The Mennonite Heritage Farm
Owned and operated by the Adirondack Mennonite Heritage Association & Historical Society  P0 Box 358 Erie Canal Road Croghan, New York, 13327, U.S.A
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The Mennonite Heritage Farm, located in Kirschnerville near Croghan, was home to three generations of the Moser family. Brothers Joseph and John Moser emigrated from Alsace-Lorraine in the second decade of the Nineteenth Century. They cleared the land, built a shelter and brought in animals. Then they were able to bring over the rest of their family -parents and siblings.
Philip, son of John, and his wife Katie (Roggie), were the second generation on the farm and became noted for their butter and cheesemaking There are still local people who recall Philip with his long white beard, driving his white horse-drawn milk wagon to Croghan.
Their children, Menno and Veronica, were the last to reside here. They kept animals and a large garden until well, into the 1980's. Following their deaths, the farm property was purchased by a committee of sponsors who recognized the unique value of the farm - as a living story of the life and faith of the area's settlers. |
| This committee is now the State chartered Adirondack Mennonite Heritage Association, a non-profit under IRS tax law.
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Most of the buildings have exhibits and displays of artifacts and information about the life of the early Amish-Mennonite settlers in the Croghan area (1830-1900). These displays represent the physical and faith heritage of these immigrants from Alsace-Lorraine.
Inside the farmhouse, in addition to exhibits, you will find the Worship room set up with the original benches in the front room. Meetings were held in homes on a rotational basis until 1912, when the Croghan Mennonite Church was built, upstairs is found the large room where the ministers prayed before service and counseled couples about to be married as well as converts and new members. There is a small gift shop inside the farmhouse, with books and crafts for sale. |
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The outbuildings are in various stages of repair, and house a number of farm machines and implements, The granary located in the older, smaller barn next to the house, has an excellent display of tools, equipment, harness and grain boxes and fanning mill. Across the back of the property you can see several features of the original farmscape including: the farm lane, rail fences, pasture and meadow and forest. If the time of day is just right you might see a flock of wild turkeys or a herd of deer.
Directly up the road you can see the cemetery where many of the early settlers and their families are buried. The cemetery is open for visiting. |
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When is it open?
The farm is open during July and August, hours vary. Call 315-346-1122, 315-853-6879 or 315-376-8502.
No fee is charged for admission to the farm except at the Zwanzigstein Fest, but a donation is gladly, accepted. All money received goes into the repairs and program.
On the first Saturday of July the Farm holds a special day-long celebration -Zwanzigstein Fest, where Traditional Mennonite foods, crafts and activities are featured, with many hand-on experiences for children, in particular. One may find horse and wagon i-ides, petting zoo, bread and butter making, ice cream making, a taffy pull, sheep shearing, spinning, quilting, etc. These activities may vary from year to year. A mini-auction of select items is also a highlight. This is the place to find traditional Mennonite quilts and antiques, along with house and building tours.
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Zwanzigstein Fest
First Saturday in July
Apple Fest
First Saturday in October
(none in 2009) |
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How Do I Get There?
Croghan can be reached on either NYS Rte. 812 North from Lowville or NYS Rte. 126 East from Carthage. At the intersection of these two routes, continue east on the Kirschnerville Road (Convent Street) for three miles. Turn north (left) on the Erie Canal Road at its intersection and continue another 1 1/2 miles to the first farm on the right directly after the Yousey Road.
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