Chickens and Geese Featured at Col. Palmer House Farm Program

Ever wanted to see what life on a Midwestern farm was like in the 1800s?

Visitors can glimpse a bit of pioneer life in Crystal Lake at "A Day on the Farm" from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, June 3, at the Col. Palmer House, corner of Pingree Road and Route 176.

Michael Walkup, owner of Walkup Heritage Farm in Crystal Lake, is bringing chickens, ducks and geese to Palmer House, and will describe how the animals contributed to the early pioneers' lives, said Sandy Price, Palmer House coordinator for the Crystal Lake Park District.

Dough Hawthorne, of the Northern Illinois Beekeepers Assoc., will enlightened guests with information about how families gathered honey in the olden days. Bob Paine, a volunteer with the McHenry County Conservation District, is expected to talk about the maple syrup process used by early settlers, Price said.

"The Palmers had many sugar maple trees on their property," Price said. "We don't know for sure if they tapped the trees for sap, but it's highly likely they did."

The three-bedroom brick Col. Palmer House is the only remaining building from the Col. Palmer farm. Gustavus Palmer and his wife, Henrietta, owned 300 acres. The home and its five acres were bought and preserved through a joint effort by the city of Crystal Lake, the Crystal Lake Historical Society and the park district.

Demonstrations on Sunday afternoon include butter churning, wool spinning and nut cracking. Palmer House staffers will be demonstrating a variety of chores such as washing clothes through a ringer and sewing. "It's all hands-on activities so that kids can help," Price said.

This is the fifth year for the summer afternoon program at the Col. Palmer House. Typically, 250 to 300 visitors attend the event, Price said.