What’s Next: Pioneer Day The air was cool, the sun was bright, and fall was definitely in the air. The docents in the Farmhouse, especially the children, did an excellent job giving our guests information about the pioneer family who lived here and the Michigan farmer of the 1850s. The yard was teeming with visitors and the line was long, both at the Bake House and Concession, for some warm cookies and hot food. Flint Knappers, Blacksmiths, Soap makers, Rope making, Colt Revolver display, the workshop, The Needlework Club, and the brew meister were all busy showing their wares. Homemade butter, Maple syrup, Honey, and fresh pressed apple cider made everyone’s mouth water for something to eat and they found plenty at the Farm Wagon, with produce, pies and baked goods to take home or munch on under a tree right then and there. The Flower Barn was so filled with beautiful dried flower arrangements and guests it was hard to find your way to the back to make your own little tussy mussy, or have a very personalize arrangement made for you on the spot. Wood carvings, Goats Milk Soap, Fiber Arts, Beads, Llama wool sock, and Beverly Larsen’s Sox that she knits on her 1870s sock machine were some of the fun items to purchase. The Log House was filled all the time with folks listening to our fine Dr. and stories about the folks who started out life in Michigan in a Log home. Our Native American friends and trapper were accompanied by LaSalle and his information about his trip across Michigan and the waterways he traveled ¼ mile east of the Farm. Sons of the Union Veterans and The 5th Kentucky were having a good ‘ole time. Not much battling going on, just lots of stories being told. Oh, and don’t forget the music and horse drawn wagon rides. What a treat to see those beautiful teams of horses! The music, as always, was excellent. No matter where you walked around the grounds you could hear a banjo or a Mountain Dulcimer or a full group playing. Join us if you haven’t been to the Farm or Dewey School in a while. Christmas is just around the corner! Volume: Issue: Our Mission The Waterloo Area Historical Society’s mission is to foster an understanding and appreciation in children and adults of the pioneer farmers of Michigan, their family life, and their children’s schooling. w w w PO Box 37, Stockbridge, MI 49285 w Phone: 517-596-2254 w www.waterloofarmmuseum.org Waterloo Area Historical Society OFFICERS PRESIDENT Brian Dewey VICE PRESIDENT Rae Pierce TREASURER SECRETARY Diane Morse TRUSTEES Cathy Alter Amanda Craig Mike Douglas Jim Hunt Steve Opp Dennis Petsch Butch Richmond Jenny Smith Kim Titus Dave Wilson 57 4 November 2019 What’s Inside: Next Event Info........... Page 2 Waterloo Wisdom........ Page 5 Business Sponors ...... Page 7 57 Event Review..... Cover, Pg.3&4 Christmas on the Farm! December 7th and 8th Images by The Rook’s Roost Photography
Transcript
What’s Next:
Pioneer Day
The air was cool, the sun was bright, and fall was definitely in the air. The docents in the Farmhouse, especially the children, did an excellent job giving our guests information about the pioneer family who lived here and the Michigan farmer of the 1850s. The yard was teeming with visitors and the line was long, both at the Bake House and Concession, for some warm cookies and hot food. Flint Knappers, Blacksmiths, Soap makers, Rope making, Colt Revolver display, the workshop, The Needlework Club, and the brew meister were all busy showing their wares. Homemade butter, Maple syrup, Honey, and fresh pressed apple cider made everyone’s mouth water for something to eat and they found plenty at the Farm Wagon, with produce, pies and baked goods to take home or munch on under a tree right then and there.The Flower Barn was so filled with beautiful dried flower arrangements and guests it was hard to find your way to the back to make your own little tussy mussy, or have a very personalize arrangement made for you on the spot. Wood carvings, Goats Milk Soap, Fiber Arts, Beads, Llama wool sock, and Beverly Larsen’s Sox that she knits on her 1870s sock machine were some of the fun items to purchase.
