Historic Happenings Blog

S aturday, March  14  - Hopewell Township, Mercer County Visit from the Horse Doctor, Dentist & Shoer When is a 3/4 ton workhorse a chicken? When the doctor and farrier, and dentist come...maybe. Keeping the horses in tip-top shape is very important to our farmers. This annual well visit allows a head to tail examination and is just one of the many ways we can be sure our horses are healthy and happy. Join them in the barns where they will be at work all day ensuring that horses, sheep, chickens, and farm cat Bushy are fit and ready for spring. Besides seeing some of the tools, techniques, and products that relate to horse care as it was practiced during the farm's circa 1900 time period, visitors will be able to meet a veterinarian, horse dentist, and farrier and even try their own hand at a bit of horse doctoring. With the veterinarian's help, visitors will be able to listen to a horse's heart through an antique stethoscope and watch the doctor give spring vaccines ...

S aturday, March  7  - Hopewell Township, Mercer County Work Horse Rides O n Saturday, join us at Howell Living History Farm for their Workhorse Rides program. Riders will not sit on saddles, nor will they ride bareback, but will sit atop fully harnessed, three-quarter-ton workhorses. The program is intended to give children a taste of early 20th-century farm life. So, in order to get a ride, children must first do their farm chores. The rides will be offered from 11:00 am - 3:00 pm on a first-come, first-served basis.  Riders must be between the ages of 5 and 12 years old, without exception. A children's craft program will also be offered in the visitor center for a small materials fee. Howell Living Farm represents typical farm life between 1890 and 1910. The farm is operated by the Mercer County Parks Commission. It is located at 70 Wooden's Lane, Lambertville, NJ. For more information. call 609-737-3299 or visit  www.howellfarm.org .

Saturday, February 22 and 29 - Hopewell Township, Mercer County Maple Sugaring Sugaring time arrives in late winter at Howell Farm and operations are in full swing. Visitors are invited to join the work and fun with sap collection, firewood cutting, syrup making, butter making, flour milling, and pancake eating. The trees are tapped beginning in early February. School groups, visitors and farm staff collect and boil down sap for several weeks. The sugar maple tree stores starch in their trunks and roots before the winter; the starch is then converted to sugar that rises in the sap in the spring. Freezing nights and thawing days make for heavy sap flow. The trees are tapped by boring holes into their trunks and collecting the exuded sap beginning in early February. The sap is then processed by heating to evaporate much of the water, leaving the concentrated syrup. Sap gathering will take place at 12:00 noon and 2:00 pm. Tree tapping demonstrations will be held at 11:00 am 1:00 pm and 3:...

Saturday, February 15 - Hopewell Township, Mercer County Valentine's Day Rides, Music, and Silhouettes   The air may be chilly, but Howell Living Farm's wintery landscape is the perfect setting for a heartwarming Valentine's Day ride. Couples can take a romantic spin in a two-seater sleigh or carriage pulled by a team of light workhorses. Families and groups can snuggle into a bobsled or hay wagon pulled by a handsome team of drafts. No matter the hitch, the horses will be wearing their finest bells. The site is open from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm. Inside the farmhouse there will be live music by the Jugtown Mountain String Band, soup on the stove, and a children's craft program from 11:00 - 3:00 pm for a small materials fee. In the Charles Fish Barn, renowned artist Lauren Muney will be demonstrating the elegant process of cutting silhouettes by hand—and talking with visitors about the history of this traditional craft. Individual portraits can be purchased to benefit the far...

Saturday, February 8 - Hopewell Township, Mercer County Maple Tree Tapping Sugaring season is upon us. Join Howell Living History Farm's crew working the 150-tree sugar bush operation. Enjoy the work, fun, and rewards of helping tap maple trees, hang sap buckets, and cut firewood for the use in syrup making. The sugar maple is first choice for making maple syrup as there is more sugar in the sap compared to other species, meaning it will take less sap to produce a gallon of syrup. Those of you interested in making syrup at home can get pointers and hands-on experience during our tree tapping workshops. How to identify the sugar maple, and when to tap will be discussed. Taps and buckets needed for backyard sugaring operations will be available for sale in the farm's Visitors Center. Tree tapping experts will demonstrate the tools and equipment used in both traditional and modern production systems in the sugarhouse where sap is made into syrup. Visitors to the sugarhouse can sam...

Saturday, November 16   - Hopewell Township, Mercer County Bacon, Sausage, and Scrapple Making If you work all week to bring home the bacon, sausage, and scrapple, but don't really know from whence they come, visit Howell Farm for their bacon, sausage and scrapple program. You will see these and other pork products made before your eyes. Farmers will demonstrate rendering lard, making pork products, and showing visitors the origins of different cuts of pork. Cracklin's and other delicacies will be free for the asking, and pork sandwiches will be available for sale. Howell Living Farm represents typical farm life between 1890 and 1910. The farm is operated by the Mercer County Parks Commission. It is located at 70 Wooden's Lane, Lambertville, NJ. For more information. call 609-737-3299 or visit  www.howellfarm.org .

