My Grandfather purchased this property in the early 40's as well as most of the surrounding property. He passed away in 1997 while I was stationed in Japan for the Marines. I got out of the Marines and went to work as a police officer. I lived just a few miles from the property and drove past it almost daily. When the farm was purchased after my Grandfathers death, everything was split up. Finally, 6 years ago the old homestead came up for sale and my wife and I purchased it. None of the buildings, to include the house was salvageable. We plan to build a house there next year, all of the buildings are gone. The tree's and overgrowth took over. I filled in the pond pictured here and we built (just completed this month) a 2 1/2 acre pond where the big barn and the old feed lot sits. The property looks nothing like it did, it made me very sad to tear everything down, but after a few contractors shook their heads and mumbled something about me being crazy, we decided there was no other way. I learned how to handle cattle, stack hay in that mound in the big barn, work on Grandads old tractors in the old open face machine shed, hatching chickens, ducks, geese, peacocks and turkeys. How to hunt with my Dad directly across the road on the "40" and fish on the Spoon River that runs on the north side of this property. I am going to purchase this print for our new house, it will be one of the first things we hang up. I wanted to thank you for preserving this picture and the memories that seeing this photo brought back to me. For the past six years I have done nothing to the property but tear down and change every reason why I bought it in the first place. As my son and daughter grow up, I hope they too will remember the Goff property and all of the memories made. Thanks again!