Before talking about the past, it is important to mention the present. The last family owners of Sparks’ Farm were Jack and Caroline Sparks. They purchased the farm in 1970. Jack grew up on the farm as a child, but he eventually bought it from his two brothers alongside his wife after returning to Altoona, Pennsylvania to teach biology at Altoona Area High School. He previously coached at Penn State Altoona for multiple sports teams while working on a PhD in biology before settling down with his wife. Right after purchasing the farm, they began raising beef cattle. Not many crops were grown due to the overpopulation of deer.
Camp No-Dse-Wa-Ope
From their obvious love of children and teaching, they started an outdoor children’s camp. Rifle training, archery instruction, hiking, volleyball, camping, swimming, and other activities were offered. In fact, during the first year of the camp, the children slept on the Sparks’ front porch. Caroline also cooked for them! Later on, the hen house, brooder house and hog pen were all used as cabins for the campers. Caroline wanted young campers to clear their mind from everyday activities and schooling in order to enjoy the outdoors.
Meaning and Purpose of Sparks’ Farm
Caroline was always a spiritual women and believed that the LAND is quite sacred. In her words she claims, “What one takes, they must give back,” while also noting that we will be held hostage to the world if it isn’t replenished. She believes one must, “Quiet their hearts and minds in order to learn about the world”. It is important for people to forget all their current struggles of daily life and look from a different perspective to see what beauty and knowledge the world has to offer. The summer camp’s name No-Dse-Wa-Ope means quiet heart and the logo for the farm also resembles this.
See: http://juniatasparksfarm.com/roots-of-the-no-dse-wa-ope/tomahawks-and-arrowheads
History of the Land
The history of the farm begins with Barbara Swartz Sparks Ritchey. She was the daughter of John Swartz and Christina Rinard. Christina was a sister of Henry Rinard. Henry Rinard had the deed for Rinard Farm (now Sparks’ Farm) going all the way back to 1794. Before his passing, Henry gave the land to his sons John and Jacob Rinard. Before Jacob’s passing, he sold his land to Joseph Ritchey. It was likely that Jacob Rinard sold the Rinard Farm to Joseph Ritchey because Adam Ritchey’s son, Michael, was married to Jacob’s sister, Catherine Rinard. The Ritchey family owned the Ritchey Homestead across the river originating with the first owner, Adam Ritchey. Joseph Ritchey was the grandson of Adam Ritchey. Adam split the Ritchey Homestead between his sons Daniel (Joseph Ritchey’s father) and Jacob Ritchey before his passing in 1834.
Barbara added Sparks to her name after marrying John Sparks who is Jack’s great grandfather. In 1850, they moved to Illinois on bounty land earned from service during the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. John died shortly after they moved due to cholera, so the widowed Barbara returned to Bedford, PA with her children and married Jacob Ritchey. Again, after Joseph Ritchey (nephew of Jacob) purchased the Rinard Farm, he had full control of the area. He was granted the Ritchey Homestead by his family.
How did the Sparks Acquire the Farm?
In the next generation, ownership of the farm changed. John Sparks was a son of John Sparks and Barbara Swartz Sparks. Obviously, he was named after his father. He returned to Bedford with his mother after his father died (from cholera as stated earlier). He married Rebecca Sleighter. They had a son Samuel E. Sparks who is Jack’s father. From the intermingling family connections, Samuel was well acquainted with the Ritchey family. While working at Broadtop Region Coal Mines since age 12, he also found time to do farm work for Joseph Ritchey. After Joseph’s death in 1913, the family did not want to continue the responsibility of farming. In 1914, Samuel decided to buy the previously named Rinard Farm which is now Sparks’ Farm today! When Samuel passed away in 1952, the deed went to Jack Sparks’ mother, Gray May Bowman Sparks. In 1961, when she passed, the farm was passed to Jack’s two brothers. Jack purchased it from them in 1970.
Farming Practices
Growing up on the farm, Jack remembers the family growing corn, wheat, oats, barley and hay. They had a couple hundred chickens and hens. They also had about 30 dairy cows that were all hand milked. The family had fruit trees, a vegetable garden, and a small hog lot for personal subsidence use. They would can fruits and vegetables for winter months while also grinding down flour at the grist mill for his mother to make bread. After Jack bought the farm in 1970, beef cattle was the primary source of income. He experimented with genetic enhancements for quicker growth. The first breeds of cattle introduced were Hereford (British) and Charolais (French). He then transitioned into Chianina (Italian) and Limousine (French) breeds. Jack would eventually cross breed all these species for better genetic attributes. There was about 150 beef cattle at the farm’s peak.
Sparks, J. (2007). Imprints and Echos from the Hills and Valleys of the Raystown Branch of the Juniata River.
Sparks, J., & Sparks, C. (2022, September 15). Interview with Jack and Carolyn Sparks [Personal communication].
