Built in 1806, Clapp Farm became a dairy and orchard, with women leading butter and cheese production. It now houses the Dorchester Historical Society.
The Federal farmhouse was built for tanner William Clapp and his wife Elizabeth Humphreys in 1806. The family farm evolved into a commercial orchard and dairy beginning in the 1830s. New England dairy products, especially butter, were highly prized. Wives, daughters, and hired dairy maids milked the cows, churned the butter, and helped make cheese. Since 1945, Clapp Farm has been the site of the Dorchester Historical Society.
The Boston Women’s Heritage Trail celebrates the past accomplishments of remarkable women in Boston, claiming their rightful place in our City’s history. Through education, reflection, and an interactive city-wide monument, we activate the powerful female side of Boston’s history.