Saturday, November 9   - Hopewell Township, Mercer County Cider Making A n apple a day may keep the doctor away, but pressing them, peeling them and "stomping" them can be healthy too...as you’ll find by visiting Howell Farm on Saturday. The techniques used on the Farm to make apple cider, applesauce and apple pie are healthfully reminiscent of those used a century ago when people - not motors - powered the cranks, handles and other appliances used to process food. From 10:00 am - 4:00 pm, visitors to this 130-acre working farm can sample the work, fun, and tastes of a circa-1900 apple harvest. Visitors of all ages will be invited to use the Farm's old fashioned presses, peeler-corers, and "stomper-strainers" to help the farmer's process apples. For the hungry, there will be apple pie and other apple treats. Howell Living Farm represents typical farm life between 1890 and 1910. The farm is operated by the Mercer County Parks Commission. It is located at 70 W...

Saturday, November 2   - Hopewell Township, Mercer County Osage Orange Day Visit Howell Living History Farm for Osage Orange Day  from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm. Howell Living Farm represents typical farm life between 1890 and 1910. The farm is operated by the Mercer County Parks Commission. It is located at 70 Wooden's Lane, Lambertville, NJ. For more information. call 609-737-3299 or visit  www.howellfarm.org .

Saturday, October 26   - Hopewell Township, Mercer County Corn Harvest A classic scene from America's past will be recreated at Howell Living History Farm when the fields of ripening corn are cut and shocked against a landscape of early fall colors. Visitors can join in the work and fun from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm, helping farmers harvest corn in the fields, shell and grind corn, and taste cornbread. Howell Living Farm represents typical farm life between 1890 and 1910. The farm is operated by the Mercer County Parks Commission. It is located at 70 Wooden's Lane, Lambertville, NJ. For more information. call 609-737-3299 or visit  www.howellfarm.org .

Saturday, October 19   - Hopewell Township, Mercer County Basket & Broom Making; Wheat Weaving O n Saturday, the sights and sounds of trades that were once essential in rural communities like Pleasant Valley, New Jersey will come to life when a broom maker and basket weaver put their tools and skills to work at Howell Living Farm. The demonstrations can be seen in the farm’s wagon house and visitors are encouraged to meet and talk with the tradesmen and tradeswomen and use their finished products to help farmers sweep the barn, carry water for horses, and gather corn in baskets. Howell Living Farm represents typical farm life between 1890 and 1910. The farm is operated by the Mercer County Parks Commission. It is located at 70 Wooden's Lane, Lambertville, NJ. For more information. call 609-737-3299 or visit  www.howellfarm.org .

Saturday, October 12   - Hopewell Township, Mercer County Fall Hayrides O n Saturday, tours of Howell Living History Farm's fall tillage operations will be offered to the public. Wagons will leave from the farmyard continuously from 10:30 am until 3:30 pm, touring fields where farmers will be plowing or harrowing with horses and circa 1900 equipment. Tours last 20 minutes and are given free, on a first-come, first-serve basis. A wheelchair-accessible wagon is available. During the tours, visitors will get a chance to meet the farmers and horses who work the 130 acre “living history” farm. Guides will explain how fields are readied for planting winter crops such as wheat and rye. Howell Living Farm represents typical farm life between 1890 and 1910. The farm is operated by the Mercer County Parks Commission. It is located at 70 Wooden's Lane, Lambertville, NJ. For more information. call 609-737-3299 or visit  www.howellfarm.org .

Saturday, October 5   - Hopewell Township, Mercer County Wheat Planting & Flour Milling O n Saturday between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm, visitors are invited to join farmers in the fields and on the threshing floor at Howell Living Farm as they plant and process wheat - work rewarded in the farmhouse kitchen with tastes of whole wheat bread and a take-home bag of freshly ground flour, complete with recipes. Special maps with corresponding field markers are used to guide visitors to areas where they can watch or help with planting operations, thresh wheat for animal feed and bedding, and grind wheat for baking. Visitors who have their maps stamped at each of “Help-the-Farmer” stations will take home their share of the harvest – a bag of freshly milled whole wheat flour produced with their help. Howell Living Farm represents typical farm life between 1890 and 1910. The farm is operated by the Mercer County Parks Commission. It is located at 70 Wooden's Lane, Lambertville, NJ. For more ...

S aturday, September 28  - Hopewell Township, Mercer County Quilting  & Quilt Show On Saturday between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm, the Charles Fish Barn at  Howell Living Farm  will become a maze of colorful quilts during this not-to-be-missed exhibit featuring antique and reproduction pieces on loan from area collectors. Throughout the day, visitors of all ages can experience the stages of quilt making from piecing scrap fabric on a treadle-type sewing machine to joining the Farm staff around an antique quilt frame. Howell Living Farm represents a typical farm life between 1890 and 1910. The farm is operated by the Mercer County Parks Commission. It is located at 70 Wooden's Lane, Lambertville, NJ. For more information. call 609-737-3299 or visit  www.howellfarm.org .

