Doing History Things Memorial Day Weekend: At The Cabin, at Greenfield Village, and at a Parade

Welcome to spring 1776.

America is such an amazing country,  and we have persevered through so much. 

And I enjoy celebrating who we are and where we've come from to get where we are today.

In 1776,  agriculture was the backbone of the American economy.  It was a grueling,  labor-intensive lifestyle focused on subsistence rather than profit,  relying primarily on human muscle,  crude wooden tools,  and draft animals.

But it was a proud occupation  and the true backbone of our Nation,  for back in 1776,  when the Founders first signed the Declaration of Independence,  around 95% of U.S.  citizens worked directly in agriculture.  

We are also a nation that looks to and remembers those men and women who have given their all for our country.  That's what Memorial Day is all about - to honor  and to mourn all U.S.  military personnel who died while serving in the Armed Forces.  Since I began to reenact and take part in living history,  I've learned much more about the inner details of our history than I ever could have imagined.

America,  land that I love...

~~~~ ~~ ~~~~

We were quite busy mixing,  celebrating,  and commemorating America's history over Memorial Day Weekend~~~!

Let's begin with Friday - May 22---my birthday.

A few days before my birthday,  my dear wife asked me what I wanted as a gift.  I told her a day spent in the past together---the  Colonial past.  Spending a few hours at the Waterloo Cabin working in the kitchen garden...and also a visit to Greenfield Village---in our 1770s clothing.

Even though we began our day at Greenfield Village,  for today's post I am going to do a switcheroo and begin with our time working at the Waterloo Cabin kitchen garden at the Waterloo Farm Museum first,  then show photos of our Greenfield Village visit.

A birthday selfie for your
friendly 18th century farmers.

Our founding political leaders,  such as Thomas Jefferson,  viewed farmers as the most virtuous and patriotic citizens,  believing that those who owned and worked the land had a natural,  uncompromising investment in the country's freedom.  What this all means,  as you might expect,  such labor was cherished:  in a letter to John Jay,  Thomas Jefferson wrote that  “Cultivators of the earth are the most valuable citizens.”  Jefferson and America’s other early leaders,  including George Washington and John Adams,  held farmers in high esteem.  

For most agricultural laborers,  since early farm work was done by hand,  this meant long days struggling to survive,   with little time for anything else that was not a necessity. 

Patty and I were previously there at the cabin only two weeks earlier  (click HERE),  along with other members of our colonial cabin crew,  and even three of our grandkids.  And we all labored pretty hard out in the garden for most of that day,  for the good folks at Waterloo were unable to till the land for us beforehand,  due to circumstances beyond their control,  so we all spent hours digging up the overgrown grass and weeds that were growing in the hard dirt.   Though we could not get it all completed in one day,  we did till in sections and then planted as much as we all could.  Hence a reason why Patty & I came out again - to till and sow what we could not complete a couple weeks earlier.

Living the colonial life.

My wife,  Patty,  uses the hoe to help pull out weeds. 
We both knew we had a lot of work ahead of us so we got busy right away.

As patriotic fever spiked in the spring of 1776,  gardeners in the 13 American Colonies went about their traditional work:  cultivating the soil,  fertilizing,  sowing seeds,  and weeding--to sustain themselves independently to meet their own needs without relying entirely on external sources.  

Tilling and the other work we did in our own 18th-century colonial American kitchen garden relied entirely on manual labor, including hand tools.  

And planting heirloom seeds to keep it authentic.

We've been doing our best to emulate that,  especially since this is spring 1776 for us  So,  I suppose this is another way for us to celebrate and commemorate America250.

As you can see,  we had our work in tilling cut out for us.
 We both agreed that it was definitely better when we had a few others helping a couple weeks ago.

Wearing my work shoes.
Even though we've had a goodly amount of rain,  the ground was still hard and dry.

In 18th-century Colonial America,  kitchen gardeners rarely used plows,  relying instead on  a lot of sweat and muscle to utilize the heavy,  human-powered iron and wooden tools.  The primary implements for tilling and preparing the earth included the shovel and spade for deep turning,  hoes,  rakes,  and pitchforks for clearing and weeding,  and the dibble stick for planting.

Patty and I could see we needed to do more tilling before we began sowing,  so we dove right into the most physical part of our labor,  digging and overturning the soil and clearing out the weeds.  

Mostly Patty and I worked together as a team,  with me turning it over and she clearing it out.
It was nice having the sun out,  but with a lighter wind,  it was definitely cooler when it went behind a cloud.

It was tough work - the kind of work this old city man is not used to doing.  But I / we persevered and are dedicated to living history.
I do wish the discs in my lower back weren't degenerating.
Oh!  To have the strength of twenty years ago!

I took this picture from an angle I hadn't done before,  but it certainly shows well the cabin's location from the kitchen garden.

