The Chatsworth Historical Society held their family-friendly Pioneer Day on Sunday at the Minnie Hill Palmer Homestead Acre at Chatsworth Park South.
The event included hands-on chores and games from yesteryear, beekeeping information, a blacksmith demonstration, butter churning, a panning for “gold” activity, a spinning wheel demonstration and woodcarvers. The idea behind the event, returning after a two years absence due to Covid-19, is to try your hand at making and seeing how home, farm and ranch essentials were once created.
Minnie Hill Palmer’s historic 1911 cottage and the society’s Virginia Watson Museum were open during the event. Participants parked at the Chatsworth Train Depot and used shuttles to reach the property at 10385 Shadow Oak Drive. There was a modest entrance fee for the event.
The Homestead Acre, also known as Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument No. 133, is owned by the Los Angeles City Department of Recreation and Parks, and the Chatsworth Historical Society has been the conservator of the historic property since 1978.
The Chatsworth Historical Society, founded in 1963, is dedicated to keeping track of and preserving historic sites and landmarks in Chatsworth, and also collecting photographs and artifacts.
The society has an ongoing digital archives section on its website of the early homesteaders including Minnie Hill Palmer, as well as celebrities who lived in Chatsworth, the film and television history in the area, and information about the Chatsworth Stagecoach Trail, among many other items.
Tours of the Homestead Acre may be arranged for groups of at least 10 people. Call 818-882-5614 or send an email to chatsworthhistory@gmail.com.
Information about the Chatsworth Historical Society: www.facebook.com/HomesteadAcre and chatsworthhistory.com