Luck O’ The Farm: Irish Field Hands and House Maids
MORRISTOWN, NJ – The American landscape is a melting pot of diverse cultures that have come to this country for hundreds of years. Especially during the 19th century, many Irish flocked to the United States. They often heard the well-known phrase, ‘Cead Mile Failte,’ which in English translates to, ‘A Hundred Thousand Welcomes,’ as they embarked on a new life in America. Get to know the experiences of the Irish immigrants who came to the Morristown area and those who worked at Fosterfields. On Sunday, March 16, from 12 noon to 4 p.m., at Fosterfields Living Historical Farm, in Morris Township, explore first-hand their lives and experiences in America as farmers and domestic workers.
While touring Fosterfields, meet the farmer’s wife, ‘Mrs. Cahill’ as she is busy in the Creamery building, churning cream into butter. Stop by the Carriage House and introduce yourself to ‘Andrew Gibbons,’ the coachman, before boarding an open-air wagon ride around the farm. Join alongside the Irish farmworkers and roll up your sleeves to assist with brushing cows, weighing eggs, stacking wood, and cleaning harnesses for the horses. In the Farmhouse, follow the delicious smells to the kitchen, and discover what traditional Irish foods are being prepared on the wood stove. Role players portraying the Foster family, owners of Fosterfields, along with their Irish house servants, welcome and invite you to tour The Willows, the Gothic Revival-style mansion. Outside The Willows, help the Irish servants do laundry and beat rugs.
At the Visitors Center, attend a 1 p.m. presentation by Cheryl C. Turkington, author of Ordinary Days, Extraordinary Times: Morristown New Jersey’s Irish Immigration Past, and gain an insight into the lives of other Morristown-area Irish residents. It wasn’t all work and no play on the farm! You can revisit the Irish culture through the music of Linda Russell, hear stories of Irish folklore, learn to dance an Irish reel, and revel in the sounds from a piper. Also, families can make a fun craft to remind them of their unique visit to Fosterfields.
Special event admission fees are $8 for adults, $7 for seniors (65+), $6 for children ages 4-16, and $4 for children ages 2 and 3. FREE for children under age 2 and Friends members with a current membership card. For more information, please call 973.326.7645.
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The Morris County Park Commission features one of the region’s best park systems in the state of New Jersey. It currently protects and maintains 18,730 acres at 38 distinct sites plus offers a year-round calendar of events and activities for all to enjoy!
While touring Fosterfields, meet the farmer’s wife, ‘Mrs. Cahill’ as she is busy in the Creamery building, churning cream into butter. Stop by the Carriage House and introduce yourself to ‘Andrew Gibbons,’ the coachman, before boarding an open-air wagon ride around the farm. Join alongside the Irish farmworkers and roll up your sleeves to assist with brushing cows, weighing eggs, stacking wood, and cleaning harnesses for the horses. In the Farmhouse, follow the delicious smells to the kitchen, and discover what traditional Irish foods are being prepared on the wood stove. Role players portraying the Foster family, owners of Fosterfields, along with their Irish house servants, welcome and invite you to tour The Willows, the Gothic Revival-style mansion. Outside The Willows, help the Irish servants do laundry and beat rugs.
At the Visitors Center, attend a 1 p.m. presentation by Cheryl C. Turkington, author of Ordinary Days, Extraordinary Times: Morristown New Jersey’s Irish Immigration Past, and gain an insight into the lives of other Morristown-area Irish residents. It wasn’t all work and no play on the farm! You can revisit the Irish culture through the music of Linda Russell, hear stories of Irish folklore, learn to dance an Irish reel, and revel in the sounds from a piper. Also, families can make a fun craft to remind them of their unique visit to Fosterfields.
Special event admission fees are $8 for adults, $7 for seniors (65+), $6 for children ages 4-16, and $4 for children ages 2 and 3. FREE for children under age 2 and Friends members with a current membership card. For more information, please call 973.326.7645.
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The Morris County Park Commission features one of the region’s best park systems in the state of New Jersey. It currently protects and maintains 18,730 acres at 38 distinct sites plus offers a year-round calendar of events and activities for all to enjoy!
