Wisconsin family farmed same land for 179 years; old barn now demolished
A historic Wisconsin farm that had been in the Muth family for 179 years saw its original barn demolished to make way for a new housing development. The land, which once consisted of corn and soybean fields, is being converted into a 400-unit residential subdivision.
Why it matters
This reflects the broader trend of urban sprawl and the loss of multi-generational family farms to suburban development.
A Wisconsin family had farmed the same land in West Bend since 1847, with George Muth becoming the fifth generation of his family to work the farm. On Friday, the old barn on the Muth family property was demolished as the land is being cleared for a new housing development.According to Washington County Insider, bulldozers pushed the remains of the barn past its fieldstone foundation while trees in a nearby field were also cut down. The new development is planned to include about 400 multifamily residences.The property is located at the northwest corner of Paradise Drive and River Road. George Muth recalled how the area looked when he was growing up and farming there."That was always farm field," George said.
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