The Log House was filled all the time with folks listening to our fine Dr. and stories about the folks who started out life in Michigan in a Log home. Our Native American friends and trapper were accompanied by LaSalle and his information about his trip across Michigan and the waterways he traveled ¼ mile east of the Farm. Sons of the Union Veterans and The 5th Kentucky were having a good ‘ole time. Not much battling going on, just lots of stories being told.Oh, and don’t forget the music and horse drawn wagon rides. What a treat to see those beautiful teams of horses! The music, as always, was excellent. No matter where you walked around the grounds you could hear a banjo or a Mountain Dulcimer or a full group playing. Join us if you haven’t been to the Farm or Dewey School in a while. Christmas is just around the corner!
Volume: Issue:
Our MissionThe Waterloo Area Historical Society’s mission is to foster an understanding and appreciation in children and adults of the pioneer farmers of Michigan, their family life, and their children’s schooling.
w w w
PO Box 37, Stockbridge, MI 49285 w Phone: 517-596-2254 w www.waterloofarmmuseum.org
Hello, all you crafty and talented people! You are needed on November 30, 9:30 am to 4 pm to help decorate wreaths, table decorations, door swags, and anything else you can imagine to be sold at Christmas on the Farm. Please bring your own priners, wire cutters, and hot glue guns.Lunch will be provided, but you can bring something to share if you like. Please contact Arlene at 517-851-8745 or 517-392-3195 if you have any questions or are planning to attend, as we want to make sure there will be enough work stations set up for you and lots of lunch prepared.
Decorating the Trees
On November 23rd we are cutting the trees for the Log House and Dewey School. On November 26 we will be decorating the trees in the Log House and the tree donated by Howlett Tree Farm in the parlor. The more hands the merrier! If you are available to help please call 517-851-8745 or 517-392-3195. Sack-a-lunch. Hot coffee and water will be available.
Christmas on the Farm Past and Present
At the farmstead, natural decorations set the scene in the 14-room farmhouse, where costumed guides recount the activities that might have taken place in each room at Christmas time. Long ago days on a Michigan farm will be brought to life once again as singers and musicians perform traditional holiday melodies. The savory scents of the season will fill the air as the party treats are prepared in the warm farm kitchen, reviving memories of the folks who once occupied our historic farmstead. Visitors will also be welcomed into the log house. The Gift Shop will offer items for sale to fill stockings and remind us of former lifestyles. Baked goods, jams, jellies, and other tempting treats will also be available. Wreaths, swags, and table centerpieces made of fresh greenery will be available for purchase in the Ice House. Be sure to visit the blacksmith working at the forge.In days gone by, the one-room schoolhouse served not only as an educational venue, but also as a rural community gathering place for plays, dinners, and socials, especially during the holiday season. In keeping with that tradition, the Waterloo Area Historical Society Dewey School Museum, located just a short drive from the Farm, will be open for tours and decorated for the season. There is something for everyone at this re-creation of Christmas Past.
Christmas on the Farm Preparations at Dewey School
Soon the school marms and masters will be busy preparing Dewey School for the Christmas season. After putting up the tree, a group will go to Heritage School in Stockbridge to work with the 3rd grade students in Ms. Bliss’s classroom making ornaments. The students will learn how to make paper chains, snowflakes, cornucopias, and spirals to decorate the tree. After Christmas on the Farm weekend the ornaments are returned to the students so they can take them home to put on their own trees. Kim Titus
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Holly Steffey Second Place Adult Division
Edwynn Green First Place winner of Junior Division
Sue Lindemer First Place Adult Division
Thank you from the Farm Wagon Committee
Once again the Farm Wagon had a successful day of sales because of the efforts of so many people. Ron Kaiser and his hard-working crew put up the tent, brought over the tables, rolled in the farm wagon and did all the physical set-up. Arlene Kaiser made sure we had all the general supplies needed, as well as those for the the pie contest, and deftly handled all the logistics.We are very grateful for all the generous donors who brought the delicious breads, canned goods, cookies, pies, and vegetables for us to sell. Special thanks to Sally Long, Hillary Muscato, and Andrea Stickney who cooked the Waterloo Bean Soup samples – the jars of soup flew off the shelves this year! Ashlee Muscato and Allyson Briggs, Hillary’s granddaughters, kindly volunteered in the afternoon and helped with tear-down.The pie contest was a real success thanks to volunteer Lisa Duncan Schulte, who was in charge this year. The beautiful pies were supplied by some expert bakers. Edwynn Green took First Place in the Junior Division with his scrumptious apple pie. In the Adult Division Sue Lindemer took First Place with her prize-winning cherry pie and Holly Steffey took Second Place with her delicious raspberry pie.Our contest was professionally judged by local experts: Craig Common of Common Grill in Chelsea, Suzi Greenway of Breadzilla in Stockbridge, and Faye Odeh of Steve’s Ranch, Jackson. We appreciate their generosity for sharing their time and expertise with us.We thank you all and without you we would not have cleared over $1,200. We look forward to seeing you again next year!
