Exhibits

simonson farm

1915 Bus born at Etra, NJ
Dad rented a farm in Sharon, NJ for one year - 100 acres of potatoes.
1916 Farmed with the Gordon's in Windsor, NJ on a shared type basis, potatoes
1917 Ray born at Windsor, NJ (on the Gordon Farm)
1920 Family Bought Dey Road Home Farm
First barn fire
1921 Edward Simonson, Sr. dies
1924 Family moves to Absecon, NJ
Uncle Ted Bammann and Great Grandmother and Grandfather Bammann remain to work farm, boys return for summers to help on the farm
1932 Moved back to Dey Road Home Farm in Plainsboro
Farm had 8 years back taxes due and 2 mortgages
1933 First crops planted by the Simonson Brothers
50 acres sweet corn - 60 to 75 cents per 100 ears
50 acres rye - 1.5 ton per acre at 7.00 per ton
1935 First potatoes planted, 1 acre as a second crop used as seed the following year
1937 Grew 11 acres of potatoes - then consecutively increased from 33, 55, 125, 275, 300 acres all without irrigation
1948 Started irrigation of potatoes
Began packaging potatoes in small packages
1952 5 acres of Christmas trees planted - increased over the years to 125 acres
Anderson Farm purchased
1954 Mason Farm purchased
1955 Rue Grover Farm purchased
1957 Dam built to increase irrigation possibilities
1961 Scott farm purchased
1963 2nd barn fire
1966 Harvester purchased
1981 3rd barn fire
1982 Sold 100 acres to Linpro for housing
1991 Ray Simonson dies
1999 Today the house remains on 5 acres. Currently tenants live in the home.

Other Activites

Bus Simonson
Washington Delegate - National Potato Advisory Commission, 1962
Cranbury Planning Board 1964 to 1982
New Jersey White Potato Council - 14 years
Chairman White Potato Council - 10 years
County Board of Agriculture
Member NJ State Potato Association - 30 years
Trustee NJ State Potato Association - 12 years

Ray Simonson
Plainsboro Town Council 1951 - 1977
Soil Conservation Service 1959 - 1975
Plainsboro Planning Board 1966 - 1977
Plainsboro Township Committee 1972 - 1977
Mayor Plainsboro Township 1974 - 1977
New Jersey Fish and Game Council
County Board of Agriculture

Simonson Homestead on Dey Road circa 1921. Left to right: Uncle Ted Bamman, Bus, Ray, Cousin Frieda, Margie and another cousin.