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Watson farm ‘Mountain View’ in Crushington - ALBUM -
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DescriptionThese photos are from the Watson farm ‘Mountain View’ in Crushington. Brothers Thomas Richardson Watson (TR) and Alexander Richardson Watson went into partnership to purchase just over 200 acres of land for farming. Land titles show they purchased 3 parcels of land from John Ross Milne in March 1913. It appears that the mortgage for these properties was initially carried by their father, Thomas Watson. In February 1915 TR brought his brother’s share of the farm and the partnership was dissolved. Alexander then continued farming in the North Island. TR worked in the sawmill while he cleared and improved the farm.
TR used to dig limestone and burn it in a pit by the cowshed to get lime. The fire was kept in all night and someone had to stay up and feed it. His son, Tom (Thomas Edward Watson – TE), remembers staying up to feed the fire. The fires would usually burn for 2-3 days. They burned the limestone until it was red hot and they then poured water on it. This process was not done very often.
The power on the farm was initially generated by a waterwheel which was up behind the barn. You didn’t have to have a very big water wheel to power a house. At night, when the family was ready for bed, TE would walk up the farm and turn off the generator by stopping the water wheel. Brother Len and his family lived further along the road towards Springs Junction. Power lines from the farm fed Len’s house. When TE turned the power off at the farm Len also lost his power. There were no phones at that time so it was tough if Len was in the middle of something when TE decided to turn of the power for the night. Electricity came to the farm about 1950.
PICS:
Haymaking on Watson Farm at Crushington (Farm was called Mountain View). Owned initially by Thomas Richardson Watson and Alexander Richardson Watson (brothers).
Thomas Richardson Watson’s daughter, Milly, recalled that ‘she and her two brothers Tom and Len along with two others worked on the farm. As a child I used to help with stamping down the hay in the barns. It was very hot work especially when you got near the top of the ceiling.’
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Looks like cutting the grass for hay on the Watson farm at Crushington. Present from left are all Watsons (Joyce, Thelma (front), Esther, Thomas Richardson Watson - grandfather of all these girls, and Jewel (in gingham dress).
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Haymaking on Watson Farm at Crushington (Farm was called Mountain View). Owned initially by Thomas Richardson Watson and Alexander Richardson Watson (brothers).
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Haymaking on Watson Farm at Crushington (Farm was called Mountain View). Owned initially by Thomas Richardson Watson and Alexander Richardson Watson (brothers).
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Ploughing on Watson Farm at Crushington (Farm was called Mountain View). Owned initially by Thomas Richardson Watson and Alexander Richardson Watson (brothers).
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Hard frost on Watson farm at Crushington. Thomas Richardson Watson (TR) also grew potatoes on the farm. A story is told about a day when Bert Thompson, a friend of young Tom (Thomas Edward Watson - TE), was staying at the Watson farm. Bert and TE were discussing a big frost they were bound to get that particular night and the affect it would have on the spud crop. “Cor, you’ll loose all your spuds for sure,” was a comment made by young Bert. The potatoes were an important source of income for TR that year and so he suggested to the boys that they should pray for the crop. Standing on the verandah of the farmhouse TR asked God to protect his spuds from the frost. The next morning there was a bumper frost – really white and heavy on everything except the spuds.
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May (left) and Jewel Watson in a hard frost on Watson farm in Crushington.
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Looking towards Garvey's mine which was behind the Watson farm in Crushington.
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Nicola SuttonWest Coast New-Zealand history
8 hrs ·
Looking across Watson farm in Crushington
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Nicola SuttonWest Coast New-Zealand history
8 hrs ·
Watson farm, Mountain View, in Crushington.
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Watson farm, Mountain View, in Crushington.
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Watson farm, Crushington.
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The pink farmhouse that never changed in all the time I knew it. Watson house where Thomas Edward Watson lived with his wife May and 6 children Bell, Ray, Joyce, Jewel, Thelma and Gordon. The three windows across the front are all bedroom windows. At the back of the house was the kitchen and storerooms and in the centre was the formal lounge and another large bedroom.
Map[1] ContributorNicola Sutton
TR used to dig limestone and burn it in a pit by the cowshed to get lime. The fire was kept in all night and someone had to stay up and feed it. His son, Tom (Thomas Edward Watson – TE), remembers staying up to feed the fire. The fires would usually burn for 2-3 days. They burned the limestone until it was red hot and they then poured water on it. This process was not done very often.
The power on the farm was initially generated by a waterwheel which was up behind the barn. You didn’t have to have a very big water wheel to power a house. At night, when the family was ready for bed, TE would walk up the farm and turn off the generator by stopping the water wheel. Brother Len and his family lived further along the road towards Springs Junction. Power lines from the farm fed Len’s house. When TE turned the power off at the farm Len also lost his power. There were no phones at that time so it was tough if Len was in the middle of something when TE decided to turn of the power for the night. Electricity came to the farm about 1950.
PICS:
Haymaking on Watson Farm at Crushington (Farm was called Mountain View). Owned initially by Thomas Richardson Watson and Alexander Richardson Watson (brothers).
