Cobblestone Farm's Festival Recalls 19th Century Heritage

Cobblestone Farm's festival recalls 19th century heritage

Cobblestone Farm Association will present the ninth annual “Spring Festival at Cobblestone Farm” on Sunday, May 23, from noon until 5 p.m. The historic farm home, built in 1844 and located at 2781 Packard Road in Buhr Park, will be open to the public.

A variety of 19th-century handicrafts are to be demonstrated and displayed, including wool spinning and weaving, huck-weaving, tin-smithing, black smithing, chair caning, candle-dipping, maple-sugaring, lace making, watercolor painting and Easter egg decorating. The “Cobblestone Country Dancers” under the direction of Robin Warner will perform authentic early 19th-century country dances.

Children may enjoy a ride about the farm grounds in the horse-drawn wagon of Ralph McCalla. Refreshments in the form of hot-dogs, orangeade and popcorn will be available for sale to benefit the restoration fund for the farm.

THE ASSOCIATION IS also planning the sale of a variety of annuals and bedding plants such as geraniums, begonias and “impatience” for the same purpose.

A pioneer log cabin built in 1837 by Joseph Harris in Willis, Michigan and moved last year to the Cobblestone Farm site will also be open for tours.

Hostesses for the event will Include members of the Junior Girl Scout Troop No. 104 from Pattengill School under the guidance of Jan Rogers and the Cobblestone Farm Committee of the “Jaycee’s" Auxiliary chaired by Sally Root.

PRACTITIONERS OF old-time arts and crafts who’ll be on hand are Carl Binder, blacksmithing; Barbara Mecouch and 13 other members of the “Spinners’ Flock” demonstrating spinning and weaving; Mrs. Yetter, huck-weaving; Pat Roth, candle-dipping; Kathleen Campbell, lace-making; Maryann Jaworski, Ukranian egg decorating; Mrs. Raymond Hanning, caning; Mr. Davies, tin-smithing; Benjamin Bower, water-color painting; and Bob Polens, maple-sugaring.

In addition, Ann Arbor’s chimney-sweep, Roland Neynaber, complete with traditional top hat, will be seen plying his weighted brushes on the kitchen ell chimney.

VISITORS TO the farm can tour the recently decorated southeast bedroom. The application of document wallpaper, painting of woodwork, made possible by gift from a local donor.

Foundations for a horse barn went in last week. The work will be a replica of the original 19th Century horse barn which burned in 1924.

A voluntary donation to the restoration fund for the farm will be requested at the door of the cobblestone house by the Cobblestone Farm Association, which is engaged in the renovation, decoration and furnishing of the historic pioneer cobblestone house and its wooden kitchen ell.

Free parking is available in Buhr Park at the rear of the farm grounds or in the lot of the Seventh Day Adventist Church directly across Packard Road.

NEWS PHOTO-JACK STUBBS

Barbara Mecouch, seated, and Katie Carras demonstrate spinning. They are members of the Spinners Flock, a local guild of handspinners who will demonstrate spinning and wool working at the Spring Festival at Cobblestone Farm.