Though I've seen historic planting done this way,  I did not know the stick tool I used to dig  (or poke)  holes into the ground for the seeds had a particular name.  In fact,  I did not even know it was a tool at all:

A dibble stick  (also known as a dibber or dibbler)  is a pointed handheld tool used in gardening and agriculture to poke  "evenly spaced,  precise holes into the soil for planting seeds,  seedlings,  or small bulbs.  It ensures consistent planting depth and helps streamline the sowing process."
This was frequently used in those early gardening day.
And the research continues...

Since I didn't have an actual dibbler,  I used a simple stick I found and marked the depth by eyeing it.

I plan to make myself such a tool.

Here's a handmade dibber  (aka dibbler)  that I picked up afterward.
I plan to replicate this.  It shouldn't be difficult.

Planting New England Heirloom pumpkins once again.
I seem to have good success with that.

I've had many people exclaim to me how surprised they are to see Patty and I - and the others when they are with us - working in and sitting on the ground,  getting our period clothing dirty.

Well,  they're actual work clothes and are meant to get soiled.  

Patty planted green beans...

...squash...and brussel sprouts~

Of course,  to water our freshly sown seeds,  we filled the watering jug.

Though there were multiple style watering cans and jugs used in the 1700s,  I purchased the kind I saw used at the Daggett Farm House at Greenfield Village,  which is what you see here in these photos.  I've also seen this type,  also known as a Terra Cotta thumb watering jug,  used at Colonial Williamsburg.

Watering cans have changed little over the centuries, 
and that's another reason I chose the jug.
When we present and kids are around,  they love using it.
There were no kids on this day - just the two of us living a past life.

The time my wife and I spent at the cabin would have been enough for me,  but I was also able to spend time at Greenfield Village with her💓😊~~~  "History things"!  

Originally we planned to go to the cabin first,  but we switched it around at the last minute and went to Greenfield Village first,  for we knew we would be quite smelly and dirty after working in the garden.  

Here we are...Mr.  &  Mrs.  Daggett,  mayhaps?
I think not quite,  but those who know me know that I visit the Daggett House
often,  have done research on the house and on the family that once lived here.
We are the most Daggett-y non-Daggetts there ever was!

Ruth gave Patty a wonderful garden tour.
Here they are checking out the madder root plant.

The 18th century fashion of raised beds in the Daggett kitchen garden.
Kitchen garden beds combined vegetables,  herbs,  and sometimes fruit trees,  and were usually located just outside the home.  They provided families with daily food,  medicinal remedies,  and textile dyes.

While Patty was learning more about the kitchen garden with Ruth,  Anne and I had a nice conversation as well.

Anne continued to weed the beds throughout the day.
Here she is with the asparagus.

We can see the hops for beer-making on the right while Anne has a basket filled with weeds.
Why keep the weeds?

In the 18th century,  gardeners generally disposed of pulled weeds by feeding them to livestock,  composting them,  or burning them.  Because organic waste was highly valued,  pulled weeds were routinely tossed into designated manure or  "dung"  heaps to break down into fertilizer,  or given to chickens and pigs as supplemental feed.

Anne,  Patty,  and myself.
Look at them asparagus!

Off to compost the pulled weeds...

Meanwhile,  inside the great hall,  there is cooking and knitting going on.

Cooking up sugar cakes.

A few years ago,  Roy & Chuck made a new well-sweep,  for the old one was rotting.  Anyhow,  the previous sweep was not an original to the house or anything,  but I really liked it and because of my interest,  I learned about historic well-sweeps.

Anyhow,  a new one was made and I even got to help erect it  (click HERE):

So....that being said,  I was hoping that the powers-that-be would be kind enough to either let me have or let me purchase the  "Y"  branch used for the previous sweep.  

The  "Y"  branch I am interested in.

It's been sitting at the fence for the past three years,  rotting further.  It would be a neat little Daggett souvenir for me,  since everyone knows my passion for the house.  But,  alas,  it doesn't look to be happening.  I've asked but...nada.

My sadness is that one day it'll be gone without a care or thought in hopes that I will not notice,  and I'll find out it was cut up and burned.

That'll show me! 

Why is this non-original / non-historic piece of wood important to me?
Because it was a part of the presentation of this house.  No,  not original to  this house or even ancient or historic in any way,  but helped with the Daggett appearance.  And that is my only reason.  With me,  it'll have a long life yet to come.

My wife and I began to get hunger pangs,  so it was from the Daggett Farm House that we made our way to the Eagle Tavern for a meal.

I wish I could say we took the horse and carriage to the tavern,  but we,  instead,  walked.

While others might choose Cracker Barrel or Bob Evans or even a fast-food joint,  I always call the Eagle Tavern my favorite restaurant.  Patty and I first came here to eat back in 1983,  in the days they would apply 1st person here,  and we have been coming every year since  (though they no longer utilize 1st person).

Imagine being able to dine inside a tavern that was built in 1831.  Okay,  a few years out of our time as colonials,  but a tavern is a tavern is a tavern.  In other words,  like log cabins,  taverns had changed very little since the earliest days in America.

