Cobblestone Farm and Museum
Encyclopedia
The Cobblestone Farm and Museum is an historical museum
located in Ann
Arbor
Michigan
. It gets its name from the cobblestone
used to build the farmhouse
. The museum is located in Buhr Park
on property that was originally in Pittsfield Township
before being annexed
by the city of Ann Arbor.
The site of the Cobblestone Farm had been a farm as far back as 1824 and remained an operating farm well into the
late 20th century. The neoclassical
farmhouse was built in 1844 for naval surgeon Dr.Benahah Ticknor on a main road between Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti
on property he had purchased in 1835. The farm was purchased in 1881 by William Campbell and stayed in his family until its sale to the city of Ann Arbor in 1972. Restored to its mid-nineteenth-century appearance, the farm today serves to provide a glimpse into the
pioneer history of the surrounding community.
The site was acquired by the city of Ann Arbor as a city park and is leased to the Cobblestone Farm
Association. In addition to its educational mission, the farm
also serves as a venue for festive occasions such as picnic
s, fair
s and wedding
s.
Museum
A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
located in Ann
Arbor
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The 2010 census places the population at 113,934, making it the sixth largest city in Michigan. The Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 344,791 as of 2010...
Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. It gets its name from the cobblestone
Cobblestone
Cobblestones are stones that were frequently used in the pavement of early streets. "Cobblestone" is derived from the very old English word "cob", which had a wide range of meanings, one of which was "rounded lump" with overtones of large size...
used to build the farmhouse
Farmhouse
Farmhouse is a general term for the main house of a farm. It is a type of building or house which serves a residential purpose in a rural or agricultural setting. Most often, the surrounding environment will be a farm. Many farm houses are shaped like a T...
. The museum is located in Buhr Park
Buhr Park
Buhr Park is a park in Ann Arbor, Michigan.There is a large public swimming pool and a smaller children's wading pool with interactive toys. Buhr Park also includes of rolling hills, picnic areas with barbecue grills, a children's play area, softball diamonds, soccer fields and outdoor tennis courts...
on property that was originally in Pittsfield Township
Pittsfield Charter Township, Michigan
Pittsfield Charter Township is a charter township south of Ann Arbor in Washtenaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 30,167 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
before being annexed
Annexation
Annexation is the de jure incorporation of some territory into another geo-political entity . Usually, it is implied that the territory and population being annexed is the smaller, more peripheral, and weaker of the two merging entities, barring physical size...
by the city of Ann Arbor.
The site of the Cobblestone Farm had been a farm as far back as 1824 and remained an operating farm well into the
late 20th century. The neoclassical
Neoclassical architecture
Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century, manifested both in its details as a reaction against the Rococo style of naturalistic ornament, and in its architectural formulas as an outgrowth of some classicizing...
farmhouse was built in 1844 for naval surgeon Dr.Benahah Ticknor on a main road between Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti
Ypsilanti, Michigan
Ypsilanti is a city in Washtenaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 22,362. The city is bounded to the north by the Charter Township of Superior and on the west, south, and east by the Charter Township of Ypsilanti...
on property he had purchased in 1835. The farm was purchased in 1881 by William Campbell and stayed in his family until its sale to the city of Ann Arbor in 1972. Restored to its mid-nineteenth-century appearance, the farm today serves to provide a glimpse into the
pioneer history of the surrounding community.
The site was acquired by the city of Ann Arbor as a city park and is leased to the Cobblestone Farm
Association. In addition to its educational mission, the farm
Farm
A farm is an area of land, or, for aquaculture, lake, river or sea, including various structures, devoted primarily to the practice of producing and managing food , fibres and, increasingly, fuel. It is the basic production facility in food production. Farms may be owned and operated by a single...
also serves as a venue for festive occasions such as picnic
Picnic
In contemporary usage, a picnic can be defined simply as a pleasure excursion at which a meal is eaten outdoors , ideally taking place in a beautiful landscape such as a park, beside a lake or with an interesting view and possibly at a public event such as before an open air theatre performance,...
s, fair
Fair
A fair or fayre is a gathering of people to display or trade produce or other goods, to parade or display animals and often to enjoy associated carnival or funfair entertainment. It is normally of the essence of a fair that it is temporary; some last only an afternoon while others may ten weeks. ...
s and wedding
Wedding
A wedding is the ceremony in which two people are united in marriage or a similar institution. Wedding traditions and customs vary greatly between cultures, ethnic groups, religions, countries, and social classes...
s.