Foodways: Hearth Cooking - Butter, Soft Cheese, Soups and Stews

Learn how to cook a stewed soup, bake Johnnycakes, make churned butter, and herbed Farmer's Cheese with herbs from the museum’s Dooryard Garden. Stories and anecdotes about New England colonial life will be shared throughout. Limited to 12 attendees, registration required, with a fee of $20 for members and $25 for non-members.

Food in colonial times was much different compared to what we eat today. Religious beliefs, traditions, geography, growing season, harvest, and cooking methods all played a role in what was available and how much was eaten, with each region developing its unique dietary habits. "Living history" expert Dennis Picard will share anecdotes about New England colonial life while demonstrating how to start a fire and cook in the hearth or on an open campfire.

In 1935, Stanley-Whitman House was established as Farmington's first museum. It is a nationally recognized historic house museum and living history center that teaches through the collection, preservation, research, and dynamic interpretation of the history and culture of early Farmington, Connecticut. Programs, events, classes, and exhibits encourage visitors of all ages to immerse themselves in history by doing, acting, questioning, and engaging in colonial life and the ideas that formed the foundation of that culture.

Located in the historic village of Farmington, the museum facility centers on a circa 1720 National Historic Landmark house furnished with period antiques to reflect the everyday activities of Colonial life in Connecticut. Surrounding the house are period-raised bed gardens, an apple orchard, and heritage stone walls.

The public service areas of the museum, constructed in 2004, include a modern classroom, a period tavern room, a post-and-beam Welcome Center, a research library, an exhibit gallery, the Nancy Conklin History Gallery, and a collection storage area.

In addition to managing Memento Mori, Farmington’s ancient cemetery on Main Street, and the Village Green, located at the intersection of Routes 4 and 10, the museum also oversees the Scott Swamp Cemetery on Route 6. The Stanley-Whitman House is supported in part by the Farmington Village Green and Library Association.

At Stanley Whitman House, our commitment to accessibility is paramount. While not all of our programs are free, we strive to offer as many as possible at no cost, thanks to the generous support of our underwriters. If you wish to assist us in this mission, we welcome donations, which help us to expand further and diversify our range of activities. Your contributions play a crucial role in maintaining and increasing the accessibility of our programs.

Host or Publisher Stanley-Whitman House