Although conducted with as much talent as ever, and with
as much devotion on the part of its teachers, from the fact of the
unfortunate odium cast on it, and its peculiar surroundings, was
declining, and the high talent, the culture and the knowledge of its
teachers, could not retain it in its proud position.
Thus I have gathered together, as in a bouquet, the sources of all the
income of the once famous "Brook Farm." How slight they were!
It has often been stated that Brook Farm was a well chosen location for
the experiment made there. It was nine miles from Boston. There were no
surrounding industries. There was no water power at hand, the little
brook being too small for any purpose but ornament. There was no
available railroad station--the nearest was four miles away. This
necessitated the teaming of lumber, fertilizers, coal, family stores
and all stock for manufacturing purposes, from Boston, as it was not
practical to send part way by rail and transfer it to teams. A portion
of the time we were obliged to go to the city by the way of West
Roxbury Village, as the nearest way--over the hills--was blocked by
snow during our long New England winters, and this increased the
distance.
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