The Peter Burr House

07/01/2026

Do you remember A Taste of History? This community cookbook was published in the late 1990s by the Jefferson County Historic Landmarks Commission as a fundraiser to support the preservation of the Peter Burr House.

Community fundraising cookbooks have a rich tradition, dating back to the 19th century, when local organizations often compiled favorite family recipes to support important causes. Inspired by that tradition, the Commission launched this project in the summer of 1999 as a way to bring the community together while raising funds for Peter Burr.

The cookbook became a reality thanks to the generous recipe contributions from people throughout the Eastern Panhandle and the dedication of many volunteers, especially Peter Burr Cooking Committee Chairwoman Maggie Keeler and Editor Liz Thompson.

Do you remember this book? Did you purchase a copy? Is there a recipe you've made again and again? We'd love to hear your memories and see which dishes became favorites!

04/13/2026

It was a very exciting day at the Peter Burr House yesterday, where Jefferson County Historic Landmarks Commissioners with other volunteers planted native trees and plants on the grounds around the house. This is something I have dreamed of for a long time - to have native perennials important for food and medicine to inspire programs on how these plants were used by the indigenous peoples, and later European colonists, as well as ways these plants can be appreciated and used in modern contexts.

And what lovely trees and shrubs were planted! A young native persimmon, taller than I am (okay, that isn't too much of a stretch. I'm not very tall. But still impressive for a young tree!); American hazel, fully leafed out and well branched; a particularly lovely serviceberry, already laden with immature fruit... and so much more, all amazingly healthy and lush. It was also the most organized tree planting I have ever experienced. The experts told us volunteers what to do to set in the plants, while the holes had already been dug, and stakes, mulch, and five gallons of water set right beside the holes ready for us to employ. We were all done in an hour and a quarter!

I'm so thrilled for this project enacted here. Many thanks and much gratitude to Jefferson County Historic Landmarks, and especially to Elizabeth at Jefferson County Historic Landmarks (sorry, Elizabeth, I forgot your last name, even though I know we have been in correspondence before! Perhaps Addison Reese will add that information here) for writing and obtaining a grant from the Cacapon Institute for this project. I shall love seeing these trees and shrubs grow and thrive.

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12/03/2025

Want a taste of an 18thC.-19th C. Christmas? The Washington County Rural Heritage Museum is sponsoring 'Christmas on the Farmstead'. The village, comprised of an 18th C. house and several 19th C. buildings, will be decorated for Christmas, and there are a lot of period activities (as well as meeting with Santa earlier in the day) to enjoy, such as making fragrant sachets, decorating gingerbread, and perhaps getting a glimpse of that wild German Christmas character dressed in motley furs, the Belsnickle.

I will be one of the period interpreters in the Poffenberger House, where we will be interpreting an 18th C. German-American Christmas with a period-style Christmas tree decorated with little treats for young visitors (while they last). As it is Advent, and work needs to be done, I will be spinning (only put aside for most of the 12 Days of Christmas) and sharing period Christmas songs, as well as helping with the cooking over the hearth. It's going to be a cold day, and the Poffenberger House is sure to be warm. I understand the Belsnickle will often come here and toast his weary toes, and if you are a good child, he will reward you with period (19th C.) treats.

A $5 donation per car is requested.

Note: I'm not sure why the post from the museum states that some activities begin at 4pm - they *all begin at 12 pm*, with the possible exception of the arrival of Belsnickle (I am checking on that).

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