Nelson Dewey was the first governor of Wisconsin and he amassed 2000 acres outside of Cassville, WI. He had promoted Cassville as the future capitol of Wisconsin. However, that did not occur. Stonefield is located on land that was part of Governor Dewey's agricultural estate. In 1936 the farm became part of the Nelson Dewey State Park. In 1952 the legislature established the State Farm and Craft Museum to be located on the site of Dewey's Stonefield. In 1961 Stonefield Village opened and includes approximately 30 buildings The State Farm and Craft Museum was renamed the Wisconsin State Agricultural Museum.
The Agricultural Museum includes examples of 19th century agricultural machinery including the 1896 McCormick Automower which is the oldest tractor in North America.
Also on the site is a 1900 Farmstead - a recreation based on a plan issued by the US Department of Agriculture in 1901. The farm includes a barn, sheep, chicken coop and chickens, a windmill, outhouse, and garden. A tour of the farmhouse was included in the tour.
The 1900 Village - The Farmer's Shopping Center - is a 30 building re-creation based on Wisconsin villages of a century ago that provided the farm family with access to goods, services and social activities. We particularly enjoyed the butcher shop/general store.
The fourth area at the site is the Governor Nelson Dewey Home Site. Historic structures that were part of an expansive late 1800's farm and orchard associated with the first state governor of Wisconsin. The buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the home is also part of the guided tour of the site.
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