Patty and I at the Eagle Tavern.  We had just enjoyed a fine meal of stewed beef  (for me)  and trout  (for my wife).

After our fine Eagle Tavern meal and a fine Greenfield Village visit,  we were off again...to our other favorite place---Waterloo Cabin,  which began this post.

I have to let you know that on our way to the cabin,  "Birthday"  by The Beatles  (from The White Album)  came on the car radio.

I wonder...hmmm...lol

Had to crank it,  though....

So,  we did go to the cabin,  as you read about earlier,  and from there the long drive home.

What a wonderful birthday I had!

But we're not done yet!

How about the Memorial Day Parade held in St.  Clair Shores?

A few of us - Patty,  Charlotte,  myself,  along with SAR  (Sons of the American Revolution)  and DAR  (Daughters of the American Revolution)  members - were invited by the SAR to take part in the St.  Clair Shores  (Michigan)  Memorial Day Parade - Michigan's largest for this holiday.

Even though Memorial Day is for us to remember and to honor those military men and women who gave their  "last full measure of devotion"  (making the ultimate sacrifice),  the parade attendees and participants were not solemn but joyous,  as I truly believe those who died would want.  

With this being America's 250th year,  I asked to borrow one of the flags for this posed picture.
Charlotte revised her wonderful Martha Washington,  my wife Patty portraying a farmer's wife,  and I suppose I was Paul Revere.

 Another  posed picture of the three of us in the staging area for the parade participants.

"Idle hands are the Devil's workshop"  is a classic proverb warning that boredom and a lack of purpose leave the mind vulnerable to temptation and destructive habits.  My wife Patty need never worry about that,  for due to her constant knitting  (and/or crocheting),  her hands  (and mind)  are never idle.

The wonderful Plymouth Fife & Drum Corps~~~
And Charlotte is in the middle of it all.

The festively decorated trailer in which we rode upon.

Or sit in should we get tired.
"Well the first thing you know ol'  Jed's a millionaire..."

We were proud participants of the Sons of the American Revolution  (SAR)  float.

Following close behind was the Plymouth Fife & Drum Corps,  who played our kinda music the entire nearly two mile stretch!
The Plymouth Fife & Drum Corps also always joins us for Patriot's Day event at Mill Race Village.

Charlotte had such a ball,  yelling to the crowd,  telling them that her husband,  General Washington,  sends his regards.

Long-time friend,  Ian,  saw us and ran up to us for a selfie!
Ian,  himself,  was in the Dearborn Memorial Day Parade the next day playing his bagpipes~

We very much enjoyed smiling and waving at all those sitting at the sidelines watching.
Toward the end of the parade route the flags being passed out were gone - no more to give.  I had only one flag that I waved but gave it to a child...and that little one gave me such a smile!  My wife did the same shortly after.

I was able to snap a few shots of a few of the others who participated in the parade,  including Parade mainstay,  Lynn Anderson:

My friend Lynn Anderson and her husband Vince and their Herbie the Love Bug from the 1968 movie of the same name.
No,  this is not the actual movie star Volkswagen - though it is the same make and model,  however,  and painted to look just like the original.  From what news writer Maria Allard wrote in the local Metro-Detroit C&G Newspapers a few years back:  after seeing the original Love Bug movie and its sequels,  Lynn loved the car so much she bought her very own 1965 Volkswagen Beetle she  “found in a barn in Dundee.”  The Clinton Township resident refers to her find as  “a Herbie the Love Bug tribute car.”

Here is the original  "movie star" ~~~
Pretty cool,  eh?

 

Great scott!
It's Doc Brown and his DeLorean!

Actually this is Joe Vitale and his Back to the Future DeLorean.
Looks like he went back much further than 1955~~~

Celebrating 20 years

a haunted attraction aimed to thrill all scare levels

"Looking for the best haunted house near Detroit?  Scarefest Scream Park is more than just a 15-minute walk-through—it’s a full-scale Halloween festival and the ultimate destination for a night out with friends and family."

Here is the float for 
Vietnam Veterans of America.
~Thank you for your service.

To see so many people waving the American flag,  also the America 250 flag,  and wearing red white and blue apparel as we moved passed  was a wonderful site indeed!

It was an honor for us to take part.

So here we go - 

My house on Memorial Day Monday:
The Betsy Ross and the America 250 flags.

I visited Greenfield Village once again on Memorial Day itself,  as I have for literally decades  (yes,  decades---remember,  I was also a part of Civil War Remembrance).

Imagine my surprise and disappointment when I saw there were no patriotic buntings or flags anywhere in the Village.  Not at Firestone Farm,  not at Eagle Tavern,  Wright House,  the TinType Shop,  nothing hanging from the light posts---no red white and blue anywhere.

For shame.

It is a true American Holiday,  and in years past - as recent as last year - the red white and blue were giving all visitors that patriotic flavor as early as mid-May.

So...I asked about a half-dozen workers in about a half dozen areas and received just about as many answers.

Just excuses,  in my opinion.

