Storrs and Alice Start lived and farmed on South St., so their son Bob grew up learning the ropes. Bob and his wife Joan began their farm at 5 South St. as newlyweds in 1965. They raised their family on the farm, with everyone helping out. Much of their time farming, both Bob and Joan also held part-time jobs, especially in the winter.
In 2011, daughter Christine and her husband Mark Rachmaciej started Pioneer Valley Popcorn on the family farm, and ran that business for five years, with lots of help from her parents. Christine sold the business in 2016. Bob Start passed away July 27, 2021.
Bob and Joan Start and their four children –Christine, Joanne, Robert, and Daniel,
All photos courtesy of the Start family.
JOAN START, widow of BOB START, and their daughter CHRISTINE START, interviewed by Monica Vachula on 4/26/22.