Noah's Ark comes to the Homestead

The John R. Park Homestead & Conservation Area has been gifted with a wonderful Noah's Ark made by Jim and Midge Hunt of Leamington. In the nineteenth century, arks were popular Sabbath Day toys - one of the few playthings children were allowed to use on Sunday. Surviving antique arks can command prices in excess of $25,000.

Jim Hunt has been making reproduction game boards and toys for many years. In the past he has loaned the Homestead one of his elaborate arks with more than fifty pairs of animals and a separate rowboat for the skunks.

For this custom project, Jim incorporated several traditional folk art features: a large cabin with hinged roof, wheels and a pull cord, eleven pairs of animals, plus the doves and Mr. & Mrs. Noah., of course.

Homestead volunteer woodworker, Paul Hager, built a special shelf to display the ark in the boys' bedroom of the 1842 house.

Curator Janet Cobban said, "This is a wonderful addition to the Homestead's collection. Adults and children are fascinated by the animals. Thank you to the Hunts for their very generous gift."