Summer at Hersey Farm

Summer at Hersey Farm

Photography by Rebecca Skinner

One hot summer day in 2020, photographer Rebecca Skinner set up her tripod to capture images of Hingham’s historic Hersey Farm. Part of the Massachusetts Century Farm Project, the Franklin resident was hired to photograph numerous farms located in different corners of Massachusetts. Each of the featured farms had remained in the same family for more than 100 years. The Reuben Hersey Toy and Box Shop, located at Hersey Farm, was under lock and key for more than a century until Peter Hersey, great-grandson of Reuben Hersey III, began restoring his family farm. Inside the historic building, Hersey discovered the structure was a time capsule filled with the trappings of what is believed to be one of the earliest toy manufacturers in the country.

“I was particularly interested in the woodshop as I enjoy photographing work spaces of any type,” says Skinner, “The tools people use in their craft, how they organize them and the creations themselves are all of interest to me.” Some of the other local farms included in the photography project included Harmony Hill in Randolph and Briggs Horse Farm in Hanover.

While photography is not Skinner’s full-time profession, it is a passion that has led her to many unusual and off-the-beaten-track places. She describes herself as a modern-day urban explorer who enjoys capturing dynamic images of unique neglected structures and desolate places. “I am interested in the architecture and beauty of these palaces as well as their history and story,” says Skinner. “It is fascinating to find what is left behind.”

To view more examples of Rebecca Skinner’s work, visit skinnerphoto.com.