Sauder Village

Before Snowplows and Snow Blowers

2012-02-01T10:36:00.002-05:00

By Tracie Evans, Curator of Collections

Although snow has been sparse this year, the most recent snowfall brought to mind the large snowfalls of the past. Have you ever wondered how people managed all the snow in Northwest Ohio before we had snowplows and snow blowers? In the museum, visitors can see many of these snow related artifacts on display.

Snow Roller

One of the most unique snow-related items in our collection is a snow roller. This large wooden object features a 4’ wooden cylinder that was pulled by horses along drives and roadways to compact the snow into solid avenues. This allowed sleighs and other winter vehicles to glide along without getting stuck or sinking into soft snow.

Wooden Snow Shovels

People also had to clear snow to their barns and outbuildings like the outhouse by hand. I’m sure no one wanted to wade through snow to the outhouse. Most people cleared snow by hand using shovels. Although not everyone would have had specialized shovels, you will find five examples of snow shovels from the late 1800s in the museum. These wooden shovels sometimes had metal on their ends to help with the removal of ice. Just as today, ice was a problem on steps and walks, according to The American Frugal Housewife (1833), “salt strewed upon the door-steps in winter will cause the ice to crack, so that it can be easily removed.”

There are several types of vehicles used for work in the winter. Wide blades were used for untreated areas and heavy work while thin blades that needed compacted or hardened snow were used to transport people. If you are or were an avid sled rider, this is the same principle between a traditional sled with runners and a flat sled or toboggan. Although both types of runners work well on hardened or compacted snow, a traditional sled tends to get stuck in deep snow.

Thin Runner

Wide Runner

To attend church, go to town, or visit with friends, families used either a cutter or a sleigh. A cutter is a small single seat sleigh for one or two people. A cutter was quick and light and usually pulled by a single horse. The small size however, made them impractical for a family. Families used a sleigh that usually had at least two seats and were pulled by one or two horses. Both sleighs and cutters worked best with only a few inches of unpacked snow or on packed snow.

Albany Cutter

Russian-Style Sleigh

Many buggies and smaller wheeled vehicles had interchangeable runners so that they could be used year 'round. Our mail wagon has a set of these interchangeable runners allowing it to be used throughout the year. Farmers also had a set of bobsled runners that could be used to replace the wheels on most farm wagons. Bobsleds had wide blade runners that allowed farmers to continue to work around their farms throughout the winter. One important job was the harvesting of wood for fireplaces and sawmills.

Bobsled

These winter items along with information about ice harvesting are featured in a special exhibit in the museum. We hope that you will stop by when we open this spring to see these and other newly featured items throughout the museum.

Winter Comfort Foods

2012-01-24T07:59:00.000-05:00

By Shellee Murcko, Education Assistant/Foodways Supervisor

Winter weather has finally arrived in Northwest Ohio. The brisk winds brought chilling temperatures and a smattering of snow. A warm evening at home sounds delightful and we crave warm, comforting foods to chase away the chill.

Soups and stews are ever-popular traditional winter foods. Casseroles evolved from the pot pies of the past. (Did you know that chicken pot pies from the Colonial era were made with whole pieces of chicken, including the bones?) Other dishes, like macaroni and cheese, have their roots in centuries-old recipes, but have changed a great deal from those early versions.

Well into the twentieth century, most people consumed foods that were locally produced and preserved or seasonally available. The settlers in Northwest Ohio were no exception. Winter diets from early 1800s would have included times of hunger, and a monotonous diet based on dried grains, vegetables and fruits, meat from hunting and root crops. When the railroads came into the area, things started to change. More settlers came and many communities were organized. Local general stores, bakeries, butchers and others set up shops. By the turn of the twentieth century, seasonal foods from other areas were shipped in by rail, including oysters and oranges in the midwinter months. Many journals were published that spread recipes and ideas of more gracious entertaining throughout the country. As immigrants from different countries mixed in communities, so did their foods. People developed tastes for a more varied diet than ever before.

Our Foodways program at the Historic Village has been active throughout the winter researching and experimenting with historic cooking techniques and offering a variety of cooking classes. The next scheduled class is a Meatloaf class on February 21. Check out our website for the updated list of class offerings throughout the winter and spring seasons. We are also offering custom classes, where a group of four or more individuals can register for a class of their choice from a list and the instructor will contact them to arrange a class time and tailor the class to fit the group. It will be a fun activity for family members, small groups or several friends to share and always includes foods to share that evening and more to take home. We would also like to share a few recipes to bring you warmth throughout the several cold weeks until the fires are once again burning in our hearths and we see you at Sauder Village.

The first is based on an 1850s recipe for Chocolate from The Modern Housewife Or Menagere, by Alexis Soyer. Chocolate was first consumed as a drink by the Olmecs and later Aztecs of Central America. It was taken to Europe by Spaniards in the 1500’s, where it was prepared in a more diluted form (It was very expensive.) and spread throughout Europe. Thomas Jefferson developed a taste for it as ambassador to France, and brought a large supply and chocolate-making equipment to Monticello. Chocolate candy bars weren’t perfected until 1847 in England and baking with chocolate became popular even later.

The next recipes feature several winter vegetables. Have you tried parsnips? These look like white carrots and can be prepared quickly and deliciously by peeling, and slicing into strips like thin French fries. Place in a frying pan with deep, hot oil and stir until lightly browned and cooked through. Their sweetness tastes great with just a little salt. Soups are always great winter foods. They warm you from the inside out, the steam helps relieve a stuffy head and the broth soothes a dry or irritated throat. And finally, Anna’s Potatoes and Pork Chops is baked together in one dish with a creamy, gooey sauce.

Chocolate
This will make two cups of Chocolate. You need to buy a bar of very good quality dark chocolate, above 80 percent, to make this an authentic drink, and follow the correct method to make it. Chocolate has been made this way since the 1700’s.
Ingredients:
2 ½ cups (full fat) milk
3.5 ounces of good quality 80% dark chocolate – scraped or chopped into bits
2 tbsp of water
2 tablespoons brown sugar
Put two heavy based saucepans on a medium heat.
In one saucepan add a few inches of water, and put a heat proof glass mixing bowl over it so it does not touch the water. Into the glass bowl add the chopped dark chocolate and two tablespoons of water, the chocolate should melt gently in the bowl over the steam, stir only occasionally.
In the second saucepan add the milk and bring it to just under a boil, then stir in the sugar. Note: the sugar can be left out entirely for individuals to add to their own taste when served. By melting the chocolate this way, and not adding it straight into the milk to melt, you will achieve a much creamier and smoother hot chocolate drink, and it is well worth the extra washing up.
Once the sugar has dissolved into the milk, and the milk is at the boil, and the chocolate has melted in the glass bowl, stir the milk into the chocolate, a little at a time. Keep the bowl over the steam and stir continuously for a few minutes until everything has mixed in well.
Pour (or ladle) the hot chocolate drink into heat proof mugs or glasses, allow to cool slightly and drink warm.

Vegetable Soup
1 soup bone
2 lbs. stewing beef
2 quarts water
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup chopped celery
1 cup tomatoes
other vegetables (See below; to your family’s taste or what’s on hand)
2 tsp. salt
black pepper

Into 2 qts. of water put soup bone and beef and boil for 2 hours. For a hearty, substantial soup, cut up the meat in small pieces and return to the broth. Add tomatoes, onions and celery. Also add other available vegetables, such as diced potatoes, carrots, turnip, string beans, corn, peas, cabbage or chopped peppers. Boil until all vegetables are tender.

Anna’s Potatoes and Pork Chops
4-6 porkchops, about 4 ounces each
About 5 pounds potatoes, washed, peeled and sliced (like scalloped potatoes)
1 quart of whipping cream (or half and half)
milk as needed
2 tablespoons butter, cut in pieces
Minced, dried onion
Dried Parsley
Dried Tarragon
Mild Hungarian Paprika
Sea salt and pepper to taste

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
2. Deeply brown your pork chops in a little oil. Set aside.
3. Grease a 13 x 9 inch pan and sprinkle over the bottom: ¼ teaspoon parsley, ¼ teaspoon dried tarragon, ¼ teaspoon paprika, ¼ teaspoon salt and a few shakes of pepper.
4. Places sliced potatoes in the pan in several layers. In between each layer sprinkle a few shakes of paprika and a couple pinches of salt.
5. Over the top layer of potatoes, scatter the butter pieces and ¼ teaspoon parsley, ¼ teaspoon paprika, ¼ teaspoon salt and a few shakes of pepper.
6. As the top layer, place the pork chops in a flat row.
7. Carefully pour a quart of whipping cream (or half and half) over the potatoes. They should have cream up a little higher than level to the layer of the meat. (If needed, you can add some milk to bring it just over the pork chops.)
8. Bake at 350 degrees, uncovered, for about an hour until the potatoes are cooked through and there are rich brown patches over the top of the potatoes.

Retreats Abound at Sauder Village

2012-01-16T06:45:00.003-05:00

By Dawn Hauter, Marketing & Special Events Coordinator

A chance to get away, to learn something new, to beat the winter doldrums, to connect with friends and make new ones, to eat delicious food…these are just a few of the reasons people come to retreats at Sauder Village.

Held in the Sauder Heritage Inn, retreats offer a spacious, beautiful setting to unwind and finish projects.

