Iron Work Farm Newsletter
Dear members and friends,
Welcome to (almost) fall with the Iron Work Farm! We’ve had a busy season so far in 2026, and we are looking forward to another one in September and October at our two historic South Acton properties, the Jones-Faulkner Homestead and the Jones Tavern.
The year got underway with our annual Patriots’ Day Spirit celebration marking the beginning of the Revolutionary War with the visit of the alarm rider (and the Minutemen) to Col. Faulkner in April, and the start of our “4th Sunday” open houses at both properties. Special programs have included a celebration of the Faulkner family barn in May (part of Freedom’s Way’s “Hidden Treasures” program), and a unique Colonial Whiskey Tasting in June at Jones Tavern under master of ceremonies Steve Trimble, Chair of Acton’s 250th Committee.
Along with all the fun, plenty of work was done, too. Continuing under Mott Meeks’s leadership, the restoration of the ground-level room in the 1840s west addition to Jones Tavern has been completed. It will provide a great space for storage, and a lower street entrance on Railroad Street. The old stone well has been uncovered, and can now be viewed under the stairs.
At the Faulkner House, thanks to Community Preservation Funds from the town, the new gravel driveway is just about complete! The vehicle entrance is now east of the house, with better sight lines along High Street. The last part of this multi-year project will be to remove the old asphalt drive and turn it into a walking path.
More thanks are owed to Freedom’s Way National Heritage Association, who awarded us a Partnership Grant for a second children’s coloring book marking our properties’ roles in the American Revolution. This second installment, again designed by Glennon Beresin, concentrates on Jones Tavern and the second year of the war, when the tavern played a continuing part and 21 year-old Aaron Jones saw action at Dorchester Heights in the siege of Boston.
UPCOMING FALL ACTIVITIES
We have a full calendar of activities scheduled for the fall, including our annual celebration and fundraiser, the Open-Air Tap Room.
Archaeology dig at the Faulkner House, Sept. 7, 14, 21, and 27
Even before fall officially arrives, we start with a bang on Labor Day! If you are looking for something local to do on the holiday (and like to get your hands dirty), join us on Monday, September 7 from 9 to 1 at the Jones-Faulkner Homestead, when archaeologist Kimberley Connors will lead volunteers in an examination of the big dirt pile left over from the recent driveway construction. We will learn how to sift for “tailings” that may tell us something about what was going on there over the last 300+ years. The work continues on the next three Mondays (9-1:00), and Sunday, Sept. 27 from 3 to 5:00 p.m. Sign up at https://forms.gle/GvmDAWE9afDvoXD7A. For information, email Kimberley at dig@archeducation.org.
Open houses at Jones Tavern and the Faulkner House, Sundays Sept. 27 and Oct. 25
Our regular”4th Sunday” open-house schedule resumes for two more months. The hours are 1 to 3:00 p.m. at the Tavern, and 3 to 5:00 pm at the Faulkner House. Highlights will again include demonstrations by the Nashoba Valley Weavers Guild at the Faulkner House, and a commemoration of Acton’s treasonous actions against the king of England in September to mark our local “Crown Resistance Day.”
Walking tour of South Acton’s “Mill Corner” with Amy Cole, Saturday, October 10, 1-3 pm
Due to the popularity of her earlier Acton 250th tours, tour guide Amy Cole has scheduled another one this fall, to begin with a lecture at the Faulkner House at 1 p.m. This time it is sponsored in conjunction with the Acton Historical Alliance and the Memorial Library. No charge, but registration is required, through https://tinyurl.com/South-Acton-Oct-10.
Iron Work Farm OPEN AIR TAP ROOM, Sunday, October 3, 4:00 pm
October again brings our annual fall fundraiser! Please join us Saturday, October 3 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Jones-Faulkner Homestead for our annual Open-Air Tap Room. Featured will be music by Babylon and outdoor games for both kids and adults. Sample exceptional brews from Dirigible Brewing Company, especially the Acton 250th Isaac Davis Ale. Enjoy 18th-century fare such as beef stew and savory pastries; try a colonial punch; roast marshmallows and popcorn over the fire pits. Tickets are $25 per adult; children are free. Advance reservations are recommended, through ironworkfarm.org. Don’t miss the fun and festivities!
Archaeology tour of “Mill Corner” with Kimberley Connors, Sunday, October 25, 12:00 pm
A special walking tour, led by archaeologist Kimberley Connors, will visit the archaeological
remains of Mill Corner, the oldest English settlement in Acton. Hear the history and see what remains from the early “farm” of the Concord Iron Works Company (c. 1660). Today this is the conjunction of Main, School, Railroad, River and High Streets with Fort Pond Brook and two 19th century railroads. The English settlers built homes and mills here at the start of what became Acton in 1735, and the center of life and commerce in Acton. Meet at the Jones-Faulkner House, at 5 High Street, the oldest structure in town. Registration required, at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/south-acton-archaeology-tour-tickets-1997977802391?aff=oddtdtcreator
Incredible volunteers
Finally, three cheers and huge thanks to our many volunteers this year! They have included the Real Life Youth Group of the Faith Evangelical Free Church, and seniors from Acton-Boxborough High School who helped with grounds clean-up at the Faulkner House. And a special shout-out to Jack Marachi and Dillon Cotter, who spent much of their last summer before college helping us out. We even benefited from a training exercise for a state DCR firefighting crew, who used the Faulkner grounds to practice their skills at brush clearing!
As always, thank you for all your past and present support. We look forward to seeing you soon!
All of us at the Iron Work Farm