Filming on the Farm: Hillside Farms’ Connections to the Silver Screen

By Jill Patton

A hundred years ago, the United States Motion Picture Corporation (USMPC) lugged its bulky filming equipment to Hillside Farms in Shavertown, about five miles outside of Wilkes-Barre. Their mission: record actress Leatrice Joy, who played Sue in Her Fractured Voice, serenading a herd of cows. Fast-forward to 2017, when I was heading to Hillside Farms, equipped with a slim iPhone that contained more filming technology than USMPC could have ever imagined. My mission: grab some shots of the historic barns and iconic Hillside cows.

 

The first time I watched Her Fractured Voice, the barnyard scene caught my attention. As the cows fled from Sue’s awful singing, I wondered if it was filmed at Hillside Farms. It was a desperate guess at the only area farm I knew. However, I quickly dismissed the idea. In the early twentieth century, hundreds of dairy farms dotted the Wyoming Valley. What were the chances that the farm from Her Fractured Voice happened to be one of the only surviving ones?

 

As I read up on the Black Diamond Comedies, I discovered that my guess was correct. I probably shouldn’t have been so surprised. After all, Hillside was a stylish place at the time of the filming. In the 1880s, coal broker William Conyngham of Wilkes-Barre began buying small farms in the Back Mountain, which he transformed into a summer estate and commercial dairy. His country getaway included a 34-room Victorian cottage, rare Lord & Burnam greenhouses, and award-winning Clydesdale horses.  Yet despite all of these star-worthy amenities, the dairy cows got to share the spotlight with Sue.

 

The property remained in the Conyngham family until 2009, when it was purchased by the Lands at Hillside Farms, a nonprofit that promotes sustainable living.

Today, a visit to Hillside Farms is like taking a step back in time. Many of the historic buildings have been preserved, and it is still a working dairy farm. The Lands at Hillside Farms also uses old-fashioned farming practices that are healthy for the animals, planet, and consumers. The animals graze in pastures and spacious barnyards, just like they did when USMPC made their visit.

One of the best sights is the daily cow crossing, when farmhands drive the dairy cows across the road to the meadow. The cars have to stop as the herd moseys across the street, cows and drivers mutually gawking at one another. It’s a perfect representation of what Hillside stands for. It’s a place to slow down and appreciate our area’s agricultural heritage.

 

For the most part, Hillside is still true to its historical roots. However, instead of being an exclusive gentlemen’s retreat, it is now open to the community. The public can visit the historic buildings and learn about agricultural science, eco-friendly living, and healthy choices. And based off of the popularity of the dairy store and ice cream parlor, it seems like the cows are still the stars of the show!

 

My family and I visit Hillside Farms often to buy milk and ice cream (coconut is my top choice, pumpkin comes in at a close second). I never tire of exploring the greenhouses, stocking up on local goodies at the dairy store, and visiting the animals. Seriously, who can resist petting the fuzzy baby cows in the calf barn? I’m also a fan of alpacas, and I was elated when I found out that Hillside had a pair of these quirky, South American pack animals. My love for them began when I learned about them in middle school, and still today, a visit to the farm is never complete without stopping by their enclosure.

Although Hillside has always held a spot in my heart, the farm took on a new meaning to me after watching the film. Most locals will say that Hillside is one of the Back Mountain’s historical gems, but many don’t know about its links to the silver screen.

After watching the film, I made a special visit to Hillside. It was a November morning, and no one was down at the barns except for a few volunteers. I took a peaceful walk to the carriage barn, the main building across from the dairy store where the farm keeps a few goats, donkeys, and pigs. I stepped out to the barnyard, trying to imagine how the USMPC crew sized up the grounds. A cow was standing right near the door, and I couldn’t help but crouch down and snap a photo.

“Hi, buddy. I won’t sing at you, I promise,” I greeted. My voice is probably more atrocious than Sue’s, and people would definitely question my sanity.

I left feeling refreshed. It’s amazing to know that our area’s history is preserved on film, but seeing how the traditions still survive was truly humbling.