I also posted my feelings on one of the Greenfield Village facebook pages,  which upset a few folk.  I have a feeling some believe I do not like Greenfield Village.

On the contrary,  I complain because I love Greenfield Village and disagree with the direction in which they seem to be heading.  I have the right,  as a paid member,  to complain.  Those who agree with me will agree.  Those who disagree have that right as well.

By the way,  if you are interested in other postings I've written on our great nation,  please click HERE for one entitled  "With Liberty and Justice For All:  The Fight for Independence (From the Collection at The Henry Ford Museum & Greenfield Village)"

Actually,  I wrote a posting with a bunch of American History links - click HERE to visit my posting entitled  "Links to the American Revolution from Passion for the Past Postings to Help Celebrate America's 250th" 

To see how patriotic Greenfield Village used to be,  click HERE

To see posts about our other colonial cabin excursions,  please click any of the links below:

~To read about our 2020  autumn harvest excursion - our first time at the cabin - click HERE

~To read about our 2021 wintertime excursion at the cabin - click HERE

~To read about our 2021 springtime excursion at the cabin - click HERE

~To read about our 2021 summertime excursion at the cabin - click HERE

~To read about our 2021 summer harvesting of the flax at the cabin - click HERE

~To read about our 2021 autumn excursion - click HERE

~To read about our 2022 winter excursion at the cabin - please click HERE

~To read about our 2022 spring excursion at the cabin - please click HERE

~To read about our 2022 summer excursion at the cabin - please click HERE

~To read about our 2022 autumn excursion at the cabin  (Pioneer Day) - please click HERE

~To read about our 2023 winter excursion at the cabin  (Candlemas) - please click HERE

~To read about our 2023 spring excursion at the cabin  (Rogation Sunday) - please click HERE

~To read about our 2023 late spring at the cabin - click HERE

~To read about the 2023 early summer - please click HERE

~To read about the 2023 summer  (Lammas Day) - please click HERE

~To read about the 2023 autumn Pioneer Day - please click HERE

~To read about our 2023 Thanksgiving harvest celebration - please click HERE

~To read about our 2024 Winter experience at the cabin - please click HERE

~To read about our 2024 spring excursion at the cabin - please click HERE

~To read about our 2024 late spring with just Patty & I - click HERE 

~To read about our 2024 summer  (Lammas Day) - please click HERE

~To read about our 2024 mid-and-late-summer - please click HERE

~To read about our 2024 mid-September - click HERE

~To read about our 2024 autumn Pioneer Day Celebration - please click HERE

~To read about our 2024 Thanksgiving Harvest - please click HERE

~To read about our 2024 Christmas at the Farm Cabin presentation - please click HERE

~To read about our 2025 winter & Candlemas Day - please click HERE

~To read about our 2025 spring/early May Rogation Sunday excursion - please click HERE

~To read about our 2025 Memorial Day/Late May visit,  please click HERE

~To read about our 2025 (Lammas Day)  Celebration,  please click HERE

~To read about our 2025 September visit with my grandson experiencing living history,  click HERE

~To read about our 2025 Pioneer Day event,  please click HERE

~To read about our 2025 Harvest Thanksgiving Celebration  (including my grandson!),  click HERE  

~To read about our 2025 Colonial Christmas Celebration/Christmas at the Farm  click HERE

~To read about our 2026 Early March/Late Wintertime at the cabin,  please click HERE

~To read about our 2026 Early April - time spent with Grandchildren at the cabin  (you will need to scroll a bit),  please click HERE

~To read about our 2026 spring planting in early May,  please click HERE

So...adding this current visit written at the beginning of today's post,  that makes 38 days spent in the 18th century at this cabin.

Oh,  what joy each and every visit to the cabin continues to be!

God willing,  these adventures will continue for a long time to come.

Until next time,  see you in time.

000

Autumn at Greenfield Village--2025~

~This post is all about FALL  in a historic setting...scads of photos...see the changes~

It was a mighty hot and humid summer.  And here in Michigan,  the heat continued into mid-October.  

Meh---there is always a definite feeling of fall in the air once September hits,  no matter what the temperature is.  That's undeniable.

In fact,  when it comes to seasons changing,  I mostly follow the meteorological way of thinking.  

And that thought process,  at least for us up here in Michigan,  goes along the lines of ---

Spring:  March 1 to May 31

Summer:  June 1 to August 31

Autumn:  September 1 to November 30

~Winter:  December 1 to February 28  (or February 29 during a leap year)

~To be honest,  this is  (mostly)  the way I think of our seasons~

And so this week's post will be a celebration of Autumn,  with all photos herein taken between September 1st and middle October.  No real history lessons,  other than a few notations here and there.  Just an enjoyable look at Autumn 2025 at Greenfield Village.

:~:

~00---00~

Let's begin on September 1st - Labor Day Monday - the beginning of meteorological fall :

Doot doot doo lookin'  out my back door
Firestone Farm~

Firestone Farm in Greenfield Village features Shorthorn cattle,  a breed chosen to authentically represent the type of livestock the Firestone family likely owned in the late 19th century.

