History
Andrew
Squire in 1919 provided in his will that his Valleevue Farm should be
"held in perpetuity for the use and benefit of the teachers and students of the women's
college of the Western Reserve University." He specified, "I desire it cultivated and
preserved as a farm for educational purposes, and to be a place where the practical
duties of life may be taught; where the teachers and students can come in close contact
with Mother Earth; and where those needing rest and recreation may obtain it. I desire
that the woods thereon be kept and improved, so that all the young women in any way
connected with the Western
Reserve University may learn practical botany, may learn to love and enjoy
the beauties of nature, trees, and flowers; and obtain a breadth of life that can only
come from a familiarity with nature."
He further suggested, "It would be good for many of the young women to actually aid
in the cultivation of the farm and in the care of the animals and fowls thereon...," and
he asked that the farm be "designated for the purpose of broadening the views of the young
ladies, bringing them nearer to nature and to God and teaching them to love the forests,
fruits, birds, flowers, and animals; that reforestation is one of the great needs of this
country; and that the best education and the truest happiness is found in constant and
steady work that shall be helpful to their fellows, instill a love of home and family,
that shall respect the rights and property of others."
According to a 1924 map, Valleevue Farm at that time was comprised of two hundred
seventy-seven acres, of which eighty were cultivated (including an arboretum and drug garden),
sixty-seven were pasture, one hundred five were in woods (including a twenty-five acre sugar bush)
and twenty-five were orchards. Mr. Squire died in 1934 and his wife Eleanor Squire died in 1937.
Her will confirmed the bequest.
In 1977, the gift of a portion of neighboring
Valley Ridge Farm from the heirs of Jeptha
Homer Wade II added 104 acres to the University Farm which not only greatly increased the Farm's size, but dramatically
reinforced its prominence. Other neighbors, the Hollisters,
gave two additional five-acre parcels in 1984 and in 1995. These
gifts made it obvious that future developments at the Farm would
require careful thought so that beautiful and fragile features
of the property could be preserved.