Henry Ford Estate Field Room American Folk Dancing Henry David Thoreau' s Walden four Vagabonds

CLICK HERE > to hear a sample of Henry Ford's favorite music.

"Chop your own wood and it will warm you twice."
- Henry David Thoreau'

ypress half-log paneling and a massive stone fireplace give the Field Room the feel of an old country cabin - the perfect setting for the Fords to exercise their love of early American folk dancing. Mrs. and Mr. Ford went to great lengths to revive and organize 19th century folk dances, fiddle music, and fiddle contests. In their desire to share the joy of folk dance and music, the Fords provided opportunities for employees, school children, and many others to learn the dance steps in community buildings throughout the area.

Unique to this room are the carvings of each of the "Four Vagabonds:"

Click to hear a sample of Henry Ford's favorite music.

Henry Ford, as rifleman, Thomas Edison, as fisherman, Harvey Firestone, as rifleman, and John Burroughs, as cook. These carvings are located in each corner ceiling of the room. The fieldstone fireplace is from the nearby Ten-Eyck Tavern , built in 1826 and destroyed by fire in 1869. An added mantelpiece is inscribed with a phrase from Henry David Thoreau' s Walden, that reads, "Chop your own wood and it will warm you twice."

A phrase from Henry David Thoreau' s Walden, that reads, "Chop your own wood and it will warm you twice."

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