 

I was relaxing on the Firestone porch,  sitting in the rocking chair and enjoying the day,  when I caught one of the Firestone presenters as she strolled along Firestone Lane,  making for a perfect country farm photo from the past.

Labor Day then the weekend after is Old Car Festival.  Usually for Old Car Festival we'll have a warm day but a relatively cool evening.

September 6 - Old Car Festival.
Fall is in the air!

It's on Saturday of Old Car Festival that the Village is open until 9:00 at night,  and by this time of the year darkness comes before closing.

It's during the later hours that the cool September nights remind us of what's coming.
Here is Henry Ford's replication of Independence Hall.

My decidedly unfancy camera seems to have a mind of its own and will take a good clear shot whenever it darn well pleases.  I'm glad it did for this picture I took of the lamppost.

Another week goes by and I visit again:

Here it is,  September 11,  and fall is definitely showing its colors.
Literally~

The very next picture I took was this one,  taken within five minutes of the previous photo you just saw.  I captured the Ford House and yard from two different angles.

This tree got painted with leaf color earlyier than most.  In the background there we see
the 1620 Cotswold Cottage.
Another September 11 photo.

This picture,  also a 9-11,  seems to show the dividing line between summer and fall.

And right square in the center is my house...the Daggett House.

The girls working on this day were kind enough to pose for me - something a bit different than the usual.

Six days later finds us in mid-September:

It's the 17th of September,  and the Greenfield Village entrance gives a hint of the natural beauty inside the gates.

Due to the colors looking better than anywhere else at that time in the Village,  I snapped most pictures of the Ford home and yard on September 17.

September 17 seemed to come awfully fast - and peaking through some bushes I saw this scene,  so I snapped the camera...and it turned out exactly as I hoped it would! 
Nature-framed!

What a difference one week can make.
This is why if you like this time of year,  get your hiny out to enjoy it before it's over!

September 17 --- The beauty in the Ford yard!

And just eight days later,  on September 25,  I was back again.

I suppose that's what I'm really enjoying about being retired---I can go to Greenfield Village as often as I'd like!

Late September - the 25th - 
The Ford Home - note the squirrel in the lower center of the picture.

Here we have the Phoenixville Post Office and Apothecary,  built in Connecticut in 1825.

Still on September 25 - - - - 

I enjoy walking around the Cotswold Cottage,  especially knowing how old it is.  It was built the same year the pilgroms - the puritans - left the British Isles to cross the Atlantic to settle in America.

Back to old England we go...to the Cotswolds...

Built in 1620,  it really has that wonderful old world flavor.

Something here to think about to look at this house with the right frame and time  (taken from The History Page):

the Middle Ages was a period that took place between the fall of ancient Rome in 476 A.D.  and the beginning of the 14th century.  That's quite a long stretch of time.  But it wasn't where people said,  "Well,  it's 476---time for a new era to begin!"  As most periods,  usually an event births a new ti8me in time,  whether it's a war,  a catastrophic event  (like a major plague),  or other signals of a new period.

During the Middle Ages,  it's always been said that Europeans made few advances in science and art.  Also known as the  “Dark Ages,”  the era is often branded as a time of war,  ignorance,  famine,  and pandemics such as the Black Death.

Some researchers,  however,  believe that such grim depictions of the Middle Ages were greatly exaggerated.  I tend to believe them.

Following the Middle Ages we had the Renaissance period.  The Renaissance was a fervent period of European cultural,  artistic,  political,  and economic  “rebirth.”   The Renaissance promoted the rediscovery of classical philosophy, literature and art.  Some of the greatest thinkers,  authors,  statesmen,  scientists,  and artists in human history thrived during this era,  while global exploration opened up new lands and cultures to European commerce.  

And the Cotswold Cottage was built during the later Renaissance period.

 

The Renaissance is credited with bridging the gap between the Middle Ages and modern-day civilization.

And here we have an actual house from that period.  Yeah,  there may be a Michigan Renaissance Festival,  but Greenfield Village has the real deal!

Looking at the Daggett House from the back of Cotswold Cottage.  Cotswold was built about 130 or so years before Sam Daggett built his. 

I then walked across the street to the Daggett House.  This was the last Thursday of September,  and also the last day these ladies would be working together.  They switch houses somewhat seasonally.

So when I asked the ladies of Daggett if I could get a group photo,  they prepared to line up dutifully for one of the typical shots.  But I asked them if they minded doing something different - not posing in the same usual manner.
Here are the pictures they came up with.
This first one  (above)  in the Daggett doorway...

...and the 2nd photo taken on the staircase.

Look up at the top of the stairs:
a winnowing basket!

You are aware that winnowing is a part of the wheat harvest process?  That after the wheat is threshed,  the winnowing basket is used to separate the wheat berries from the chaff by tossing the berries into the air so the chaff could blow away and the berries/grain will fall back into the basket,  and then from there the remaining wheat berries could be ground into flour.

