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Hemlock Farms

In the mid 1780's, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania began issuing land grants in our region, most of them in the Blooming Grove Lord's Valley area. Hemlock Farms, at that time more heavily wooded with marshy bogs and rocks, was not attractive to potential farmers. Nonetheless, a series of twelve grants starting in 1793 brought almost all of the present Hemlock Farms into private hands. The great mass of ungranted lands surrounding the community survives today as state owned forest and hunting preserves.

The beginning of the modern Hemlock Farms was made in 1927 when William Brewster acquired the entire Atkinson holdings from Harry J. Atkinson. These holdings represented about two-thirds of Hemlock Farms. The Atkinson holdings included the entire present golf course area, and much of the land south of Hemlock Farms Road to Route 739 (except the Steer Barn region). Brewster, a young man of not quite thirty, was the son of George Brewster, a highly successful contractor from Bergen County, New Jersey. The Brewster Construction Company built the Pike County section of Route 402. The Atkinson holdings included the entire present golf course area, and pretty much all of the land south of Hemlock Farms Road to Route 739 (except the Steer Barr region).

The Brewsters maintained the property as a steer ranch and as a retreat for family, friends and business associates. Here they entertained politicians  and governors with hunting and turkey shoots in the hopes of potential roads and new highway construction.  George Brewster built his country house (the present-day Lord's Valley Country Club Lodge) from the timbers and stones found in the surrounding area.

In 1932, he built the dam that created Hemlock Lake, located below the main house, to provide a landing area for his amphibious plane. The font nine of the Lords Valley Country Club golf course and the buildings around and near it were also the handiwork of George Brewster and Company.

The estate included the front entrance tower which years ago was 20 feet taller.  The upper section was dismantled by the Country Club Association for fear of wind damage and possible endangerment to members.  This medieval looking structure provided a panoramic view of the lake and surrounding lands and housed generators which gave the estate electricity before public utility companies existed.

The old horse stable and well house still remain on orchard Drive along with several buildings from the original Brewster complex.

The western portion of Hemlock Farms was originally owned by Matthew and Juanetta McConnell.  In 1944 Brewster purchased a large part of the McConnell holdings, about 300 acres and McConnell's Pond for $20,000.  Shortly, after that he built the dam that made McConnell Lake out of the originally pond.  This property held the original steer barn which provided shelter for Brewster's cattle. (The barn has been completely renovated by the Hemlock Farms Community Association for the use of community activities.)  One descendent of the McConnell family is Kathy Thorsen, still a resident of Hemlock Farms.

In 1950, Brewster bought a not too successful hunting club owned by the Spruke Brothers of Scranton.  The Spruke's Camp Hunt club - the only surviving trace is the remains of a small hunting club owned by the Spruke Brothers of Scranton.  The Spruke's Camp Hunt club - the only surviving trace is the remains of a small hunting lodge still to be seen just off gold Rush Drive.  Except for some minor exchanges of land with the State, the borders of the community were now set, and except for the addition of elm lake by the developer in 1972-1974, the main features of Hemlock Farms topography remain as William Brewster Created them.

In 1929, Brewster incorporated the property under the name of Camp Hemlock, thus approaching the eventual name of the community Hemlock Farms.

According to don Wade, President of the Bank of Matamoras, it was published in the American Banker that on at least one occasion during world War 11, both President Roosevelt and Winston Churchill secretly met at Brewster's house to consult and discuss progress of the war.

In 1963, the Brewster Corporation met with unforeseen costs in the construction of a ramp for the George Washington Bridge.  this resulted in the sale of the Blooming Grove estate to Western Heritage Properties Limited, a Canadian based firm, that became the initial developer of the present day Hemlock Farms.

Today Hemlock Farms is the premier private single-home community in the Poconos.  The facilities are owned and managed by our own association whose membership is property and homeowners.  Out community has 4500 acres with 72 miles of paved roads.  There are more than 2500 homes with about 900 year round families in residence.  For more info.

 Jeffrey J. Ferretti, G.R.I. R.E.C.S.

Broker/Realtor

(570) 775-1996  or (917) 952-1500 

(718) 377-1500

postmaster@jeffreyferretti.com, info@nationalbrokerage.com

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