Caleb Nickerson Homestead
2025 Programs
For outdoor events please bring a sun hat.
January 26, 2025, 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Colonial Cooking Club: Open Hearth Cooking Event with Open Hearth Cook Anne Firth. All participants will prepare food during this hands-on-history event. Due to space constraints, participation is limited.
Wed., June 11, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ca. 1829 Caleb Nickerson Homestead Opens for 2025 season with guided tours. We are open every Wednesday in season from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. through Oct. 8. The Nickerson Genealogy Center is open Wednesdays year-round from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Programming in traditional fiber arts and floral arranging is now being scheduled for the 2025 season
Sat. & Sun., June 14 & 15: A Historic Barn Raising! We are looking for volunteers to participate in a landmark two-day barn-raising event from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m each day. Ten volunteers are needed each day to help erect the historic 20-by-20-foot barn that was disassembled and moved from its original home in North Chatham. Observers are also very welcome. To volunteer, or for more information, email us at wmnick1107@gmail.com.
Sat. June 21: Chatham History Weekend, NFA Grounds Open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Caleb Nickerson Homestead open for self-guided tours 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. 10:30 a.m.: Colonial Gardener Sonny Gada will plant a Three Sisters Native American garden. 11 a.m.: Robert Nickerson will demonstrate aspects of traditional carpentry used on the historic barn. Noon to 2 p.m.: Gary Nickerson will interpret the new display of artifacts from the excavation of William and Anne’s c. 1664 homestead. 1 to 3 p.m.: Fiber artist Cheryl Flett will demonstrate carding and spinning fleece.
Fri., Sept. 5 through Mon., Sept. 8: NFA Annual Reunion in historic Sandwich and Chatham. Registration will open in June. Tentative schedule of Events: Fri., 1:30 p.m.: Tour of the Atwood Museum at the Chatham Historical Society; Fri., 5 p.m.: Wine and hors d’oeuvre party at NFA campus with special guest “Nickerson” the Eastern screech owl, an ambassador for Wild Care Cape Cod; Sat., 10 a.m.: Sandwich Glass Museum, Sandwich, Annual Meeting and a talk TBA followed by a box lunch; Sat., 2 p.m.: Tour of Sandwich Glass Museum; Sat., 5:30 p.m.: Amari Ristorante, Sandwich: cocktails, dinner and talk TBA. Sun., 10 a.m.: “Nickerson Sunday” at First Congregational Church of Chatham; Sun, noon: Cookout at NFA Campus with an update on the historic barn and more. Monday, by appointment: One-hour personal genealogy sessions.
Sat., Dec. 6, 1 to 4 p.m.: 20th Annual Holiday Hearthside Open House at the Caleb Nickerson Homestead.
Hands-On-History Programs for 2025 (Preregistration required as space is limited. Classes are about two hours.) All participants will go home with either a floral centerpiece of a felted creation.
Wed., Aug. 13, noon: Create a felted frog with Cheryl Flett. https://nickersonassoc.com/support/store/Make-a-Felted-Frog-on-Aug-13-at-Noon-p752322377
Sat., Oct. 18, 1 pm: Create a felted gnome with Cheryl Flett. https://nickersonassoc.com/support/store/Make-a-Felted-Gnome-on-Sat-Oct-18-p653111432
Sat., Oct. 25, 1 pm: Create a spooky Halloween floral centerpiece with Sonny Gada. https://nickersonassoc.com/support/store/Halloween-Spooky-Centerpiece-Workshop-Sat-Oct-25-1-p-m-p653111434
Sat., Nov. 15, 1 pm: Create a felted reindeer with Cheryl Flett. https://nickersonassoc.com/support/store/Make-a-Felted-Reindeer-Sat-Nov-15-1-p-m-p653111433
Sat., Nov. 22, 1 pm: Create a floral Thanksgiving centerpiece with Sonny Gada. https://nickersonassoc.com/support/store/Thanksgiving-Centerpiece-Workshop-Sat-Nov-22-1-p-m-p653111451
Sat., Dec. 13, 1 pm: Create a floral holiday centerpiece with Sonny Gada. https://nickersonassoc.com/support/store/Holiday-Centerpiece-Workshop-Sat-Dec-13-at-1-p-m-p653111452
Note: Participation limited to 10.
All hands-on floral programs will be led by Sonny Gada of Chatham. Sonny has been a floral designer and horticulturist for over 50 years. His floral arrangements have been featured in the Boston Museum of Fine Arts annual event “Art in Bloom.” Fiber artist Cheryl Flett, who hails from Chicago, is self-taught in the ancient art of felting. She is also proficient in dyeing wool, spinning, loom knitting and basic tapestry weaving. We welcome Cheryl, who was new to the Caleb Nickerson Homestead Hands-On-History program in 2024. If you have a suggestion for a floral or fiber art program, please let us know through wmnick1107@gmail.com.
All materials are provided for fiber arts and floral arranging workshops.