History of Oxmoor Farm

Oxmoor Farm is home to an active archaeological dig site.  Archaeologists with the Kentucky Archaeological Survey has been unearthing artifacts since 2021. Currently the dig is ongoing inside the former slave dwellings.  If you are a teacher or homeschool parent interested in bringing your students to Oxmoor for an educational field trip please email Shirley Harmon at sharmon@oxmoorfarm.org. for more information.

Recommended for 4th grade and up.

Looking for a unique field trip or children’s group program?

“Helen & Nora: A Musical Journey & Hands-On Adventure!” showcases two women who lived at Oxmoor Farm and what life on Oxmoor Farm was like for them. Helen Bullitt Chenoweth (1835-1896) was a pianist & vocalist, and Nora Iasigi Bullitt (1881-1976) was a sculptor. The program begins with a pre-concert art activity of air clay sculpting and then a musical presentation in the library. Shirley Harmon – curator at Oxmoor Farm – will tell the children a little history of the house and its relevance to Kentucky history. Then, Cecilia Huerta-Lauf – Cellist & Director of NouLou Chamber Players – will then begin a performance of musical work composed by nationally renowned composer Sebastian Chang (whose works have been featured by the Louisville Orchestra & Louisville Ballet) and will be narrated by Harmon. We will end the program teaching the children songs by Mildred & Patty Hill (“The Hill Sisters”) from their “Songs of the Kindergarten” collection.

This program can be scheduled for school or community groups.  Please email info@oxmoorfarm.org for more information and pricing.

This program is recommended for children ages 4 and up.

Children must be accompanied by an adult.

 

 

Special Tours

On select dates Oxmoor offers special tours that focus on specific subjects, such as the history of enslavement, the historic gardens, the women of Oxmoor,  Archaeology, and art and architecture; or time periods, like pioneer Kentucky or the Civil War.  When these tours are offered they will be be available under our “Tours” tab.

History of Enslavement at Oxmoor Farm

  • The first slave cabins on Oxmoor were log with either stone or brick chimneys, as these are the types of cabins that are mentioned in Alexander Scott Bullitt’s papers. None of these structures survive at Oxmoor today. In fact, there are very few that survive nationwide due to their construction materials, etc.
  • It is most likely that there were slave cabins dotted around the farm, some undoubtedly were closer to the fields and some were closer to the house and slaves typically slept where they worked.
  • The cabins built in 1842 were brick, which 3 cabins of brick survive today. Letter dated 15 May 1842 from Mildred Bullitt stated “We have workmen building our negro houses, which makes it somewhat inconvenient for me to have company.”
  • The cabin built in 1858 was of stone and that one still survives today. Letter dated 25 June 1858 from Mildred Bullitt stated, “Stone masons are at work getting up rock for the new negro houses.”
  • In a letter dated February 9, 1891, Thomas W. Bullitt mentioned that there were more cabins on the east side of the avenue than on the west.
  • Susan Bullitt Dixon wrote in her recollection about growing up at Oxmoor that “the servants’ cabins were on a line with the spring on one side of the lawn, and with the bridge on the other. Whitewashed and with trees in front of them they presented somewhat the appearance of a little village.”
  • Many slave laborers slept where they worked – in kitchens, laundries and stables and of course the master’s house.

 

Names of the men, women, and children enslaved at Oxmoor from 1787-1865.

Bill, Abram, Hope, Jack, Louisa, Caroline, Lucinda, Betsy, Patsy, Sabra, Lucy, Wallace, Titus, Tucker, Eliza Julia, Tinah, Daniel, Nathan, Sabra, Frank, Samuel, George, Sampson, Violet, Adam, Absalom, Anthony, Charles, Ned, Dave, Molly, Nelly, Matilda, Peter, Mary, Penny, Winney, Jinny, Hannah, Albert, Ely, Sinai, Mina, Cate, Jude, Beck, Dolly, Lydia, Amey, Aggie, Venus,, Maria, Stephen, Letty, John, Peg, Sally, Willis, Henry, Judy, Celia, Simon, Moses, Rachel, Ruth, Jacob, Harrison, Jerry, Polly, Kisea, Sarah, Alexander, Bob, Ake, Zack, Stafford, Matthew, Phil, Rose, and Abby.

History of the Enslaved At Oxmoor Farm
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Schedule a Tour

    Group tours, including school field trips, are available on select Mondays. If you would like to more information about bringing a group, please fill out the contact form below.

    10am2pm

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