#TBT - Ferret Capital of America
In the early 1900s, Middletown could have made a credible claim as the “Ferret Capital of America” thanks to Samuel Farnsworth and his ferret farm. Around 1905, Farnsworth purchased the Wrenn Farm, the area that is now east of Germantown Road near the Hydraulic Canal and brought ferrets, which he had as pets, with him. After getting set up on the farm, Farnsworth set about turning his ferret hobby into a ferret business.
From 1905 to 1913, Farnsworth estimated that he shipped over 8000 ferrets out, making Farnsworth’s ferret farm was rather successful. Ferrets were in such demand because of their utility hunting rats and ferreting out rabbits and game for hunters. Despite the farm’s success, it wasn’t immune from the effects of mother nature and the 1913 Flood, which wrecked havoc. Post flood, Farnsworth decided against restarting the ferret farm and instead went with raising hogs, a more mainline staple livestock of the area.
Despite the ferret farm going out of business in 1913, wild ferrets have still been seen in the area. One incident took place 1982, when a child was bit by a ferret in the Avalon area.
Check out Walter Harlan’s “Favorite Abiding Place”:
1914 Optimist, Page 86