Two retreats will be held in February. For rug hooking enthusiasts, a Rug Hook-In will be held February 3-4, and for knitters, a Knitter’s Retreat will be held February 10-11.

Rug Hook-In

Barbara Branch and Paula Coy, mother and daughter from Detroit, Michigan, will travel to Sauder Village to attend the Rug Hook-In for a second time.

“This is another way for us to do mother/daughter activities,” shared Barbara. “My daughter is busy running a business and raising a family, so we schedule two or three weekends a year to get away. One of those trips is to Sauder Village. We enjoy spending time rug hooking. The accommodations are wonderful—we especially like the hot tub—and the food is always great.”

Knitter’s Retreat

Knitters from the tri-state area as well as Ontario, Canada, will convene on February 10 for a weekend of knitting classes and fellowship at the second annual Knitter’s Retreat.

The retreat features knitting classes taught by Georgienne Westrick, Gail Richardson, and Lorie Konopka, as well as amazing door prizes donated by yarn shops throughout the region.

A few spaces are still available in the Rug Hook-In and Knitter’s Retreat. (Our ever-popular Quilters Retreat, scheduled for March 2-4, is full.)

Click here for more details about the Rug Hook-in

Click here for more details about the Knitter's Retreat.

Happy New Year!

2012-01-09T13:50:00.000-05:00

While the Historic Village may be closed for the winter, Sauder Village is still buzzing with activity! Construction projects are taking place, plans are being made for the upcoming season and guests continue to join us for shopping, unique classes, dining, and a great overnight get-away.

As we look forward to the 2012 season we plan to make our Sauder Village blog an even more interesting place for you to visit! We’ll be sharing stories about our classes, special events, cooking and artifacts. You can also look for behind-the scenes photos, gardening tips, volunteer opportunities and more! We may even try using some video clips to help share our stories.

For today, here’s a look at a project we’re working on this winter (thank goodness for mild weather!) in preparation for opening day!

Thanks to the funding support provided by the Anderson Foundation and the Sauder Stewardship Foundation, we have been able to proceed with a “Pathways Improvement Project” in the Historic Village. The first part of this project is to widen the “center circle” to improve traffic flow around the Village Green. As the size of wheelchairs and strollers has widened and the use of motorized scooters has become more prevalent over the years, our guests have often been forced to walk off the edge of the sidewalk to get around others (you may recall that gravel was used around the center circle sidewalk last season to cover up the muddy areas). Since we are committed to continuing to “do things right” we are pleased to be widening this walkway to better accommodate our guests and improve safety – while maintaining the charm and atmosphere of the Village Green.

We are grateful for the financial support that make projects like this a reality!

Apple Butter Making - A Fall Tradition

2011-09-21T10:31:00.008-04:00

Produced in the fall as a way to preserve part of the apple crop, apple butter was historically a community project – bringing families and neighbors together each fall. Again this year, guests of all ages will gather to celebrate this time-honored fall tradition at Sauder Village (Wed. Sept. 21 – Sat. Sept. 24).

The highlight of the week takes place in the 1910 Homestead where the delicious apple butter is made. Guests can enjoy apple schnitzing demonstrations in the homestead cellar and then watch as gallons of apple cider and bushels of the thinly sliced apples are simmered over an open fire and stirred until the mixture reduces to form the thick, sweet spread.

“For our ancestors, surviving the winter was really a year ‘round activity,” shared Andi Erbskorn, curator of education. “Crops were planted, food was harvested, meat was hunted and all was preserved with an eye towards the long winter months ahead. That’s what our costumed staff focuses on in the fall, especially during our Apple Butter Making Week.”

Another way to preserve apples was to press them into cider. Throughout the week the historic wooden press will be put to use to make apple cider. The apple cider is then used in the historic village to make apple butter as well as later on to make vinegar and jellies. There will be many other apple-related activities taking place throughout the week as well. Guests can try packing apples in barrels for winter storage and watch apple cooking demonstrations in some of the historic homes. New this year, guests can also watch as costumed guides make apple pectin – the ingredient that makes jelly “gel”. Apple cores and peels are boiled to make syrup which is then added to fruits to make jams and jellies.

We hope you’ll join us for this fun-filled autumn event at Sauder Village! If you’d like to try making some apple butter in your home, here’s a recipe we often share with teachers looking to continue the experience in their classroom! Why not do the same thing with your children at home – try making some apple butter in your own kitchen. Enjoy!

Aunt Vicky's Crock-pot Apple Butter... a modern version of a traditional rural favorite

2 c. cider
10 c. unsweetened applesauce ***
3 c. sugar
1 t. cinnamon
1/4 t. allspice

Reduce cider to 1 cup by boiling it. Combine and stir all ingredients in crock-pot and cook uncovered 6 to 8 hours on high setting. Let your children take turns stirring so that the apple butter doesn't burn.

The amount of moisture in the applesauce determines when the apple butter will be done. To tell when it is finished, spoon some on a saucer. If juice runs out, it is not done.

*** To make the applesauce: Macintosh apples and apple juice work best. You may need (6) 3 lb. bags of apples to make 10 cups of sauce. The day before you plan on making the apple butter, cook the sliced and cored apples in some apple juice in a crock-pot until soft and put through a sieve.

This fresh apple butter is best on homemade bread. Delicious!

2011-08-15T07:59:00.004-04:00

As we celebrate our 35th Anniversary, Sauder Village is excited about this special time in our history. We reflect on the many things that make Sauder Village such a remarkable destination . . . our continued commitment to history, hospitality, creativity and fun.

To help commemorate this special occasion we have created a special page on our website that highlights the many wonderful things we have accomplished over the years. The sections include a story about our 35th Anniversary, a Timeline that shares how Sauder Village evolved over the past 35 years, Our People section highlighting some of the special people that have helped over the years and the Media section that shares newspaper articles sharing stories from the past.

Click here to view our 35th Anniversary Page. We hope you enjoy this special section of our website and will make plans to join us yet this fall for a memorable get-away!

Cheers of "Huzza" will fill the air!

2011-07-28T06:55:00.014-04:00

This weekend we are thrilled to be hosting our first “Vintage Base Ball Invitational” at Sauder Village. On Saturday afternoon (July 30th), guests can watch as the great Black Swamp Frogs from Toledo, the Ohio Village Muffins of Columbus, along with the Spiegel Grove Squires from Fremont take the field for a vintage base ball tournament using rules from the late 19th century.

Wondering what those rules and customs might be? We thought we’d help you get ready for the games by sharing just a bit of history as well as some rules and customs from the 1860s.

The New York Knickerbockers, the first club to write down the rules of what has become modern baseball, organized their team in 1845 in the Lower Manhattan area of New York City. Base ball soon began to spread with other clubs forming along the East Coast. The Civil War promoted the growth of the game as soldiers played base ball for recreation in their free time in camp. When the war was over, dozens of new clubs were formed throughout the Midwest. The emphasis in the early game was on courtesy among the gentlemen and occasionally, ladies. Historically only a few rules governed a match with the rest left up to the players’ sense on honor and good sportsmanship. Club players conducted themselves in a sportsmanlike manner that created an atmosphere where spectators cheered for good plays by either team.

Historically (and this weekend at Sauder Village), the fans cheer teams on with loud "huzzas" for a good play by either side and running to first would be urged by, "Leg it, leg it, leg it." Hand shakes from opponents and a good word are earned by a ballist making an exceptional play. We hope you'll join us this weekend for fun-filled Vintage Base Ball Invitational at Sauder Village!

Want to learn more about Rules of the 1860s and customs of the time? Visit the Ohio Village Muffins website!

Historic Gardens

2011-07-19T07:56:00.042-04:00

Ask Susan Burkhart to name her favorite garden at Sauder Village, and she’s hard-pressed to choose just one. “All of the gardens have a unique story,” she said, “Each one was designed to depict the family who lives in the adjacent home.”

Responsible for the design and maintenance of ten gardens throughout the Village, Susan has meticulously researched the plants that would have comprised gardens of the 1800s. “The white cucumbers are harvesting now, and the ground cherries will be coming in a few weeks,” she noted.

Many plants have come from heirloom seeds given to us by our guests. “Often, families will have seeds that have been passed down from generations, for varieties of plants that are not readily available today. We welcome seeds that people share with us, and guests enjoy seeing their families’ plants growing in our gardens,” she reports.

On your next visit to Sauder Village, be sure to spend a few moments enjoying the traditional gardens, taking a horticultural tour through time.

By Dawn Hauter, Special Events Coordinator

Canning jars were set on fence posts of the gardens of yesteryear. Heat from the sun sterilized the jars and the gardener could easily see how many jars were available for canning produce.

Pot marigolds were a frequent addition to gardens of the past, their petals were made into dye that would be used for fabric, and even to color butter.

Some question why we allow plants to go to seed, when modern gardeners snip their plants to avoid it. Historically, some plants were allowed to go to seed as the seeds were needed to plant future crops.

Flowers graced vegetable gardens of the past, bringing in bees that would pollinate the plants. This saved the lady of the house the chore of hand-pollinating the plants. Flowers served a dual purpose, as they were then dried, to be used as Christmas decorations later in the year.

Named because they grow close to the ground rather than in trees, ground cherries produce a seedy, marble-sized fruit that was used to make jams and pies.

