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Leadership Wilkes-Barre class project takes visitors back to time when agriculture was king.
Cassandra Shuleski, left, Aubrey Boyd, Evan Boyd, Kim Boyd and Maryann Gugliotti take in one of the rooms at the new ‘Mooseum’ at The Lands at Hillside Farms in Kingston Township Saturday afternoon.
S. John Wilkin/The Times Leader
KINGSTON TOWNSHIP – The century-old barn doors creaked open and the relics of farming’s past breathed new life at a local education center Saturday.
The Leadership Wilkes-Barre Class of 2011 unveiled its “Mooseum” projectto the dozens of families and volunteers at The Lands at Hillside Farms Saturday.
“We’re here to celebrate the grand opening of this year-round museum,” said Leadership team member Karl Borton, as he and the other members of Leadership Wilkes-Barre, politicians and Hillside Farm’s administrators stood waiting for the ceremonial ribbon cutting.
Borton and fellow Leadership member, Katrina Domkowski, dressed as a turn-of-the-century farmer and wife. Walking through the open doors of The Lands at Hillside Farm’s newest barn attraction takes visitors back in time when farming and agriculture were the cornerstones in the county.
State Sen. Lisa Baker, R- Lehman Township, and state Rep. Karen Boback, R- Harveys Lake, were also on hand to congratulate the Leadership class members and the farm for continuing their efforts on preserving the record of the county.
“The fact that we can preserve a little piece of history is so essential,” said Baker. “My hat’s off to all of the volunteers as well.”
Chet Mozloom, executive director of The Lands at Hillside Farms, was pleased with how the barn museum and the number of attendees turned out.
“We love it (Leadership Wilkes-Barre’s project). They are well organized and legitimate. We do appreciate what the team did here, even without our guidance.”
Mozloom added that the types of farm equipment, clothes, and other gadgets from the olden days will be cycled through, as many people donated their own pieces of history to the farm to authenticate the museum even more.
Larry Recek walked around the barn – full of seasonal horse-drawn carriages, winter work sleds, and agricultural gadgets preserved onsite in the barn – and he couldn’t help but be as curious as the young children who were marveling at the same farming artifacts.
“It’s incredible to see things this old so well-preserved,” said the Lehman resident.
It is hope of the Leadership team, farm’s employees, and the dozens of volunteers to keep expanding on the everyday aspects of farm life during the heyday of agriculture in the area and continue the educational efforts for the upcoming generation of county residents.