Our old barn is home to our upstairs workshop where we put together a great assortment of made on the farm items... from wreaths, centerpieces and so much more... all made right here in Spencer, Massachusetts and unique to our shop...
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Our beautiful old barn was built in 1853 and was once home to 4000 Rhode Island red chickens back in the 40's and 50's.... My father Frank Devereux was a steel mill worker in Worcester Massachusetts and maintained the farm on the side to supplement his income... Along with fresh eggs he sold strawberries and veggies in season.
In the mid 60's my brother John a recent graduate of Stockbridge School at U-Mass planted 500 evergreen seedlings on the back hill pasture of our property... Fast forward to 1974 and he mentioned to me he was going to thin out the trees on the hill to let the good ones grow out... I suggested he wait until Thanksgiving time and I would sell them as Christmas trees.... That was the beginning history of Oakwood Farm.... We sold every last one of the trees and the following year we planted more and I learned how to make wreaths and found if you put a decoration or two on them with some pine cones and a fancy bow they would sell easily for a higher price than a plain one... My next door neighbor who had just retired from the First National store in Worcester took an interest in the business and was a great help from day one.. Edie had a lot of creative energy and made up interesting things along with me to display in the bottom corner of our old barn.... Another good friend Paul did the gig as Santa for many years...both of these people worked with me from day one... In the early years a shot of peppermint snopps was given to customers who stopped by to take the chill off.... we still have customers coming in to ask for the peppermint snopps...Long gone are those days but we do serve our now famous mulled cider during the fall through Christmas season... however it is not spiked.... We started out in the garage portion of the barn which is now closed in and the main entrance... we gradually took over the whole first floor of the barn and finally got a little gas heater to take off the chill.... within a few years we moved up to part of the main floor of the barn... the barn is built into a hillside and the main floor is on ground level upstairs... Before long we had taken over the whole main floor and had added an addition.......Many wonderful folks helped me out in my business over the years... Peggy who started in the early years and still works here was my school bus driver (the first lady bus driver in Spencer) back in my senior year in high school, Neighbors Ruth and Ann worked the early years Nancy, Carole and Dotty came on board ... Carole still fills in on busy weekends.... Dotty along with Edie did a lot of the beautiful arrangements which I continue to do to this day...Nancy was responsible for bringing her aunt to work here also... many will remember " Matante/ Irene"... My God children worked for me too now grown and married Paul lives in Spencer and Kate is out in Seattle.... I mentioned the first Paul (a longtime friend) earlier well his wife Cindy worked here for many years too... Marie a retired school principal has worked for me for many years and continues to work here... In addition I had other folks helping out.... Tina worked here for several years and now manages a gift shop closer to her home... Nick worked here through high school and college he now is a teacher of chemistry and science at a nearby regional high school... My cousin Mike also worked through high school and college and now has his doctorate..... We also had Steve, Muriel, Stephen, Denise, Michele, and I am sure I have overlooked someone...but I thank them all for contributing to the success of Oakwood Farm Christmas Barn. I would be remiss if I did not remember my Father who would cover the tree stand in the early years during the day while I worked my day job... My Dad lost his hearing as a young man just before the depression hit... but he never was without a job during those lean years.... He loved his afternoon naps in his chair by the window in our dining room in the house next door to the barn.... It became apparent that he missed a few sales during nap time but our customers have always been the best and would slip the $5.00 for the tree in the storm door by that window... Since he had sealed the door for the winter at that time ...we would find the bonus money in the spring when the dining room door was re-opened for the warmer months.... I often wondered what people thought about the guy sleeping in the chair so soundly he never heard the knock on the door to pay him...but again everyone in the area knew my Dad and understood I am sure... The name Oakwood Farm was the name given to our home by my mother who died when I was young.. She loved the place and it's magnificent oak trees that surrounded the property and after the hurricane of '38 they were the only trees left standing.... she named it Oakwood Farm..... I wanted to incorporate Oakwood Farm into the name of the shop thus it became Oakwood Farm Christmas Barn... In 1982 my father passed away and in the summer of that year I was laid off from my day job and figured it was now or never and I established the shop as a small part of the barn and as I have explained it grew into what it is today.... I hope you enjoyed this wordy history of our shop and come out to visit us or visit us on line with our shop on line coming soon..
