Old Barkhamsted Day

On May 20, the Barkhamsted Historical Society is once again hosting its annual Old Barkhamsted Day on May 20 beginning at 12 noon on the grounds of the Squire Tavern located on 100 East River Road in Pleasant Valley, a bucolic village in the township of Barkhamsted.

Festivities will include a variety of live demonstrations featuring some of the domestic skills our ancestors used in their daily lives. There will be a blacksmith on the grounds of the Squire Tavern with his portable forge showing how a number of iron items were produced that were needed around the farms that once populated the area. In addition there will be weaving, spinning, candle making, basket weaving, rush chair seat weaving demonstrations as well as examples of corn husk dolls. For the young and young at heart there will be old hand tools and games to try. New this year is a sheep shearing demonstration as well as several friendly goats that will be roaming the grounds.

Once again, the Lebanon Towne Miltitia have set up an encampment that shows how these men lived while being ready to defend their town. To round out the fun, Squires Tavern will also be open for tours.