Cherry Hill Historic House and Farm

08/04/2022

No Saturday Morning Tours this weekend (Aug 8), but don't worry, we'll be back the following weekend :)

07/17/2022

Join fellow knitters of all levels at Cherry Hill Farmhouse working on their projects and learning from one another.

Time to Knit is scheduled every 3rd Tuesday of the month from 9:30am -11:30am

Contact [email protected] to sign up. This is not a teaching class.

07/15/2022

Pressed Flowers

Enjoy picking wildflowers on your daily walk?

Preserve flowers to enjoy all year with this fast and easy, pressed flower process using a microwave.

A great activity to do with kids of all ages!

Today we continue our Victorian Crafts Series by drying flowers in the microwave! This is a quick, modern version of a favorite Victorian past time....

07/12/2022

The farmhouse is fortunate to have two detailed samplers made in the 1840s. Samplers were created by young girls as a way for them to learn character, sewing, the alphabet and numbers, and occasionally a foreign language.

The sweet sampler in the child's room was made by eight-year-old Louise Testard in 1846.

06/30/2022

Cherry Hill Farmhouse will not be offering Saturday morning tours on July 2.

The house is closed for a private event. Learn more about how to rent Cherry Hill at https://cherryhillfallschurch.org/private-rentals/

06/24/2022

Marbled Paper

Looking for some creative ways to entertain your kids this summer? Explore our Museum at Home games and activities on the Cherry HIll website like making marbleized paper using shaving cream and food coloring.

Welcome to Cherry Hill From Home! Today we start our Victorian Craft Series by making Marbled Paper. During the Victorian Era, marble fireplaces were very po...

06/21/2022

In honor of the primary elections today, we're sharing an 1860s campaign ad for the Republican ticket in New Hampshire.

PS: Daniel Blaisdell was most likely not related to Cherry Hill's William Blaisdell but a familiar name on the ticket all the same!

Image from the The Library of Congress.
Title: Republican ticket. Liberty and Union. [New Hampshire Campaign ticket].

06/20/2022

Join fellow knitters of all levels at Cherry Hill Farmhouse working on their projects and learning from one another.

Time to Knit is scheduled every 3rd Tuesday of the month from 10-11:30am

Contact [email protected] to sign up. This is not a teaching class.

06/19/2022

Congratulations Historic Alexandria, VA, for the grand opening of the Freedom House Museum!

We celebrate our colleagues on this powerful museum, centering on the enslaved men, women, and children trafficked from Alexandria.

Today's opening featured remarks from elected officials, Historic Alexandria representatives, and community leaders. For more information, visit: www.alexandriava.gov/museums/location/visit-freedom-house-museum

06/16/2022

For those interested in purchasing a Historic House, unfortunately, Cherry Hill is not for sale.....we also only have 4 bedrooms and 2 half baths.

Thank you and for the advertisement.

06/14/2022

When Mr. Blaisdell purchased Cherry Hill Farm in 1856, there were 31 stars on the flag. By the time he move back to Massachusetts, there were 37 stars!

The last star added to the flag was in 1960 for the state of Hawaii.

06/11/2022

What does a 2 dollar bill and Falls Church have in common?

You got it- Thomas Jefferson!

Jefferson once visited Falls Church for refreshments at Wren's Tavern? Learn more about Thomas Jefferson's travels to Falls Church in our latest newsletter https://issuu.com/cherryhillfallschurch/docs/ch_newsletter_late_spring_summer_2022_rev4_pdf

06/10/2022

The is feeling the love this weekend! Take a selfie in Cherry Hill Park.

06/09/2022

Cherry Hill Historic House and Barn will be CLOSED Saturday, June 11th for the Tinner HIll Music Festival.

Information about the event and ticket sales can be found at www.tinnerhill.org
Net proceeds benefit the Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation

06/08/2022

Cherry Hill Dining Room Wallpaper - Issuu

Wallpaper has made a big, bold comeback, making our 1860s walls back in vogue.

Learn more in our most recent newsletter.

The wallpaper in the dining room of Cherry Hill is a documented reproduction of a pattern popular in the mid-19 th century. An original remnant of similar paper was found in the Wi******er, VA home owned by Lt. Colonel Lewis T. Moore of the Fourth Virginia Volunteers during the Civil War. The wallpa...

06/07/2022

It's almost time for Camp!

At Blast into the Past, campers learn about period farming, cooking, chores, clothing, crafts, and games, along with a better understanding of our local history. The camp runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visit www.fallschurchva.gov/recreation or 703-248-5027 for more information.

06/03/2022

The Bicycle’s Bumpy History

After seeing these bicycles from the 1817, 1863 and 1885, I think Mr. Blaisdell would have stuck to his horse and carriage!

The two-wheeler evolved—and seriously improved—over the course of a century, thanks to several different inventors.

05/30/2022

Happy Memorial Day from Cherry Hill!

