Equipment that was retired decades ago to make way for modern technology will be reared back to life at Medford Historical Society’s 24th annual Country Day at Kirby’s Mill, 275 Church Road.
Both floors of the mill will be open for the event on Saturday, July 8 from noon to 4 p.m.
Admission is free and there will be complimentary parking.
Approximately 2,000 people are expected to attend.
“We have all kinds of antique equipment running as it was 50, 100, 200 years ago,” said society president Bill Stauts. “We have a display set up by the Civil War infantry personnel.”
While the reenactors perform in their encampment and shoot weapons to add to the atmosphere, there will be a working print shop circa 1850 inside of the mill, displays from different eras on the second floor, a blacksmith shop, a gristmill in action and crafters demonstrating their trades.
Crafters will include a broom maker, basket maker, deco carver and doll creator, all of which from the local and neighboring communities.
“Basically, (it’s) an open house for the historical society to showcase what we have out of Kirby’s Mill,” explained chairman John Hines. “Usually you don’t get to see the mill itself.”
Most of the displays date from the turn of the century, he said.
“It’s been donated over the years.”
The day will be especially beneficial for area children to learn about history, but visitors of any age will have the opportunity to learn something new.
“It seems like kids like it,” said Stauts.
According to Hines, there will be a manual sawing machine with a lever. Children will be able to push it back and forth to eventually cut off a piece of the log.
“Kids really find it fascinating,” he said.
The community is greatly involved in contributing to the historical society’s efforts, he explained. One yearly visitor brings special finds from her grandmother’s attic.
“It’s a fun afternoon,” Hines said. “Before electricity and before modern power, you had to do a lot of things by hand.”
“It’s not a complete historic period but you get the sampling of it anyway.”
Many of the displays will be shown continuously throughout the four-hour event.
It will be an old fashioned experience for those attending, with sites that may be similar to a fair from long ago, explained Stauts.
The day can be held each year through funds accumulated at other historical society events.
During the event, the museum gift shop will be open to customers.
Refreshments will be sold for a small fee, including ice-cold watermelon slices, said Hines.
“We try to keep things reasonable,” he said, and hopes that people will be able to enjoy the historical aspects of the day.
More information, including a listing of area crafters, can be found online at www.medfordhistory.org.
To volunteer or to gather more details, call the mill phone at (609) 654–7747 or John Hines at (856) 983–0479.
