Madeline, the unofficial leader of the flock at Washington Crosing, passes away

WASHINGTON CROSSING, Pa. — The Thompson-Neely Farmstead is feeling the loss of one of
its favorite sheep and the unofficial leader of the flock.

With a heavy heart, farmstead manager Ross Heutmaker announced the sad news in a Washington Crossing Historic Park Facebook posting.

"The farmstead said goodbye to another favorite sheep this June. Madeline passed away peacefully in the care of our veterinarian, when complications of a nerve failure and infection left her unable to walk,” he wrote.

Madeline came to the farmstead with her sister Charlotte back in 2013, and has been a fixture of the barn program ever since. She was the unofficial leader of the flock, and her distinctive voice could be heard all across the upper park, says Ross.

The other animals would follow her out to pasture each morning, and return to the barn when her bellowing call alerted them it was time.

“She was very bright and observant, and quickly learned to recognize the faces (and sometimes even vehicles) of the volunteers who cared for her,” said Ross. “She was a favorite of park visitors and sheep sponsors as well, garnering the most sponsorships in the flock. She was able to meet many of her sponsors, and always brought a smile to their faces.”

Although she had grown frail in her old age, Ross said she still had a commanding presence and had not given up her role as flock leader. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her, he said.

Life at the farmstead will go on, and another sheep will step into the role filled by Madeline, said Ross, “but we will all miss hearing her deep call and looking into her inquisitive eyes behind the curtain of her long curly locks.”

With the passing of Abigail and Madeline, the two eldest sheep, the flock tenders felt the time was right to potentially add a couple more younger animals to the flock.

“As luck would have it, the Peter Wentz Farmstead happened to have extra lambs this year that needed a home,” said Ross. “We are happy to announce that we will be getting a pair of black dorset-mix twins in early July. They will be a great addition to our flock, and will help to keep the barn program flourishing into the future.”