Quiet Valley Living Historical Farm

With our day trip to Quiet Valley Living History Farm this week, I feel as if Ashley and I are back to day tripping our way through historical sites. Considering it is August already, it is about time.

This trip started out as a Facebook idea. My friend, Michelle, was lamenting that her daughter's field trip was too far away and would not get her home in time for her dance recital later that night. After looking at the place online, I suggested we postpone the trip until the summer and let the girls have a chance to visit together. Another friend, Karin, saw the "conversation" and asked to join the fun outing. 

Three moms, two preteen girls, and two kindergarten(ish) boys had a triple playdate in Stroudsburg, PA. It was nice because for many reasons. The weather cooperated (80, low humidity, and no rain). Plus the kids were all happy because they had a friend to play with, and the moms were thrilled to be able to hold conversations. Oh, we also snuck in a few lessons about farm life in the late 19th century.

The farm was started by the Depper family who escaped from feudal Germany in the late 18th century and settled in Stroudsburg, PA (about 100 miles from Philadelphia). 

Fast forward a number of years. In 1958 a family purchased the farm from the widow Hess with the intention of farming on the 100 acres. After purchasing the property, they recognized the historic value of the property (which I interpret to mean no one fixed anything in at least 100 years). Rather than farming, the family spent a few years fixing up the place and opened it up in 1963 as Quiet Valley Farm Museum. Changes were made over the years, including building a circa-1893 one-room school house, which was finished in 1994.

Tours are lead by "family members" who revel in telling guests about all of their "modern" conveniences. How much easier life is now (in the 1890s) than it was when "grandpa" began farming. It is cute and annoying at the same time. The discussion about the modern appliances in the kitchen came across as a Pampered Chef demonstration about how lucky the housewife is to have all of these gadgets that her husband, Harvey, kept buying for her. The stove in the picture was quite expensive -- $25 back in the late 19th century. Her husband brought it home for her in his wagon. 

The grandson was quite excited to have a modern-day "fiddle" to distribute seed rather than having to hand sow it like his grandfather. 

All of the presenters were enthusiastic. Each was excited to tell us about "their" lives.

On the day we went, there was a wool-dying presentation. Costumed re-enactors were using heavy pots to dye wool. Sometimes they added iron to change the color of the dye. The presenter became a bit too animated, though, when explaining the old-fashioned technique for making wool indigo-colored. Let's just say it includes everyone peeing in a pot and letting that sit for 6 weeks in the sun. Hard to look at the color again without thinking "ewww."

In addition to more staff than I normally see at small historical sites, there were also a bunch of animals. There were at least 6 goats, 5 pigs, 4 sheep, two horses, a mule, a bull and a foal. 

Our biggest challenge of the day way finding the place. It is tucked in the mountains only a few miles away from the Delaware Water Gap. A couple of signs would have helped. If three college-educated women with GPS units and website directions have troubles finding the place, it is not easy to find. Fortunately we also had children in the car saying (as we drive by) "is that it?" We were all glad that we were not the only ones dumb enough to drive past the unmarked parking lot. 

Thank you for the fun outing!