Harford Legacy Farm Commemorative Book

Archer Farm est. 1907 - Bel Air, MD Current Owners: Alice Airy Archer Original Purchaser: James Henderson Archer Current Acreage: 47 Current Agricultural Products or Services: beef cattle and hay Preserved

From family history, the farmhouse was built by the Magness family in 1905 and was then purchased by the Archer family in 1907. When they moved, Mr. Magness built a "duplicate" house at the corner of Plumtree and Emmorton Roads using the same house plans. The photograph shows my great-grandparents -- James Henderson Archer (1851 - 1925) and Margaret Ann Magness Archer (1865-1931) sitting in the front, and my grandfather-- Francis Trainor Archer (1888-1948) is the second son from the left. The farm buildings tell about the evolution of the farm itself. The now-red barn was formerly a wooden bank barn that was taller than the silo. The old barn was built with massive beams throughout. In fact, there is a one-floor beam that still goes the entire width of the barn. Following the death of my grandfather, the farm was passed on to my parents, Winfield Trainor Archer (1926 -1995) and Irene Rosier Archer (1925 -1991) - a loafing shed, feeding chute, milk parlor, and dairy building were added to the big barn in 1958. My father milked cows until 1970 and switched to beef cows. My brother, Rick Archer (1958-2013), and I started farming together in 1994, the old wooden barn was deteriorating. The first "modern" barn built in 2004 was the open pole barn used for storing round bales. The demolition of the big barn happened on New Year's Day 2005. Rick designed the red barn to be much more functional and for the storage of square bales, hay wagons, and equipment. This was important to me following Rick's death because I could (and still do) continue to take care of my beloved cows and miniature donkey. There are two other farm buildings. In the photo above, is the old corncrib, which is used for storage of supplies and equipment. The other large barn built around 1910, is just behind the house. This barn has been reconfigured and now provides a space for parking equipment, a workshop, and lots of 2nd-floor storage. On the concrete floor where the pig pen used to be, is the large cursive signature of one of my father's sisters - Lillian 1936. Putting names, initials, and dates in newly poured concrete is definitely a family tradition. It makes the barns & farm buildings even more special on the Archer farm!