HomeMy WebLinkAboutRothermich 0404-6 Rothermich, Calvin & Doris Fish Road History of the Rothermich Farm by Doris Rothermich (04-6) Fish Road
The Rothermich farm began in Enfield in 1874 when Valentin and Katherine Elizabeth Rothermich purchased land on Rothermich Road located approximately one square mile south of Route 79.
Valentin was born in Obernberg, Germany in 1932, and in 1859, he left Germany with his cousin Adam Morhart on ship bound for New York City. From New York City they went to Elizabeth,
New Jersey. There Valentin met Katherine Elizabeth Dickhaut, and they were married in 1961. They came to upstate New York were other persons of German origin were settling: Ransons,
Bocks, and Stabbers.
The newlywed staffed housekeeping in Farmers Village (now Interlaken). Their first child, Charles, was born in 1863. In 1964, they were employed on the farm of Stephen Paddock in the
Town of Ulysses. Their second child was born 1865. The third child George was born in 1868. Frank O. was born in 1873, and shortly thereafter they bought a small farm in the Town of
Enfield. There the youngest child Henry J. was born in 1875.
Charles Rothermich married Anna Keimig, in Elizabeth NJ in 1900 and moved to the Oscar Fish farm on Fish Road (now the home of Calvin and Doris Rothermich). In 1903, Charles and Anna
moved to a farm acquired from Edward Noble on Harvey Hill Road (now the home of Beatrice Schwoerer and brother Lee Schwoerer). Frank married Mayme Mueller, also from Elizabeth, New
Jersey, 1913, and continued to reside on Valentin’s farm as both Valentin and Katherine had died prior to that time. Henry married Myrtle D. Dickens from Cayutaville on January 5, 1898,
and the moved to a farm they purchased from Charles Noble on Rothermich Road approximately one mile south of Route 79. They never lived at any other location during all their lives.
These brothers, Charles, Frank, and Henry, worked together, and had planned further agricultural expansion by purchasing additional land, when Charles was stricken with a stroke and
died in a short time. The partnership was disbanded and the lands were divided in 1912. The other son of Valentin and Katherine, George, died after being kicked by a horse when he
was six years old.
Henry and Mynle had three children, Leon, Katherine and Ruth. Only Leon continued to reside in the Town of Enfield all his life. The Oscar Fish farm on Fish Road was acquired by the
Rothermichs in 1921. Leon and his wife, Lila, moved to the Fish Farm in 1923. Leon and his father, Henry, continued the farm operations until 1943, when Leon turned the farm over to
his son, Calvin. Calvin was only sixteen and still in high school. Calvin continued to work with his grandfather, Henry, until Henry died in 1949. Calvin has acquired other lands
from his in-laws, Frank and Cora Lehmann, from James Shoup, and from Alan Rumsey. Calvin’s wife, Doris and daughter, Ann, acquired land from Howard and Evelyn Stamp to round out the
farm property to a total of 540 acres. It is expected that some time in the not too distant future, Ann, will be the proprietor and continue the farm operation together with her veterinary
practice. From the earliest years of the Rothermich farming, the crops consisted mainly of hay, beans, and buckwheat. Wheat, oats, barley, and corn to a lesser degree. Beans were
still grown by Calvin’s grandfather, but were grown only a couple of times after Henry died. In more recent years, field crops consist mainly of wheat, oats, barley, and corn to a lesser
degree. Beans were still grown by Calvin’s grandfather, but were grown only a couple of times after Henry died. In more recent years, field crops consist mainly of wheat, oats, buckwheat,
hay, and increased areas of corn. The dairy portion of the operation was stepped up in the 1950’s, and consisted of 34 millers and another 20 head of young stock when the dairy was
discontinued in 1995. Up until that time the farm employed two fall employees, but it was not possible to continue with both field crops and dairy after they left. Calvin has continued
the fired corps, and raising dairy heifers along except for some seasonal high school students.
Calvin’s interest with woodlots, logging, lumber, sawmills, and woodworking has produced some separate enterprises. Re worked with several old timers in their sawmills, Alvin Sheldon
and Walter Rumsey to name two. Eventually he acquired his own sawmill, and did custom sawing in the wintertime. At times have fell trees and hauled the logs to his sawmill as part
of custom work. When trees were cut I the woods on the Rothermich Farm. Some of the lumber was used for repair of buildings, rebuilding additions and for a new woodshop building.
In his woodshop, Calvin has acquired the tools to complete numerous projects include coffee tables, jewelry boxes, bookcases and blanket chests. Building blanket chests with cedar lining
has been his specialty.
Besides the above, he has other interest that work mentioned, such Hunting, Horse Pulling, Competitive Pistol Shooting, and Civil War History.