Photo 99-JWI-37

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This is the Richards Farm. My grandpa Richard G. Richards purchased the farm. It's located at the corner of Baker Road & Schoolhouse Road in Manhattan, IL. The farms that surrounded it were Woodcocks (across the road to the west, southeast corner of Baker/Schoolhouse. Brossmans were directly to the east, off of Baker Road. Guildenzophs to the West off Baker. Koehlers were to the south/southwest of the 2nd parcel of the Richards Farm (located on the southwest corner of Baker & Schoolhouse Rds. My grandparents (Richard G. Richards and Maude Laraway Richards) spent their honeymoon night in this home. My Dad was born in an upstairs bedroom of this house in 1916. After my grandparents moved into Joliet, my Dad farmed the land, along with my mother (Pauline Schilling Richards). 1971 when this pic was taken, I ((Marilyn Richards Mundt) would have been a Junior at LWHS-Central. I had 3 siblings. Fred, Jr., James, and Eileen.
The house has been completely renovated and added on to ... and all that remains of outer buildings is the barn and corn crib, seen here at the left. The orchard was removed and replaced by a ground-spring lake. The family farm was sold in 1981 and remained intact as a farm for a few years. Afterwards the farm was subdivided, no longer acting as a working farm.

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