William Dudley, founder of one of the two Guilford branches, owned several hundred acres of farmland in Guilford, and his family worked the land for close to 300 years.
William's great grandson Erastus owned the land by 1844, and built a farmhouse. The business, along with farming, was a tannery and grist mill, and both lay along the West River. The area the Dudleys' lived in was called either Dudleyville, or Dudleytown (depending on whom you read) due to the large amount of Dudley surnames in the area.
The family owned the farm until 1991, when David Dudley, the tenth generation descendant of William, died and the farm became the property of the North Guilford Volunteer Fire Department. The Fire Company turned it into The Dudley Foundation, Inc., in 1995, and the farm became a historical and educational place. Now, students from the Guilford Public Schools can visit Dudley farm and learn about the past. Hands-on workshops, and classes teach about what the Dudley's did in the past. People can buy a memberships (which include a newsletter and special events), and others can see the farm for a donation.
Visit their website to learn more! The address is:
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