Our History
Cottonwood Farm is a 5-acre parcel of land on Farrell Rd in Webster Township, right around the corner from the Township Hall. Recognized by Michigan’s Register of Historic Places, the Farm is part of land originally owned by John Williams (the first Township Supervisor) and was the site of the first township meeting, held April 1, 1833. The main house was built in 1828, and is a fine example of Greek Revival architecture. Members of the Williams family are buried in a small cemetery on the property. There are stories that the Farm was a waystop for escaping slaves on the Underground Railroad, but this cannot be confirmed.
In 1939, the Williams’ property - all 200 acres of it - was purchased by Walter and May Mast, who named it Cottonwood Farm and started a farm-style residential summer camp for disadvantaged boys from Detroit. After Walter passed, May continued to run a private school on the farm for girls to learn horsemanship, until closing the camp in 1973. The granite mounting block still stands in the front yard next to the driveway. May was a prominent Washtenaw County figure until her death in April, 1999.
Much of the Farm’s acreage was sold over the next few years, but the 5-acre parcel with the 6 buildings on it stayed in the Mast family until 2013, when it was sold to a group associated with the Rudolf Steiner School in Ann Arbor. Teachers and friends of the school formed a community there for six years, living in the 7 residential units. When it came time for them to sell it, they wanted to find a group who would treat the property with respect for its unique history and form their own community and memories.
The large farm house on the property is almost 200 years old. It has been modernized with indoor plumbing and electricity, but still retains its 1800’s style and charm. The other buildings on the property are “newer” (built in the 1900’s), but they are not new.
A Catholic Farm
In May 2019, Cottonwood Farm was purchased by MorningStar Ventures, LLC. Just like the previous owners, the new owners had a vision for the property for their community. Several at St. Augustine’s HEP, a local Catholic homeschooling group, dreamed of having a place where they could live near each other and support each other in their Catholic faith, their families and fraternity. When Cottonwood was bought, tutors, alumni, and friends of the program moved in.
Taking inspiration from the idea of the “Benedict Option”, many of our residents seek to be “in the world, but not of it.” While they hold jobs and are contributing members of society, there is a sense that Cottonwood is meant to be a community of faith that is somewhat at odds with the world, taking what is good but consciously rejecting what is bad, and fostering an authentic Catholic community for themselves and their families.
The tradition of weekly gatherings brings a greater circle of friends from throughout the area for a few hours of revelry, singing, readings, and toasts. Conversations range from politics and theology, to history and raising children, and everything in between. More often than not, there is a bonfire and the occasional special commemoration of Catholic feast days, such as the St. Joseph’s table, or historic events like the Battle of Lepanto.
Far from being a static community, the Cottonwood residents are diverse in age, education, background and career choice. They are farmers, high-school teachers, stay-at-home mothers, writers and artists, office staff and trade workers. But all are living out the universal call to holiness and striving to be positive influences in their workplaces and communities.
A strain of agrarianism pervades Cottonwood as well, with residents building a chicken coop and run, a large vegetable garden, a milk cow, pigs, and a flock of sheep and goats. The maple trees on the grounds are tapped by residents every year.