This was the Llewellyn and Arlene Hutson farm when this photo was taken. I am their youngest son, Larry. Allan and Barbara are my siblings. Nearly everything about the property has changed as of September, 2016. The only two structures remaining are the barn (which has multiple additions on it now) and the white building which was originally the Elm Grove School House, located about a mile away. I went to first grade there, just prior to its closing. My Dad purchased the building and moved it to our farm where it was modified and used as a garage. It is still used as a garage but has undergone additional changes, including removal and siding over the tall windows. My parents retired and sold the farm to Eugene Steinhoff a few years after this photo was taken. They saved an acre from the northeast corner of the farm and built a small ranch home where they lived until both have since passed away. Before Mom passed, my wife, LuAnn and I purchased 9 1/2 acres back from Mr. Steinhoff and we built a home directly east of the homestead, overlooking the farm and the Big Creek Valley.
Shortly after Mr. Steinhoff purchased the property, the farmhouse was destroyed by a chimney fire and was replaced by a new home. The apple orchard to the north of the house is gone now and a small ranch home is currently located there, most often occupied by hired help. The two small buildings (we called the tractor garage and the tool shed) located near the school house and between the house and barn, are both gone, as is a small garage out of view southwest of the house. Shortly after the current owners of the farm, Delvyn and Lois Martin, had moved in, a large elm tree blew over in a storm, damaging the granary (also out of view) south of the house and the driveway. We arranged with the Martins to deconstruct the granary and incorporated much of the reclaimed wood in a vacation rental apartment we built above our garage (note Wisconsin Country Places on the map). Likewise, the pole shed south of the barn has been dismantled and relocated on our property and is currently used for lumber storage for our business, Used Anew LLC. The shed was replaced with a large calf barn. The silos have been disassembled in favor of more modern types of crop storage.

My brother and I regularly climbed the old hemlock tree in front of the house. It was destroyed in the fire. None of the big trees in the yard survived the Dutch Elm Disease, except the largest one that ultimately destroyed the granary!

Much has changed in the farming operation, as well. This 80 acre farm with only 24 milking cows easily supported our family for many years. Now the farm is part of a much larger farming operation. What hasn't changed is the incredible beauty of the Big Creek Valley and the friendliness and helpfulness of good neighbors that look out for one another. This was an awesome place to grow up and an equally incredible place to return to.