That's what this is - a winnowing basket.

Still wondering?
Try clicking HERE

Right outside the house we can see the woodpile - a ric of wood - for the coming cooler weather.

Still September 25...and fall can plainly be seen why it is oftentimes known as  "fall."
Leaves are fallin'  all around...it's time I was on my way...

Men of the 18th century would cut and prepare specific firewood for the many needs such as for cooking,  warming,  and laundry.  Each chore had a specific wood type.  And the amount of wood needed was impressive:  in Colonial times farmers had to cut,  split,  and manage upwards of 40 cords of wood to keep their homes warm and their farms in operation.  They were rare days that wood chopping was not done.
Did women of the time also chop wood?
Perhaps.  I'm sure it depended on the situation.

Yes,  still on September 25~~

There's the Plympton House as it looks from the side yard of the Daggett House.

A couple weeks later...bursting with color!

I slowly made my way from the east end of the Village,  and I hobbled my way toward the west side,  stopping here and there along the way.  I say  "hobbled"  because of my degenerative lower spine and sciatic nerve issues in my legs.  But I still pushed my way through.  I did stop at the Eagle Tavern.

This was one of the few times I did not ear at the Eagle Tavern.  I,  instead,  took a few fall photos.  Well,  of the sign anyhow.

I then made a rare visit to Smiths Creek visit.  It's not that I don't like this building.  I actually do very much,  for there is a Thomas Edison connection.  It's just not one of my stops very often.

I wrote a post about this depot,  and a few others here in Michigan associated with Edison HERE.

One of two entrances to the Smiths Creel Depot,  built in 1858.

From the depot I sauntered through Liberty Crafworks.  As I did,  I saw this scene and captured it:

In the Liberty Craftworks area I see the dark gray weaving shop  (1840)  and the red
Tripp Up and Down Saw Mill from 1855.

I very much enjoy Firestone Farm,  for farm life in the 1880s comes alive like nowhere else.  It is as close to witnessing a window to the past as one can have.

Peter's Field at Firestone Farm.

Many assume Peter's Fields were named after a Firestone.  But that's not the case.  There is a placard near the front placed upon a rock that states:
"These fields,  known as Peter's Fields,  are dedicated to the memory of Peter H.  Cousins Jr.  curator of agriculture from 1969 to 1995.  

We remain inspired by his deep convictions,  superior scholarship,  and belief in the history of ordinary folks.  

Family,  friends,  and co-workers

September 1996"

September 25-----This just might be my favorite spot at Firestone Farm to take a picture.
We see a corner of the heirloom apple orchard,  the Martinsville Cider Mill,  the west end of Peter's Fields,  and a corner of the kitchen garden.  Plus the dirt roads that leads us to the various places on the farm.

Well,  now,  time for a little Rod Stewart:

It's late September and I really should be back at school~~~

Next week's Passion for the Past blog post - to be posted on October 31st---Hallowe'en itself! - will be a combination post about Hallowe'en and Harvest time,  for Greenfield Village had a harvest weekend on September 27 & 28.  But I am including a few pictures from my visit here...today...from that weekend that did not make the cut for next week's post.  They are pretty much an over-flow.

Yep---so on September the 28th the weather felt more like August than late September,  with highs in the lower-to-mid 80s.  But no matter the heat---it still felt like Autumn.

Heading to the  "Porches & Parlors section of Greenfield Village,  "Where the homes of famous individuals and hardworking families depict life in America across time."

From Daggett it's a quick trip to the more urban Giddings House.

Unfortunately,  there are some flaws that occurred in the reconstruction of this house as was done inside Greenfield Village due to the men Ford entrusted in its disassembly.  "...the present building has neither the size,  shape,  room arrangement,  decorative detailing,  or even a substantial portion of the physical components of the original.  It is extremely doubtful that the present building even faintly resembles the the house owned by the Pearsons,  Giddings,  or any of the others."

However,  the interior is still very much in the fashion of a colonial mid-18th century style house.  Not one that John Giddings might recognize,  but it does give us a good look and feel of an upscale home from almost 300 years ago.

Victoria is ready for her tea party.

Making sure the hired help is doing her job.

"We need hops - can you bring some out?"
Here at Daggett on September 27 & 28 18th century beer was brewed.
More on that in next week's post!

On the evening of Satuday,  October 4th,  my family - most of my kids and all of my grandkids - visited Greenfield Village's ticketed Hallowe'en event.  It almost didn't happen due to a power outage.  Fortunately,  the power was restored in time for us to attend,  which is always a great time.

What I liked hearing were the comments made by the Daggett presenters that I saw a few days later who were working at the historic homes on the afternoon of October 4th:  there was a power outage and the Daggett presenters had no idea!  That  says a lot!

Anyhow,  I am including a couple of Hallowe'en pictures here taken at the Village that early October night:

My favorite area at Hallowe'en at Greenfield Village is watching the Headless Horseman chase Ichabod Crane from the Washington Itving story,  The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. 

