Call Number:

01

Repository:

Colonial Pennsylvania Farmstead

Extent:

80.0 linear feet

Language:

English

Date:

1973-2013 (inclusive)

Creator:

Colonial Pennsylvania Farmstead

Abstract:

Colonial Pennsylvania Farmstead is one of the oldest working colonial farms in Pennsylvania, with a unique focus on the "ordinary people" of the Revolutionary era. The Farmstead is located in Ridley Creek State Park (Edgmont Township, Delaware County). It was founded by Bishop's Mill Historical Institute in 1973 and was known as Colonial Pennsylvania Plantation until 2024. The Colonial Pennsylvania Farmstead records, circa 1973-2013, include materials that document its finances, administration, programs and visitation, site maintenance, and personnel. Of special interest are about a dozen logs from the staff and volunteers who worked as re-enactors, "housewives' journals," with daily entries recording programs and events. There are also numerous photographs and several maps and plans in the collection.

"In the mid-1960s, the state of Pennsylvania purchased 2,490 acres of farmland in Edgmont Township, Delaware County, to create Ridley Creek State Park. At the same time, a group of people interested in historic sites and the American Revolutionary period joined together to preserve, protect and register the old houses within the new park. They called themselves the Bishop's Mill Historical Society, after a nearby mill village known in the 20th century as Sycamore Mills.

"Nearly eight years later, in January of 1973, the Society gave birth to the Bishop's Mill Historical Institute (BMHI) with a more ambitious goal. It would establish a colonial farm or "plantation" as a museum of Pennsylvania folk life and as a tribute to the hard-working colonial families who built America. Through the museum/farm, BMHI could demonstrate how local colonial farm and mill people lived, what they learned and how that had been applied 200 years later.

"The abandoned Lower Rawle farm in Ridley Creek State Park was an ideal site for the museum, with an 18th century farmhouse, stone cabin, springhouse and two barns. Significantly, the property had been a working farm for well over 250 years and was within a community of other 18th century farms, as well as near the mill village.

"By November 1973, a long-term lease with the Bureau of State Parks for 112 acres, including the Lower Rawle farm, provided BMHI with its [land]. The large stone farmhouse and outbuildings were intact although modified over the years and in deteriorating condition. Financial support for the Colonial Pennsylvania Plantation project [as it was known at the time] came from the Bicentennial Commissions of Pennsylvania and Delaware County in addition to funding from the private sector. With this support, stabilization of the buildings and actual restoration began. 30 acres of farm land was cleared, livestock was purchased, and extensive archaeological, research and educational programs went into operation. Each act of restoration and reconstruction was supported by accurate historical records, research and documentation. By the spring of 1974, the farmhouse kitchen had been made operational. The restored springhouse was dedicated in April 1975. The restored wagon barn was opened to the public in April 1976. From 1976-78, work was concentrated on restoring the farmhouse interior. In 1978, the existing 19th century animal barn with 20th century improvements was demolished. In its place arose a reconstructed 18th century version. The privy was constructed in 1991.

"During the early years, visitors were invited to witness this "museum in the making". The concept of creating a facility dedicated to the "ordinary people" of the Revolutionary era - and at the same time allowing visitors to observe and even participate in the process of creation - was unique. Guidelines for furnishing the farmhouse were established with the help of 18th century Chester County estate inventories. The collection consists of antiques, reproductions and replicas of Chester County pieces primarily from the collection at the Chester County Historical Society.

"Most recently the [Farmstead]'s buildings have undergone yet another restoration effort. The farmhouse and stone cabin were restored with the help of funding from a Community Development Block Grant from Delaware County Council. The wagon barn reopened at the end of the 2010 season after extensive restoration funded by a second Community Development Block Grant from Delaware County Council. Work on the stable barn and springhouse was completed early in 2012 through funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and a Community Development Block Grant from Delaware County Council." Colonial Pennsylvania Plantation changed its name to Colonial Pennsylvania Farmstead in 2024.

Bibliography:

Quoted text from: Colonial Pennsylvania Plantation. "About the Colonial Pennsylvania Plantation. Accessed December 17, 2013. http://www.colonialplantation.org/whatistheplantation.html.

This collection consists of various records of the Colonial Pennsylvania Farmstead that document its finances, administration, programs and visitation, site maintenance, and personnel. There are extensive administrative and especially financial records, including master plans, correspondence, grant applications, and tax forms, among numerous other document types. A sizeable quantity of materials relate to programming and events at the Farmstead, from planning materials to attendance records. Materials relating to site documentation and maintenance include restoration plans, site maps and plans. There are a large number of landscape and structure photographs, in the form of prints roughly sorted by subject, contact sheets organized by year, color slides labeled and in binders, and film negatives numbered and in binders. Additionally there is an alphabetical archaeology file with reports on archaeology and objects recovered at the Farmstead, as well as materials such as pamphlets from other living history sites and museums. This collection also includes personnel and volunteer records. Of special interest are about a dozen logs, referred to as "housewives' journals," from the staff and volunteers, who worked as re-enactors, with daily entries recording programs and events.