1915
Charles
2010
Charles Edward Allen
September 15, 1915 — August 8, 2010
STERLING – Charles Edward Allen, 94, died peacefully at home on Sunday, August 8, 2010. He was born on September 15, 1915, the 10th child of Halsey L. and Mabel N. (Munson) Allen. He was the last living brother of six boys and four girls.
His family moved from Holden to Sterling in 1920 and he lived on Crystal Brook Farm for the remainder of his life. Charlie attended school in Sterling and graduated from Leominster High School in 1933. He worked on the farm during his school years and then full time until his father died in 1939. His brother Fred then came to work the farm with him. For a few years, during World War II the brothers also owned and operated a farm machinery distributorship. In early 1944, Fred moved to Vermont and the machinery business was sold and Charlie became the sole proprietor of the farm. Crystal Brook Farm was mainly a dairy business but it also had apple orchards that supplied apples to wholesale distributors.
In the mid 1980's, Charlie's grand nephew, Eric Starbard, came to work with him on a part-time basis which later became full time. Sometime during 1986, Crystal Brook Farm was enrolled on the Mass. Agricultural Preservation Restriction Program, whereby the land can never be sold for development. Both Charlie's farm and his brother Ralph's adjacent farm were among the first ones in the state to preserve in this way. Mr. Allen retired from the farm in the mid-1990's to a new home he had built on a large wooded tract of land that was part of the original Crystal Brook Farm. He later sold the remainder of the farmland to Eric and his wife Ann who continue to operate it. In 2001, Charlie donated 27 acres of the wood tract he still owned to the Sterling Land Trust Preservation Group. At a special ceremony in 2004, the Massachusetts Audubon Society presented its Conservation Advocacy Award to Charlie
Mr. Allen was a true nature lover, a trait that he inherited and learned from his mother. He was an avid bird enthusiast and delighted in feeding the birds from his backyard deck, right up until his last illness. He occasionally traveled around the state and New England to join with friends and fellow bird watchers at special outings. In fact, every walk he took was also a bird walk. In addition, he made a thorough study of the many varieties of trees, wildflowers and wild animals native to the New England area. He was a history buff, very much interested in the history of his family, the Sterling community, the surrounding areas and the land he lived on for ninety years. He spent his retirement years perfecting his woodcarving skills in the production of numerous beautifully carved and painted birds, including ducks, which he sold, but mostly used to decorate his house or to give as gifts to family and friends. He also devoted time outdoors to opening up and developing a system of marked trails through the woodlands around his house and on the tract that was donated to the Sterling Land Trust. He used those trails daily to maintain his good physical condition and especially to just enjoy the beauty of the nature around him.
Charlie never married but he is survived by 25 of his 27 nieces and nephews; many grand nieces and grand nephews; and a large number of offspring in the next generation. He also leaves his good friend Barbara. He was a member of the First Church in Sterling, the Sterling Historical Society, the Sterling Grange and the Massachusetts Farm Bureau. Charlie was a kind and generous man, a gentle spirit who gave back to the Sterling community and to his family and friends in many quiet and unassuming ways. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him.
A memorial service for Charlie will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, October 17th, in the First Church in Sterling, 6 Meetinghouse Hill Road, Sterling. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Sterling Land Trust, P.O. Box 106, Sterling, MA 01564; or to the Massachusetts Audubon Society, 414 Massasoit Road, Worcester, MA 01604. Miles-Sterling Funeral Home, 100 Worcester Road, Sterling is directing arrangements.
Website & Guest book: www.milesfuneralhome.com
His family moved from Holden to Sterling in 1920 and he lived on Crystal Brook Farm for the remainder of his life. Charlie attended school in Sterling and graduated from Leominster High School in 1933. He worked on the farm during his school years and then full time until his father died in 1939. His brother Fred then came to work the farm with him. For a few years, during World War II the brothers also owned and operated a farm machinery distributorship. In early 1944, Fred moved to Vermont and the machinery business was sold and Charlie became the sole proprietor of the farm. Crystal Brook Farm was mainly a dairy business but it also had apple orchards that supplied apples to wholesale distributors.
In the mid 1980's, Charlie's grand nephew, Eric Starbard, came to work with him on a part-time basis which later became full time. Sometime during 1986, Crystal Brook Farm was enrolled on the Mass. Agricultural Preservation Restriction Program, whereby the land can never be sold for development. Both Charlie's farm and his brother Ralph's adjacent farm were among the first ones in the state to preserve in this way. Mr. Allen retired from the farm in the mid-1990's to a new home he had built on a large wooded tract of land that was part of the original Crystal Brook Farm. He later sold the remainder of the farmland to Eric and his wife Ann who continue to operate it. In 2001, Charlie donated 27 acres of the wood tract he still owned to the Sterling Land Trust Preservation Group. At a special ceremony in 2004, the Massachusetts Audubon Society presented its Conservation Advocacy Award to Charlie
Mr. Allen was a true nature lover, a trait that he inherited and learned from his mother. He was an avid bird enthusiast and delighted in feeding the birds from his backyard deck, right up until his last illness. He occasionally traveled around the state and New England to join with friends and fellow bird watchers at special outings. In fact, every walk he took was also a bird walk. In addition, he made a thorough study of the many varieties of trees, wildflowers and wild animals native to the New England area. He was a history buff, very much interested in the history of his family, the Sterling community, the surrounding areas and the land he lived on for ninety years. He spent his retirement years perfecting his woodcarving skills in the production of numerous beautifully carved and painted birds, including ducks, which he sold, but mostly used to decorate his house or to give as gifts to family and friends. He also devoted time outdoors to opening up and developing a system of marked trails through the woodlands around his house and on the tract that was donated to the Sterling Land Trust. He used those trails daily to maintain his good physical condition and especially to just enjoy the beauty of the nature around him.
Charlie never married but he is survived by 25 of his 27 nieces and nephews; many grand nieces and grand nephews; and a large number of offspring in the next generation. He also leaves his good friend Barbara. He was a member of the First Church in Sterling, the Sterling Historical Society, the Sterling Grange and the Massachusetts Farm Bureau. Charlie was a kind and generous man, a gentle spirit who gave back to the Sterling community and to his family and friends in many quiet and unassuming ways. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him.
A memorial service for Charlie will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, October 17th, in the First Church in Sterling, 6 Meetinghouse Hill Road, Sterling. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Sterling Land Trust, P.O. Box 106, Sterling, MA 01564; or to the Massachusetts Audubon Society, 414 Massasoit Road, Worcester, MA 01604. Miles-Sterling Funeral Home, 100 Worcester Road, Sterling is directing arrangements.
Website & Guest book: www.milesfuneralhome.com
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