They do a fine job recreating this scene.

 

The front field of Firestone Farm is used for the adventure.

The Loranger Gristmill looks properly creepy.

Through the trees we can see the Ford Home. 
I like seeing the Harvest Moon peaking through the branches of the trees.

We were only two days away from the full moon.
Here it is shining over the Cotswold Cottage on the left and the Daggett House
in the middle  (not seen in the darkness).

My next blog post,  to be  "published"  in about a week,  will center on Hallowe'en at Greenfield Village as well as the Harvest Weekend.

Now we go to October 10
Every year,  come October,  the steam locomotives they have stop running during daytime hours.  I'm not quite sure why,  for it doesn't snow quite this early in the year  (except for a very rare weather pattern),  but they do run the trains at night for Hallowe'en.  So this year,  maybe in a way to sort of make up for this ride loss,  they began to have a Fall Color Horse & Cart tour,  which was,  for me anyways,  a great replacement.

On this October 10th,  Norm & I dressed in colonial clothing.

Walking toward the cart and horses.

This is a wonderful autumn edition!

The next set of pictures are centered on this horse and cart ride/tour.

I have said repeatedly that knowing how popular cider mills are here in Michigan,  that Greenfield Village tends to miss on the opportunity to combine the past with the current fall celebrations.  Well,  perhaps they've finally heard me,  for every year they seem to be building more and more on that premise.  A few pictures ago you saw the heirloom apple tour at Firestone Farm along with cider making with a small home press as well as the larger Martinsville Cider Press building.  And now we have a Fall Color's tour horse & cart ride.

I've done this particular tour twice - October 10 and October 18 - so you'll see two different teams of horses - white horses now and brown horses a bit later on.  

This tour only lasted about 20 minutes or so.

Passing by my favorite house.
The Daggett House has been at or near the top of my list seince my first visit to it back in 1983.
The Adams House is another I've always liked  (and wish they'd re-open).

Gigi saw us saunter past,  the horses clip-clopping as we went at a gentle speed,  and so she stepped out and gave us a wave.

Ed Davis,  thankfully,  caught this shot of us.
Since we got there as soon as the Village opened,  there were no others on the ride with us.

Another great snap by Ed Davis.

And down a road less travelled...

This road is in an area designated  "for employees only,"  so it was great to be able to have an official ride there.

I took at least three dozen or more photos on this ride.
For the 40+ years I've been visiting Greenfield Village,  I've never been along this path.

From here we headed toward the back of the Cotswold Cottage and Forge.

This new seasonal experience is a winner!
As you can see,  there are still many green leaves still on the trees.

And there's the Suwanee Lagoon,  where the Suwanee Steamboat used to encircle.
I do wish they still had it.

Only hints of color on this October 10th,  but still well-worth the ride.
I do plan to repeat this experience.

Norm and I both agreed that this ride was excellent.
I hope it continues in coming years.

He,  in turn,  snapped a pic of me.
He and I were the only two in the ride first thing that morning.

One thing I need to add here:  I have not worn the waistcoat I am wearing in the above picture since June of 2024,  due to my...ahem...weight gain.  I was heavy enough in the belly that I began popping the buttons,  and I was popping veins in my head because of my frustration over my porkiness.  So...I've been working on it by way of daily excersises and the 16 hour fasts.  Oh,  and eating less in general at each sitting.

Not necessarily dieting,  but being more watchful on the amount of food intake.

Slowly,  it's making a difference.  I can fit again into my favorite waistcoat!  Oh,  it's still tight,  but not button-popping tight.  And I still have at least an inch or two of belly fat to go,  and perhaps twenty more pounds total before I am satisfied.  But I'm on the right track!

Back to where it began.

Off the ride and we hoofed ourselves down to the Daggett House.

Another group of rides move past. 

Norm & I visiting the ladies of Daggett.

October 10
Gigi working with an umbrella swift.
An umbrella swift is a textile-working device utilized to hold a hank of yarn in place
while it is being wound into a yarn ball.  The umbrella swift is a common type
of swift developed in the United States during the eighteenth century.

For lunch we ate at the Eagle Tavern again,  a favorite spot to stop and eat.

It really is something that not only can we dine in an actual tavern that was built nearly 200 years ago, but that we can also enjoy the same atmosphere and fare as if it were 1850.

And it looks even better in the midst of Autumn’s splendor.

Waiting for my roast beef...

My friend Mary snapped this shot of Norm and I at the original tavern hearth.
No,  this restaurant does not employ hearth cooking here in the 21st century - I don't think the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development nor the local health departments would deem the food cooked on the hearth safe to eat.
I added the fire through computer trickery.

I returned a week later and the colors - the fall foliage - really started showing itself.  

The majority of the pictures I took on that October 18 was of the beauty of Autumn.  The weather was in the lower 70s and the sun was shining.   

October 18 - The entrance gates.

