frequently asked questions



did emily howland live here?



Abolitionist, educator & suffragist, Emily Howland, was born and lived one mile East in the hamlet of Sherwood. Please visit Howland Stone Store Museum to learn all about her amazing life & accomplishments!!


Phebe Jane Howland, who was Emily's older first cousin, lived at this home after she married her distant relative, Augustus Howland, who purchased the property in 1832.



Do howlands own this property?



This property was in the Howland family from 1832 until it's recent sale in 2017 to Jodi Baldwin, whose life-long dream is manifesting in the creation of Howland Farm Museum and Sei He Ki Sanctuary.



is this a living history museum?



Howland Farm Museum plans to involve costumed interpreters in specific events and special occasions, but is not a living history museum during regular hours. It is possible that with more interest and visitors, costumed interpreters become incorporated more permenantly into Howland Farm Museum!



is this an underground railroad stop?



I don't know!! I have "heard" through the grapevine that this property was a stop on the Underground Railroad, but do not have any concrete research. Please share any info that you know on this topic!!


A documented Underground Railroad stop is in the hamlet of Sherwood, one mile East, and seeing that the Howland family were Quakers who believed in abolishing slavery, and that cousin Emily Howland was friends with Harriet Tubman, it is very possible that escaped slaves may have found sanctuary on this large property.



did all this "stuff" come with the house?



Only one arm chair and curtains were left in the house at the time it was sold. Everything you see are antiques or reproductions which have either been a long part of owner's collection or were purchased more recently to contribute to the educational experience.



Can i go inside the main house?



The main house is where owner / creator, Jodi Baldwin, lives with her fur babies, the Howland House Kittens!

It is currently only open to the public for specific events and exhibits. Please check out the Community Events page or Calendar to see what's coming up!

Follow @howlandhousekittens on Instagram if you want to see more of the kitties!



is howland farm MUSEUM A 501(C)(3) ?



Howland Farm Museum is currently a DBA / sole proprietorship created by homeowner Jodi Baldwin. She is in the process of forming the 501(c)(3), Friends of Howland Farm Museum, and is looking for people with interest and time to be a part of this non profit organization which focuses on serving the community through hands on educational, environmental and entertaining activities!



Can i help out at howland farm museum?!



YES!! There are many ways to help the creation of Howland Farm Museum!!


Check out the links under Get Involved to Donate, Volunteer and learn more about the needs to form the non-profit organization!



Can i bring my dog when i visit?



As much as we LOVE all animals, please respect that NO DOGS are allowed when visiting Howland Farm Museum. This is to protect the animals that call this place home. As wonderful and well behaved as your dog may be, someone else's dog may not have the same training or demeanor, and so to ensure a safe and stress free home for both the domestic animals and wildlife that live here, we ask to keep your dogs at home.


If you are looking for a place to take your dog, please check out Long Point State Park, which is just ten minutes south!



Is there food to eat at the farm?



Food produced at the farm museum is not currently for sale.

Special, farm to table events based off of historic recipes will be hosted in the future and require ticketed RSVP.

Howland Farm Museum is encompassed by Sei He Ki Sanctuary, which believes in the divine and sentient experience of all beings. The sanctuary is a vegan space. Therefore, you are welcome to bring your own plant based food to picnic, and carry in / carry out any trash.



Is this place haunted?!?



Owner / creator, Jodi Baldwin, has not seen, heard or felt any ghostly vibes while living in the main house.

However, two of her friends have heard the sound of a female in the upstairs master bedroom, on two separate occasions. Is this Phebe Jane?


Also, a very large and bright aura was captured in two "live" photos at the Full Moon bonfire during

Sturgeon Fest 2021.


Several ghost hunters have made contact about investigating the property and Howland Farm Museum is

very interested!



why don't you use a riding lawn mower?



Howland Farm Museum is currently working on the landscape design plan which includes both (a) discovering what native plants want to grow on the property and (b) allowing native plants and trees to mature.


Using a riding lawn mower at this point is too difficult for the more detailed lawn care & observations being made! Riding lawn mowers tend to just indiscriminately "mow" everything down! Which is their point, but does not aid in the goal of wildlife and habitat restoration.





Howland Farm Museum
1395 Sherwood Road
Aurora, NY 13026

© 2018 - 2025