John R. Park Homestead
915 County Road 50 East N0R 1G0 Essex, ON, Canada

Attention Teachers! Don't forget to register for this free PD session coming up on April 22nd.

It is Tartan Day in Canada! Mrs Edythe C. Bakes designed the County of Essex tartan in 1983 when she was 81 years old. The tartan was formally adopted by the Corporation of the County of Essex on 4th April 1984 and was registered with the local Leamington Council and in Ottawa in the same year. Edythe chose the colours to symbolize the beauty and wealth of this part of Ontario. The colours are and represent: Golden Yellow, for the sunshine and the many cereal crops;... Green, for the spring fields, peas and produce; Red, for the tomatoes, fruits and flag; Blue, for the skies and waterways; Black, for the automotive industry; and White, for the salt mines and fish. #countyofessex #tartanday #johnrparkhomestead #placeforlife #yqghandmade See more

Look at these handwoven beauties! One of the Homestead's weavers has just crafted these lovely cotton teatowels for the 1842 kitchen! Even more exciting - she has made some for the Homestead gift shop, too! Now you can take a pretty piece of the Homestead home with you! #johnrparkhomestead #placeforlife #yqghandmade #fromourHomesteadtoyours #historyathome #handwoven #bestteatoweleveer #weaversofinstagram

Attention Schools and Groups! The nice thing about virtual programs is that they aren’t weather-dependent. Although the warmer-than-usual weather means that the sap run is finishing up here in Essex County, this year we are able to offer our online Maple Syrup education program through April. Email [email protected] or call 519-738-2029 to book your fun, interactive, virtual program!... #johnrparkhomestead #maple #virtuallearning

It's almost time! Tomorrow, Friday, March 26th at 7pm, join us for the 'Backyard Maple Makers' Contest'. The tasty looking entries are pictured here - which one do you think will be the winner? Tune in tomorrow to find out, when the experts from Giffin's Maple Syrup Products will review each and declare the 2021 Champion! Join us on our YouTube channel at: https://youtube.com/TheEssexRegionCA #johnrparkhomestead #backyardmaplemakerscontest #placeforelife #maplesyrup #homemade #yqghandmade #smallbatch

Thank you to everyone who voted for us! We are pleased to announce that the John R. Park Homestead has won this year's Best of Windsor Essex - Best Attraction: Historical category! <3 Check out all of the other amazing winners and finalists at: bestofwindsoressex.ca #BestofWindsorEssex #johnrparkhomestead #placeforelife

It is #WorldWaterDay - Aerial views of the JR Park Homestead help us to recognize the importance of water to the site. The Homestead is uniquely positioned between Fox Creek to the north and Lake Erie to south. Those waterways were likely strong influencing factors in the Park family's decision to build their homestead upon the site. Today, these waterways are still critical to the Homestead. Visitors come from all around to access Lake Erie for stunning views and photo back...drops, for recreation and leisure, and more! Some international visitors have even had the thrilling opportunity to walk on frozen water! Fox Creek allows students to experience a wetland at work and to see the many plants and animals that make their homes here. Site staff interpret these waterways to visitors and students each day. Locally, the water is a foundation onto which so many local histories are built. Let's all take a minute today to appreciate how lucky we are to live in a region so rich with wonderful waterways. #WorldWaterDay #WorldWaterDay2021 #johnrparkhomestead #placeforelife #LakeErie #FoxCreek #humanandnaturalhistory See more

In the spirit of St. Patrick's Day, we are highlighting this green beauty from the museum collection. This settee can be found in the kitchen of John and Amelia Park's 1842 home. With its beautifully turned posts and spindles, and its bright green colour, it is a visitor favourite. It also features a stuffed tick seat cushion for added comfort. Artifact #77.27.6 Happy St. Patrick's Day, friends! #johnrparkhomestead #placeforlife #fromthecollection #artifacts #settee

This Thursday, March 18th, the Homestead is offering a virtual Maple Syrup education program at 10am. Details and tickets are available online at: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/virtual-maple-syrup-education-p

Do you make maple syrup at home? Do your friends and family say 'it's the best!'? Make it official - have your syrup judged by the experts from Giffin's Maple Syrup Products. Enter the John R. Park Homestead's annual Backyard Maple Makers' Contest! Registration is open now! https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/backyard-maple-syrup-producers-

We are so excited for another amazing Maple Dinner with our friends from Oxley Estate Winery! <3

It’s Maple Season! The Homestead is offering a Virtual Maple Syrup Education Program online, Wednesday, March 10th at 6pm! This hour long program is intended for families, and includes: a Homestead staff to lead the program, interactive components for participants, video elements, and more! Tickets are $7, and can be purchased here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/142933358523 Note, a special Virtual Maple Syrup Education Program for Homeschoolers will take place online, Thursda...y, March 18th at 10am. Tickets are also $7, and can be purchased here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/142939047539 We hope you can join us it’s going to be sweet! #johnrparkhomestead #placeforlife #maplemaking #virtualfieldtrip See more

