Showing posts with label Crossroads Village. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Crossroads Village. Show all posts

Monday, April 7, 2008

Crossroads Village

As I stated in a blog last month, we here in southeastern lower Michigan are blessed with having not one but two open-air museums. Most people know of Greenfield Village in Dearborn, of which I did a blog on late last year. Because auto-magnet, Henry Ford, had the wealth he was able to create a village beyond compare anywhere else in the United States, and probably Canada, too. I love Greenfield Village immensely, but, unfortunately, they have changed it quite a bit from Mr. Ford's original vision, adding cemented curbs and sidewalks and removing buildings that should not have been removed (the cooper and cobbler shops are but two that have been scrapped). There is a Disney feel to it now, and that has taken away the Victorian ambience one got as they strolled through the village streets. Fortunately, the majority of the houses remain intact and are more accurate in their presentations inside and out than ever before. They did their homework for this portion and it shows.
However, the younger, poorer, not nearly as famous open-air museum known as Crossroads Village located in Flint will give that Victorian feeling immediately, as soon as you enter the gates. The whole look and feel of the place just takes you right back in time, as you can see from the picture above. Yes, this is what you see as you step through the wooden ticket booth.






As you move past the original cars of the 19th century railroad (of which you can actually ride upon), the wood-plank sidewalks take you through the "town" part of the village, the main street, which looks exactly like you would expect a main street to look like. It has stores, an opera house, a barber shop, a hotel...




And then there's the tavern on the outskirts of town.
Of course, every town (even one without horses, unfortunately) needs a blacksmith shop. Here is where one can watch the smithy work his trade, just as in the old days. And, as with a blacksmith, most period towns had a gristmill. It's here that one can watch as the giant stone wheels grind the grain into flower. It's here where one can hear (and feel) the deafening roar of the water turning the magnificent equipment to turn the wheels. And, it's here where one can purchase flour made right here at the Atlas Mill.
Without refridgeration, ice houses were a necessity in keeping ice available (covered in sawdust) throughout the warm weather months.


As you move out of town you'll enter the neighborhood and see the houses - mostly farm houses - of Crossroads. I swear you fill feel as if you had literally stepped through a time travel portal.




The milk cow was as important as any livestock a farmer could own. It's great that they show how a cow is milked for those of us living in the city.




















And, of course, the picturesque church. For some reason, they feel that this church should not have a cross lest they offend any non-Christians. Let's face it, by far and away the greater majority - without question - of the population in the 19th century in every state had a minimum of one Christian church. Of course, folks today like to change the past for the people of the present due to politically correct mumbo jumbo. But, we all know...

There is plenty more to see than what's pictured here - much more. And about the only couple of things I would change would be the addition of horses and carriages and probably a few more shops and houses - cooper, cobbler, etc. And, the addition of a cemetery (only the tombstones, of course) would be that touch of realism that no one else has (Mike Gillett's idea, and it's a great one!!!). They also need more period accurate presenters - you get what you pay for. Not that they are terrible but there is room for improvement.

They do have a carriage shop, barns, more houses, a lawyer's home, a doctor's office - all of the period.

Now, if only they would bring back the Civil War weekend!!!

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Museum Quotes & Pics


I love it when history is shown accurately. In southeastern lower Michigan we are bless'd with two open air museums - one is Greenfield Village (which I have written about in a previous blog from November of '07). The other is Crossroads Village in Flint - I plan a blog about this place in the very near future. The first two pictures were taken at Crossroads. Notice the wood-plank sidewalks and authentic roads and streets.

The last two pictures were taken at the Firestone Farm at Greenfield Village.

Anyhow, before we get into the pictures and blurbs, I'd like you to read an interesting quote first. The only thing I don't like about this quote is that I didn't come up with it. Rats.

This is from Gordon Cotton, curator of the Vicksburg, Mississippi museum (taken from the book Confederates in the Attic by Tony Horwitz):
"I'm not going to go through this museum rewriting the past just to please someone in the present."

Man! I love that quote! Too bad more curators do not have that attitude!

From Crossroads Village in Flint. Michigan:
Welcome to Crossroads Village. Please watch your step. Walks, streets, and floors replicate those of the 1800's and are uneven.

This is a notice for all to see as they enter the Village. I love the fact that they haven't put in curbs and sidewalks like another Village I know (don't worry, GFV, I still love you!).

From Greenfield Village (taken from the Firestone Farm Training manual):
At Firestone Farm, we create an immersion experience. From the moment visitors step from the concrete of the front plaza onto the gravel lane leading to the farm, we want them to feel as if they have traveled back in time to the year 1885.

That the site looks like it is from the 1880's is important, but not enough. We want Firestone Farm to feel like the 1880's. To do this we must make sure the sounds, smells, sensations, and people also seem as if they are out of the past.

You know what? It works! One truly does feel as if they stepped into the past when they enter the gravel walk to the farm. The Daggett Farm is similar, only the era is about 100 years earlier. And they do a pretty good job at the Adams' house as well.

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As I said, we are truly bless'd here in the Detroit area for the historical museums we have access to.

More on Crossroads soon and maybe even something about the Detroit Historical Museum.