History
Originally owned by the Boatright family, Ralph Boatright had the main house built on South Fork Creek in 1948 by local builder, Ice Thornberry. Then in the spring of 1949, Allen Doggett was hired to build the big barn for his three main enterprises: as a cow barn for milking, a tobacco barn for storing/drying the leaves, and as a stable for his mules. The barn also had a corn crib and gear or harness room for the necessary plowing equipment.
Now known as the Milk Barn, the remodeled living quarters: den/kitchen/two bedroom/bath is the original area where the cows were milked.
The Smokehouse was later added and used for the curing of meats with smoke. The finished product might be stored in the building up to a year or more, even when the smoking process was complete. The remodeled living quarters are part of the original Boatright smokehouse where the curing was done.
In early 2017, Brenda Speer acquired the property from the Boatright family children and their spouses; Larry/Phyllis Boatright and Gary/Susie Boatright, who inherited it from their parents. Farming had changed in the area by this time which gave the property a perfect chance to re-emerge as something new.
And re-emerge it has - paying homage to its history by careful renovation of both the Milk Barn and Smokehouse spaces, as can be seen in one delightful visit to Speerit Hill Farm!
