Ellsworth Farm’s new owners value land restoration, community
The new owners of the landmark Ellsworth Farm in Sharon are Graham Stanton, at left, and Kristy Foss and their daughter, Lieve. 
Photo by Leila Hawken

Ellsworth Farm’s new owners value land restoration, community

North West Corner Profile

Expecting to write a new chapter in the history of the Ellsworth Farm, Kristy Foss and Graham Stanton are the new stewards of the 76 acres of land that comprise the old farm.

“It’s been a family farm for a long time,” Foss said during an interview on Monday, June 13, remembering past generations of owners.

The farm originally  belonged to the Dunbar family of Dunbar Road. For about 20 years, the farm was owned by Bill Vitalis, who operated the farm as a commercial apple orchard, shipping nationwide.

In 1978, the first year of apple sales, 340 bushels were sold. By 1980, the yield had grown to 4,800 bushels, and 11 tons of strawberries were harvested from its fields.

More recently, over the past two decades, the farm was owned by Michael Bozzi, who expanded the berry operation and welcomed the public to visit the farm.

The landmark property had become a significant destination for its orchards, pick-your-own berries and a variety of other produce, featuring hayrides and other autumn favorites  for children and families, including the pumpkin patch and corn maze.

Situated just across Dunbar Road from their home, Ellsworth Farm was for sale for a few years, Foss noted.

“Our number one priority was protecting the land,” referring to the expanse of land on both sides of Route 4. They purchased the farm property in late 2021 for $2.7 million.

“One of the reasons we wanted to move here was the community,” Foss said, adding that she and Stanton had been coming to the area for six years,  first in Falls Village and then in Sharon.

Their professional lives as technology entrepreneurs, specializing in tech startups, are centered in New York City, but along with daughter Lieve, who is 5, they are spending substantial time locally with home improvements and overseeing natural rejuvenation of the land.

While they are coming to know more about the property, Foss said that there has already been one pleasant surprise.

“We knew the barn was nice, dating back to the 1700s,” but they have come to discover that the upper part of the solidly constructed old barn is a huge open space with exposed timbers. “It was being used for storage, but it has amazing potential,”

“We’re taking time to restore the barn and the land,” Foss said, adding that they want to take that time to understand what’s best for the land within its environs.

“A moment to pause,” put succinctly by Stanton, “and to assess,” Foss said in agreement. “We are evaluating everything about the land, and letting the land rest,” she added.

“Graham and I are big on natural maintenance of the land,” Foss said, having realized that they and the land are part of a community. During the summer months, they plan to become better connected within the Sharon community.

“We’re thrilled to have bought it,” Foss said.

“History is important to us,” they both agreed. “We don’t want this story to end.”

Latest News

Restoring Cornwall's lost Revolutionary War grave markers

Bill Dinneen, left, and Ivan Kotchoubey, age 7, place a recently restored grave marker at the headstone of David Mallery, a Revolutionary War veteran, in Cornwall Sunday, May 25.

Photo by Riley Klein

CORNWALL — On Sunday, May 25, Cornwall held a powerful ceremony to honor local veterans of the Revolutionary War.

At the cemetery on Route 4, about 25 attendees gathered to witness the placement of 10 grave markers. Bill Dinneen of the Cornwall Historical Society and Warren Stevens led the ceremony.

Keep ReadingShow less
Big Blue lax wins Founders League

LAKEVILLE — The Hotchkiss School girls lacrosse won the 2025 Founders League championship with an 11-10 victory over Choate Rosemary Hall May 21.

The Bearcats battled back from behind by as many as four points.

Keep ReadingShow less
Marvelwood lacrosse goes back-to-back in HVAL

The Marvelwood lacrosse team poses for a group photo May 20 after winning the HVAL title for the second year in row.

Photo by Lans Christensen

KENT — On Tuesday, May 20, Marvelwood School lacrosse defeated Woodhall School 15-9 in the Housatonic Valley Athletic League tournament final.

It was second straight HVAL championship win for the Pterodactyls and their fifth league title since 2018.

Keep ReadingShow less
Mountaineers strike gold at BL track championships

HVRHS sophomore Ryan Segalla went three-for-three May 17 with Berkshire League gold in the 100m, 200m and 400m races. He was also on the gold-winning 4x400m relay team.

Photo by Riley Klein

Berkshire League track and field wrapped up a season of competition with the league finals in Litchfield May 17. The BL festival followed with decathlon, heptathlon, steeplechase and hammer in Falls Village May 20 and Thomaston May 21.

The events included athletes from Housatonic Valley Regional High School, Gilbert School, Lakeview High School, Nonnewaug High School, Northwestern Regional High School, Shepaug Valley High School, Terryville High School and Thomaston High School.

Keep ReadingShow less