The Hazard Lewis Farm was situated on Route 17, one mile west of the City of Binghamton. The farm was established in the year 1829 by Colonel Hazard Lewis. Colonel Lewis at one time with Christor Eldredge and John A. Collier owned practically the entire south side of Binghamton. He was an influential citizen of the county and a benefactor in the early growth and development of the community.

The farm was recognized as one of the outstanding dairy farms in the County. In later years under the management and eventual ownership of James N. Allen farming and dairying operations were greatly enlarged and the farm became known throughout New York State as one of the largest and most successful farms in operation.

James N. Allen was recognized as one of the most successful dairymen in New York State. He was supervisor for the Town of Vestal and Chairman of the Broome County Board of Supervisors in 1923. The farm produced certified milk for the Borden Company until a fire destroyed the barns and creamery. A new barn and creamery were built in 1928.

The farm was purchased from Mr. Allen’s widow in 1931 by Archibald MacArthur. For several years after the acquisition, MacArthur, in partnership with C.A. Crawford, produced Guernsey milk exclusively for Crowley and Cloverdale Milk Companies of Binghamton. The milk was produced and bottled on the farm and distributed in Binghamton, Johnson City and Endicott. For a time, a quantity of milk from the farm was shipped to communities along the Hudson River, in and around Newburgh, NY.

In the late fall of 1939, under pressure from State Health Department regulations advocating and insisting upon pasteurization of milk, the owners purchased a small retail pasteurized milk business and gradually began the production and sale of pasteurized milk and dairy products. In the spring of 1941, the Borden Milk Company of New York City contracted with the farm for milk to be shipped to their branch in Hackensack, NJ.

Through retail and wholesale routes, the farm sold buttermilk, cottage cheese, cream, butter, eggs and other products. The farm’s New York State milk license permitted them to sell milk in Binghamton, Johnson City, Endicott, Union, Vestal, Kirkwood, Conklin, Fenton, Dickinson, Colesville and Port Dickinson.

According to a document in the collection, in December 1942, an aged MacArthur and Crawford (both also involved in the department store business) offered the farm for sale at $150,000. Documents indicate possible interest in purchase by Jack Manoil of Waverly in late 1942/early 1943. The July 1944 document, “Milk Marketing in the Binghamton Area” (also in the collection), continues to list Hazard Lewis Farms as a milk distributor.

In 1952, the site was one of nine sites considered for the construction of a permanent site for Harpur College. On May 13, 1952, state university trustees announced officially that the college would be located on a site in the town of Vestal and directed state university president William S. Carlson to acquire the 300-acre site. Advantages cited included the site's location in relation to main transportation arteries, flat land that could be easily developed, and easily accessible utilities. Negotiations with the owners of the land—Hazard Lewis Farms, Inc., Arthur and Kenneth Kradjian, and Marcus Hopler—continued through the summer and fall of 1952 regarding the price and payment. The owners demanded payment be made on a deferred basis which would have resulted in savings in taxes. Condemnation proceedings then ensued, lasting throughout the winter and spring of 1953. The state university received title to the land on September 1, 1953 after a price ($453,754.50) was settled in the Court of Claims. An appeal in 1956 affirmed that the land was worth that amount at the time of taking.