S aturday, September 21  - Hopewell Township, Mercer County Fall Plowing and Manure Spreading Really? A program where you load and spread manure? Absolutely! Once you've helped us get the manure on the field where we will soon plant winter wheat, you can help us 'turn it in' with a moldboard plow pulled by workhorses Jack & Chester. We will be there to drive the horses and teach you how to turn a perfect furrow. Throughout the day, farmers will be canning and pickling surplus garden crops like cucumbers, zucchini, tomatoes and more.  You can sample the results and take home recipes and other secrets that made canning a mainstay of the 1900 farm. Howell Living Farm represents typical farm life between 1890 and 1910. The farm is operated by the Mercer County Parks Commission. It is located at 70 Wooden's Lane, Lambertville, NJ. For more information. call 609-737-3299 or visit  www.howellfarm.org .

S aturday, September 14  - Hopewell Township, Mercer County Canning  & Storytelling It’s the end of summer and the crops are bountiful. It’s time to “put up” some food. At Howell Living History Farm, you can help. The farm will be the site of a canning and cooking program. Not only can you learn how to can and pickle your garden favorites...but you can sample some of the treats. Throughout the day, farmers will be canning and pickling surplus garden crops like cucumbers, zucchini, tomatoes and more.  You can sample the results and take home recipes and other secrets that made canning a mainstay of the 1900 farm. While the tomatoes are stewing, be sure to visit the nooks and crannies in the barnyard where members of the New Jersey Storytellers Network are sharing stories about farms and farming, past and present. Be prepared to tell stories of your own during special sessions held in the horse barn and blacksmith's forge! Howell Living Farm represents typical farm life...

S aturday, September 7  - Hopewell Township, Mercer County Back to School School bells ring once again in Pleasant Valley when Howell Farm invites the public to participate in a unique "back to school" day. The program features the educational, social and cultural activities centered on the "one-room school" in the rural life of 1900. The Howell Farm schoolmistress has McGuffey readers, slates, and slate pencils ready for students of all ages to begin their lessons in the three R's. Visitors can take a seat in an antique school desk and try their hand at orthography using pen and ink, or attempt to solve farm-related arithmetic problems on the chalkboard. As in yesteryear, children can help with farm chores before attending the "one-room school. The school bell will ring to begin lessons, for recess, and a quick tour of the privy. During recess, children will be introduced to hoops and sticks, tug of war and other old-fashioned games and toys. Participants ...

S aturday, August 31  - Hopewell Township, Mercer County Plowing Match Howell Living History Farm will hold its Annual Plowing Match on Saturday and the public is invited to watch and participate in the event, which features old-fashioned plowing and log pulling competitions, a craft and pony rides for children, and lots of food, music and old fashioned fun. A dozen teams of draft animals from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York are entered in the match, which tests the performance of farmers, their horses and oxen, and their plows as they turn furrows. Judging will take place from 10:00 am until 12:00 noon. Winners of the Fine Plowing Class will receive trophies, ribbons, and cash prizes. Members of the general public aged 16 and older can try their hand at plowing in the Visitor Plowing event. Winners receive ribbons. Sheep, chickens, and pigs can be seen in the farmyard area all day. Beginning at 12:00 noon, hungry plowers and visitors can lunch on roast pork sandwiches, a ch...

S aturday, August 24  - Hopewell Township, Mercer County Fiddlin’ on the Farm The Hunterdon Folk Exchange will join with the Friends of Howell Living History Farm to present their 30th annual fiddle contest at the farm on Saturday. The Folk Exchange Fiddle Contest is the largest and longest-running traditional fiddle contest in New Jersey, and annually draws some of the best fiddlers from throughout the tri-state region. Howell Living History Farm, a 19th-century farmstead nestled in a lush valley, is the ideal setting for an old-time traditional fiddle contest. The farm is maintained by the Mercer County Park Commission using farming practices and technology in existence at the turn of the (last) century. The music of the fiddle finds a natural home here, having been the favorite instrument at rural dances and social gatherings through much of our nation’s early history. The Friends of Howell Living History Farm is a volunteer organization that exists to support and promote the fa...

S aturday, August 17  - Hopewell Township, Mercer County Blacksmithing & Horseshoeing Experiencing the ring of an anvil, the roar of the forge and the sizzle of hot steel hitting cold water is just part of the fun in store for visitors to Howell Farm, when the blacksmiths fire up their forges. Throughout the day, visitors of all ages can help the blacksmith by turning the crank of his forge blower, adding coal to the fire, and carrying water needed for cooling hot steel.  The smithies’ hooks, initialed horseshoes, and other items will be for sale. In the barn, farm farriers will be shoeing the farm’s workhorses and checking their feet. Howell Living Farm represents typical farm life between 1890 and 1910. The farm is operated by the Mercer County Parks Commission. It is located at 70 Wooden's Lane, Lambertville, NJ. For more information. call 609-737-3299 or visit  www.howellfarm.org .