Grown for their medicinal properties, herbs were commonly planted in family gardens of long ago. Fennel, Chamomile, and other herbs grace the borders of this garden.

Children are encouraged to explore the garden at Little Pioneers Homestead, learning how food goes from garden to dinner table.

White cucumbers and squash are ready to harvest.

The pumpkin patch will be filled with large Connecticut Field Pumpkins this fall.

Naturalization Ceremony - A Meaningful Way to Celebrate Independence Day

2011-07-01T07:23:00.018-04:00

We are so excited to be hosting the Citizenship Naturalization Ceremony of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, July 4, 2011. Fifty-eight immigrants will become United States citizens on this day, the 235th anniversary of our nation’s independence. Requirements that these people have fulfilled to get to this last step in the process include having been a legal resident of the United States for at least 5 years, passing a background check, and taking a test on how our government works.

Sauder Village is the perfect setting for this ceremony, because every day we tell the stories of the early settlers who came from Europe and settled here. Although times have changed, and we think today’s immigrants have it easy compared to those who came earlier, we know that they have faced obstacles and have had to make tough decisions just like our early settlers did. At some point those pioneers had to decide to leave a way of life they knew, to come to a country which they were unfamiliar with, and to learn a new way of life. Like them, these new citizens had to leave their extended families and friends and “start over”. They bring with them rich ingredients from their many cultures, which enrich our culture and make our country what it is today. The immigrant story is repeated with these 58 people from 34 different countries continuing to come and settle here.

The ceremony is one that every American should witness at some point in their lives. It is the best way to celebrate our Independence and to appreciate the wonderful country that is ours. It truly is an experience you’ll never forget.

For more information about the 4th of July Holiday Weekend at Sauder Village visit our website!

By Kris Jemmott, Director of Historic Village Operations

Sauder Village 35th Anniversary!

2011-06-17T08:39:00.007-04:00

The sound of children’s laughter from a horse-drawn carriage. The smell of biscuits baking in a wood-fired stove. The ring of a hammer striking the anvil and the sight of families gathering together to have fun in the past. These are the sights and sounds guests experienced in the early years of Sauder Village and the very same experiences our guests enjoy today! As we commemorate our 35th Anniversary this season, we’re celebrating Erie’s Dream… a dream that started so many years ago as he drew up plans for a museum on the back of a napkin. A dream that came to life as he moved buildings, hired employees and welcomed guests on that very first day back in 1976. A dream that continues today with many of those first employees and family members still involved at Sauder Village.

As we celebrate this special time in our history, we reflect on what makes Sauder Village such a remarkable destination… our continued commitment to history, hospitality, creativity and fun. While Erie may not have used those same words back in 1976, those thoughts were the cornerstone of his intention and vision for Sauder Village. Erie wanted to tell the history of the early settlers in this area so that future generations would never forget the struggles and determination of our ancestors. He wanted the Village to be easily accessible,comfortable and full-service, with each guest treated with the utmost in hospitality. He wanted visitors to be inspired by creativity and history in action and he wanted the experience to be friendly and fun for the whole family.

Through the years we have added new buildings, new activities and new faces (and yet some faces have been here since opening day!) We’ve added events, expanded our educational outreach, created regional partnerships and positioned Sauder Village as one of the top living-history destinations in the state of Ohio.

“Years ago we would sit around the dinner table listening to Erie share his dreams and plans about a place where he’d bring history to life and I was inspired to get involved,” recalls Carolyn Sauder, board member and Executive Director Emeritus. “It has been an honor to be a part of the Sauder Village team since the beginning and so exciting to watch the Village develop through the years. From the Inn expansion, Little Pioneers Homestead, and Natives and Newcomers to Pioneer Settlement and new special events - each new idea brings vitality to the Village.”

And yet with all that is new and improved, the key to our success has been staying true to what Erie started so many years ago. “We want our guests to know we’re just so glad they came,” Debbie Sauder David, Executive Director, recalls her grandfather sharing. “That same sentiment rings true today at Sauder Village.”

With the creation of a long range master plan in 2001, Sauder Village now has a road map for the development of the complex. “Our master plan has been an invaluable tool as we plan for the future,” Debbie added.

As we celebrate our 35th Anniversary, we’re pleased to realize how far we’ve come and yet how our mission has remained the same. Let’s take a moment to celebrate the tremendous growth that has taken place and offer a sincere thank you to those involved in our success. It has taken everyone – paid staff, volunteers, members, community supporters, vendors, and guests – to make Sauder Village one of the premiere living-history destinations in the Midwest! We look forward to what the next 35 years will bring – stay tuned!

Celebrate Memorial Day Weekend at Sauder Village

2011-05-23T08:26:00.010-04:00

Memorial Day weekend historically marks the start of the summer vacation season. Families will be piling into minivans for a weekend get-away and Sauder Village is prepared to welcome guests from across the Midwest interested in making special memories together this holiday weekend.

Sauder Village is one of the time-honored family getaways in the Midwest. What was once thought of as a day-trip, however, has now become a multi-day destination. Families come to stay at the Inn or Campground, play in the pool, enjoy great food, and make special memories while visiting the Historic Village.

We hope you enjoy this short video clip that showcases the Sauder Village experience and will plan a visit soon to enjoy all we have to offer!

Memorial Day Weekend Details:
Historic Sauder Village will be open Saturday, Sunday and Monday for the holiday weekend. Hours are Saturday, May 28 from 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., Sunday from noon-4:00 p.m. and Monday, May 30 from 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.. Veterans and active military (with valid military ID) will receive free admission throughout the holiday weekend and on Sunday only, kids 16 and under receive free admission.

At the Barn Restaurant, a special Holiday Brunch will be served on Monday, May 30 from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. This brunch has become a family tradition in the community with great choices like made-to-order omelets, waffles, crepes and pancakes; pork loin, biscuits and gravy, Barn Chicken, home fries, fresh fruit, pastries and a chocolate fountain. With the personalized service and large selection, this holiday brunch is a great way to celebrate Memorial Day.

Our Country Get-away Package is an affordable way to enjoy an overnight stay, a meal at the Barn Restaurant and a visit to Historic Sauder Village. While the Campground is nearly booked for the Holiday Weekend, rooms are still available at the Sauder Heritage Inn. For more information about packages, to check availability or make a reservation, call 1-800-590-9755 or 419-446-2541.

Take time this Holiday Weekend to relax and enjoy time with family and friends by planning a fun-filled get-away to Sauder Village.

Civil War 150th Anniversary

2011-05-12T09:12:00.000-04:00

This year marks the 150th anniversary of the start of the American Civil War. To help us remember that historic event, and to review the impact the war had on our country, state and local communities, Sauder Village will host a lecture series and open a new Civil War exhibit in the Museum Building.

April 12, 1861 is an important historical date that may not ring a bell for many of us today. At 4:30 that morning, a cannon ball was fired at the federal fort in Charleston Harbor, Fort Sumter, marking the beginning of the American Civil War. “Blood, Sweat and Tears: How the Civil War Touched Northwest Ohio,” is a new exhibit at Sauder Village. This special display will examine the national, regional and local impact of the war. The exhibit will explore the ways Ohioans participated in the war and what was happening on the home front. Guests can learn about what affect the war had on the lives of the women and children left at home and how families communicated with the soldiers and received news about the war.

“The Civil War touched each person’s life whether they served or not and affected their daily activities,” shared Tracie Evans, Curator of Collections at Sauder Village. “The soldier’s area of the exhibit will include an overview of the war, Ohio’s role, companies and regiments from Northwest Ohio and how soldiers made the decision to serve. The Homefront area will look closely at the role of women during the war, relief organizations, daily life, agriculture and dealing with loss.”

The Civil War exhibit in the Museum Building will open on Monday, May 16 with an Open House at 5:00 p.m. – before the start of a special Civil War lecture, “Blood, Tears and Glory: How Ohioans Won the Civil War.” This first lecture in the series will be presented by Dr. James Bissland at 7:30 p.m. at the Sauder Heritage Inn. Dr. Bissland is Associate Professor Emeritus of Journalism at Bowling Green State University and author of the book “Blood, Tears and Glory: How Ohioans Won the Civil War.” The lecture is free and open to the public.

A second lecture will be held on Monday, June 20th at 7:30 p.m. Steve Charter, Head and University Archivist for Archival Collections at Bowling Green State University, will present “Civil War on the Homefront.” Steve will focus on what was happening on the homefront, the economic, political and social climate during the Civil War. What happened while the fathers, sons, husbands and brothers were away? Who was left behind and how did they cope while offering “moral support” to their soldiers. Insight will be gleaned from diaries and letters.

Sauder Village is pleased to be working with the Ohio History Service Corps and a group of local museum and non-profit organizations from Fulton, Williams, Henry and Defiance counties to coordinate the Civil War and War of 1812 activities. For more information about the Civil War Exhibit and Lecture Series at Sauder Village visit: http://www.saudervillage.org/History/Civil_War_Remembrance.asp

For other Civil War events and activities throughout the region visit: http://www.ohiocivilwar150.org/

Sauder Village Open for 2011 Season!

2011-04-27T12:57:00.006-04:00

Opening day at Historic Sauder Village is always a joyous occasion. After a long winter it's great to see the Village buzzing with activity . . . craftsmen at work in their shops, costumed guides sharing stories and guests of all ages having fun in the past.