In the mid 60's my brother John a recent graduate of Stockbridge School at U-Mass planted 500 evergreen seedlings on the back hill pasture of our property... Fast forward to 1974 and he mentioned to me he was going to thin out the trees on the hill to let the good ones grow out... I suggested he wait until Thanksgiving time and I would sell them as Christmas trees.... That was the beginning history of Oakwood Farm.... We sold every last one of the trees and the following year we planted more and I learned how to make wreaths and found if you put a decoration or two on them with some pine cones and a fancy bow they would sell easily for a higher price than a plain one... My next door neighbor who had just retired from the First National store in Worcester took an interest in the business and was a great help from day one.. Edie had a lot of creative energy and made up interesting things along with me to display in the bottom corner of our old barn.... Another good friend Paul did the gig as Santa for many years...both of these people worked with me from day one... In the early years a shot of peppermint snopps was given to customers who stopped by to take the chill off.... we still have customers coming in to ask for the peppermint snopps...Long gone are those days but we do serve our now famous mulled cider during the fall through Christmas season... however it is not spiked.... We started out in the garage portion of the barn which is now closed in and the main entrance... we gradually took over the whole first floor of the barn and finally got a little gas heater to take off the chill.... within a few years we moved up to part of the main floor of the barn... the barn is built into a hillside and the main floor is on ground level upstairs... Before long we had taken over the whole main floor and had added an addition.......Many wonderful folks helped me out in my business over the years... Peggy who started in the early years and still works here was my school bus driver (the first lady bus driver in Spencer) back in my senior year in high school, Neighbors Ruth and Ann worked the early years Nancy, Carole and Dotty came on board ... Carole still fills in on busy weekends.... Dotty along with Edie did a lot of the beautiful arrangements which I continue to do to this day...Nancy was responsible for bringing her aunt to work here also... many will remember " Matante/ Irene"... My God children worked for me too now grown and married Paul lives in Spencer and Kate is out in Seattle.... I mentioned the first Paul (a longtime friend) earlier well his wife Cindy worked here for many years too... Marie a retired school principal has worked for me for many years and continues to work here... In addition I had other folks helping out.... Tina worked here for several years and now manages a gift shop closer to her home... Nick worked here through high school and college he now is a teacher of chemistry and science at a nearby regional high school... My cousin Mike also worked through high school and college and now has his doctorate..... We also had Steve, Muriel, Stephen, Denise, Michele, and I am sure I have overlooked someone...but I thank them all for contributing to the success of Oakwood Farm Christmas Barn. I would be remiss if I did not remember my Father who would cover the tree stand in the early years during the day while I worked my day job... My Dad lost his hearing as a young man just before the depression hit... but he never was without a job during those lean years.... He loved his afternoon naps in his chair by the window in our dining room in the house next door to the barn.... It became apparent that he missed a few sales during nap time but our customers have always been the best and would slip the $5.00 for the tree in the storm door by that window... Since he had sealed the door for the winter at that time ...we would find the bonus money in the spring when the dining room door was re-opened for the warmer months.... I often wondered what people thought about the guy sleeping in the chair so soundly he never heard the knock on the door to pay him...but again everyone in the area knew my Dad and understood I am sure... The name Oakwood Farm was the name given to our home by my mother who died when I was young.. She loved the place and it's magnificent oak trees that surrounded the property and after the hurricane of '38 they were the only trees left standing.... she named it Oakwood Farm..... I wanted to incorporate Oakwood Farm into the name of the shop thus it became Oakwood Farm Christmas Barn... In 1982 my father passed away and in the summer of that year I was laid off from my day job and figured it was now or never and I established the shop as a small part of the barn and as I have explained it grew into what it is today.... I hope you enjoyed this wordy history of our shop and come out to visit us or visit us on line with our shop on line coming soon..
Clancy IV at the checkout counter...eager to say hello ....
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During the 70's we sold fresh Christmas trees... Note the old asphalt shingles on barn. In the 80's we put the cedar clapboards on the barn.... Note also snow... a deciding factor on not selling trees outside... Noting worse than clearing the lot after a storm....
