the deerfield historic village

This lovely little collection of historic buildings is an anomaly amid the bustle of the north shore. It's definitely worth a visit when open on Sunday afternoons during the good-weather months. Children love it! A tradition in Deerfield schools is a day in the little red schoolhouse at the end of 4th grade. My 20-something daughter still says this was the happiest day of her elementary school years!

Warnng: There are no public restrooms. If you are visiting with children, plan ahead -- just as you would do for a car trip, except this is a trip to the past.The Village consists of five buildings clustered under shady trees. Two are replicas (the school house and carriage house) and three are original (relocated from their original sites). They date from 1837 to 1905.Thanks to dedicated and knowledgeable volunteers, the buildings are open from 2 - 4, Sunday afternoons, from June through September.Each building is authentically furnished with LOADS of interesting items. Here are just a very few examples to give you the flavor of the village: In the schoolhouse you'll see dunce caps, metal lunch pails, and a sign that reads: "Raise Hand. Stand. Answer. Sit down."In the carriage house you'll see a doctor's buggy and blacksmith tools.In the Ott cabin, you'll see a rocking chair -- created by putting bed springs on the front legs of an ordinary chair. The Otts raised seven children in this one-room cabin.In the Brand-Luther house you'll see a loom, vintage pharmaceuticals, and a wooden wall telephone.In the two-story Sack farm house you'll see a kitchen and parlor on the first floor and three bedrooms, complete with chamber pots, on the second floor.Outdoors you'll see a storm cellar, water pumps, and a rain barrel.There is a tiny gift shop with reasonably priced souvenirs, including stovepipe hats for boys ($3) and white bonnets ($2) for the girls.street and lot parking.