Bellamy-Ferriday House & Garden Opens 11th Season Celebration

BETHELEM — The Bellamy-Ferriday House & Garden will open for its eleventh season on Saturday, May 1.

Located in the center of Bethlehem, the historic house museum tells the story of the first and last owners of the property, the Reverend Joseph Bellamy, the first minister of Bethlehem, and Caroline Woolsey Ferriday, a humanitarian of diverse interests.

Visitors learn how the lives of these dynamic people, with deep relationships to this property, also extended beyond the rural boundaries of Bethlehem. Visitors also learn how the previous owners left a mark in the affairs of the world.

The 1754 residence is furnished with American and European antiques from the collection of the Ferriday family. The property includes a formal parterre garden, a historic apple orchard, and several 18th Century outbuildings. The garden boasts a collection of peonies, lilacs, and roses, as well as hundreds of perennials and shrubs.

Guided tours of the property are conducted on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 11 am to 4 pm May through October. Admission is $5 per adult and $2 per child under the age of 18.

In addition to guided tours, the property also offers special programs throughout the season. The events schedule begins on Saturday, May 8, with a plant sale from 10 am to 3 pm. Included are perennials, trees, and shrubs propagated from historic plants in the circa 1915 Ferriday Garden.

Also in May, the monthly Sunday afternoon Historic Garden Walk Series begins. On May 23, at 3 pm, museum guide Jane Blaurock will lead visitors through the lilac collection of 20 different types of lilacs and introduce their history, care, and special characteristics. Other Sunday walks this year will focus on cut flowers, fragrance, plant lore and heritage fruit and nut trees.

The property also features an exhibit, “Inheriting Eden: Maintaining Historic Landscapes,” which focuses on the evolution of the property from working farm to a formal landscape. Also offered are specialty tours, a gift shop and ongoing plant sales.

The Bellamy-Ferriday House & Garden is a property of the Antiquarian and Landmarks Society. For more information about tours or to receive a brochure or complete calendar of events call 203-266-7596 or send email to bthg@net.net. The property’s main entrance is at 9 Main Street (Route 6) in Bethlehem.