The Israel Putnam Homestead is a part of the TLC Rolling Ridge
residential program. The Putnam Homestead is listed on the
National Register of Historic Places because of its historic
importance. Israel Putnam was born on the 7th day of January
in 1718 and died at the farm in 1790. His father was a captain
in the British Military. Israel Putnam, a local farmer,
became a Connecticut and national hero for his military
skills during the French and Indian wars, as a first marine
in the capture of the Port of Havana, Cuba, leader of the
defenses at Bunker Hill and a member of George Washington’s
military leadership throughout the Revolutionary War.
General Putnam is described by his ‘aide de camp’
and biographer, Colonel David Humphreys, to have preferred
the outdoors to the classroom, to be so “active”
even in later life, that during meetings General Washington
became impatient with him and ordered him to stay seated
during war planning meetings. Israel Putnam left his schooling
early. He depended on Colonel Humphreys to do all his military
writing. He clearly had symptoms of what today we call an
attention and learning disability.
The Putnam Homestead has been a working farm for over two
hundred years, and it continues to be one.
The Putnam Farm Program is an integral part of the TLC Rolling
Ridge Residential and Country Day School programs. The farm
program has been in operation since 1986.
The aim of the farm program is to provide our students
with authentic experiences with the care and enjoyment of
our farm animals, horses, sheep and chickens and other volunteer
‘critters’.
Our
students are provided supervision and instruction in the
care of our horses, including basic feeding, grooming, tack,
shoeing, and most importantly, riding skills.
We have a NAHRA approved program and require that our staff
are NAHRA certified.
All of our residential and school staff are provided training
and performance guidelines as part of our ‘Redbook’
training manual. Further, staff training is provided by
a NAHRA certified TLC staff member.
The farm program is supported by a team of TLC staff. Staff are assigned to the daily farm routine with special
emphasis on the skills of animal care.
Our facilities staff provide daily assistance as required
to maintain stalls, pastures, fence, feed and hay delivery
and storage. We have one facilities staff on Saturdays and
two farm staff on weekends in addition to the brief residential
student and staff visits to ride and / or provide care to
the horses and sheep. Students provide care to animals as
part of their overall program.
