Blacksmith Festival and Art Show!
The Abram Demaree Homestead is throwing a party to celebrate the art and craft of blacksmithing! Our resident blacksmiths, the Ramapo Mountain Artist-Blacksmiths, will be on hand all afternoon outside our 18th century blacksmith shop, working their magic at an outdoor forge and showcasing some of their functional art pieces. Live music, cold drinks, and other refreshments will be on hand. Admission is free and open to all!
Poetry at the Homestead!
Fall is here, and we’re so excited for harvest season that we’ve invited some local New Jersey poets to read their autumn-themed works on the Homestead grounds. The readings will take place between the main house and the barn; the event is free and open to the public. Celebrate the season with us while you shop our Vintage Goods Shop, grab a bite at the Farm Cafe, or stroll the beautiful grounds of our pumpkin patch and farm!
Order Your Holiday Pies Here!
The holiday season is upon us, and as we do every year, we’re working overtime baking pre-ordered pies for Thanksgiving, Hanukkuh, and Christmas tables across Bergen County. Medium and large size pie flavors include apple, pecan, cherry, pumpkin, blueberry, raspberry, strawberry, cranberry apple, and strawberry rhubarb. Medium-size pies are 6 inches in diameter; large pies are nine inches in diameter. Place your pie order by calling (201) 289-3627. For more inf0, give us a call or email info@abramdemareehomestead.org.
Open House + Art Exhibit at the Blacksmith Shop
We’re excited to announce that our Ramapo Mountain Artists/Blacksmiths are hosting an open house and exhibit of their work outside our circa-1780s blacksmith shop. Meet our talented crew, find out more about the art and craft of blacksmithing and how important it was in the Colonial era, watch live demos, and check out the commissioned artwork our resident blacksmiths have created. Free and open to all!
Pinkster, the Colonial Dutch Spring Holiday, is Here!
Pinkster is a springtime holiday brought to the New World by 17th and 18th century Dutch settlers in today’s northern New Jersey and southern New York. (It’s a corruption of the Dutch word for Pentecost.) Every spring, Pinkster was celebrated with days-long festivals. People went to church and called on neighbors; families danced, played music, dyed eggs, and ate gingerbread in the spirit of renewal. Pinkster also evolved into an African American holiday in the 19th century, but it’s barely remembered today. In honor of Bergen County’s Dutch heritage, we invite everyone to come down to the Abram Demaree Homestead and feel the spirit of Pinkster in our Dutch sandstone house, at the Farm Cafe, and in our farm field!
We're Celebrating George Washington all Month for Presidents Day!
Presidents Day is officially on Monday, February 15—but we’re celebrating all month by exploring George Washington’s presence in Bergen County and North Jersey during the Revolutionary War. Check out website and follow us on Instagram for regular posts honoring Washington. And stop by the Farm Cafe for cherry pie in homage to the first US President!
Watch the Art and Craft of Blacksmithing!
On weekends, stop by the Abram Demaree Homestead’s 18th century blacksmith shop and watch blacksmith Fred Maltzan and his crew of craftsmen from Ramapo Mountain Artist-Blacksmiths work the forge, just like blacksmiths did in colonial-era Bergen County. They’ll be here offering demos on Saturdays and Sundays 10 am to 1:30 pm with occasional exceptions (please contact info@abramdemareehomestead.org for any schedule changes.) All are welcome!
2021 Abram Demaree Homestead Scholarship Application
In January, the 2021 Abram Demaree Homestead scholarship application will be available on our website. Every year we offer two $2,500 scholarships to any Northern Valley student accepted to any educational institution for the coming school year who has an interest in the areas of American history, agriculture, or environmental conservation. Applications must be postmarked or emailed no later than April 15, 2021, and winners will be announced in June. Congrats to our 2020 winners, Jack Besnoy (NV Demarest) and Julia Tripodi (NV Old Tappan)!
photo credit: Pixabay