| Penobscot Farm: |
| Mr. Eberhard lived
on the Penobscot Farm for many years. The Penobscot Farm was
a grand place in those days, with large machinery and many
hired hands. Many improvements were made to the outbuildings
and barns, making the Penobscot Farm a true showplace. Mr.
Eberhard’s nephew, Mr. Lafaille still lives across the
ranch on Highway 193 and recalls the family Penobscot Farm
consisting of 1,800 acres. According to Joyce Gates (the prior
owner for 25 years), Mr. Eberhard acquired multiple homesteads
until he had acquired 3,000 acres. |
| The existing barn was built
by 1923. This original pole barn still functions as a working
barn and is made out of the original hand debarked trees.
The metal on the barn is stamped “Made for Eberhard
dated 1923”. A blacksmith shop and grease pit were added
in 1933 according to Lillian Lafaille in conversation with
Jack Gates, 1987. |
Jack
Gate’s notes of December 27, 1987, as per Lillian
LaFaille, “Penobscot was sort of a Dude Ranch place
with the bunkhouse for guests. The house was rather small
during the depression when labor and materials were very
reasonable. The Eberhards remodeled the house. They added
two bedrooms upstairs and the living room across the North
side of the main house. The property was used as a pleasure
ranch with a bunkhouse and swimming pool.” |
| In 1962 E. A. (Addington) Long
(a lobbyist in Sacramento) and his wife Amogene Long were
granted a deed to a portion of “The Penobscot Farm”.
They established Ag Preserve (193) in 1968 with their 6 parcels
totaling 1,003 acres. |
In
1975 the Longs, sold 330 of those acres to Jack and Joyce
Gates. El Dorado County recorded the Ag Preserve, established
in 1962, as non-renewed on September 26, 1986 and it rolled
out of the Williamson Act in 1997. |
| In 1975 Jack and
Joyce Gats purchased the Penobscot Farm and raised their family
there for more than 25 years. They began with a cow-calf operation,
which led to a multi-level farm incorporating school field
trips, ranch tours, horseback riding tours, workshops and
seminars, and a summer camp. The Gates made further enhancements
to the homes |
| |
| Penobscot
Ranch Camp and Tours: Read
More |