Again this year we are pleased to kick-off the season with our annual Quilt Show. During the six-day Quilt Show both traditional and modern interpretations of quilts are represented. It has been an honor to showcase the talents of so many accomplished quilters for the past 35 years and we look forward to celebrating their fine craftsmanship for many years to come.

The Quilt Show runs through Sunday, May 1 in Founder's Hall. We hope you enjoy this short video clip featuring photos from this amazing exhibit and will make plans to join us.

Many Hands Make Light Work

2011-04-15T11:43:00.018-04:00

If you think your spring cleaning projects seem exhausting, imagine trying to prepare more than 40 historic homes and shops for guests visiting from around the world! Sound like a daunting task? That’s why we so appreciate the help of volunteers! Today nearly 30 students from Pettisville High School are at the Village as part of a community service project. The Pettisville High School seniors are volunteering in the Village as a way to give back to the community before they graduate. Students have been raking and pruning, mudding the Lauber Shelter in Pioneer Settlement and washing windows and porches on historic buildings. Other groups of students are dusting, bagging candy and pricing new merchandise in Lauber’s General Store. As a non-profit organization, we truly appreciate the nearly 160 hours of service these hard-working students have contributed to Sauder Village. Thank you! Interested in getting involved? If your organization is looking to give back to the community we hope you’ll consider getting involved at Sauder Village. Projects will vary depending on the group size and time of the year, but we’d love to have you give us a call to discuss the opportunities! Please contact Kris Jemmott at 419.446.2541 to see how you can help make a difference at Sauder Village.

Opening Day Two Months Away!

2011-03-01T08:44:00.009-05:00

With the sun shining here in NW Ohio, thoughts soon turn to opening day at the Historic Village. After a long winter we're always excited to welcome back our many employees and volunteers who work in the historic homes, shops and craft buildings. We also look forward to many spring field trips with students from the tri-state area visiting our living-history village as well as the start of the summer travel season - bringing families from throughout the Midwest (and around the world!) to Sauder Village.

Are you currently making plans for your summer vacation? We hope you'll consider joining us often throughout the season! A Sauder Village membership is an affordable way to enjoy fun and educational experiences all year long! You'll also be helping support our non-profit organization. Visit our Membership page for more details: http://saudervillage.org/Membership_Support/membership.asp

To help with planning your visit be sure to visit the events page on our website. We have a great schedule of special events planned for 2011 with something to interest almost everyone! http://saudervillage.org/Creativity/events.asp

We certainly hope you'll extend your stay at Sauder Village and in Ohio! Enjoy an overnight stay at the Heritage Inn or Campground and visit some other great attractions in Archbold, Northwest Ohio and throughout the Buckeye State. There are many other great resources to help you plan your visit and discover new vacation ideas. We hope some of these websites help. Happy travels. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Helpful Travel Websites for planning an Ohio vacation . . .

Ohio Department of Travel & Tourism: http://consumer.discoverohio.com/

Ohio Dept. of Travel & Tourism blog: http://discoveringohio.com/

Toledo Visitors Bureau: http://www.dotoledo.org/gtcvb/

Archbold Chamber of Commerce: http://www.archbold.com/

Do you have some other suggestions? Please post a comment with links to travel websites you've found helpful!

Pretzels, Jellies & Hot Cross Buns

2011-02-11T14:01:00.015-05:00

Get a Taste of History at Sauder Village!

While historic cooking demonstrations and hands-on opportunities to make butter, ice-cream and noodles are an important part of the living-history experience at Sauder Village, in 2011 there will be even more occasions for guests to learn traditional cooking skills. The “Taste of History” food classes at Sauder Village will provide class participants the chance to make home-made pretzels, Hot Cross Buns, jams and jellies.

“We’re thrilled to be adding so many unique food classes to our Class Schedule,” shared Andi Erbskorn, Curator of Education. “There seems to be an increased interest in getting back to the basics with cooking and people are really interested in learning to make some traditional recipes and enjoy hearing the stories that go along with them.”

One of the new classes being offered this spring is “Do the Twist! Pretzel Making and History for Families.” Pretzels were rewards for good students, hidden like Easter Eggs, used in marriage ceremonies and served as treats on special occasions. In this fun-filled class, children and their adults will work together to mix dough, form pretzels in traditional shapes and bake them to enjoy together at the end of the class and take some home. The class will be held on Saturday, March 26 from 9:30-11:30 a.m. and the fee is $12.00 plus a $5.00 supply fee.

While many people may sing along to “Hot Cross Buns,” few know much about the history of this traditional food. In the class “Hot Cross Buns and Easter Breads,” participants can try baking these delicious, traditional breads from scratch. Each class participant will take home round braided Italian Easter bread with colored eggs entwined in the braids, a lemony Ukrainian Easter Bread and Hot Cross Buns. European bread making traditions and stories will also be shared during the class. This hands-on class will be held on Saturday, April 16 from 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. The class fee is $20.00 with a $9.00 supply fee.

Finally, Sauder Village staff will be offering a “Jams and Jellies” class this spring. On Tuesday, May 17 from 6:00-9:00 p.m. students will make three different jams and jellies using cooked and frozen methods of preparation. Each person will take home three jars of jam and jelly made by the class that evening. The fee for this class is $18.00 with a $10.00 supply fee.

In addition to the “Taste of History” food classes, Sauder Village is also offering classes in quilting, blacksmithing, finger weaving and knitting. The spring schedule also includes classes about tea, wreath-making, brooms, felted bags and rug hooking.

All Sauder Village classes require pre-registration and pre-payment. Class descriptions and registration information is available online at http://saudervillage.org/Creativity/classschedule.aspSpecial rates are available for Sauder Village members. Registration can be completed on the secure Sauder Village website or by calling 800.590.9755 or 419.446.2541.

Take time to learn something new this year! Experience a taste of history, explore a heritage craft or plan a fun-filled get-away with your family this summer. Enjoy all that Sauder Village has to offer - Ohio’s largest living history destination right here in Northwest Ohio!

Meet the People - a New Feature for 2011

2011-01-18T14:14:00.018-05:00

Since our Historic Village is closed for the cold and snowy winter, we thought it might be fun to "meet some people from the past" on our blog. These short articles will provide a more in-depth look at some of the people who lived in Northwest Ohio in the early 1800s. We hope you enjoy the articles and will make plans to join us in the spring to experience the lives of these pioneers at Historic Sauder Village.

And now, let's meet our first pioneer . . .
Anna Sauder Witmer-Roth

By 1844, Wayne County, Ohio was a settled area with several well-established Amish communities, but newlyweds Anna and Peter Witmer chose to leave their comfortable life there and travel to the frontier. Anna’s father, Henry Souder (Sauder) had purchased land in Cedar Creek Township, Allen County, Indiana in 1837 and it was to this property that the Witmers moved.

Cedar Creek Township’s first permanent settler had arrived in 1834. By the time Anna and Peter reached the area in 1844 there was a store, a school and the first road had been surveyed. They made their journey while Anna was pregnant and in November their first child, Barbara, was born. By then Peter had built them a log house with one large main floor room where most of the family’s living was done. A lower level contained the kitchen/eating space. However, there was no interior connection between these two levels, so Anna had to go outside in all weather when traveling from the living area to the kitchen. The loft over the main room would have been used for "cold" sleeping, as there was no heat.

Anna and Peter prospered on the frontier. The 1850 Agricultural Census reports Peter owning 160 acres of land, raising wheat, Indian corn and oats and owning a team of horses and a team of oxen. In that same year their daughter, Ann, was born giving them three sons and three daughters. And then on August 5, 1851 tragedy struck. Peter died suddenly and Anna was left a widow with six children under the age of seven and a farm to run.

At this time in history, women who were widowed frequently fell into dire straits. They were often unable to keep their family together and lost everything. However, Anna was fortunate. Within a year, she married Benedict Roth. Benedict was a good provider and the farm continued to prosper. Together they would raise Anna’s six children from her first marriage and have nine of their own.

Anna’s youngest son Henry remembered how hard his mother worked to make a good life for her family. She had an outdoor bake oven and would bake as many as 15 loaves of bread at a time, as well as pies and cakes. Anna was also a spinner. She spun and plied wool from the family sheep. In the cold winter months she would knit mittens and other clothing for her family.

Anna lived a remarkable life. She made the long trip to unsettled Cedar Creek Township and worked hard to raise 15 children. She saw many changes in her lifetime. Anna lived to be nearly 80 years old. When she died, in 1904, she was one of the oldest original settlers of Cedar Creek Township. She was survived by 12 of her 15 children, 83 grandchildren and 35 great-grandchildren. Many of her descendants today still remember her from shared stories and family histories.

Pictures: Anna Sauder Witmer-Roth with her granddaughter Emma. Also, the Witmer-Roth home, which guests can visit at Pioneer Settlement.

Video: This short video clip shows photos of the restored Witmer-Roth home, an outdoor bake oven and garden where costumed guides share Anna Sauder Witmer-Roth's story. Have you visited the Witmer-Roth home at Pioneer Settlement yet? What are your thoughts about this home and the new addition to Sauder Village? Can you imagine raising 15 children in that small home? If you haven't visited Pioneer Settlement yet, we hope you will join us this season to walk through this home and experience the daily lives of the early pioneers.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

2010-12-19T06:14:00.006-05:00

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire . . . .

