Boise|Local Event
Schick-Ostolasa Historic Farmstead Opening Day May 2nd & Every Saturday May 2-Sept 26 - 12:30-4:30pm
Event Details
The Dry Creek Historical Society is pleased to present Our Opening Day Festivities and Open Saturdays for the season.
We will be having our Opening Day Festivities at the Farmstead on Saturday, May 2nd from 12:30-4:30pm including demonstrations, refreshments, tours, Dry Creek Quilters, Handweavers Guild of Boise Valley, Blacksmith demo, Fort Boise Garrison re-enactors, music plus more. Free admittance, but donations are appreciated.
In the early 1860’s, as the Civil War was spreading in the East, President Lincoln signed the Homestead Act. At the time, a mix of Native Americans, trappers, miners, and US Army soldiers were living and working in Idaho. Because of the Homestead Act of 1862, anyone over 21-including freed slaves and women-could apply for a land title for up to 160 acres.
Phillip Schick, a young man originally from New York, arrived in the Dry Creek Valley near Boise in 1863 looking for a brighter future because of the Homestead Act. He built a home and developed his original 160-acre claim into a 400-acre farm. He grew hay, wheat, corn, barley, beans, potatoes, and added an orchard. He also herded cattle and sheep and was a famous breeder of horses.
In 1920 the Schick family sold the farm to Frank Parsons, a banker. He hired Costantino Ostolasa to manage the farm in 1927. Costantino, originally from the Basque country of Spain, ran this grand farm until he passed in 1956. The Ostolasa family continued to work on the farm and live in the farmhouse until 2005.
Soon after the Ostolasa family moved out of the old farmhouse, a group of residents formed a non-profit organization: The Dry Creek Historical Society (DCHS). This organization is dedicated to preserving part of Boise’s farming past. It oversees what is now called the Schick-Ostolasa Farmstead, including the old farmhouse, a detached kitchen, root cellar, saddle shop, woodshed, granary, and large horse/dairy barn all nestled among big trees on two acres near open space and foothills.
The Farmstead is open to the public on Saturdays starting on May 2nd until September 26th from 12:30pm to 4:30pm. We will have special events on some of the Saturdays that will be posted on our website. Please view for updates.
The Schick-Ostolasa Farmstead is located at 5006 W. Farm Court, Boise, ID 83714 - Northwest Boise