Eric and Margy Brown, parents Ralph and Claire Brown and brother Bob and Deborah Brown gather for a photo celebrating 200 years of growing fruit, fun and memories by seven generations of the Brown family.

Brown's celebrate more than 200 years of history, farming

It was a celebration 200 years in the making when Bob and Deborah Brown and the rest of their extended family welcomed more than 300 visitors to an anniversary party at Brown's Berry Patch, Waterport, filled with history and centuries of hard work. In 1804 when Bathshua Brown and her 12 children moved to Orleans County, things were a lot different - the county was still wilderness land with trees so thick that the area was known as the black north. Elijah Brown, husband of Bathshua, died on the boat journey from Sodus to Waterport, while bringing the family out to the farmland he had just purchased. His headstone is the oldest marked grave in the county. Town of Gaines Historian Dee Robinson said that Mrs. Brown could have turned around, taken her children and abandoned the family's dreams of starting a new life in Waterport, but she persevered.

During the June 26 anniversary celebration, Assemblyman Charles Nesbitt lauded the original Mrs. Brown for her grit. "The roots of the Brown family are deep in Orleans County and I add my congratulations to those of the people of the State of New York to honor Bathshua Brown and her pioneer spirit," Nesbitt said.

In addition to surviving in the wilderness without her husband, she had the task of raising 12 children and building a log house for her family. In 1813 she stood up to a British officer who had wandered onto her property demanding food and ordered him off her land.

It is that spirit of strength and perseverance that has been crucial to the Brown family farm prospering for the last 200 years. And today, it is Elijah and Bathshua Brown's great-great-great-great-grandson, Robert, who is still farming that same plot of land that his ancestors cleared and fought for.

Robert Brown said changes in technology from horse powered farm equipment to tractors and computer tracking of crops have helped them survive and thrive. "If our ancestors could survive back then and make a living, we should be able to also," he said.

Two-year-old Brittany Steltz, an Irondequoit resident, was one of many attendees who enjoyed an ice cream cone purchased in the Brown's Berry Patch store.

In order to remain competitive, the Brown family has diversified its operation. Today where the Barnyard Adventure playground stands, was just 20 years ago a cherry orchard. While the family business remains largely traditional agriculture, it is also a place where people come to pick berries, shop the farmer's market and eat lunch and ice cream. "We've become an agro-tourism destination," he said. "But even though we've expanded, we're farmers at heart. There are not too many farmers who started from scratch and have kept those farms going."

Brown's wife, Deborah, put together a cookbook filled with customer recipes called, "Fruits of the Farm, 200 Years of Growing Fruit, Fun and Memories." The book is available for purchase at Brown's with proceeds going to the Alzheimer's Association of Western New York in honor of Robert Brown's father, Ralph, who suffers from Alzheimer's.

County Tourism Director Wayne Hale lauded the Browns for their community mindedness. "Bob has always stepped forward to help whether from a tourism, agriculture or historical perspective," he said.

Local, state and federal officials were on hand with proclamations for the family including State Agriculture Commissioner Nathan Rudgers. "We have a family here that demonstrates longevity, innovation, creativity and courage," he said during the ceremonies. "This family has the ability to adapt and use forward thinking to contribute to the quality of life and to the economy as a successful family agricultural enterprise for 200 years. They have found ways to thrive by taking risks, thinking ahead of the curve and applying new technologies."

Today, Brown's Berry Patch and Orchard Dale Farms are run by brothers, Robert and Eric Brown.