Spring Lawn Farm
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Springfield Republican February 3, 1911, Ozark County section
"Spring Lawn Farm is located two and one-half miles north of Springfield and is fast becoming famous for the production of high class livestock. Registered Jersey cattle and Percheron horses are a specialty.
"The environment for handling livestock is ideal, situated as it is in the heart of a section of blue grass country that is surpassed by none other in the world. Many of these acres have never been plowed and are covered by a thick, tough, velvety sod, so dear to the eye of the stock man.
"Spring Lawn is watered by several never failing springs that burst forth clear and cool from the mysterious depths below and go to feed the beautiful lake in which dart myriads of the finny tribe—trout, bass and crappie [sic].
"The spacious barns, covering over 13,00 [sic] square feet of floor space, are none too large for the accommodation of the various animals. These barns are scientifically and hygienically arranged for comfort and health, fully equipped with the most up-to-date machinery—litter carriers, feed carriers, running water, etc.
"The dairy department, established in the year 1890, had through careful selection, breeding and feeding, gradually won an enviable place at the head of its class. Its high scoring animals have won many honors in the show ring.
"The product in the shape of butter and cream has also been highly commended at St. Louis and Chicago National Dairy shows, at the latter place having missed the highest score by but one-half a point. Their cream is now being wholesaled pure and sweet to the Springfield Dairy company.
"The equipment of the dairy consists of a well-lighted and perfectly ventilated cow barn 50x120 feet, a new concrete silo 17x36 feet -- solid 6-inch wall reinforced with steel. A creamery 14x30 feet, built of native limestone, concrete floor, furnished with engine separator and churn, weighing and testing appliances, etc. The spring house, also of limestone, 16 feet square, concrete floor, with two-foot trough of running water registering 60 degrees furnishes an ideal place for the dairy product in the summer.
"Nine hundred square feet of the barn room is devoted to the Chaperon department which was installed in 1904. Many high class young animals go forth from these barns each year, and lend their part in the greatly needed work of building up the draft horse industry of the Southwest…next in order, we find the collies, commanding the admiration of all that see them. Selected from some of the largest and best kennels in the east, these beautiful creatures with shaggy coat and intelligent eyes are always on the alert ready to do their master’s bidding. Twenty-two animals (old and young) comprise the Spring Lawn Scotch Collie kennels.
"For the poultry department we find a large circular concrete structure in which are installed the latest improved poultry appliances for the comfortable handling of a large number of white Wyandottes, Pekin ducks, Toulouse geese and Bronze turkeys.
"A great deal might also be said about the high scoring Berkshires and their home, the Persian cats at the cattery, the log club house by the lake and other things equally interesting that go to make this place one of Missouri's foremost stock farms."
Read our previous entry here and a biography of Frank E. Headley here.
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