Just like the previous week,  I wanted to take the fall color tour of the Village and
beyond by way of horse & cart.  So,  while waiting for the driver to pull up, 
I snapped a few,  like this one.

Now here is my favorite photo of the day:  the Eagle Tavern,  a replicated New England church,  and an 1850s hostess - all surrounded by the beauty of Autumn.

Looking across the Village Green,  we could see the horse and cart make its way in our direction.

I have seen many fall photos taken in the northern part of Michigan,  and it truly is filled with color.  However,  I feel adding the past to the fall foliage only improves the look,  for,  to me,  Autumn is the most wooden  time of year---the sights of the leaves,  the smells of bonfires,  and oftentimes a nip in the air.  Now add history and traditions...which I have seen some take great shots with an old barn or school house in the background.  That adds so much.

On our journey,  I snapped the opposite side of the Village Green.

Only one week and a pretty decent difference in fall colors.

A splash of color when compared to the previous week.

Wouldn't it be great to see more harvest activities occuring here?
I've been told heirloom apple trees - the Snow Apple - will soon be planted here.
I can't wait to see what the plans are in utilizing them!

Even without a ton of fall foliage,  it still was a beautiful ride.

Many of the following picture were taken based only on the idea of giving off that fall feeling and atmosphere.  I put the date the photo was taken with each picture.

October 18

October 18

October 18
The houses you see in the distance there are the backs of the houses normally seen from the front.

 

October 18
Ah---the gray house is the Giddings House from the mid-18th century.

October 18

October 18

October 18

On are way back to the Eagle Tavern.

There was a decorative autumn wreath attached to the front of the cart so I tried to do something a little artsy.

My son Robbie & I decided to dine inside the tavern where he enjoyed a roasted chicken and I had a beef roast.

Me getting artsy in my photography lol
I noticed the teams of horses through the tavern window,  so I thought I'd try taking a picture of that as well as the lit candle on our table which was surrounded by a glass cover.

We walked from the tavern to the far east side of the Village,  where my favorite colonial homes stand.  As we were walking I snapped numerous photos of some of the beautiful colors.

October 18th.

Watching the fall tour with the horses and cart is just as nice from a-top of the hill.

October 18

The side of the Giddings House.

John Giddings was a shipping merchant,  and being as such he would have carried a variety of goods determined by trade routes,  seasonal availability,  and shifting consumer demands,  which could mean he may have had a mix of recently harvested colonial goods,  including processed textiles such as flax  (which would have already been woven into linen).  

The front of the Giddings House.

There's my favorite house during my favorite season!

Being fairly warm for mid-October,  Gigi opened the windows.

The busy ladies of Daggett,  just as they would have been 250 years ago.

October 18

The red William Ford Barn was built in 1863 - the same year as Henry's birth - by Henry Ford's father,  William.  It was originally located across the road from the family homestead and stored grain and hay and,  at times,  tools and livestock.

Now,  horses are kept there.

The Birthplace of Henry Ford.
The last historic building Henry Ford had personally moved to Greenfield Village before his death in 1947 was the first one he preserved:  his family homestead in Springwells Township,  Michigan  (now Dearborn,  Michigan).  It was in this house,  on July 30,  1863,  in which Henry Ford,  the first of William and Mary's six children,  was born.

The Birthplace of Henry Ford.
In 1919,  highway officials decided to extend Greenfield Road,  which was becoming a major thoroughfare,  southward,  and this extension would cut through the Ford farm.  Unfortunately,  the homestead was directly in the proposed road's path.  The family's decision to move the house and the outbuildings farther back on the property to be clear of the road prompted Ford's first restoration project.

Again,  back at Liberty Craftworks we can see and feel the Autumn buzz.

This is another angle where I enjoy picture taking,  for it has the true appeal of a country road.

This is on the otherside of Peter's Field.
We can see the pumpkins along the fence and the corn shocks set up for the Hallowe'en event.

These last three images were taken on Friday,  October 24:

Waiting to take another fall tour ride.

The back of the Daggett House is beautiful!

Does this not look like Autumn in Philadelphia?
But it's not - it's right there in Dearborn.  Michigan!
The main entrance to The Henry Ford Museum~

I know I know...perhaps my weakest commentary...but I wanted mainly to post the photos.  The commentary is for my own identification - Blogspot sometimes has a nasty habit of having photos disappear.

I can easily include hundreds of photos taken this year along,  but I tried to keep it to around...one hundred.  For years I have claimed Greenfield Village to be the best place to visit in the fall.  I never tire of it and probably have taken more photos this season of the year there than anywhere else.

I barely touched on Harvest time and Hallowe'en,  whichh will be posted here next week.

Oh,  and don't be surprised to see another post on this subject at least one more time this year.

Until next time,  see you in time.

HERE is one of my favorite posts on this same subject.

To learn about autumn's 18th century early American past,  please click HERE

To learn about autumn's 19th century Victorian past,  please click HERE

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