Staff Reports
COMMISKEY — For their role in preserving Stream Cliff Farm outside Commiskey, in Jennings County, Betty and Gerald Manning recently won the 2020 John Arnold Award for Rural Preservation from Indiana Landmarks and Indiana Farm Bureau.
Stream Cliff Farm’s collection of 19th century buildings initially supported traditional farming operations. Today, they house the farm’s herb and flower business, restaurant, winery and special events venue.
Stream Cliff’s origins date back to 1821 when James Harmon moved from Maine to Indiana. Harmon established a farm using a land grant awarded to his father, a Revolutionary War veteran who served under Benedict Arnold. Harmon reportedly lived in a hollow tree while he built a barn and baked bricks to construct his farmhouse between 1836 and 1843.
The property survived a visit by Confederate soldiers during General John Hunt Morgan’s raid through southern Indiana in 1863. Harmon died without heirs a few months later, leaving the farm to the Methodist church. Betty Manning’s ancestors bought the farm shortly thereafter, and since then six generations have worked on the property.
Personal hobbies and gardening interests took the farm in a new direction around 1972 when the Mannings started selling crafts, cornhusk dolls and dried florals.
They also pressed Betty’s grandpa’s blacksmith shop back into service, creating hand-forged items to sell. Additionally, they created quilt-shaped gardens in homage to Betty’s grandmother, an avid quilter and gardener.
As Stream Cliff’s flower and herb-growing business expanded, the Mannings repurposed more of the farm’s historic buildings. They converted a mid-19th century corncrib to a chapel and adapted the 1821 English barn and a smaller 19th century barn nearby to host weddings, receptions, and other events.
A 1868 building, believed to have been built to house workers constructing a nearby railroad, is now an antique and gift shop. A former chicken house became the farm store. Betty’s grandpa’s blacksmith shop is now used for selling indoor plants, while Gerald’s 1970 blacksmith shop became a winery tasting room and gift shop.
Along with providing a destination for shopping and dining, Stream Cliff hosts wildflower walks, art shows, and classes on cooking, art, crafts, and gardening.
