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History: Mrs. Belmont's Farm for Girls in East Meadow

Written by Lon Cohen  |  17. July 2020

In the early 20th Century, Alva Belmont - the socialite and suffragist - established a farm at her mansion on Front Street in East Meadow. Called The Brookholt School of Agriculture for Women, it was a training school for female farmers.

 

It was reported at the time that 210 women from all walks of life applied to become farmers on the 200 acre estate. Her idea was to free the working girls of the time from their monotonous and stifling factory jobs and teach them a trade at no cost.

 

“My farm aims to teach women a simple way to earn a good living. Absolutely no capital is required,” Mrs. Belmont was quoted as saying. “They will not have to pay any board and will receive, after the first month, a wage which will increase steadily until they are competent to take places such as men now fill. Then they will be paid just what men get.”

 

Unfortunately, things didn't work out the way she expected and Belmont closed the school after only one year in 1911.

 

Scroll down to see historic photos taken at the time of the women working the farm on Long Island.

 

Photo: Bain News Service, publisher. No known restrictions.

 

Photo: Bain News Service, publisher. No known restrictions.

 

Photo: Bain News Service, publisher. No known restrictions.

 

Photo: Bain News Service, publisher. No known restrictions.

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