From Desk to Desk, A Journey Told in Letters

In January of 1882, twenty year old Robert Walter Scott traveled from his home in Alamance County, North Carolina, to Houghton Farm, located in Orange County, New York. Houghton Farm was the brainchild of Lawson Valentine, a visionary industrialist and publisher. Mr. Valentine was very concerned about the environment and sustainable agriculture.

Robert’s goal in working at Houghton Farm was to learn modern farming techniques from Major Henry Alvord, the farm manager, and Dr. Manly Miles, the head of the experimental agricultural station. The journey took 48 hours, and required 5 train trips, one overnight ride on a steamboat, one ferry, and a cab (to find his lost trunk). What he learned at Houghton Farm influenced his life and the lives of his many descendants. This exhibit tells the story of his time there, through the letters he wrote to the folks back home.