Larison’s Turkey Farm was a restaurant in Chester Borough, New Jersey.[1]
| Larison's Turkey Farm | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Restaurant information | |
| Established | Original structure 1800; notable restaurant in 1950 |
| Closed | 2000 and 2009 |
| City | Chester Borough |
| State | New Jersey |
| Coordinates | 40°47′2″N 74°41′56″W / 40.78389°N 74.69889°W |
The initial structure was a farmhouse from 1800, which Isaac Corwin built on farmland purchased from Benjamin Luse.[2][3]
In an interview of his childhood, Chester resident Herman Rademacher attests there were 100 turkeys circa 1936. Children of the Chester community would make noises (e.g., "gobble gobble") to the hundred turkeys to elicit a response.[4]
According to its signage in a circa 1940 postcard, it sold turkeys, turkey livers, frozen turkeys, and turkey eggs.[5]
In 1945, Willis Larison purchased the farm and converted it to “Larison’s Turkey Farm Inn.”[1]
It opened as a family restaurant around 1950, becoming a tourist attraction in Chester.[6] In 1974, restaurateur Arthur McGreevy purchased the property.[1] The restaurant was decorated with antiques including Tiffany lamps and taxidermy.[7] Dinners were served family style with platters of meats and sides passed around the table.[8]
The Daily Record claimed the restaurant "closed in 2000, and has been unsuccessfully revived three times since, the last one closing in 2009."[9]
On December 4, 2021, realtor Robert Berlant conducted a site visit for the former farm while dressed as a turkey. While in costume, Berlant toured the general public as well as members of the Chester Land Use Board, including facilitating entry to the former restaurant.[10]
References
edit- ^ a b c "Isaac Corwin House aka Larison's Turkey Farm – Preservation New Jersey". www.preservationnj.org. Archived from the original on 2023-02-17. Retrieved 2023-02-17.
- ^ "Chester Historical Society". www.historicchesternj.com. Archived from the original on 2023-02-21. Retrieved 2023-02-21.
- ^ Case, Joan S. (2005-09-29). Chester. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4396-1634-5. Archived from the original on 2023-08-15. Retrieved 2023-02-22.
- ^ Larison's Turkey Farm, archived from the original on 2023-02-21, retrieved 2023-02-21
- ^ "Memories of Chester, Turkeys at Larison's Turkey Farm – Chester Library, Local History Department". localhistory.chesterlib.org. Archived from the original on 2023-02-21. Retrieved 2023-02-21.
- ^ New Jersey Off the Beaten Path, 8th. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 978-0-7627-5228-7. Archived from the original on 2023-08-15. Retrieved 2023-12-29.
- ^ D'Agnese, Joseph (1999-11-07). "DESTINATIONS; Farms Where Turkeys Are Raised to Be Gobbled". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2023-08-15. Retrieved 2023-08-15.
- ^ "Eating Out on Thanksgiving". Archived from the original on 2023-08-15. Retrieved 2023-08-15.
- ^ Westhoven, William (2018-09-19). "Historic Larison's Turkey Farm in Chester may face wrecking ball". Daily Record. Archived from the original on 2023-12-29. Retrieved 2023-02-21.
- ^ Kitchin, Mark (2022-03-01). "Land Use Board gives nod to Larison Turkey Farm project". New Jersey Hills. Archived from the original on 2023-02-21. Retrieved 2023-02-21.