Ralph Walter COOK
Biography

Ralph Walter Cook, Jr.

Ralph was born at his grandmother's house in North Attleboro on March 12, 1921. His father was in college at the time. He was the oldest son of Ralph Sr. and Hazel (Washburn). He had one brother, Ronald Cameron, and a sister, Carolyn (Cook) Fox. He was raised on the farm at 664 East Central St., Franklin, MA. His grandparents Walter and Caroline lived upstairs. He was baptized a Congregational, however, his mother was Baptist. The farm house had a telephone, electricity, and running water. But there still was no indoor toilet till he was about 15. The house was heated wood, and his mother cooked with wood for several years. As a young boy the farm took a lot of his time and his grandfather's, because his father had a lot of health problems due to WWI. He was hospitalized several times. Because of Ralph Jr.'s interest in framing, and the time taken up by the farm, he attended the Norfolk Agricultural High School in Walpole, MA.

On April 4, 1942, Ralph married Mary Winifred Lawrence who was a Catholic. She was the daughter of Harland Lawrence and Christina Cullinane. She was born in Concord, MA. At that time, he converted to a Catholic. They lived on May St. in Franklin for a year then they moved to the Franklin Country Club where he was sort of a watchman part-time, but still working on the farm. Both of their sons were born while they lived there. Both sons were born at Milford Hospital.

a. Ralph Walter Cook III, b. April 7, 1943
b. Harland Lawrence Cook, b. January 7, 1945

After a few years, Ralph moved his family up to the farm in a home that had been one of the chicken houses. They lived upstairs and down stairs was a garage for cars, trucks, firetrucks, etc. A greenhouse was built on the end for Ralph Sr., his father, and a back shed along the whole house was for wood to burn in the house and farm equipment. As time went one, in about 1945, Ralph Jr. bought half of the farm from his father, and when his brother Ronald came home from WWII, in about 1947, he bought the other half and thus, Ralph Jr. and Ronald now own the farm. They then bought 17 acres from Robert Doe at the end of the main field. The farm is now up to about 86 acres. Thus, in 1947, the farm consisted of 16.39 acres of tillage and sprout, 40 acres of apple orchard, 2.5 acres under buildings, and 27 acres of woodland, pasture, roads, and swamps. By 1970, the farm was still a total of 86 acres. It consisted of 16.39 acres of tillage and sprout, 5.5 acres of orchard, 31 acres of woodland, 30.53 acres of swamp, roads, and pasture, 2.5 acres under buildings.

When Ralph and Ronald first owned the farm they had a stand in the Farmers Market in Providence, RI. Here they sold most of the produce raised on the farm. At this point in time, they gave up the store in the market because it was no longer needed. Most of the produce raised on the farm were sold at the store.

Under Ralph and Ronald, the farm grew and changed. They expanded the chicken house and converted from laying hens to 12,000 broilers every 12 weeks. They raised about 1,000 turkeys every year. They housed cattle for Garelic in their two barns. They quit raising pigs about 1950. They put three large additions to the small welding shop which was originally started as a hobby by Ronald, who graduated from Wentworth Institute. This welding shop changed from repairing the farm equipment into a second business. A larger greenhouse was built between Ralph and Ronald's houses for their father who died just as it was completed. This also expanded and developed into a third business. Ronald moved from working in the fields into working in the welding shop full town. Ralph worked the store, greenhouses, the fields, and part-time in the welding shop.

When Ralph and Ronald owned the farm together, it was with the condition that they would provide for Ralph Sr. and Hazel until they died, however, this also included Ralph Sr.'s father, Walter, because he was still alive.

Additional Information

Ralph Jr.'s house was heated by oil. He had a refrigerator, electricity, telephone, and a gas stove.

Ralph Jr. bought his first car from Uncle Ronald after he had been married about 4 years.

There were two very destructive hurricanes in 1954-6. A lot of damage was done to the farm. They lost alot of apple and peach trees.

Thanks to Harland Cook

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