For 50 years, the Waterloo Area Historical Society has celebrated “Michigan Farm Life” on Pioneer Day at the Waterloo Farm Museum. It is a slice of 19th century farm Americana. Think an intimate Henry Ford Museum, but way better. 

Pioneer Day at the Waterloo Farm Museum

The gorgeous October day helped draw a large crowd to the Waterloo Farm Museum to enjoy live music, and demonstrations of crafts, trades, and traditional cooking methods. As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words! 

The Backstory 

The Waterloo Farm Museum is a memorial to the Michigan Pioneer Farm. In January 1967, the Waterloo Area Historical Society was founded to preserve the farm and that same year the 1st Pioneer Day was held in October. In my grandmother Ruth’s papers I found an invitation to the event dated October 13,1968. It included a sweet description of the farm,  “This a gentle-re-creation of an early Michigan farm home of 1855-1885.”

On the back of the invite, it noted the rural school museum was open also. It is likely she attended and probably took with her some combination of her grandchildren. Ruth, my grandmother, taught school in a one-room school house and would have been drawn to the rural school museum. Here are a few posts if you’d like to read more about her:

• Ruth Lewick One Room School House 1912

• Two years in the life of Ruth Lewick 1913-1914

I have a faded memory of attending an event at the Waterloo Farm Museum with my father. It is more like a whiff of a memory or catching a flash of an image through a view finder toy. 

Farm Exhibits

The farm exhibits were a helpful reminder of how far we’ve come. The shear volume of work the pioneers endured each day is mind blowing. Whew, I was exhausted just watching it. 

Traditional Cooking and Beer

My goodness, there was no fast food in the 19th century. 

In addition to traditional cooking, there was a demonstration of open kettle beer brewing. As a bonus, you could sample a little bit of this wild beer.

Dried Flower Arrangements 

Demonstrations and the opportunity to make our own dried flower arrangement were available. Plus, you could buy dried flower arrangements. 

Live Music

Music filled the air at the Pioneer Day at the Waterloo Farm Museum. You could listen to fun and festive bluegrass or relaxing dulcimer music. All the musicians were more than willing to share their knowledge about the music of the times.

Re-enactors

The re-enactors were my favorite element of the event. They wanted to talk and share history. It was all I could do to not put them in my pocket and take them home with me.

Baked Good Contest

It was an honest to goodness pie contest. It was a delicious treat to watch the judges. I was a wee bit jealous. 
 

Craftsmen and Craftswomen 

During Pioneer Day at the Waterloo Farm Museum a variety of trades were demonstrated. I especially loved the goggle-wearing blacksmith. 

Horse Drawn Wagon Rides

I’m afraid of horses. Yep, it is true. When I was 4 or 5, my sister’s horse tried to take a chunk out of my back. Maybe I was teasing it with an ear of corn or maybe the horse was mean. (That memory has NOT faded with time!)  I stood way back while Chuck took these pictures. I warned him several times to stand clear. The wagon driver shouted to us the horses’ names. I wished I written them down. They were something like Fred and Jack. Or maybe it was Bob and Larry.

Other Museum Events

In December is another opportunity to visit this lovely living museum with Christmas on the Farm

Love Michigan History 

If you love Michigan History, here are links to stuff you should check out. 

• Grass Lake Area Historical Connections
• White Horse Inn In Metamora
• Michigan Military Heritage Museum
• A tour of Colonial Michilimackinac