By Claire Stuart

When Maggie Keeler started volunteering at the Peter Burr Living History Farm in Shenandoah Junction some 13 years ago, she didn’t know she was related to the builder of the historic home—although she did know there was a Burr somewhere in her family history. Subsequent research uncovered the fact that her “5th-great grandfather’s” younger brother was Peter Burr. “So,” she said, “he was my 5th-great uncle.”

Keeler, who majored in history at Shepherd and West Virginia universities, has a particular interest in cultural history. With a background in museum work, she is skilled in several heritage crafts, including fireplace cooking, herb gardening, and spinning. When local historian Bill Theriault, a force behind the preservation of the Burr farm, was organizing a lecture series, Keeler was enlisted to speak on period cooking. She soon became a full-time volunteer.

Irvan Groff, from a Mennonite farm family in Lancaster County, Pa., is the volunteer in charge of maintenance and the agricultural activities on the farm.  He is also skilled at many heritage farm crafts. “Maggie’s the brains and I’m the brawn,” he said with a laugh.

The circa 1751 Burr house is on the National Register of Historic Places, and is believed to be the oldest standing wood frame house in West Virginia. Peter Burr, Sr., came from Connecticut in the late 1740s. He never lived in the house, but his son Peter Burr Jr. did, and raised 13 children there, leaving many descendants in the area.

The farmhouse was built just 20 years after the first white settlers arrived here. It was an ordinary farmer’s home, and few such houses survive. Only five structures in Jefferson County are older, all built of stone.

Over the years, the property suffered from neglect and vandalism. In 1997 the Jefferson County Historic Landmarks Commission, a branch of county government, acquired it and undertook its restoration.

According to Keeler, the age of the house is not the only thing that makes it significant. Its post-and-beam construction is unusual for this area because most local houses of that era were log or stone.  Post-and-beam construction was popular in Burr’s New England.

Most of the funding for the farmstead’s maintenance and restoration comes from the county budget and state grants. Additional funds are raised by the Friends of Peter Burr organization. They hold an annual harvest festival, sell apple butter, and sponsor workshops in heritage crafts. Theriault and others in a subgroup called the Peter Burr Bread Bakers Guild sold bread baked in the reproduction of a colonial brick bread oven. Volunteers have helped with restoration and maintenance.

Keeler and Groff gave me a tour of the house and barn. The house consists of the original four rooms, two downstairs and two upstairs, and a log addition with a functional fireplace. The upstairs has not been restored, and there are no plans to open it to visitors, because of its steep, narrow staircase. The root cellar and springhouse are original structures, but the barn is a reproduction of a barn of that era.

As vice president of Friends of Peter Burr, Keeler is in charge of developing programs at the farm. A notable annual event is Heritage Day, sponsored by the Friends and the Jefferson County Board of Education, when fourth graders visit the farm.

At Heritage Day and the autumn Harvest Festival, Keeler and Groff dress in period costumes to demonstrate 18th century life. “We become Peter and Jane Burr,” she said. “We try to make it as authentic as possible.”

Keeler cooks in the fireplace, and demonstrates tasks like soap- and candle-making that are necessary for the everyday needs of a family, and craft skills like spinning, weaving, and blacksmithing that one must be taught.

Groff demonstrates farm work and tool use, including the traditional men’s jobs associated with making linen for the family’s clothing. The man planted, harvested, and processed the flax into the stage where the spinner (the woman) could make it into yarn that a weaver could weave into cloth.

“It took a year from the time the flax was planted to the wearing of a shirt,” he said.

For that reason, clothing was very precious. In fact, Keeler explained, clothing was actually listed in the inventory of people’s wills.

Groff noted that her group’s most important achievements have been stabilizing the house and replacing the roof, and building the replica barn and utility building with a kitchen and accessible restrooms. Ramps were built by Explorer Scouts.

They hope to one day initiate more activities to introduce more people to the farm. Master Gardeners and Gardeners Exchange Group have sponsored events. Keeler is trying to organize a spinners’ guild and an 18th Century garden club, while Groff hopes to plant fields in period crops. There are future plans for an interpretive center and gift shop. A major goal is to make the site more accessible, with a hard-surfaced path between buildings.

Volunteers are always wanted, especially gardeners and those with a craft they can demonstrate.

To learn more about the Peter Burr House, see jeffersoncountyhlc.org/peterburrhouse.html. To volunteer, contact Maggie Keeler at peterjane2@aol.com