As the hustle and bustle of the holiday season continues, we want to take a moment to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. We have enjoyed the opportunity to share photos, recipes, stories and more with you on our Sauder Village blog and look forward to even more unique opportunities to share our stories in 2011.

During this week before Christmas, we hope you'll take time to step back and appreciate the simple things in life during the holiday season. Read a special story with a child or grandchild. String popcorn or make a gingerbread house. Take time to visit a neighbor or even just call a long-lost friend. Enjoy the sites, sounds and smells of the holiday season as you make special memories that will last a lifetime.

Perhaps you can even experience some of the holiday songs you hear this time of the year . . . try roasting some chestnuts with our recipe below, make your own snowman, deck the halls and be sure to enjoy and celebrate a silent night. Merry Christmas to all from the staff at Sauder Village.

Oven Roasted Chestnuts
Things You'll Need:
Chestnuts & Salt
Baking Sheets, Paring Knives

Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Clean off chestnuts. Use a sharp paring knife to cut an X into one side of each chestnut, or prick chestnuts with a fork to allow steam to escape. Arrange chestnuts on a baking sheet or in a shallow pan, with the cut or pricked sides up. Roast in oven for 15 to 25 minutes, or until chestnuts are tender and easy to peel. Peel the nuts when they are cool enough to handle, and enjoy.

Your Contributions Are Important

2010-12-01T11:12:00.012-05:00

In these challenging economic times, being good stewards of our resources is a necessity. Fortunately this is a traditional value at Sauder Village, and one of the guiding principles of our founder, my grandpa, Erie Sauder.

We continue to follow his example of combining constant innovation and seeking better ways to make the most positive impact with the support received from generous people. Through gifts and involvement, Sauder Village can continue to serve as a vibrant educational resource and a welcoming place for families to have fun creating memories together.

As you plan your year-end donations to the organizations that mean the most to you, I hope you will be inspired to make a gift to Sauder Village. I am deeply grateful for your interest and support. It means a lot to me and to the future of Sauder Village.

With sincere thanks,
Debbie Sauder David, Executive Director

Make your donation online!

Whether your contribution is $25 or $2500, know that together we can make a collective difference in sustaining and enriching the Sauder Village experience for generations to come.

Gifts of all sizes make a difference and help to:

- Continue a first-class educational resource in this region.
- Keep admission affordable for school children and families
- Enable students to experience their best learning by “getting their hands on history”
- Provide talented craftspeople who demonstrate traditional crafts that inspire
- Make it possible to offer engaging activities and programs that multiple generations can enjoy together
- Offer a youth volunteer program where students gain confidence and maturity
- Allow for personalized experiences through costumed interpreters who make the stories of the past relevant to our lives today
- Ensure that the lessons learned from the past will never be lost
- Create the perfect place where all ages can spend quality time together in an atmosphere that is just plain fun!

Please consider making a donation to the Sauder Village Annual Fund today and be part of celebrating the past while inspiring the future!

We're Thankful For . . .

2010-11-19T08:47:00.016-05:00

As we look forward to the Thanksgiving Holiday, we thought it would be appropriate to share some thoughts about all that we’re thankful for here at Sauder Village. We hope you enjoy this short list and perhaps you’ll even take time to share with us why you’re thankful for Sauder Village. We’d love to hear from you!

At Sauder Village we are thankful for . . .

. . . the many employees and volunteers who help to provide memorable experiences for our guests.

. . . the thousands of guests who join us each season – to visit the Historic Village, enjoy great shopping, delicious food or a relaxing, overnight get-away!

. . . our founder, Erie Sauder, and the leadership team that has continued his dream for the future of Sauder Village.

. . . our members who choose to be a part of Sauder Village by enjoying fun and educational experiences all year long and supporting the preservation of the past for generations to come.

. . . our beautiful location in the heart of rural, northwest Ohio and the canopy of trees on the Village Green – creating a beautiful place for guests to relax and enjoy time together.

. . . the teachers who bring their students to Sauder Village each season where the history they read about at school comes to life!

. . . the many craftsmen who share their talents with our guests as they make pottery, glass spheres, baskets, wooden buckets and more!

. . . all of the people who help make our special events such a great success - from teachers and guest artists to individuals participating in our Fiddle Contest or entering a quilt or rug in a special exhibit.

. . . the many donors who help support the efforts of our non-profit organization. From $5 to $5000 – we’re thankful for every gift.

. . . the hundreds of Junior Historians who volunteer their time to help play old-fashioned games, shell corn, make ice-cream, wash clothes and help get our guests involved in activities of yesteryear.

. . . our team of oxen, horses, chickens, goats and other animals that help our guests experience life on the farm.

. . . the many people who choose to shop, eat and stay at Sauder Village – by supporting our for-profit areas you are supporting the non-profit living-history village as well!

. . .everyone we’re connected to online! Thanks for staying connected to all that we’re doing at Sauder Village by following our blog, Facebook or Twitter pages.

The list could go on and on as we are truly thankful for so many things here at Sauder Village. Thank you, enjoy this short video and Happy Thanksgiving!

Stay connected with all that's happening at Sauder Village!

A Recipe for Special Memories

2010-11-02T11:57:00.007-04:00

Traditional foods have long been the cornerstone of holiday celebrations, from breads and cookies to oyster stew, plum pudding and roasted turkey or goose. While we may treasure the tastes and smells of holiday treats, it seems the experience of preparing the holiday feast and gathering together to celebrate is where the real memories are made.

“Years ago, grandmothers and mothers passed down family recipes and advice to the younger generations as ladies gathered together to prepare an elaborate meal for the holidays,” shared Shellee Murcko, Sauder Village Historic Foodways Program. “Thanksgiving meals included many foods as evidence of a bountiful harvest, while Christmas was the time to prepare the choicest foods to celebrate the birth of Christ. Nineteenth century holiday meals often included sweet potatoes, squash, cranberry sauce, oysters, candy canes, sugar plums, Lebkuchen, roasted chestnuts, Stollen, spiced cider and pies.”

While you may not be gathering chestnuts, a fresh goose or the bounty you preserved from your garden for your holiday party – there are still ways to make holiday meals a special tradition for your family.

Take time this year to prepare a meal (or even just a batch of cookies) with your children or grandchildren. While the whole process may take a bit longer, the end result is sure to be priceless. Stay connected to far-away relatives by tucking a copy of your favorite holiday recipe inside your Christmas card this year. Traditional recipes can also make great gifts! Why not make a recipe book that includes some of your holiday favorites or even a shadow box showcasing recipes in your own handwriting. Continue a tradition in your family this holiday season and dust off some old family recipes. Or, try some historic recipes and start a new tradition of your own!

While the menu at holiday meals has evolved through the years, it is food, feast and family that continue to bring us together. This year, make your holiday meals an experience to treasure and savor for years to come!

Check out some great Holiday Recipes on our website!

Stuffed Acorn Squash
INGREDIENTS
1 large acorn squash, halved and seeded
1 cup water
3 tablespoons butter, melted
½ to 1 teaspoon lemon juice
½ teaspoon cinnamon
2 tablespoons brown sugar, firmly packed
1 large tart apple peeled, cored, chopped
¼ cup chopped nuts of your choice

DIRECTIONS:
Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
Place acorn squash, cut side down, in a large baking pan or dish; pour water into bottom of pan around the squash. Bake 20 minutes. Remove from oven. Meanwhile, in a bowl, combine butter, lemon juice, cinnamon, brown sugar, and chopped apples. Divide mixture evenly among partially cooked squash and return to oven for 30 minutes or until tender when flesh is poked with a fork. Sprinkle with chopped nuts to serve. Makes 2 servings.

Handmade Gifts for the Holidays

2010-10-12T11:55:00.021-04:00

If you reminisce about some of the most cherished gifts you have received, chances are a sweater, blender, tie or DVD are not high on your list. But rather, the most cherished gifts are often those with real meaning . . . gifts that were made by hand, gifts that tell a story or preserve a memory for years to come.

In the early 1900s, gifts were made by hand out of necessity. There were no malls and online shopping was unheard of. While some gifts may have been purchased by catalog, many gifts were often hand made. Mothers may have made new clothing as a special gift and men would have carved wooden figurines or toys for their children.

With people of all ages exhibiting a renewed interest in and appreciation for hand-crafted items, one of the top trends in gift giving again this year is homemade gifts. It seems people are revisiting skills they thought they had lost or taking the time to learn something new in order to create a heartfelt gift that will be treasured for years to come. From woodcarving, quilting or knitting to scrapbooking, photography, painting or baking – there are many gift possibilities for you to consider!

Sauder Village has continued that tradition of handmade items by offering classes to learn a new skill. With the many classes we are offering this fall, there are plenty of opportunities for people to learn something new while making a handmade gift. You can learn to knit Christmas socks, make a hooked hot pad, a tatted holiday ornament, or learn hand appliqué. You can also make a holiday wreath, gingerbread house or nativity scene basket.

