PO
Box 108
34312 Route 180
LaFargeville
NY 13656
315-658-2353
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Website
design by
Jen
Holcombe Soykan |
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The Museum has
been designed "...to tell the story of the development of the
agricultural industry in Northern New York state through collecting,
preserving, and displaying historical materials relating to the farm and
the farm home, as was known to that area of the state, which is now
Jefferson, St. Lawrence, Lewis and Oswego Counties."
The Museum Complex consists of
several buildings used to house the historical artifacts.
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Click on small pictures for larger images
The 1837 Union Church/Meeting House has been placed on the National Register of Historic
Places. This stone building is used for group activities and
exhibitions, and is dedicated to the Memory of Josephine Fredenburg - one
of the founders of the museum.
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The Wilford Adams Hall is used
throughout the season for barn dances, music festivals, quilt shows,
flower shows, crafters, and demonstrations and videos on early farm life
in the North Country. It also houses the Director's office &
library. This building was erected in 1971-72.
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The Carriage House houses many
displays of artifacts and equipment used by the "farm
family". These displays include the "farm kitchen",
laundry equipment, weaving & sewing equipment, food processing
articles, childrens' toys and a "blacksmith" shop. This
building was erected in 1973.
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The new Exhibit Barn (former
storage barn) now houses the major farming exhibits of the museum.
Large farming machinery, maple syrup making equipment, tractors, wagons,
buggies etc. all are displayed in this building. This building was
erected in 1989.
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The Timmerman Memorial Building was
erected in 1983, in memory of the late Ralph Timmerman, who served as
supervisor for the Town of Orleans from 1967 to 1981. This display
building houses exhibits concerning the dairy industry of Northern New
York.
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An authentic Ice House has been
brought to the Museum Complex, and converted to an area for serving food
and refreshment.
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The Schoolhouse now on the Museum
grounds replaced the Stone Schoolhouse, which was built on this site in
1838. This wooden frame schoolhouse was formerly the Town of Orleans
#1 Schoolhouse and was donated to the Museum by the Shimel
Family.
This school has a collection of old maps, books, records,
slates, and other artifacts of that era. The building is staffed for
school tours by retired teachers, who have taught in similar one-room
schools.
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The Museum also boasts of a turn of the century Cheese
Factory. The Factory, located across the road from the main
Museum Complex, was donated by the Robert Ebblie Family of LaFargeville.
The Cheese Factory was built by a
Co-op that was formed in 1896, as a means of creating a more marketable
form of milk. the factory was in operation until the mid 1920's, and
produced "Yankee" or cheddar cheese.
Visitors to the Cheese Factory will
be able to view the milk handling equipment .... from the cheese vat, to
the curd separator, to the cheese press ... displayed as if in actual
use.
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