Thomas Richardson Watson’s daughter, Milly, recalled that ‘she and her two brothers Tom and Len along with two others worked on the farm. As a child I used to help with stamping down the hay in the barns. It was very hot work especially when you got near the top of the ceiling.’
AND
Looks like cutting the grass for hay on the Watson farm at Crushington. Present from left are all Watsons (Joyce, Thelma (front), Esther, Thomas Richardson Watson - grandfather of all these girls, and Jewel (in gingham dress).
AND
Haymaking on Watson Farm at Crushington (Farm was called Mountain View). Owned initially by Thomas Richardson Watson and Alexander Richardson Watson (brothers).
AND
Haymaking on Watson Farm at Crushington (Farm was called Mountain View). Owned initially by Thomas Richardson Watson and Alexander Richardson Watson (brothers).
AND
Ploughing on Watson Farm at Crushington (Farm was called Mountain View). Owned initially by Thomas Richardson Watson and Alexander Richardson Watson (brothers).
AND
Hard frost on Watson farm at Crushington. Thomas Richardson Watson (TR) also grew potatoes on the farm. A story is told about a day when Bert Thompson, a friend of young Tom (Thomas Edward Watson - TE), was staying at the Watson farm. Bert and TE were discussing a big frost they were bound to get that particular night and the affect it would have on the spud crop. “Cor, you’ll loose all your spuds for sure,” was a comment made by young Bert. The potatoes were an important source of income for TR that year and so he suggested to the boys that they should pray for the crop. Standing on the verandah of the farmhouse TR asked God to protect his spuds from the frost. The next morning there was a bumper frost – really white and heavy on everything except the spuds.
AND
May (left) and Jewel Watson in a hard frost on Watson farm in Crushington.
AND
Looking towards Garvey's mine which was behind the Watson farm in Crushington.
AND
Nicola SuttonWest Coast New-Zealand history
8 hrs ·
Looking across Watson farm in Crushington
AND
Nicola SuttonWest Coast New-Zealand history
8 hrs ·
Watson farm, Mountain View, in Crushington.
AND
Watson farm, Mountain View, in Crushington.
AND
Watson farm, Crushington.
AND
The pink farmhouse that never changed in all the time I knew it. Watson house where Thomas Edward Watson lived with his wife May and 6 children Bell, Ray, Joyce, Jewel, Thelma and Gordon. The three windows across the front are all bedroom windows. At the back of the house was the kitchen and storerooms and in the centre was the formal lounge and another large bedroom.
Map[1] ContributorNicola Sutton
Shown in this image
Location (city or town)CrushingtonPersonThomas Richardson WatsonEsther WatsonJewel WatsonJoyce WatsonThelma WatsonAlexander Richardson WatsonMay WatsonLandmark (Place)Garvey's MineEventfarmingHay makingHorse and plough
From Facebook
Link<Facebook>Date Created15th January 2018CommentsDorothy Wills
I met some of the Watson family in the mid 1950s they were very religious and lovely people
RochelleandCraig Clark
Lesley Watson your family?
Ruth Naylor
THe Watson children use to bike into Reefton D.H.S. for school summer and winter, boys in short pants and the girls in gym frocks.1950-1960's no school bus thoses days.
Kirsten White
Arthur Bass Grant will love these photos of his family history, thank you!
Arthur Bass
Kirsten White now answer the question please, is that Belle second from the left ? Could Grant name them all please.
Evelyn Hampton
Ray watson came to Rotomanu in the 5o's with his wife judith,to farm for many yrs ...
Liz Fauatea
Great photos, thanks for sharing Nicola. Love seeing photos of Uncle Tom and Pops farm.Tim Ferguson
Rangimaria Hall
Sharon Cohen-Manley
Loved the Watson Family, got to know them in Nelson.
Linda Hay
Is Crushington near Reefton?
Arthur Bass
Yes other side of Blacks Point.
Gregory Ross
very cool photos
I met some of the Watson family in the mid 1950s they were very religious and lovely people
RochelleandCraig Clark
Lesley Watson your family?
Ruth Naylor
THe Watson children use to bike into Reefton D.H.S. for school summer and winter, boys in short pants and the girls in gym frocks.1950-1960's no school bus thoses days.
Kirsten White
Arthur Bass Grant will love these photos of his family history, thank you!
Arthur Bass
Kirsten White now answer the question please, is that Belle second from the left ? Could Grant name them all please.
Evelyn Hampton
Ray watson came to Rotomanu in the 5o's with his wife judith,to farm for many yrs ...
Liz Fauatea
Great photos, thanks for sharing Nicola. Love seeing photos of Uncle Tom and Pops farm.Tim Ferguson
Rangimaria Hall
Sharon Cohen-Manley
Loved the Watson Family, got to know them in Nelson.
Linda Hay
Is Crushington near Reefton?
Arthur Bass
Yes other side of Blacks Point.
Gregory Ross
very cool photos
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West Coast New Zealand History (29th Aug 2021). Watson farm ‘Mountain View’ in Crushington - ALBUM -. In Website West Coast New Zealand History. Retrieved 10th Apr 2026 10:05, from https://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/22774