Theodore Woods Townsend

Theodore Woods Townsend was born and grew up in Brooklyn, NY. His family was in the business of hat makers, pattern makers, and barrels. As a young man, he wanted to farm so purchased a large acreage in Spring Valley, Rockland County, NY. The farmhouse was on Brick Church Road. The road had been part of the Continental Mail Route during Revolutionary War years and the house was built in the 1700s by the Smith family. It was later traded by 2 families- the city family wanted to move to the country and the rural family wanted to move to the city.

However, this did not work out and Townsend bought it and moved in immediately. On the road was the 1700 Townsend farm, WOODSIDE DAIRY, the 1772 West Hew Hempstead Reformed Church - originally The Protestant Dutch Reformed Church in the Upper Part of Kakeath (Dutch for Kakiat), and the Cuyper 1700 house.

When old enough his son Clarence Townsend joined his father in the dairy business and the business grew to include other dairy products, eggs, and geraniums. It was a family operation - including processing and bottling. After his daughter Grace Estelle married, her husband (a furniture maker and gold leaf artist by trade, born in Norway) also joined the farming.

Theodore was called "Bybe" by his grandchildren. Woodside Dairy was owned by Theodore Townsend > his son Clarence > his daughter's husband Enoch Severin Erickson > Theodore's grandson Clarence Eugene (Pete) > Theodore's great-grandson Eugene W. (Gene). Rockland County began to grow and The building of The Tappan Zee Bridge brought hundreds more families. At this point in time, the larger milk companies came to Rockland. They could offer the homeowner more for less than the small local milkman.

Never forgotten by the old Rocklanders was this good family who made sure local children had milk, eggs and dairy products during 2 world wars - whether or not they were paid for.