead on Walnut Tree Hill Road. He raises beef, sheep, and apples, and his family.

William Henderson Jones joined his father Philip James Jones in farming. They eventually established a dairy farm. Philip James and William built our oldest farm buildings in the Christmas yard area, including the family homestead, the dairy barn, the carriage house, and the ice house. They were constructed in the late 1800's. Many of our stonewalls were also built at that time.

Philip Hubbell Jones, the third generation of Jones farmers, and his wife Joan, continued to expand the dairy farm, calling it the Broad Acres Dairy. They are well respected stewards of the farm and the local community, serving in many local and farming organizations.

Philip Jones, third generation, his wife Joan and their children were awarded the prestigious Gimbal Award by Eleanor Roosevelt. As Mrs. Roosevelt wrote, "it was given to a family, an outstanding American family doing a job for the nation's defense. To begin with, they are a farm family. The father runs a dairy farm, the mother has brought up four children and runs a big house. Still, she had time to take part in the activities in her community and is a member of the defense council.

Philip Hubbell Jones, Jr., fourth generation, ran the dairy farm with his father while growing trees in the back pastures as a hobby. In 1947, Philip sold a dozen Christmas trees to friends. Philip, Jr. and his wife, Elisabeth, became pioneers in developing and promoting cut-your-own Christmas trees at the farm.

Terry, fifth generation, and his wife Jean begin that year a long partnership in marriage and in farming, expanding the farm in many significant ways. The Jones farm becomes one of the early harvest your own berry farms in the area. In addition to the wonderful strawberries Terry first started growing in the mid 1960's, they add harvest your own blueberries in the 1970's.

Terry Jones, fifth generation, and his wife, Jean Crum Jones, boldly expanded the farm by purchasing a nearby farm acreage at subdivision prices in order to make sure the land remained as a working farm, and not developed. This land they named Pumpkinseed Hill, where they soon started the farm's fall pumpkin season. During these busy times, they were raising their young children, Jamie and Gwyn, sixth generation.

Jamie, sixth generation, returns from Cornell back to the family farm and plants its first vineyard. In 2003, he establishes the Jones Winery and marries Christiana, an environmental educator. Together they expand the winery, continue his parents' important agricultural and hospitality operations, and raise their family.

Terry Jones on behalf of the family is awarded the prestigious Aldo Leopold Conservation award for decades of land stewardship on our farm and throughout New England. Terry and Jean are more proud that their grandchildren, the seventh generation of Jones farmers, are very involved in the farm -  from studying sustainable agriculture to fixing farm equipment, from raising farm animals to helping farm guests.