Voting for the Best of Windsor Essex Awards closes soon! The Homestead is nominated in two categories this year! <3 Be sure to vote now for your favourite local spaces and places at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NFWKHPX #johnrparkhomestead #bestofwindsoressex #welovelocal #yqg

It’s Canadian Agriculture Day! Did you know the John R. Park Homestead interprets our local agricultural heritage? Today, we thank all Canadian farmers who work to put food on our tables, many whose families have done so for centuries. We also thank Farm Credit Canada for its generous Agrispirit funding to install energy efficient lights in the new Heritage Centre helping to ensure our history is sustainably preserved for the future. Stay tuned for more sneak peeks and the Heritage Centre's grand opening this spring, with thanks to many generous supporters! #johnrparkhomestead #CdnAgDay #agriculturalhistory #FCC #AgrispiritFund

Happy New Year!

Posts of Christmas Past #12 - St. Nicholas' historic friends, Ruprecht and Belsnickel, can often be found with 'The Nice List' in-hand at Homestead holiday events. May your names always appear on 'The Nice List'. #PostsofChristmasPast #johnrparkhomestead #HomesteadForTheHolidays #placeforlife #stnicholas #thenicelist

Posts of Christmas Past #11 - After the Park family's time at the Homestead, the Fox family resided here for generations. Here is a lovely holiday greeting card from Mr. and Mrs. Fox (Gordy and Laura), showing the "Laekholm" from the water looking north. Image circa 1950's. #PostsofChristmasPast #johnrparkhomestead #livinghistory #placeforlife #holidaygreetings #archives

Posts of Christmas Past #2 - This image is of the beautiful cherry wood flat-to-the-wall cupboard in the Homestead kitchen. This artifact is fascinating, as the sides are each made from very large, single pieces of lumber. Artifact no. 77.3.7

Posts of Christmas Past #10 - Even on cold December days, the blacksmith shop is always busy during Homestead holiday events. Is that a stocking hanger that the smith has crafted? Not to worry, if you happen to receive coal in your stocking this year, the Homestead blacksmith will happily take it off of your hands! #PostsofChristmasPast #HomesteadForTheHolidays #johnrparkhomestead #livinghistory #placeforlife #blacksmith #lumpofcoal

Posts of Christmas Past #9 - The Candlelight Christmas evening program includes wassailing, seasonal treats, merrymaking, and much more! Perhaps the most special part of the experience is the chance to see the house and farm by candlelight, in true pioneer fashion. #PostsofChristmasPast #HomesteadForTheHolidays #johnrparkhomestead #livinghistory #candlelightchristmas #spectacularshadows

Since we are not able to welcome you into the Homestead this holiday season, we thought we could bring the Homestead to you through Posts of Christmas Past! Enjoy! This post features the popular apple pyramid against the lovely green walls in the 1842 house hallway. #postsofChristmaspast #johnrparkhomestead #placeforlife #holidaysattheHomestead

Construction has begun onsite at the John R. Park Homestead, and YOU can help preserve the stories of our past in the Place for Life. The new Heritage Centre w...ill accommodate between 60-90 students, and will include upgraded washroom facilities, outdoor/indoor classrooms and exhibit areas as well as a welcome space and tourism hub for visitors. https://givingtuesday.ca//essex-region-conservation-founda

Did you know that thousands of students visit #JohnRParkHomestead every year to learn about the traditions and life of the 1800s? Giving Tuesday Canada is coming up on December 1, and we are so close to reaching our fundraising goal for the brand new Heritage Centre! This year you will have the opportunity to contribute in preserving the stories of our past. https://www.canadahelps.org/.../john-r-park-heritage-centre/

On #GivingTuesday, you can 'do good stuff' and help more children experience life in the 1850s! We are inviting supporters to help raise the Heritage Hub at the John R. Park Homestead. On December 1st, we ask for your support during @GivingTuesdayCa https://givingtuesday.ca//essex-region-conservation-founda

On this International Day of Volunteers, we want to recognize the Homestead's amazing and diverse team of volunteers! Over 90 people volunteer upward of 4400 hours of their time and talents each year to keep the Homestead running, and to welcome all of our many visitors. Our most sincere thanks to each and every one! #internationaldayofvolunteers #thankyou #johnrparkhomestead #weloveourvolunteers

We extend our sincerest gratitude for the courage and sacrifice of those who so bravely served, and those who currently serve, our country. The Homestead office will be closed on November 11 in observance of Remembrance Day.

