Dairy Farming History at Heritage Park

At Dublin Heritage Park and Museums, with the spring green hills in the distance and the charming Park surrounding you, it would be easy to glamorize dairy farming in the 1860s.

Main barn at Heritage Park

The Kolb Sunday School Barn

You can imagine the crew preparing a field under blue skies to plant winter hay, cows grazing in the distance on new spring grass, and a neighbor riding over from a nearby homestead to return a tool, talk about the latest news, and share a cup of coffee.

Disc harrow used to break up new ground

Chisel plow used to break up the soil

But the signage at Heritage Park makes it clear that dairy farming was backbreaking work for humans and draft animals alike. The heavy antique farm equipment on display at the Park—including various types of harrows and plows to break up or level the soil, a hay rake, and a wagon—makes that easy to imagine as well.

Spike tooth harrow used to break up the soil and level it

The barns provided sheltered work areas, as well as important storage areas for hay and tools, and gathering areas for dances, socials, and church services.

Hay rake for gathering up cut hay

Flat wagon used for hauling

The Murray Schoolhouse Museum provides additional information about daily life on a farm, and the dairy co-op that operated out of the area. The collection of butter churns and storage crocks was especially appealing to me.

Modern compost system for the Park

Even with all the hard work, I can also imagine it would have been satisfying to be your own boss, work in the open air with family and neighbors, and be close to nature in the beautiful valley surrounded by nearby hills.

Murray Schoolhouse Museum behind pink hollyhocks provides dairy farming exhibits

Special thanks to the father-son team, Caspar Van Kessel and Peter Van Kessel, for providing names and uses for the equipment (they have international dairy farming experiencing in The Netherlands, Novia Scotia, and Oregon, USA).