Tue, Nov 18 2008
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Published August 19, 2008 11:38 am - History comes alive at Nelson Pioneer Farms By DUANE NOLLEN The Oskaloosa Herald OSKALOOSA — Pam Howard loves local history, and she gets to indulge her passion every day as the curator of the Nelson Pioneer Farm. “This is my third year and I’ve learned a lot,” Howard said. “There’s still a lot I don’t know.” Howard oversees the operation of the Mahaska County Historical Society’s Nelson Pioneer Farm — a 14-acre, 18-building portal into Mahaska County’s pioneer past, located just about two miles northeast of Oskaloosa. “I’ve always been interested in history — anything having to do with Oskaloosa and Mahaska County,” she said. Howard’s favorite era of history is the Civil War. “I find it interesting in all aspects — not just the war, but how they dressed, and ate and lived. How they survived is remarkable,” she said. Howard said the Nelson Pioneer Farm’s theme is pre-Civil War. The farm is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, and Howard is in the thick of organizing the celebration. The Mahaska County Historical Society holds an annual Fall Festival at the farm, but this year will be special, since it’s the farm’s 50th anniversary. This year, the Fall Festival will be on Saturday, Sept. 20. The festival begins at 9 a.m. and concludes at 4 p.m. At 5 p.m., there will be bingo played at Bradbury Hall at Nelson Pioneer Farm. “That’s the first time we’ve done that,” Howard said. This year’s festival will feature traditional favorites such as oat threshing with a steam-powered threshing machine and a horse-drawn plowing contest. Also, event organizers expect to see between 50 and 75 antique tractors on display, Howard said. In October, the Nelson Pioneer Farm will receive a new building for display on the grounds. On Oct. 15, the Buxton House Museum will be moved from the Central Reformed Church grounds to the Nelson Pioneer Farm. “It was a coal mining house in Buxton and it was moved to Oskaloosa,” Howard said. Local historian Chuck Russell helped facilitate the donation of the house to the farm, she added. The house is a small, two-story house with a living room/kitchen and a bedroom downstairs and an upstairs bedroom. 
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