Enjoy the front porch for the best view of today’s Parade (starting at 2 pm)

04/30/2022

2021 Falls Church Women's History Walk

Enjoy a Farmhouse tour Sunday, May 1st from 11 AM to 2 PM as part of the Falls Church Women's History Walk! Learn more about the extraordinary women who have contributed to Falls Church.

The 2021 history walk and "herstories" of Falls Church City. Made by Girl Scout, Greta Hermann for her Gold Award project.

04/22/2022

Blue + Gray = Green: Tips for Creating Sustainable Signage

Looking to appreciate the outdoors this ? Check out Civil War Trails,

Did you know Cherry Hill's Civil War Trail sign employs "green" technology, allowing us to reconstitute new sign panels from old ones and to repair or recycle individual sign components resulting in almost .

While Civil War Trails interprets the past they are planning for a bright and sustainable future.

Drew Gruber and Chris Brown of Civil War Trials Inc, outline their strategy for building sustainable signage at open air museums.

04/07/2022

The City of Falls Church's annual Easter Egg Hunt is scheduled for Sat April 16!

The hunt begins promptly at 10:30 AM. Children ages 1 to 11 will hunt for eggs, take pictures with the Easter Bunny, grind corn in the barn and tour Cherry Hill Farmhouse.

Free and no registration required. Please bring your own basket.

04/02/2022

We're back with another season of Saturday morning tours! Join us today from 10 AM to noon for a free tour of Cherry Hill Farmhouse.

Open House season runs from April through October

03/21/2022

Junior Girl Scouts love this fun and interactive program! Learn more at https://cherryhillfallschurch.org/event/girl-scout-day-playing-the-past-juniors/
To register, contact the City of Falls Church Community Center at 703-248-5027 and use POS #0471

03/17/2022

Junior Girl Scouts love this fun and interactive program! Learn more at https://cherryhillfallschurch.org/event/girl-scout-day-playing-the-past-juniors/

To register, contact the City of Falls Church Community Center at 703-248-5027 and use POS #0470

03/08/2022

“Take some books and read; that’s an immense help, and books are always good company if you have the right sort.”- Little Women by Louisa May Alcott.

In honor of , we celebrate Cherry Hill
resident Mary Riley Styles, born in 1869, the same year Little Women's second volume was published.

She was a lover of books and a strong believer in the need for a public library. For over 25 years, she was chairman of the Library Committee of the Falls Church Woman's Club, which managed and funded the library for many years before it was a city government facility.

03/07/2022

Volunteers needed to help with our beloved children’s corn grinding program. Volunteer hours are Saturday mornings from 10 a.m. to Noon from April through October.

Training scheduled for Saturday, March 19 from 1 pm-3 pm

Registration for the trainings is required (email [email protected])

02/23/2022

Best of NoVA Readers Poll

Northern Virginia Magazine's annual Best of NoVA Readers Poll is out! Please consider voting for us in the Arts & Entertainment Category for Museum! Thank you again for all your support! Vote at: https://northernvirginiamag.com/best-of-nova-vote/

Northern Virginians, vote now in our annual Best of NoVA Readers Poll and tell us the local spots that make living here all worth your while.

02/16/2022

During the summer months, Cherry Hill Farm offers four, week long camps for children to learn about what life was like for the Blaisdell’s daughter, Annie in mid-19th century Virginia. Campers will learn about period farming, cooking, chores, clothing, crafts, games, along with a better understanding of our local history.

The camp runs from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Visit www.fallschurchva.gov/recreation for more information and online registration.

Registration is now open for residents with non-resident registration starting next week.

02/14/2022

Cupid, Hearts & Valentine's Day

The association of Valentine’s Day with chocolates can be traced back to the 1800s. In 1861, chocolatier Richard Cadbury began selling his product in heart-shaped boxes with images of Cupid, the Roman God of love, on them. Prior to this, chocolate was considered a luxury and something available only to the elite class. Cadbury’s packaging idea became widely popular because it made chocolate more economical and available to the common folks.

As a result, Cadbury’s chocolates became more commercialized and were widely sold. Even when the chocolates were gone, people kept the boxes to store their precious mementos, such as love letters.

02/11/2022

Try one of Mrs. Blaisdell's Receipts this Valentine's Day!

The Friends of Cherry Hill Farmhouse published “Mrs. Blaisdell’s Recipes for Holiday Teas and Desserts” in 1995. The delightful recipes were compiled by her “friends” including this one from Co-president Diane Morse.

This recipe comes as a sneak peek at our upcoming Cherry Hill Winter Newsletter!

12/03/2021

We’re nearly ready for our annual Children’s Holiday Shoppe! Lots of gifts $6 and under for children to buy for their families. Free Gift wrapping included!

Masks required and cash only.

This year at the Falls Church Community Center Sat Dec 4th from 10 am to 3 pm.

11/30/2021

On this Giving Tuesday, we ask you to consider Cherry Hill Historic House and Farm.

Your donation helps us continue the mission of the Friends of Cherry Hill Foundation is to preserve and protect the integrity of the mid-19th century house, barn and outbuildings along with support educational programs that increase appreciation for life in mid-19th century rural Virginia when the Blaisdells, a middle class farming family, lived at Cherry Hill between 1856 and 1868.

