Dartmoor Farms was a 300 cow family Holstein dairy operation, which was operated by the family of Joseph Hill up until 1980. Since then, until 1995, the tillable land was kept in production, but rented out. Dartmoor's only remaining activity is the selling off of some remaining equipment.

Click on image to enlarge. The cow barn facing Slocums River and Buzzards Bay

In 1995 the Hill family lost possesion of this farm land. If you are interested in land right's issues, then you might find the facts sur-
rounding this very interesting. They show an extreme case of manipulation of a property owner by an activist group and politically and socially powerful elitists, by and through local government and the courts. The resulting loss of property, which was appraised for $20-30 million (and for $17 million in a distressed sale), occurred after 15 years of struggle by the Hills for their land rights. Click here for a fairly detailed summary of this situation.

Click on image to enlarge. The cow barn from the east.

A modern free-stall barn (shown left), designed by the University of New Hampshire, was the centerpiece. Opened around 1970 to replace an older dairy barn, it was close to the state of the art at the time. With about 150 free-stalls, convenient and simple manure handling facilities, 20 box-stalls, heated calf nursery, 8 cow milking parlor, automatic feeding systems, 2 50'+ Harder upright silos, and an open storage facility for brewer's grain (used as a feed supplement), it was an impressive facility. A pit silo, neighboring the dry-cow feed lot, supplemented the feed storage capability.

Click on image to enlarge. An easterly view of the heifer lot.

A separate facility for young stock existed, conveniently located across the street overlooking the Slocum river. This included a barn which provided shelter for the livestock, pasture-feedlot, 2 additional upright silos, and 2 auger-based automatic feeding systems.

Dartmoor Morgan Horse Farm

In addition to the dairy operation, there was also a large Morgan Horse facility. The horse farm included stables, tack room, indoor riding arena, outdoor corrals, and about 20 miles of wooded trails, and as many horses. Riding lessons were offered.

Click on image to enlarge. A partial overview of the property.

The entire property consisted of about 1050 acres of prime land on the south coast of Massachu-
setts, with aproximately 150 acres tillable, and the balance woodland. The beauty of this property, and its worth as one of the last undisturbed parcels of this size in its geographic area, probably had a role in the decision of many to interfere in the Hill family's business activities. Because of the intensity of this interference, a decision was made in 1980 to end the dairy operation. In 1995, due to this continued interference, and resulting debts, and a strangely low appraisel which was used by a bankruptcy court, the property was lost through forclosure. Again, if you would like more complete information about these events, then please click here.