The
name Porcupine Hollow Farm originated in the 1970's when
the Hanlon family first arrived in Central Lake. The hills
and valleys were overly endowed with Porcupines. The first
source of organic fertilizer for the trees came from Porcupine
Poop...
Porcupine
Hollow Farm has had various main functions that have changed
rapidly over time. It has been passed through many
hands, each with different qualities that caused
it to go from slaughterhouse to tree farm. All of
this has taken place within ninety years. The most
recent owner is Patrick Hanlon. There are many different
features around the farm that you might find interesting
if you love the great outdoors and old rustic living.
Porcupine
Hollow Farm has been passed from family to family. The
Knowles family owned it from the 1920s-1971. In
1971 it was sold to Leo Waffle. Bill Murray bought the
farm in 1975, and then sold it to Pat Hanlon in 1977.
(Hanlon, Patrick)
William
Knowles moved his family to Central Lake in 1904. He bought
the slaughterhouse, meat market, and their house in town.
When he died in 1927, Art Knowles took over. (Eckhardt,
Marvel)
When
the Knowles owned the farm they used it to produce packaged
meat. They used the slaughterhouse and Black Barn for
their business. The slaughterhouse was used to cut and
package the meat for their meat market down town. One
night Art Knowles left the farm, like he usually did.
When he came in the morning the slaughterhouse had
burnt to the ground. This happened in the 1930s. The rebuilding
project started right away. The Black Barn was the stable
next to Dick and Pat's Party Store (at that time Knowles
and Sons Meat Market). The barn was taken apart and moved
to the farm in the 1920s. David Knowles was a part owner
of Knowles and Sons Meat Market, at one time (Torch, Obituaries).
Bob Knowles worked in the slaughterhouse, also. Bob Knowles
was drafted into World War II in 1943. Art Knowles closed
the Meat Market so he could go deer hunting and he never
opened it back up. (Eckhardt, Marvel)
When
Leo Waffle owned the farm he used it to cut up deer and
cows. (Waffle, Leo)
Bill Murray was thinking about building a house on the
farm, but decided not to and just kept it for an investment.
(Hanlon, Patrick)
The
Hanlons have used the farm to produced Christmas and Landscape
trees from 1988-Present. The Hanlon family moved into
the Black Barn when they bought the farm. In November
of 1980 they bought a trailer until they completed building
their new house in 1987. (Hanlon, Patrick)
After
the Hanlons moved into their new house they sold the trailer
to Larmer Franks. The Hanlons used the front porch of
the trailer for an addition to the Sugar Shack and the
back room for a kid's play house in the woods. In
1979 the Chicken Coop was built. The construction of the
Red Barn and the Sugar Shack was completed in 1983. The
Green Barn was built in the summer of 1998. In 1992 the
Back 40 acres was purchased. (Hanlon, Patrick)
There
are many interesting features around the farm some of
them are the woods, the many cricks and swamps, the
ponds, the stairway to heaven, the first farm
house, the old home stead, and the wonderful views.
The woods have many fun, scenic, trails for
horseback riding, go-carting, snowmobiling,
snowshoeing, or just for a nature hike. There
are three cricks that are very refreshing in the summer
time. Especially to the younger people. There are three
swamps that are fun in the summer. One has a beautiful
crick running through it and a tree root growing over
it like a bridge. There are three ponds on Porcupine Hollow
Farm. One has a crick running through it, that is called
the Frog Pond. Another is a favorite among the kids,
it has a slide and rope swing. In the winter you
can skate on it, too. The last is the Fairy Pond. There
are many stories told about this pond that are quite interesting.
This pond only has water in it in the spring after the
snow melts. That is when all the fairies come out. The
stairway to heaven was used back when the Knowles owned
the farm. When the Fat Rendering truck came they would
load their barrels onto the truck by taking them up the
cement stairs. The trucks would pull right up the stairs
and get loaded up. The original farm house was on
the North East corner of the farm. The Zooks allowed it
to be used for fire practice and was burned down in the
1980s. The old homestead is out just off
the corner of the property. All that is left is an apple
orchard, a foundation, and a dam. The amazing
views are all around you. If you take the trail to the
ridge you can see all of Central Lake, the lake,
the school, the farm, and subdivision..
Porcupine
Hollow Farm has had various main functions that
have changed rapidly over time. Over 90 years this
farm has been passed through four families. Most
had their own purpose for the use of the farm. Just think
how much Porcupine Hollow Farm could change in another
90 years. Some one on the farm in the early
1970s sure liked Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer because there
were bottles and cans all over the farm when Pat Hanlon
bought it.
