Lecture: Early Hand Tools & Farm Implements

In the Hudson Valley agriculture has played an immense role in shaping our community. The Columbia County Historical Society presents Families and Farms of Columbia County: A look at historic farmsteads, three talks focusing on family farms and the varied tools and outbuildings needed on a farmstead in the Hudson Valley. The talks will discuss the shift from subsistence to commercial farming in the early 1800s and the rise of mechanization in the late 19th century through the challenges of today.

Henry Lambert……a long time co-owner and operator of a Greenport Dairy Farm and Milk Bottling Plant, will talk about the current exhibit at the society museum of early farms tools and equipment, most of which were donated by Mr. Lambert.

The use of numerous tools by farmers and horses will be explained by Lambert, the seventh generation of his family to farm on Becraft Mountain.  Lambert will take us back to the 1960s and through the process of bringing fresh milk from the cow to the kitchen table.  He will also offer insight into the decline of the small family farmer.  In 1930, 25% of the local population lived on farms.  That number is less than 2% today.

Ted Hilscher, professor emeritus of history at Columbia-Greene Community College will interview Lambert.