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News from Garfield Farm |
CAMPTON HILLS, IL-Take time away from that chaotic rush of the holiday
season and join us at Garfield Farm on December 5th & 6th for its
annual Candlelight Reception at 3-7 pm. Interpreters wearing period
clothing will share with guests what life was like for people during
the height of the horse and wagon era. There is no charge for the
Candlelight event, but donations will be accepted.
The Garfield’s home sat on the junction of the
St. Charles-Oregon/Sycamore Roads that was heavily traveled. Utilizing
this, they used their house as an inn to accommodate paying guests. At
this time most people traveled by horse and wagon. It was a slow
process that could take days, as a heavily loaded wagon with good
weather could only travel about 15 miles a day. Inns were busy places
that offered weary travelers an occasion to take a break from the
monotony of their journey. A guest of the Garfields could eat, sleep
and most importantly talk to others. News traveled slowly and travelers
provided news from far & away or local information, as well as
telling entertaining stories. Inns became a center for the community
hosting dances, weddings, fundraisers for local clergy, and other local
functions.
Following a visit to the 1846 inn, walk up the
glowing lantern path to Burr house and enjoy even more, as the museum
will feature its Homespun Holiday Market. In its fifth year, the
Homespun Market, features local artisans bringing in their goods for
the public to purchase. The Market features a variety of crafts, such
as knitted ware, pottery, household items, and many others. Held in the
museum’s Burr House, the Market runs from 12 to 7 pm for both
days of the Candlelight Event. A percentage of the profits made by the
artisans are donated to the museum. A bake sale is also featured at the
Holiday Market, whose goods are entirely donated by museum volunteers.
There will be refreshments and music by the
Scantlin' Reunion in the inn's ballroom. The Candlelight tour offers
visitors a chance to meet the volunteers and donors, who are the
lifeblood of the farm. The event is a time for those interested in
becoming involved, or those who are currently involved, to meet those
who already give so much to help sustain the museum and keep it moving
forward. The event also benefits the museum’s ongoing efforts to
restore the historic buildings and to provide educational programming.
The 370-acre Garfield Farm Museum is the only
historically intact former 1840s farmstead and teamster inn being
restored by donors and volunteers from 2800 households in 37 states as
an 1840s working farm museum. Garfield Farm Museum is located 5 miles
west of Geneva, IL off ILL Rt.38 on Garfield Road. For information call
(630) 584-8485 or email info@garfieldfarm.org.