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During the fall months we get frequent bus tours into our shop from near and far... One of our favorites is a group from the Mohawk Trail area and prefer to view the foliage in Central Massachusetts rather than in their famed foliage area... less crowded they say and much more vivid colors..So come on out and enjoy the fall colors in our area... Do a loop ride take route 20 west to Brimfield and follow route 19 into the town of Warren and follow route 67 north to West Brookfield... home of the most beautiful common in the world... and onto route 9 east to the rest of the Brookfields and onto Spencer .... take route 49 south back to Sturbridge and enjoy each mile....
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 We stock the beautiful line of Byers' Carolers all made here in the USA 
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Random shots of shop...
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 Be sure to visit our Ornament with a story section of our shop.... We have a collection of ornaments all boxed with a story on them to describe the tradition of each ornament and its meaning for the Christmas season... Our most popular ornament collection...  Visit our Irish shop to find wonderful ornaments to celebrate our Irish Heritage. |
 We enjoy making arrangements in various containers. |
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I enjoy collecting Christmas from the 50's and 60's and display them in the shop for all to enjoy.. Sorry none for sale...
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 Gift boxes, gift bags, baskets and more all filled with Christmas greens.. all made here on the farm in good old USA..... |
 Hand made in Spencer Massachusetts by Jerry.... This stable comes with straw and a light and is made out of real wood... 50 years ago Jerry hired me to work at our local supermarket here in town... He gave me and others many valuable tips on the retail business... today he is retired but enjoys working with wood and for several years now has been making this beautiful stable for re-sale at our shop... Thanks Jerry for all your advise over the years and your fine craftsmanship... Oh by the way he hired me 50 years ago because he had had my mother as a teacher and she was one of his favorites so he figured I couldn't be all that bad.... Boy was he wrong.... 
Wine related ornaments along with wine theme nutcacker and oh yes we have a Santa with wine theme too..
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We have lots of old fashion elfs ...plush styles and wonderful ornaments too...
Birds and more birds...You see the beautiful Red Cardinal here on one of our trees... We have many more birds always a favorite ...
2017 Clancy ready for a run in the snow... |
Winter 2017
Feb 9th...first major snow of the season photo taken during storm..On my way between house and barn with newly made creations...I work in the warmth of my cozy den in the house and then bring whatever I have made in an hour or two and place the items on display in barn.... 
Winter workshop in my den...
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Hard for me to believe these majestic fir trees were 42 years ago just 6 inch seedlings my Father and I planted in his old strawberry patch.. The giant trees are covered in a beautiful mantle of snow as
Clancy V and I enjoy the back field.. All the Clancys' enjoyed this area as a place to run, sniff and hunt... I have named it "Red Dog Ridge".... 
Clancy V on his way up for a run on
"Red Dog Ridge" |
Wreaths, swags and more hand made here on the farm...
our ornament with a story section of the shop... We have over 75 different ornaments we selected to go along with our little story that gives an extra special touch to your gift giving.
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A favorite of mine is a beautiful swag with big bow on top to hang on wall or door for the Christmas season... Our swags measure 3-4 ft in length and are stuffed with berries, cones, pods and more...
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 A great bow makes any wreath or arrangement.... For many years Edie was our bow maker .... It was Dotty who taught me how to make a bow... We have many beautiful bows here on the farm for sale with a variety of beautiful Christmas patterns.... We bedeck our old barn with bows too....   |
 I like to use this piece as a window sill decoration in our old farm house... also looks great as a centerpiece on your Christmas table... made here on the farm...  
Paul as Santa.... a true salesman... thanks for all you did over the years and enjoy retirement on the Cape...
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works in progress winter workshop in my den...
 Our favorite season is fall .... warm days frosty nights... and wonderful foliage constantly changing... We pride ourselves in unique fall arrangements and items for your fall decor. 
Edie...Thank you my friend for all you did to make the shop a success.... Rest in Peace.
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 We also make a limited amount of arrangements for the spring and summer months... But Christmas is our biggest theme. 
It was mentioned to me recently by a visitor to the shop that I am not identified on website... Here I am with Clancy IV..both of us are a bit grayer but still similar to photo... Let me introduce myself ... I am Jim Devereux
I am the founder and owner of Oakwood Farm Christmas Barn... I look forward to meeting you or seeing you again soon at the Barn.... |
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