Porter Farm

The Porter Farm, also known as Walter C. Porter Farm, is a historic farm property near Terrell in Kaufman County in the U.S. state of Texas. It was the site of the first cooperative farm demonstration, organized by Dr. Seaman A. Knapp in 1903. The project successfully demonstrated methods expanding crop production. From this foundation project developed the U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Extension Service. The property was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1964, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[2]

Walter C. Porter Farm
Old farm house at Porter Farm
Walter C. Porter Farm
Walter C. Porter Farm
Nearest cityTerrell, Texas
Coordinates32°46′40″N 96°16′28″W
Area70 acres (28 ha)
Built1903 (1903)
NRHP reference No.66000819[1]
Significant dates
Added to NRHPOctober 15, 1966
Designated NHLJuly 19, 1964[2]
Westward view of tomato barn on south side of demonstration plat at Porter Farm

Knapp worked with Walter Porter to set aside 70 acres (28 ha) of the farm, on which the experimental use of fertilizers on some plots and rotation with nitrogen-fixing legumes doubled normal yields of cotton. Porter had been selected by the community to participate in the project, with $1000 set aside to cover potential losses. Porter profited from the experiment, and the money was unused. The success of this project led to the creation of government Extension Service programs, which went on to develop methods to combat boll weevil infestation in the area.[3]

The Porter Farm is located about 2 miles (3.2 km) north of Terrell, on FM986. The total farm property was historically about 500 acres (200 ha). The property includes the Porter homestead, a 1-1/2 story Cape style frame house located on the southeast side of FM986, while the demonstration land is mainly on the northwest side. There is now a tomato barn standing on that land, which is not historically significant.[3]

See also

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. November 2, 2013.
  2. Staff (June 2011). "National Historic Landmarks Survey: List of National Historic Landmarks by State (Texas)" (PDF). National Park Service. Retrieved May 17, 2018.
  3. Mendinghall, Joseph Scott. "National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form: Porter Farm". National Park Service. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
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