Garretson Forge and Farm facts for kids
|
Peter Garretson House
|
|
The Peter Garretson Farmhouse in Winter 2011
|
|
 Location in Bergen County, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 4-02 River Road, Fair Lawn, New Jersey |
|---|---|
| Area | 1.8 acres (0.73 ha) |
| Built | 1720 |
| NRHP reference No. | 74001153 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
|
| Added to NRHP | November 19, 1974 |
The Garretson Forge and Farm is a very old farm in Fair Lawn, New Jersey. It has been owned by the Garretson family since 1719. This makes it one of the oldest historic places in Bergen County.
The main building, called the Peter Garretson House, was built in 1720. It is also known as the Garretson-Brocker Home. This historic house was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 19, 1974.
Contents
History of Garretson Farm
The story of Garretson Forge and Farm started in the 1600s. Three Dutch people, Gerrit Gerritse, his wife Annetje Hermansse, and their son Gerrit, came to America.
In 1719, Gerrit bought a huge piece of land. It was called the Slooterdam Patent. This land was so big it included many towns that are now in Bergen and Passaic counties. Fair Lawn was one of these towns.
Gerrit's son, Peter, began building the farm shortly after the land was bought. This is how Garretson Forge and Farm began. For over 100 years, six generations of the Garretson family lived here.
At first, Garretson Forge and Farm was a large farm. It grew many different kinds of crops. Over the years, parts of the farm were sold. Today, the property is just under 2 acres.
Many changes were made to the farm over time. The main house was updated and expanded. In 1902, big changes happened to the manor house. A second floor was added, along with an outside porch and a new roof. These updates made Garretson Forge and Farm look much like it does today.
Where is Garretson Forge and Farm?
Garretson Forge and Farm is located at 4-02 River Road in Fair Lawn, New Jersey. It is very close to the Passaic River. In the early days, water from the river was used to make bricks for the farm buildings.
Many old tools and items from the Lenape people have been found on the property. The area around the Passaic River was once home to the Acquackanonk and Hackensack Native American tribes.
Living Museum and Garden Fun
Today, you can visit Garretson Forge and Farm. It has an outdoor living museum and a large garden. The living museum has many historic buildings and old items. Visitors can explore these and learn about the past.
The main house has a rustic kitchen. This kitchen was used by the Garretson family long ago. Outside, there is a real water pump. Visitors can actually pump water from underground for the garden. There are also other buildings on the property. These are used to store farm tools for the garden.
Originally, Garretson Forge and Farm grew many herbs and vegetables. The Garretson family grew crops to sell as late as 1970. Now, the garden mostly grows a wide variety of herbs. It has over 50 different herbs and spices. There is also a butterfly garden and a fruit orchard. Visitors can even help with planting and caring for the garden.
Community Activities
Garretson Forge and Farm is important to the local community. It is not just a museum and garden. The outdoor picnic and recreation area is used for town meetings. Guest speakers also come to share their knowledge.
Many fun activities happen throughout the year. For example, there is a special Dutch Christmas celebration. The community can join in these events. Volunteers from the community help run Garretson Forge and Farm. They work as tour guides, gardeners, and help with other important jobs.
A local elementary school often takes field trips to the farm. Students get a special tour of the grounds. They also get to do various activities around the farm.
See also