While making handmade gifts certainly seems to be a new trend, it’s what we’ve been doing for years at Sauder Village. If you think you don’t have the talent or time to make your own gift, the craftsmen at Sauder Village are here to help. The items made by our potter, glassblower, basketmakers, tinsmith and other talented craftsmen are gifts you won’t find at every store in the region. These hand-crafted items are unique to Sauder Village and Northwest Ohio. They are also gifts that are sure to be cherished for years to come.

We see many grandparents come into the Gift Shop to buy wooden toys and games for their grandkids. They see the value in the wooden games, cars and trains. Many customers appreciate that these items are made locally and believe they will be gifts that are shared from one generation to the next. Our guests really seem to value the unique qualities of the items made by our craftsmen and see the value in supporting their talent and sharing it with others.

Why not start your Christmas list early this year and allow time to find just the right gift for those special people in your life. Be creative – make a photo book for your family, share some of the bounty from your garden, take the time to learn something new, and create a treasured keepsake. People love it when it’s obvious their gift required some imagination and creativity. Why not give it a try this holiday season!

Click here to view our Fall/Winter 2010/2011 Catalog!
We’re sure you’ll be inspired to learn something new.

Pioneer Settlement - An Award-Winning Addition!

2010-10-01T18:15:00.016-04:00

Here's some news we just had to share on our blog! If you haven't visited Pioneer Settlement yet, here's one more reason to plan a visit yet this season!

The American Association for State & Local History and the Ohio Association of Historical Societies and Museums recently recognized the accomplishments of Sauder Village with the presentation of two distinguished awards. These state and national organizations honored Pioneer Settlement, the new five-acre addition that opened late last fall, with an “Award of Merit” and a “History Outreach Award”.

The American Association for State & Local History (AASLH) Leadership in History Awards is the most prestigious recognition for achievement in the preservation and interpretation of state and local history. Now in its 65th year, the AASLH awards program was initiated to establish and encourage standards of excellence in the collection, preservation, and interpretation of state and local history throughout the United States. The Leadership in History Awards not only honor significant achievements in the field of state and local history, but also brings public recognition of the opportunities for small and large organizations, institutions and programs to make contributions in this arena.

Kris Jemmott, Director of Historic Village Operations recently accepted the “Award of Merit” at the AASLH Annual Conference in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Awards for 2010 represented 49 organizations and individuals from across the United States. AASLH is a not-for-profit professional organization of individuals and institutions working to preserve and promote history. From its headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee, AASLH provides leadership, service, and support for its members who preserve and interpret state and local history in order to make the past more meaningful in American society.

Sauder Village has also been awarded the “History Outreach Award” from the Ohio Association of Historical Societies and Museums (OAHSM). Tracie Evans, Curator of Collections at Sauder Village, will be accepting the award in Dublin, OH at the OAHSM Annual Meeting and Conference early in October. The OAHSM “History Outreach Awards” recognize outstanding projects that have educational content, have contributed to the promotion and understanding of local and state history and that have had an impact on the community.

The Ohio Association of Historical Societies and Museums, organized in 1960 under sponsorship of the Ohio Historical Society, is composed of local historical societies, historic preservation groups, history museums, archives, libraries, and genealogical societies throughout the state involved in collecting, preserving, and interpreting Ohio's history. OAHSM has led the state in recognizing the excellent programs, and publications produced by Ohio’s historical societies, museums and related organizations, and the people who make them happen.

“It is such an honor to have our Pioneer Settlement addition recognized at both the state and national level,” commented Kris Jemmott, Director of Historic Village Operations. “Even more encouraging are the wonderful comments we receive from our guests about this new addition. Our guests are educated, entertained and inspired as they hear stories about our ancestors building a community in the wilderness based on ingenuity, creativity, hard work and perseverance.”

The historic homes, farms and community buildings at Pioneer Settlement allow guests to experience life in Ohio from 1834 until 1890. While visiting Pioneer Settlement, guests can connect with the past at places like the Lauber Hill Settlement, Log School House, Witmer-Roth Home and the Eicher Cabin. Other historic buildings in this award-winning area include the Jail, Peter Stuckey Farm, Holdeman Church and a new Train Stop. Throughout the season guests can enjoy a rotation of demonstrations including farming with oxen, gardening, spinning, rug hooking and more. Guests also have the opportunity to try hands-on activities like hauling water with a neck yoke, walking the fields with a harrow, gardening, spell downs and more!

Apples . . . A Great Way to Celebrate Fall!

2010-09-22T11:23:00.017-04:00

The aroma of apples and spices mixed with woodfires and falling leaves signals a change of season and Apple Butter Baking at Sauder Village. For the 34th consecutive year, guests can watch as we boil the cider down, add the thinly sliced apples and then cook the homemade apple butter in copper kettles over an open fire. This ever-popular fall event is sure to delight all of your senses with activities including apple butter making, cider pressing, apple cooking demonstrations and hands-on activities.

We’ve posted a video with some highlights of this fall event that runs Sept. 22-25. We also thought we’d share a few of the apple recipes we’ll be preparing in our historic homes throughout the fall. We hope you’ll plan to visit us for Apple Butter Making or one of the other special events we have planned yet this season!

Historic apple recipes to try in your own kitchen . . .

Apple Butter Pie – A recipe from the Lauber Family
1 heaping tablespoon flour (serving spoon)
1 heaping tablespoon sugar (serving spoon)
2 heaping tablespoons apple butter (servings spoons)
2 eggs
½ teaspoon cinnamon
pinch of salt
2 cups milk (1 cup cream and 1 cup 2% milk)

Mix sugar and flour, add next four ingredients then add milk. Pour into crust and bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes or until the center is set.

Apple Pandowdy
Apple Pandowdy is one of a family of simple desserts, known in different parts of the world as cobblers, duffs, grunts, slumps and pandowdies. These desserts have subtle variations, but the base of all of them is fruit baked with a sweet biscuit or cake dough top. The exact origin of the name Pandowdy is unknown, but it is thought to refer to the dessert’s plain or “dowdy” appearance. Looks can be deceiving, apple pandowdy is delicious - especially topped with a bit of ice cream or whipped cream. This dessert is super easy to make, yet wins rave reviews from diners. Try some tonight!

Apple Pandowdy Ingredients:
1 ¼ cup butter
2/3 cup sugar
1 egg
1 cup milk
2 ½ cups flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
4 cups peeled, sliced apples
1/3 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
½ teaspoon nutmeg
whipped cream or ice cream for garnish

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Combine flour, baking powder and salt, set aside. Butter a 9” square baking dish. Place sliced apples in buttered baking dish and sprinkle with a mixture of brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. Cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Mix in egg. Add flour mixture, alternating with milk, beginning and ending with flour mixture to make a stiff batter. Spread batter evenly over apples and bake for about 50 minutes or until golden brown. Cool for at least ten minutes before serving. You can serve this dish right out of the pan or invert it onto a serving plate like an upside-down cake, warm or at room temperature. Top with whipped cream or ice cream.

Apple Grunt
½ cup sugar
2 T butter
1 egg
1 cup flour
½ t. salt
½ t. baking powder
2 c. sliced apples
½ c. sour milk or buttermilk
½ t. vanilla
6 T. brown sugar
1 ½ T. flour
½ t. cinnamon
1 ½ T. butter

Cream sugar and butter together; add egg and mix. Blend flour, salt and baking powder together and add to mixture. Mix soda with milk and vanilla; mix all together. Add apple slices and pour batter into a buttered baking dish. In a separate bowl, combine brown sugar, flour, cinnamon and butter – mixing until crumb texture and sprinkle over apple batter. Bake at 375 degrees F. for 35 to 40 minutes.

Fall Harvest - A Time to Celebrate!

2010-09-01T11:46:00.007-04:00

With corn in the fields, pumpkins in the patch and apples on the trees, it’s harvest time here in Northwest Ohio. For some people, fall harvest means digging potatoes from the garden or picking apples from the orchard. For others it may mean spending hours in a combine to harvest hundreds of acres of corn or soybeans. While methods have changed through the years, fall harvest continues to be a time-honored tradition in this region.

In the mid 1800s, corn, wheat, oats, potatoes and molasses were grown in this area. Because of the difficulty in getting the crop to market, most of the crops were used on the farm. Harvesting was done almost entirely by hand with corn being husked off the stalk or shocked in the field until needed. Grain was cut with a grain cradle and tied into bundles and shocked by hand. Harvesting two or three acres in a day was a big accomplishment.

By the 1880s several inventions made harvesting much easier. Threshing machines replaced flails allowing an entire crop to be done in a day or two instead of weeks. Reapers & binders also made harvesting quicker, and the coming of the railroad in the late 1850s meant that surplus could be shipped out to other markets, Farms got bigger as less time was needed to work each acre. By 1870 the time of our Stuckey Farm, farmers like Peter Stuckey had extra time to start up side businesses like his wagon shop.

By 1928, many of the same crops were still being grown, but in much greater numbers. The threshing machines were now powered by gas tractors instead of steam engines making the process much safer. While wheat and oats enjoyed new innovations, corn was still being hand harvested.

It was not until the late 1940s that better machines and new drying bins made the combine widely popular and more affordable in this part of Ohio. Today oats are not typically grown in this area and soybeans have taken many of the acres that were previously planted in oats. Wheat and corn continue to be major crops in Ohio. With average-sized farm equipment of today, farmers can typically shell 50 acres of corn, 90 acres of soybeans or 50 acres of wheat per day. A big change from the one or two acres of the 1830s.