Please consider making a donation to a local museum this at https://www.justgiving.com/friendsofcherryhillfoundationinc

10/02/2021

Just one week away....it's FARM DAY!

Want to make a Scarecrow at Farm Day? Bring your own clothes and we'll supply the rest!
7 Tickets for clothes and materials
4 Tickets for materials only

06/26/2021

We’re back! Today we reopened for Saturday morning tours!
Stop by between 10 AM and Noon.

06/22/2021

Cicada invasion, highlights from the Falls Church Women's History Walk, the secret language of flowers, and updates on our basement renovations.

Plus a fun cross word puzzle!

Check out our Summer Newsletter https://issuu.com/cherryhillfallschurch/docs/ch_summer_2021_rev5_pdf

06/11/2021

We are so happy to announce that Cherry Hill Farmhouse will resume Saturday morning docent tours on June 26th!

Learn more about our house tours and COVID protocols on our website www.cherryhillfallschurch.org

05/19/2021

Our new program starts this Saturday! Don't forget to register :)

Register through the Falls Church Community Center at 703-248-5027

05/12/2021

We took some time today to wash the front and back porch. Come by and enjoy the sunshine on a clean bench.

05/11/2021

Back by popular demand!

Our Girl Scout Detectives program for Juniors is coming up on Saturday, May 29th.

Learn more on our website http://cherryhillfallschurch.org/event/virtual-girl-scout-program-detectives-junior/

05/07/2021

Pressed Flowers

Looking to make a beautiful homemade mother's day gift with kids?

Try out our pressed flowers instructions and learn how to make a gift mom's are sure to love!

Today we continue our Victorian Crafts Series by drying flowers in the microwave! This is a quick, modern version of a favorite Victorian past time....

05/04/2021

Registration now open for our new Barn Program!

This engaging, kid-friendly conversation about the cows, chickens, and other animals who used to live on Cherry Hill Farm along with what it was like to grow up living on a farm.

The program costs $5 per child. (One parent/guardian participates with their child's registration.)

Register by phone at 703-248-5027 and provide them with the program number.

Sat May 22 Activity # 320708 - A
Sat June 26 Activity # 320708 - B
Sat July 17 Activity # 320708 - C
Sat Aug 28 Activity # 320708 - D

04/26/2021

Nothing says spring like construction cones!

04/13/2021

The Road to Freedom Tour Guide highlights Virginia’s Civil War-era African American experience, encouraging visitors and Virginians alike to uncover these little-known stories of strife, growth, community, and more.

Make sure to check out Falls Church stop at Galloway Methodist Church!

Developed through a partnership between the American Battlefield Trust and Civil War Trails, Inc. This free app is now available for iOS and Android devices and is also available online as a web app.

04/09/2021

Things are blooming outside!

03/31/2021

CHERRY HILL NEWSLETTER SPRING 2021

Fresh off the press! View Cherry Hill's Spring Newsletter

Issuu is a digital publishing platform that makes it simple to publish magazines, catalogs, newspapers, books, and more online. Easily share your publications and get them in front of Issuu’s millions of monthly readers. Title: CHERRY HILL NEWSLETTER SPRING 2021, Author: cherryhillfallschurch, Nam...

03/10/2021

Registration is now open for Blast into the Past Summer Camp!

Learn more about this popular program and dates at http://cherryhillfallschurch.org/blast-into-the-past-summer-camp/

02/11/2021

We all got a good laugh yesterday!

Can't get enough cat zoom calls? Check out our virtual girl scout program, Making Games!

Brownies will have the chance to learn and play a variety of parlor games including poor kitty cat. Together, we will create a scavenger hunt and a new sport. This is a fun and interactive program that girls are sure to love.

Learn more at http://cherryhillfallschurch.org/girl-scout-programs/

02/10/2021

Rose's are not the only way to say I love you! Get creative this Valentine's day!

Sharing sentiments through flower bouquets was so popular in the Victorian era that books were written to define the meaning of each flower.

Find the perfect flower for your special someone, using the descriptions found on http://www.avictorian.com/flowers/flowernames.html

02/05/2021

Going To The Village - Episode 1

Learn about one of Cherry Hill's last residence, Elizabeth Styles. This 1999 film uses her writing to give a picture of life in Falls Church in the late 1800s.

This video is special to Cherry Hill not only for its content but also its reenactor, our friend, and past Board Member Barb Cram.

Credit to Matt Kellam for sharing this treasure on your YouTube page.

00:00 IntroductionElizabeth Styles (Cherry Hill Farmhouse owner) reenactor reminiscences about Falls Church when it was a village in the late 1800s, based up...

02/04/2021

What does Frozen and Cherry Hill have in common?

If you guessed ice..... you're right! Cherry Hill had an ice house!

Ice would be cut from the rivers in blocks, as showed in the movie frozen. They would then be stored in the ice house wrapped in straw.

Ice picks like the one below from Cherry Hill's collection would be used to move the ice.