Noppit Corners/Noppit Hill Farm (320 Marshall Lake Road, Torrington (Northwest Highlands))

Barn Record Torrington

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Building Name (Common)

Noppit Corners/Noppit Hill Farm

Building Name (Historic)

Daniels Farm

Address

320 Marshall Lake Road, Torrington

Typology

Overview

Designations

n/a

Historic Significance

n/a

Field Notes

In his "History of Newfield", Harry Bowman wrote that "this place was by far superior to any others in the community." It is still true today. The property was once owned by Orson Barber, one of wealthiest individuals in Torrington, at least judging by old property tax records. Barber was famous for his laughter which carried throughout the surrounding hills. The post and beam structure uses the scribe method. The structure has been kept in good repair- some siding has been replaced, as has some wood flooring. The asphalt roof is in good condition. This barn was once used for many purposes (it is quite large) including dairy, hay storage (there is an overhead tram)and there is an overhead roller for winching carcasses. There is a deep cellar under part of the barn with stone walls. The foundation is of cut stone. The barn currently is used for storage;it also houses several rather angry brown bats. On the south exterior wall are the words "Noppit Hill Farm." The word Noppit was the old term used for the area before it became known as Newfield. This barn is near the area that historian Rev. Samuel Orcutt said that Abel Beach laid his head on a log and "Noppit" there overnight after Beach became lost while hunting. As the daughter of Frederick and Evelyn Daniels who purchased this c. 100 acre farm in 1941, I'd like to offer some corrections to your survey information. My parents called this place which we all cherished, "Noppit Corners" because we had been told by one of our neighbors (I believe it was Edwin Bowman, son of Harry Bowman who is quoted) that the cemetery just across Mountain Rd. from the farm, had been established by the Noppits. He described them as a breakaway congregation from the Baptists; whether that was true or not was an issue we did not research. If someone painted "Noppit Hill" on the barn, it would have been after we sold the farm in 1986 following our parents' deaths. There was no such sign on the barn during the forty-plus years of my parents' ownership. - J. D. F.

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