Farm Horizons • Dec. 5, 2016 • Page 4 Memories from the farm
Former residents of a Winsted farmstead refl ect on their childhood on the farm
BY ANA ALEXANDER Staff Writer
Just south of Winsted on County Road 9, rests an old brick house with rounded white windows and a stately front porch. The property the house is located on also includes a white barn and a variety of smaller sheds and buildings, all of which make up the former Lachermeier farmstead. While Leonard and Daisy Lachermeier farmed on the property, their children Sharon, Sandy, Sue, Cindy, Cherie, and David lived there, as well.
The Lachermeiers rented the property before they moved to Howard Lake in the early 1970s. Years later, when the property owner passed away, the property was left to several churches, and was eventually auctioned off. The farmstead is now owned by Dale Barfknecht, who currently farms on the property.
Farm fun There was no shortage of fun on the farm for the
Lachermeier kids – from making up songs, to playing horseshoes, and playing in the barn.
“ In the hay barn, we took the rope and swung over the hay,” Sharon said.“ All the way across,” Cindy added.“ That was fun.” They recalled having other family members visit the farm frequently, and playing with their cousins or hosting games of horseshoes on Sundays. They also remember their mom and dad bringing back treats whenever they would go into town.
“ They would always bring back Seven Up Candy Bars, they had seven different flavors, and orange pop,” Sharon said.“ That was a treat for us they’ d bring back.” David recalled having fun with their father in the fields.
“ I remember dad giving us rides in the bucket, in the tractor – he’ d put it up in the air and go in circles,” David said.“ That was fun, in the tractor.”