Music at the Ohio Farm Museum

All acoustic musicians (old-time, Celtic, folk, bluegrass, etc.) and dancers are invited to jam twice a month at the Museum of Western Reserve Farms and Equipment (Ohio Farm Museum for short), located on the 48-acre Stone Garden Farm in Richfield, Ohio (just west of Peninsula). The venue is tailor-made for old-time music and the proprietor, Jim Fry, is enthusiastic about building an old-time/acoustic/folk scene at his farm, similar to the annual festival at the nearby Hale Farm, but all year round, and has made his farm and buildings available to acoustic musicians beginning in the summer of 2009.

The jam will take place year-round, and possibly move from twice a month to every Sunday, according to musicians' interest. It begins at about noon and lasts until 5 p.m. There is a potluck dinner and all musicians are invited. Some of the Hale Farm bluegrass crowd has been showing up, along with a few singer/songwriter types and some "traditional country" singers too. It would be great to get more frailers and fiddlers out to play.

The farm is located south of "downtown" Richfield. From the intersection of S.R. 303 and S.R. 176, go west on S.R. 303 to the first left. Turn left on Southern Road and go 1.5 miles to the first farm on the left. From I-77, tThe farm is also located just 4 minutes from Exit 143 (the Wheatley Road exit, just south of where I-271 meets I-77), at 2891 Southern Road, Richfield, Ohio. After taking Exit 143, go west and go through two more lights until you turn left on Hawkins Road. About a half mile later, turn left on Southern Road. You'll see the Stone Farm about a half mile down on the left. Look for the large sign out front that reads "Stone Garden Farm."

The Museum of Western Reserve of Farms and Equipment is dedicated to preserving the tools, equipment, skills and way of life lived by Ohioans in the 1800s. Jim Fry, a farmer, historian, and artist, began the museum in 1987 on his family homestead and has since collected 34 buildings including what may be the largest surviving early blacksmith shop in Ohio, the oldest barn in the state, the Stouffer farm (where the mega-corporation began) smokehouse, and one of the largest surviving post and beam barns in Summit County. The farm also has animals, cars, tools, general store, mechanic shop with 1920s cars, and much more.

Eventually, Jim might construct a building just for jamming, with only 1900s clothing material and no electricity or cars except behind the bushes (being lit by lamplight and heated with a wood stove).

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