Route 40, Cowtown, Woodstown, New Jersey08098.
Sometimes even with today’s modern conveniences, and the
hustle and bustle of every day living, we are exasperated at the
slow rate of speed with which things are accomplished. Perhaps it
would be a constructive and enjoyable lesson if we could return for
a while to Grandpa’s day, before electricity was in every home
and before we could step on a jet in Philadelphia and be in Los
Angeles for lunch.
It might be surprising to find that nestled on the fringes of
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Wilmington, Delaware. In Salem
County, New Jersey there is a place called Grandpa’s Farm.
Grandpa Farm has been organized as a foundation for the
preservation of artifacts and machinery that were used by Grandpa
and his family during the 1800’s and the very early
1900’s.
Located just eight miles east of the Delaware Memorial Bridge on
Route 40, at Cow town, New Jersey Grandpa’s Farm has an
extensive collection of cultivating implements, wagons, woodworking
tools, a Blacksmith Shop and when it is periodically open to the
public it swells to capacity with other machinery, gasoline
engines, antique cars, bicycles, etc. that belong to people in the
area and are brought in for exhibit and demonstration.
The farm has only been open to the public at intervals during
two by Betty Turnbull, Route 40, Cow town, Woodstown, New Jersey
08098 summers and last year there was a display of at least 25
gasoline engines. The public stands entranced to see them
functioning so smoothly all at one time. This is one of the fastest
growing exhibits.
Joe Dunn of Quinton, New Jersey who has been interested in
gasoline engines for a short three years had more than one half
dozen engines and Fordson Tractor running and never missing a
turn.
One of the rarest engines was put into operation by Richard
Swartz and Paul Sullivan both of Aura, New Jersey. For the first
time they had a 15 horse Fairbanks, Type Y, semi-diesel running
like a clock. The Fairbanks dated between 1915 and 1920 belongs to
David Sickler of Woodstown. Weight class of the engine is about
4,000 pounds.
Kenny Moore from Elmer, had at least six model steam engines
which he built himself from ‘scratch’ running with his own
boiler. Barry Watson from Vineland, New Jersey was there to proudly
show his gasoline engines for the first time.
Ever see 50 or more model airplane engines all in top shape?
That can be said of the Paul Daniels Collection. This is just a few
of the attractions at the Farm.
Children have a grand time riding either in the runabout or the
spring wagon. Bill Simpkins was probably enjoying operating the
runabout (a single seated one horse buggy) as much as the people
were enjoying the rides. The Spring Wagon was operated by 16 year
old Clare Turnbull and drawn by two mules. The old spring wagon was
used somewhat like our modern pickup for both pleasure and
work.
Norman Kirkbride and Bill Smith had plenty of opportunity to
appreciate the more modern equipment used today, after spending the
day driving a pair of oxen.
Part of the collections of David Sickler are the old shingle
saw, cider press and wood lathe. The lathe has an 8 foot bed and
was used to make porch posts and decorations for
‘Grandpa’s’ house.
No date has as yet been set for the spring opening of the Farm,
but the usual added attractions in April are the sheep shearing,
and baby lambs, calves, pigs, etc. for the children to feed and
play with. There are hog killing demonstrations, sausage and
pancake breakfasts, ginger cakes and homemade bread. Sometimes
there are buffalo roasts, chicken barb-que, and cider making. All
these things and many others, plus the aforementioned exhibits
combine to make a most enjoyable retreat for a day into the
past.
The farm was open for the Salem County Fair held on August 4, 5
and 6,1976. There will be other dates yet to be announced, but for
a young two years, ‘Grandpa’s Farm’ has been catapulted
into growth by the enthusiastic reception of the public.