Traditions like a threshers dinner or special church service like the Harvest Home Service were common ways to celebrate the bounty of the harvest. Throughout the fall, harvest will be a big part of the story we tell at Historic Sauder Village. There will be vegetables to harvest from our garden, apples to pick and use for making tasty apple butter, historic farming demonstrations and more!

While the methods of harvest have changed through the years, the importance of this season has remained steadfast. Fall harvest is a time of thanksgiving and celebration. We hope you’ll take time this fall to celebrate the season and enjoy the bounty of the harvest!

Rug Hooking Week Highlights

2010-08-19T09:33:00.009-04:00

For the past 14 years, rug hookers from across the country have traveled to Ohio for Sauder Village Rug Hooking Week – one of the top rug hooking events in the country. With hundreds of hooked rugs on display, workshops, lectures and special displays – 2010 Rug Hooking Week is again a spectacular celebration of this traditional craft.

Each year the “Sauder Award” is presented to the piece that best exemplifies the spirit and mission of Sauder Village. For 2010 the three-dimensional “Noah’s Ark” received this award. With an overall height of 5’ 7” and weighing more than 300 pounds, this massive project includes more than 104 individual hooked animals and people, and is sure to be an inspiration to guests of all ages. “Noah’s Ark” is one of the many spectacular pieces in the Featured Exhibit – highlighting special pieces by the late Mary Sheppard Burton and Leonard Feenann. The display is an outstanding representation of their creativity, style and advanced techniques. We’re thrilled to have Mary’s granddaughter joining us for the week to help share her grandmother’s stories along with Leonard.

From the “Celebration Rugs," Special Exhibits, Retreat Teacher Exhibits, and “Happy Holiday” Challenge Rugs to the main exhibit featuring U.S. and International works by category – it’s difficult to describe the beauty and creativity on display this week at Sauder Village. Since a picture is worth a thousand words, we’ve created a short video to give you a look inside Founder’s Hall. We’ve also found it interesting to visit this show through the eyes of a rug hooker. Gene Shepherd, one of our retreat teachers for 2010, has posted many photos and thoughts about Rug Hooking Week on his blog: http://geneshepherd.com/blog1/ We hope you’ll take a look at his site as well for a unique look at our special event.

And if you look at these photos and become “hooked”, there’s still time to join us – Sauder Village Rug Hooking week continues through Saturday, August 21st. We hope you’ll join us!

Volunteers Help Bring History Alive at Sauder Village

2010-08-11T13:40:00.005-04:00

For long-time volunteers Jack and Vivian Taylor, time spent at Sauder Village means much more than just giving train rides or selling souvenirs in the Gift Shop. For this special couple, the time they spend together at Sauder Village is an opportunity to meet people from around the world, spend time with special co-workers, and help keep Erie Sauder’s dream alive.

“We just love it at Sauder Village,” Jack and Vivian shared. “The people are wonderful and it is great to be a part of what’s happening at Sauder Village!”

The Taylors are just one example of the hundreds of volunteers who share their time and talents each year at Sauder Village. In 2009, 340 people gave 14,422 hours of their time at Sauder Village.

While the jobs may vary, the volunteer profile remains the same . . . friendly, outgoing individuals, who enjoy working with people! There are opportunities to provide administrative support, help with collections or educational programming, work in the historic gardens or help in the Gift Shop. Volunteers also work as historic interpreters, help with historic trades, and help in the Quilt Shop.

It takes the support of many people to continue the legacy Erie started so many years ago. Volunteers play an integral role at our non-profit organization and we are thankful that so many people throughout the tri-state area share their time and talents at Sauder Village.

Interested in getting involved? Stop by the Sauder Village Welcome Center or give us a call for an application (800.590.9755). We’ll do our best to work with you and your interests to find the best volunteer opportunity for you at Sauder Village!

Become a Part of the Sauder Village Family!

2010-08-03T15:47:00.011-04:00

As we prepare for our annual Member’s Night celebration this evening, we thought it would be appropriate to reflect on the important role members play in continuing our mission at Sauder Village.

Member support helps our non-profit organization to continue preserving and communicating the values and traditions of the early heritage of the Great Black Swamp of Northwest Ohio from 1803 through the turn of the 20th century. The Historic Village provides a unique opportunity to experience rural life and to watch skilled craftsmen at work.

Not only is a membership a great way to enjoy fun and educational experiences all year long, but by becoming a member you are joining others in supporting the preservation of the past for many generations to come. Your membership helps in so many ways, from developing valuable educational programs, to preserving precious objects no longer used in our modern lives to perpetuating fine, hand-made traditional American crafts.

Interested in learning more about how to become part of the Sauder Village family? Visit our website for more details: http://www.saudervillage.org/development/default.asp

Thanks to all of our members and we hope you’ll consider becoming a part of the Sauder Village family!

Sauder Village Craftsmen - Innovation & Inspiration

2010-07-21T12:04:00.009-04:00

To help celebrate our “Explore the Crafts” event today and tomorrow, we’re featuring two of the talented craftsmen who share their talents and play such an important role in our guest experience. We hope you enjoy “meeting” our tinsmith and blacksmith and will be inspired to join us on Fri. July 23 and Sat. July 24 to explore your own creativity during our “Explore the Crafts” event at Sauder Village!

Mike Runyon
Starting his 15th season at Sauder Village, tinsmith Mike Runyon continues to stay busy making reproductions of 18th and 19th century tinware. To help with Pioneer Settlement, Mike did much research and made tinware for inside many of the historic homes. “I love finding old pieces and figuring out how they are made,” Mike shared. “I also love doing the research – not just on tin or a particular object, but rather research on the lives of everyday people.”

Mike enjoys the opportunity to interact with guests visiting the Historic Village. “I really enjoy the kids who come to visit – I just love their curiosity,” Mike shared. Through the years, Mike has found the most popular items in his shop to be the tin icicles for Christmas trees and the many unique cookie cutters he shapes from tin.

Early this summer Mike worked with other noted tinsmiths to plan a Tinner Convergence at Sauder Village. Tinsmiths and coppersmiths from across the country gathered in Archbold to learn historically accurate methods of tinsmithing, discover new techniques and share ideas.

During our Explore the Crafts event, guests can visit Mike in the Tin Shop to make a small tin heart cookie cutter on Friday, July 23rd!

Simon Tomell
While still a fairly new member of the Sauder Village family, blacksmith Simon Tomell has certainly gained the respect of the staff and guests. Now in his 4th season at the Village, Simon shared that he truly loves the Sauder Village environment. “I really enjoy the staff and the opportunity to work in such an authentic setting,” Simon shared.

While Simon’s day-to-day projects often include smaller items like candle snuffers, hooks and flint strikers, he has also been commissioned to make larger pieces for individuals. One of his most recent projects includes a 3 foot high cross to be placed on the altar of an outdoor church near Adrian, Michigan. He is currently making decorative and functional brackets – to help reinforce the balcony on a timber-frame home in Northwest Ohio. Simon also made many items for our Pioneer Settlement project including hinges for the doors, cooking utensils and tools for the outdoor bake oven. And in this age of “green” products, it is interesting to learn that Simon can be found recycling in his shop. “Scrap metal often lends itself to a specific project,” Simon shared. “Coil springs can often be recycled and used to make flint strikers.”

Interested in learning more about blacksmithing? Guests age 16 and older will have an opportunity to try blacksmithing this Friday and Saturday, July 23 & 24.

The artists we’ve featured, as well as our potter, glassblower, spinners, weavers, basket makers, quilters, broom makers, woodworkers, coopers and native weavers, all carry on skills that were vital to everyday life at the time the Black Swamp was settled. We hope you will join us to meet our craftsmen and explore your own creativity during our “Explore the Crafts” event this Friday and Saturday.

Sauder Village participates in “Arts Gone Wild”

2010-07-16T08:26:00.012-04:00

At Sauder Village, we understand the importance of partnering with other art and cultural organizations and are excited to again be part of Arts Gone Wild, the annual summer event sponsored by Toledo area arts and cultural organizations.

The Arts Gone Wild event will be at the Toledo Museum of Art this summer with a new twist. Instead of a two-day festival, the Museum is hosting a month-long exhibition of objects and materials from participating organizations.

The Arts Gone Wild exhibition opens in the Community Gallery with a special It’s Friday celebration on Friday, July 16 and continues through August 15. The exhibition is not a typical fine art exhibition but instead features multi-media “vignettes” representing the work of each organization. Displays include video clips of performances, theatre costumes, musical scores, books, photographs or original artwork. Using photos and unique works of art designed by our talented craftsmen, our display is a striking exhibit that highlights Sauder Village as a cultural destination in Northwest Ohio.

From 1:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Friday, July 16 in Libbey Court, Nancy Lewis, one of our Native American interpreters, will invite visitors to learn about Northwest Ohio in 1803. She will be weaving a traditional native bag and visitors will be able to make cordage bracelets. In addition, Chereen Thompson will demonstrate spinning. Visitors will be able to touch different types of fibers as well as try their hands at carding wool, drop spindles and spinning on a wheel.