Sundays in November the Homestead gift shop is open to the public,11 am to 4:30 pm. The shop has been reformatted for COVID safety, and is stocked with lots of great locally-made items like wooden toys, warm woollies and quilts. It is a perfect, uncrowded spot for holiday shopping. There are lots of new items, too locally hand crafted birdhouses, wonderful wooden walking sticks, and more! Restocked Dr. John Carter’s book ‘The Ploughboy’ detailing the incredible history o...f one of Park & Co’s ships is back in stock. The first print run was a sell out success, and the new stock is here just in time for the holidays. A great read for anyone on your list! The JRPH gift shop accepts cash, debit and credit transactions. While you are in the neighbourhood - visit the wonderful wineries, stop by The Fruit Wagon, and check out Priscilla's new location on the Iler Road, too! #johnrparkhomestead #placeforlife #shoplocal #YQGhandmade #handmadefortheholidays See more

What incredible support! Thank you!

It's #NationalConstructionDay - we are so grateful for the great crews working on the Homestead projects!

Join our Heritage Centre groundbreaking ceremony virtually! #JohnRParkHomestead #placeforlife

Some days it's hard to tell where the lake ends and the sky begins. #johnrparkhomestead #placeforlife #lakeerielove #losthorizons

Thank you, Dan!

At-home learners - here's another great field trip opportunity! Join us for an exclusive learning experience at Kopegaron Woods Conservation Area on Thursday, O...ctober 29 at 1:00pm. Hike the boardwalk trail and learn to identify some of the many different plants and trees of the forest. Complete a quadrat study of upland and lowland forest habitats. COVID Safety protocols will be followed and face coverings are required for participation. Spaces are limited, so get your tickets today! https://foreststudy2020.eventbrite.ca See more

Today is Giving Tuesday! Thank you for your support!

An award winning photo of one of the Homestead's smiths in our blacksmith shop!

Service Disruption: To ensure everyone's safety, please note that John R. Park Homestead site will be closed for approximately 3 weeks as shoreline construction and Heritage Centre construction are concurrently underway. If you have any questions, please contact the Homestead directly for details.

Good night, from the Homestead. #johnrparkhomestead #placeforlife #lakeeriesunset

Revised Service Disruption: The John R. Park Homestead site will be closed for parking lot construction starting Monday, September 21 through Wednesday, September 23rd. No site access is permitted to ensure safety for all. But, the exciting news is that the Heritage Centre construction is progressing rapidly! Here's a sneak peek!

This week, the Homestead welcomed a group of plein air painters to the site. Look at these talented artists with their lovely works in progress. How does the Homestead inspire you? #johnrparkhomestead #placeforlife #enpleinairpainting #inspiration

Look at this red ribbon winning 'Bounty of the County' harvest display! Harrow Fair, 1979. #johnrparkhomestead #166HarrowFair #agriculturalsociety #bountifulharvest

Like many of you, this year will be the first year in a long time that we will not be able to participate in, attend, and enjoy the Harrow Fair. Did you know that John Richardson Park was a founding member of the Colchester Agricultural Society, which incorporated in 1854? In the spirit of celebrating the Harrow Fair, we will be featuring some ‘throwback’ images this week as we reminisce about all of the wonderful memories made at the Fair over the years. This photo shows Hom...esteaders demonstrating quilting at the Harrow Fair in 1978 (the year the Homestead officially opened as a museum). #johnrparkhomestead #placeforlife #166HarrowFair #HarrowFair #ahistorytogether #MondayMemories See more

They are at it again! The Homestead's summer students are learning another skill - basket weaving! (With special thanks to our instructor, Nancy.) Introducing the students to these various skills and art forms allows them to develop an understanding for and appreciation of the related tools and artifacts in the museum collection. It also makes them better able to interpret those pieces to visitors. Not to mention, the students are enjoying the experiences so far! #johnrparkhomestead #placeforlife #basketweaving #ancientskills #trynewthings #interpreterlife

Today (August 26th) share your pictures and stories using #WeAreLakeErie as groups call for action to protect the lake and drinking water for millions of people in the U.S. and Canada. The chance to visit and enjoy the Lake Erie shore is a major attraction for visitors to the John R. Park Homestead. Show Lake Erie some love today! #WeAreLakeErie #LakeErieLove #johnrparkhomestead

The Homestead's very old pear tree (likely a descendant of a Jesuit Pear) is full of gorgeous fruit right now. Incredible how it thrives despite its rather fragile looking trunk. #johnrparkhomestead #placeforlife #heritagepears #ontag

Show your Lake Erie Love tomorrow!

The Homestead's summer students not only learn and share our region's history with visitors, they also learn early settler skills to demonstrate for visitors. Today, Jacob learned how to use various hand tools and produced this lovely wooden mallet! He's a natural, don't you think? #johnrparkhomestead #placeforlife #knowledgesharing #skillsbuilding #museumlife #museuminterpreter #summerstudents (Not to worry, modern safety guidelines are adhered to for all crafts and demonstrations including use of PPE, following COVID safety protocols, etc.)

It is a beautiful sunny day at the Homestead today! Come for a walk and enjoy the garden, the orchard, and the shore. Bring a picnic basket along and make an afternoon of it! Pets are also welcome, on leash. #johnrparkhomestead #placeforlife #sunnydays #summerfun