The Middletown Historical Society kicks off its 2023 Winter Lecture Series this month with the theme, “Middletown Farms: The Roots of Our History.” This year’s series will feature farms operating in Middletown today and will explore how they have evolved through generations of family members and changes in the economic, social, and environmental landscape.
The first talk will feature the Coggeshall-Simmons Farm, the oldest active farm in Middletown, which traces its roots back to Rhode Island’s first governor, John Coggeshall, in the 1600’s. The farm -- known today for its organic vegetables, rare breed livestock, and goat yoga -- is run by Coggeshall’s descendants, the Simmons family, who will share the story of their family farm over nearly four centuries. The talk will be held on Sunday, January 29th, at 2pm, at the Middletown Public Library, 700 West Main Road, Middletown.