Malabar Farm State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Malabar Farm
|
|
Horses at the Maple Sugar Festival in 2007.
|
|
 Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Monroe Township, Richland County, at 4050 Bromfield Road, Lucas, Ohio |
|---|---|
| Area | 580.6 acres (235.0 ha) |
| Built | 1939 |
| Architect | Louis Lamoreux |
| Architectural style | Greek revival style |
| NRHP reference No. | 73001520 |
| Added to NRHP | April 11, 1973 |
Malabar Farm State Park is a cool place in Ohio. It's a state park located in Richland County, near the town of Lucas. It's also close to the beautiful Mohican State Park. This park was once the home of a famous writer named Louis Bromfield. It's a great spot to learn about farming, nature, and history!
Contents
The Story of Malabar Farm
Malabar Farm was built in 1939 by Louis Bromfield. He was a writer who won a special award called the Pulitzer Prize for his books. This farm was his home until he passed away in 1956. A fun fact: on May 21, 1945, famous actors Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall even had their wedding and honeymoon right here at Malabar Farm!
How the Farm Began
Louis Bromfield grew up in Pleasant Valley, where the farm is located. When he became an adult, he wanted to buy an old farm there. In 1939, he bought the Herring farm. He bought more land in 1940 and 1941. In total, he owned about 595 acres.
The Bromfield family moved to Pleasant Valley in 1939. They lived in a smaller house while their "Big House" was being built. Bromfield worked with an architect named Louis Lamoreux. They designed a home in the Greek Revival style. The original Herring house was used as the center of the new, larger home. It was made to look like different parts had been added over many years. Bromfield loved to make changes, so building the house took 18 months!
A Farm for Everyone
The Big House had 32 rooms. Bromfield wrote many of his books there. It became a popular spot for famous people to visit. Film stars, artists, politicians, writers, and people who cared about nature came to the farm every year. As many as 20,000 people visited the farm each year. On Sundays, 100 to 200 people would come just for tours!
The farm eventually spread over 1000 acres. Bromfield tried growing apple trees on 200 acres, but it cost too much money. He also stopped raising sheep and hogs and producing eggs. He decided to focus on raising beef cattle and dairy cows instead.
New Ways to Farm
Bromfield was a pioneer in what he called "conservation farming." This was a special way of farming that focused on growing lots of grass. This grass was great food for animals and helped the soil. Malabar Farm became a national example for "sustainable agriculture." This means farming in a way that protects the environment for the future.
Bromfield also experimented with composting. He used manure from the farm animals to make rich soil. He changed square fields to follow the natural shape of the land. This helped stop soil from washing away, which is called erosion. He also set aside 140 acres for growing timber (trees for wood).
Malabar Farm Becomes a Park
After Louis Bromfield passed away, his children gave the farm to a group called Friends of the Land in 1958. Later, in 1972, the state of Ohio took over the farm. In 1976, Malabar Farm officially became a state park.
Sadly, in 1993, a fire destroyed the main barn. But don't worry! In 1994, 150 volunteers worked together to build a new barn. It looks just like the original one! For many years, there was also a youth hostel at the farm. It was a place where young travelers could stay. It closed in 2017 because fewer people were using it.
Things to See and Do
Malabar Farm Inn
The Malabar Farm Inn is a very old building. It was built in 1820 as a "stagecoach inn." This was like a hotel and restaurant for people traveling by horse and carriage. It used to be a restaurant that served home-cooked meals. It closed in 2018.
Near the inn is Malabar Spring. In 1946, Louis Bromfield designed a market stand here. It used the cool spring water to keep fresh produce cool. Visitors could sometimes buy fresh fruits and vegetables from the farm at this stand.
Pugh Cabin
This rustic log cabin was built in the 1940s by Bromfield's neighbor, Jim Pugh. It's famous because it was used in the 1994 movie The Shawshank Redemption. Some of the first scenes of the movie were filmed right here!
Fun Events at Malabar Farm
Maple Sugaring Festival
This festival celebrates an old Ohio tradition: making maple syrup! It happens on the first two weekends in March. You can learn how sap is collected from trees. You'll also see how it's boiled down to make syrup, candies, and other sweet treats. There are many activities and demonstrations, and it's free to attend!
Heritage Days
This is one of the biggest outdoor craft shows in Ohio. The festival includes "living history" reenactments. This means people dress up and act out scenes from the past. You can see what life was like during the Civil War era and learn about early American settlers.
Wagon Tours
You can take a fun wagon tour around the farm. These tours run during certain times of the year. It's a great way to see the farm and learn more about its history and animals.
