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The Cookhouse was constructed around 1830, likely in proximity of the Second Meeting House. The building was moved to the museum in 1978 underwent restoration for the following two years. Restoration to the appropriate time period allowed for the re-use of siding from the summer kitchen of David Willson’s home to be used.
The Cookhouse was used as a place for the female members of the Children of Peace to prepare and cook feasts for the community's events. Feasts were held twice a year: once at the beginning of June and once more after the Illumination in September. These feasts included both Children of Peace and other members of the Sharon community, emphasizing their relationship to the broader community in their area.
Feasts held by the Children of Peace were celebratory activities, even for non-members. The focus of the feasts was on community and prosperity. Admission to the feast was 25 cents per person, and as the years went on, these feasts became more and more popular, attracting people from all around the local communities. In fact, over 1000 people showed up in June of 1857, and tickets had to be refunded as there simply was not enough food to go around.
The Children of the Peace were one of the earliest co-operative farming communities which contributed to the Village of Sharon becoming one of the most prosperous agricultural communities in the province. Their harvests were plentiful, and their feasts reflected that.
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