BRIDGTON — Visitors to Bridgton Historical Society’s “Narramissic,” the Peabody-Fitch Farm, on July 22 will be given a taste of what life on a 19th-century New England farm was like.
The setting of the farm, which consists of a house built in 1797, along with a barn and workshop with a functioning blacksmith forge, is spectacular, with 25 acres of fields and views to the mountains of western Maine and New Hampshire.
The event will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and will include ongoing blacksmith demonstrations by Lucas Damen, from Naples. Visitors will be able to watch traditional craft demonstrations and take part in guided hikes, tours and other activities.
At 10:30 a.m., master cabinetmaker Greg Marston will present a fascinating program on recognizing and understanding antiques, using examples of furniture from the house, along with demonstrating the tools that were used to make them.
David Allen from Stone Point Studio in Sebago will demonstrate traditional granite-splitting techniques, in conjunction with which the society will lead a guided hike to the quarry that supplied the granite foundations for the buildings.
Children will have plenty to do with old-time children’s activities, and visitors can tour the house, which reflects the family’s life in the mid-1800s.
A special attraction this year is a pair of samplers stitched by Rebekah and Huldah Peabody in 1810 and 1812, which have been loaned to Narramissic for the summer from Julie and Carl Lindberg Collection.
In the afternoon, Holly Ihloff of Medieval Magic Organics-Historic Botanical Cosmetics of Casco will talk about the history of herbal medicine and healing, and Alanna Doughty from the Lakes Environmental Association will lead a nature walk.
Narramissic, which unfortunately means “hard to find,” is located off Ingalls Road, which is off Route 107 in South Bridgton, 2.4 miles south of the junction of Routes 117 and 107. Cream and green-colored highway signs lead to the site from Route 302 in the Sandy Creek area of Bridgton.
Narramissic’s address is 46 Narramissic Road, and most mapping software programs recognize “Narramissic Farm.”
The Bridgton Historical Society also operates an archives and museum in the former fire station on Gibbs Avenue in downtown Bridgton, which is open from 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday during the summer, and always by appointment or chance. Narramissic is open for tours from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday through Saturday during July and August, and by appointment at other times (it is closed entirely from mid-October through May).
The society will provide lunch and light refreshments.
Admission is $5 for adults, with a family maximum of $15.
FMI: 207-647-3699, bridgtonhistory.org, [email protected].
