Hundreds Visit Col. Palmer House Farm Day

Crystal Lake resident Jennifer Ludwigsen was driving past the Col. Palmer House on Sunday, saw all the activity and decided to stop in.

Toting along her six-year-old daughter, Anya, the two wanted to see the various 1800s chores activities demonstrated as part of the "A Day on the Farm" event. They also wanted to enter the house.

"I saw the sign (advertising the program) in the front lawn, and I wanted to stop in," Ludwigsen said. "I've always wanted to see what the house is like inside."

More than 250 guests also were intrigued enough by the historic home to join in the afternoon festivities, said Sandy Price, Col. Palmer House coordinator for the Crystal Lake Park District.

The Col. Palmer House sits on five acres at the corner of Route 176 and Pingree Road. "This is a really good turnout," Price said.

Several demonstrations were set in the front lawn to give visitors a sampling of what life was like in Crystal Lake in the olden days.

Michael Walkup, owner of Walkup Heritage Farm, 5215 Walkup Rd., brought along a few feathered friends - all of heritage breeds, meaning  breeds that prairie farmers likely owned in the 1800s.

Walkup showcased his black duck, a rather lean-looking turkey, and a Dominque chicken. He shared his knowledge with guests on how to raise the birds. Though located across from Veteran Acres in Crystal Lake, Walkup Heritage Farm is not within city limits allowing Walkup to keep and raise the birds, he said.

Also hard at work was Rhonda Rushing, of Wonder Lake, who was busy spinning wool. Rita Getz shared her expertise about eggs - white, brown, big, small - and explained how animals laid and cared for them. Ann Viger cracked and separated walnuts.

Jennifer McAllister led house tours, and relayed its history to the guests. Lauren Mellien discussed family burial grounds - typically created by the farmers themselves. Dave Hawthone, from the Northern Illinois Beekeepers Assoc., brought along a honeybee hive cell and treated guests to sweet-tasting honey sample.

Sandy Price, with a little help from her "prairie" grandchildren Paige and Natalie, gave a butter-making demonstration, using the old-fashioned butter churn and other accessories from the period.

Volunteer Kim Sheahan, who also works at the Nature Center for the park district, had her hands full with the dirty work. At the laundry station, Sheahan show adults and children how to rub clothes on a wash board and crank them through a ringer to push out the water.

The Lyons family children, of Lake in the Hills, were mesmerized by Sheahan's work.

"My kids are really interested in the Laura Ingalls-Wild books and time period," mother Jennifer Lyons said. "We came out her for some good family fun."

Gustavus and Henrietta Palmer traveled to McHenry County by covered wagon from Nunda, New York, sometime around 1841. Their success at farming allowed them to build the brick two-story in 1858, according to Col. Palmer House documents.

The pioneering couple purchased their land from the government to start their homestead. The "Colonel," as he was called by his neighbors, eventually acquired more than 300 acres.