Billings Farm & Museum staff members and visitors play old-fashioned baseball at the annual Labor and Leisure Day celebration. This year's event will be held on Saturday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. (Courtesy Billings Farm & Museum)
Billings Farm & Museum staff members and visitors play old-fashioned baseball at the annual Labor and Leisure Day celebration. This year's event will be held on Saturday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. (Courtesy Billings Farm & Museum) Credit: —Courtesy photograph

Woodstock — One of the highlights of Billings Farm & Museum’s annual Labor and Leisure Day is playing “base ball” the way it was played — and spelled — during the Victorian Era.

“They use the old-fashioned wooden sticks,” said Marge Wakefield, administrative assistant at the museum.

The game, played with staff members and visitors, is one of many activities that will take place at the working farm on Saturday, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. The celebration was started in 2000.

New this year is rope-making, which joins other hands-on activities including split-rail fence building, gardening, trying a laundry wringer, and other 19th-century games. Horse-drawn wagon rides — a favorite among guests — also will be offered.

And, naturally, “we’ll be making maple ice cream,” Wakefield said.

Editor’s note: Billings Farm & Museum is at 69 Old River Road in Woodstock. Activities are free with admission of $15; 62 and over: $14; children 5-15: $8; 3-4: $4; 2 and under free. For more information, visit www.billingsfarm.org or call 802-457-2355.

Liz Sauchelli can be reached at esauchelli@vnews.com or 603-727-3221.