Farm Wagon Committee
Dick Long, Sally Long, Hillary Muscato, Lisa Duncan Schulte and Andrea Stickney
Page 4“I’m
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Pioneer Day Images by The Rook’s Roost Photography
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Pioneer Day at the Bakehouse
The fire in the bakehouse was laid and started Saturday night. Civil War soldiers stoked it overnight so when Mary Spaan, Bakehouse Coordinator, arrived early Sunday morning, hot coals and embers were glowing in the oven. She kept it going until her first shift of workers arrived (Kathy Claflin, Connie Risner, Charity Steere). Some raked out the hot coals and ashes while others shaped cookies and
pressed them onto baking sheets. We then started baking molasses cookies for the eager crowds.The day was crisp and sunny, so we experienced record crowds. Marsha Griggs Watson arrived mid-afternoon as a bridge shift between the 1st and 2nd shift workers (Susanna Bauch, Shirley Moody, Tom Zatkovich). We did start a second fire when the 2nd shift arrived, and it kept us going until the end. We had no leftover cookies! It was a very successful day for the Bakehouse as well as for all the other concessions at Pioneer Day!
Waterloo Wisdom from John Benjamin
Good Day Neighbor,
Sure looks like cold weathers’ comin’ early, what with first snow in October. Maybe old man winter will get it outa his system. Early Spring maybe, we can only hope.
Winter will be on its way, no matter what we think or want. Always a refreshin’change of seasons, tho’, nature freshin’ up and cleansin’ the Earth. Some things I look forward to, sleigh bells for one. Never fails to amaze me how our horses recognize sounds of neighbors bells. Them knowin’ who’s comin’, where the road’s wide enough for the first team there to pull off. Horses hear them before folks do. You know folks like to impress others, most pricey bells sound the best, I’m told.
Get upset or stuck in a snowdrift, and bein’ pulled out, may cost you more than your pride, it may cost you your bells, custom bein’, given them up to the Good Samaritan who pulled you out. Thus the phrase, “arrived with your bells on”, meant you made it through rough goin’ without mishap or any assistance.
I hope you arrive with your bells on to the Realy place when they have their Christmas doin’s. Do stop by, they always have the place decorated in its finery for the season, old German traditions, ya know.Be blessed this special season,
Regards, Your Friend,
John Benjamin
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NAME
ADDRESS
CITY ST ZIP
EMAIL
PHONE Please make checks payable to: The Waterloo Area Historical SocietyMail to: WAHS Memberships P.O.Box 37, Stockbridge, MI 49285
A private nonprofit 501(c)3 organization, the Waterloo Area Historical Society works to fund all the operation expenses for the Farm and Dewey School. Donations are fully deductible to the extent of the law.
- $18.00 SINGLE - $25.00 COUPLE - $25.00 FAMILY (Two adults + children under 18) - $50.00 CONTRIBUTING MEMBER - $60.00 BUSINESS - $250.00 INDIVIDUAL LIFE MEMBER Ages Sixty-two and over: - $12.00 SENIOR SINGLE - $18.00 SENIOR COUPLE - $175.00 SENIOR INDIVIDUAL LIFE MEMBER
- PLEASE CHECK HERE IF RENEWING
Waterloo Area Historical Society Membership Form
CHOOSE ONE:
Snip Snip
- I AM INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING AT THE MUSEUM, PLEASE CONTACT ME.
- I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE AN ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTION TO SUPPORT WAHS IN THE AMOUNT OF $_______________.
Committee Name Phone e-mailCollections Linda Tengman (517) 522-8109 [email protected]
