Hearth Cooking: Thanksgiving Traditions

Thanksgiving was THE holiday in 1830s New England. Stop by the Phoenix Mill House to learn about Thanksgiving traditions and sample some of the dishes that would have graced the Prescott’s Thanksgiving table. The menu includes roasted chicken, carrot soup, Marlborough Pudding, mincemeat pie, lemon minced pie, wedding cake with lemon icing. All of the dishes are prepared over the open hearth using period recipes and equipment.

Our costumed interpreters Samuel and Nancy Prescott will introduced you to life in a New England mill town in the 1830s. The Phoenix Mill House was an overseer’s house where Samuel and Nancy lived with their four children when Samuel worked for the Phoenix Mill. At this open house, Samuel will be making candle molds in the mill house parlor and Nancy will be working on a wedding quilt and sharing 1830s wedding traditions. Do you know what month was the most popular time to marry? (A hint: It was not June!)

The house is located behind the Monadnock Center’s main building at 19 Grove Street.

Hearth Cooking days are open house programs and visitors may drop in between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Accessibility Note:

The Phoenix Mill House is an historic house built circa 1800. Two steps are required to enter and exit the house and may not be suitable for some visitors.

To learn more about Thanksgiving and the Phoenix Mill House, view our Thanksgiving video!