DEERFIELD — Historic Deerfield has announced changes to its public programs and operations in response to the outbreak of COVID-19.
Effective immediately, open hearth cooking classes are canceled and the final class of the museum course, “Finding Your Chair’s Roots,” is postponed. Also, the popular Patriots’ Day Revolutionary Muster scheduled for April 18 is canceled.
The muster is an annual event that kicks off Historic Deerfield’s season and gives guests a glimpse of what life was like around the start of the American Revolution. The day typically consists of re-enactments, including cannon-firing and musket drills, as well as wagon rides, open hearth cooking demonstrations and powder horn carving.
Laurie Nivison, director of marketing, said the toll these cancellations will take is not yet known, but the impact will be far-reaching because Champney’s Restaurant & Tavern, all the historic houses and the Museum Gift Shop & Bookstore are closed, though people can still shop online at bit.ly/2xh2zYE.
“It’s quite an impact,” Nivison said. “We’re still working through how much of an impact that’s going to be and we’re readjusting as necessary.”
Nivison said the hope is to reopen in May, but it is unknown if that will be possible. Opening day is expected to feature the museum’s first Heritage Breed Sheep Festival.
The Flynt Center of Early New England Life, which was initially slated to stay open, is now closed, with plans to reopen for the season on May 15, the same day the closed Memorial Libraries is expected to reopen.
Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 262.