Urban Jazz Collective will perform from 7–8 p.m. that day in the Great Gallery. The talented students from the Toledo School for the Arts have performed in various venues in the Toledo area including Murphys and Manhattan’s. Later, from 8–9 p.m. in the Great Gallery, the Toledo Ballet will present Aquarius, from the musical Hair, and Flow, a contemporary piece. The music for Flow is a song titled “Ketto” by Bonobo.

Arts Gone Wild is an evolving series of events sponsored by a coalition of arts and cultural organizations including the Arts Commission of Greater Toledo, Imagination Station, Sauder Village, Toledo Ballet, Toledo Botanical Gardens, Toledo–Lucas County Library (Main), Metroparks of the Toledo Area, Toledo Museum of Art, Toledo Opera, Toledo Symphony, Toledo Repertoire Theater, Toledo School for the Arts, Toledo Zoo, Valentine Theater and WGTE. The organizations meet regularly to discuss issues of common interest and ways to work collaboratively.

Admission is free to the Toledo Museum of Art and to all of the Arts Gone Wild activities. We hope you'll take time this summer to check out our Sauder Village display and all of the other great exhibits and activities planned for Arts Gone Wild!

Homemade Ice Cream - A Great Way to Celebrate!

2010-06-30T12:50:00.013-04:00

Making homemade ice cream is a great family tradition. Here is a recipe we share with guests when they visit Sauder Village. Why not make some special memories this holiday weekend by making your own homemade ice cream . . . yum!

Homemade Ice Cream
Recipe for 1 ½ gallon freezer

1 gallon whole milk (approx.)
3 c. sugar
¾ c. flour
½ t. salt
8 eggs, beaten
3 T. pure vanilla extract
1 quart heavy whipping cream

Scald 1 ½ quarts (6 cups) of the milk in a large pan. Set aside. Mix sugar, salt, and flour in another bowl. Slowly add 2 cups cold milk to dry ingredients while stirring constantly. Return scalded milk to burner. Slowly add flour/sugar mixture, and then beaten eggs while stirring constantly. Cook until thick. Cool. When ready to put in ice cream freezer add vanilla and cream. Pour into metal freezer tub and add milk to fill line (about ¾ full). Put lid on freezer tub.

To Freeze: Place ice cream mix in metal container into wooden freezer. Put in a layer of ice and then sprinkle with ½ cup coarse ice cream salt. Repeat layering ice and salt until you have 3 or 4 layers. When you reach the top of the tub, place some ice on top of the lid. Pour water over ice until water runs out of the drain below. Start cranking immediately. You may need to add more ice and salt as you crank. (The more salt you add, the faster it will freeze). Keep cranking until you can barely crank. Open metal container and remove paddle. Replace lid and cover with ice and a clean towel or rug to keep ice cream frozen until ready to serve.

Historic Gardens Tell the Story of Life’s Priorities

2010-06-22T09:28:00.029-04:00

It’s a long journey from the produce in the gardens of the 1800s to the picture perfect produce in today’s super markets. The gardens of ‘days-gone-by’ were filled with unique varieties of flowers and vegetables . . . Oxheart Carrots, Bloody Butcher Corn, Lazy Wife Beans and other varieties with interesting names! At Sauder Village guests can walk through gardens and visit historic homes to experience life in Ohio from 1803-1910.

Heirloom vegetables, open-pollinated varieties that are often high-quality, easy to grow and have stood the test of time, have become popular all over again! These varieties are worth growing for their delicious flavors alone, but at historic sites around the country these heirloom vegetables are also recognized as ‘living artifacts’ - offering a glimpse of life in earlier times.

“We have been cultivating our heirloom gardening program since 1998,” shared Susan Burkhart, Grounds Supervisor. “From 1803 through 1910 – guests can visit our gardens to see how plant types, gardening practices and garden styles changed through the years.”

The earliest gardens are found at Natives and Newcomers. In this 1803 garden, guests will find mounds known as “The Three Sisters” – a plant trio of corn, pole beans and squash. Other varieties growing in this area include True Lemon Cucumbers, White Egg Turnips and Striped Cushaw Squash.

As guests travel along the Historic Timeline they will find many gardens in the Pioneer Settlement area. The garden near the Witmer-Roth home includes Amish Knuttle beans, Deacon Dan Beets and Oxheart Carrots. Near the Eicher Cabin guests will find Lazy Wife Beans, Deer Tongue Lettuce and Bloody Butcher Corn in the garden. At the Stuckey Homestead the garden features Wren Egg beans, Delicata Squash and Prince Albert Peas.

With sunflowers and hollyhocks growing in the 1910 Homestead garden, it is apparent that life is getting easier for the residents of northwest Ohio. There is more time and energy to add color to the lives of those who chose to make rural America their home. There, in raised beds common to their European ancestors, guests can wander through a garden filled with Tall Telephone Peas, Christmas Lima Beans and White Wonder Cucumbers.

“These gardens help tell our story,” shared Andi Erbskorn, curator of education. “As guests wander through the gardens and see the produce being prepared in the homes – they are able to experience the lives of our ancestors.”

By visiting the Historic Village many times throughout the season, guests are able to fully appreciate the beauty of the heirloom varieties growing throughout the village. To learn more about heirloom vegetables and how to include them in your own garden visit www.seedsavers.com or www.halcyon.com/tmend/heirloom.htm

Thanks to our Volunteers!

2010-06-10T08:17:00.011-04:00

For many of our volunteers, time spent at Sauder Village means much more than just giving train rides or selling souvenirs in the Gift Shop. Volunteering at Sauder Village often provides an opportunity to meet people from around the world, spend time with special co-workers, and help keep Erie Sauder’s dream alive.

This week we are celebrating “Volunteer Appreciation Week” – an opportunity for us to recognize and celebrate the many volunteers who share their time and talents at Sauder Village. In 2009 our volunteers gave 14, 512 hours of their time and our young Junior Historians volunteered 2,500 hours – amazing! Our top volunteers for 2009 were Mark Breininger with 340.75 hours in the Cooper Shop and Vivian Taylor with 336.75 volunteer hours in the Gift Shop. A special thanks to these top volunteers and to the many other special people who help make Sauder Village a recognized destination in northwest Ohio.

While the jobs may vary, the volunteer profile remains the same . . .friendly, outgoing individuals, who enjoy working with people! There are opportunities to provide administrative support, help with collections or educational programming, work in the historic gardens or help in the Gift Shop. Volunteers also work as historic interpreters, help with historic trades, and help in the Quilt Shop.

“People interested in volunteering this season should call or stop by the Sauder Village Welcome Center for an application,” said Sharon Fellers, volunteer coordinator. “We’ll do our best to work with you and your interests to find the best volunteer opportunity for you!

It takes the support of many people to continue the legacy Erie Sauder started so many years ago. “Volunteers play an integral role at our non-profit organization and we are thankful that so many people throughout the tri-state area share their time and talents with us every year,” shared Kent Nafziger, Director of Development.

We offer our volunteers flexible scheduling, complimentary meals when they volunteer, opportunities to attend special programs and workshops, and discounts on admission and purchases. Other volunteer benefits include the opportunity to meet many interesting people from around the world, make new friends, explore interests and discover new ones, and help enrich the community. Give us a call for more information on how you can get involved as a volunteer!

Thanks again to all of our volunteers! We truly appreciate all that you give to Sauder Village.

Treasures of the Museum

2010-06-02T12:37:00.004-04:00

Let’s take a quick look at a new addition to Sauder Village! If you’ve been to our Museum Building, you know it is truly a “treasure chest of Americana” . . . featuring rows of farm equipment, tools, washing machines and more! Our founder, Erie Sauder, was interested in preserving these artifacts to share with future generations. And today, our curator of collections is working to preserve these treasures while also helping to share their story!

To help create some visual interest in the Museum Building and better tell the story of these artifacts, our curator of collections, Tracie Evans, has created some special new exhibits. Some of the first exhibits you’ll see are “Children at Play in 1900” and “Time for Fun” – sharing the story of how children and families enjoyed their leisure time. Other displays include “A Winter Harvest,” “Expressions of Grief,” and “Incubators, Brooders & Chicks, oh my!” We hope you’ll take time this season to wander through the Museum Building to enjoy the thousands of items on display and the unique new exhibits that help tell stories of life in the past!

Welcome!

2010-06-02T12:26:00.012-04:00

While we are recognized for celebrating and sharing stories from the past, at Sauder Village we also realize the importance of looking to the future and embracing technology. We’ve been sharing information and videos on our website, Twitter and Facebook and today we’re excited to be entering the world of blogging. Welcome to our Sauder Village blog!

We have many stories to tell and we plan to post weekly blog updates to provide you with a unique insight into the Sauder Village experience. We will have blog posts about our historic gardens, artifacts, barnyard animals, historic farming, special events and a behind-the-scenes look at the Village. We’ll introduce you to people from the past, share stories about our craftsmen and let you meet some of our costumed guides. We may even have special deals and contests for those following our blog! Stay tuned . . . there are lots of possibilities.

Thanks for taking a look at our blog. We hope you enjoy this short video and will stop back often to learn more about Sauder Village.

Under Construction

2010-04-20T12:45:00.004-04:00

Thank you for visiting the new Sauder Village blog! We are currently "under construction", so be sure to check back often. To learn more about Ohio's largest living history destination, visit our website at www.saudervillage.org.