(9) Jefferson County 4.16.2021

Although the first stop on our trip to Jefferson County may seem insignificant, this little red shed highlights the burning question that always came into our minds on our numerous drives by it, “how exactly do you pronounce this town?!” Upon asking locals, we still aren’t quite sure…

 

 

After our little stop and drive through Batavia, we headed to the Jefferson County Conservation on the outskirts of Fairfield. This was a quaint conservation center, the highlight being a squirrel feeder just outside one of the windows that you could watch 😊

 

 

 

Following the Conservation Center, we made our way into Fairfield and stopped at the Bountiful Bakery for some yummies that we took with us up to the town square where we also stopped for lunch. The main square in Fairfield has a lot of unique and international restaurants and shops as well as a nice park off the main square.

 

Just off the square is also the McElhinny House. You can only reserve the McElhinny House for private events, but it was still a beautiful house to see. 

 

 We also were not able to go into the Carnegie Library Museum in Fairfield as it is currently closed for COVID.

 

We did get to go to the Maasdam Barns though and had a full tour that showcased the history of early 20^th century draft-horse breeding and the owner of the farm, J.G. Maasdam. The Maasdam Barns also showcase the history of the Louden Machinery Company and William Louden, a famous inventor of farm machinery. We really enjoyed our tour and would love to go back during some of their special events when they bring in draft horses to show how the old farm machinery was pulled.

 

 

 

 

 We were told that this is a life-sized portrayal of the size of the horses they raised on the farm—not sure if that’s the actual size of the women back then . . . 😄

 

To finish up Jefferson County, we went on our own Maharishi Vedic Tour. We toured the Vedic Observatory, housing communities, and university town.

 

 

Near the university town is the Bonnifield Log House, the oldest existing two-story log cabin, circa 1838.

 

Return Rating: 2

Other things to see/do:

• Stuff-A-Bear, Fairfield
• Johnny Clock Museum, Lockridge
• Carnegie Library, Fairfield