On Sunday, August 27, 2017, I lead a group ride from Hubbard to the Hale Farm and Village located in Bath, Ohio. It's an old farm with some of the original buildings plus others that replicate pioneer farm and town life. I was there almost 40 years ago with my grandma and sister, and now as an adult who rides, it seemed like a nice place to take my biker friends.
Our first stop was at the house that is an original from another Ohio location, but represents what an original house on the Hale farm would have been like. Low wood beam ceilings, a huge hearth, and even a bed. The bed, we learned, has a rope "box spring" base that the bedding lays on, and has to be tightened. Watchdog is shown here using the big wood key that turned the rope for tightening. The phrase "sleep tight" comes from this history.
Watchdog tightening the bed
The Blacksmith
Bonehead watching the blacksmith
As we kept walking, we happened upon the barn where brooms were made. Nobody was there, but you could see all the steps it takes.
Broom barn
The Broom barn and other buildings across the yard
I missed getting a photo of the potter and the kiln, but they make all kinds of pottery there, which is then sold in the gift shop. I got a nice mug. The same goes for the glass blower, this time it was a young woman who learned her skills at Kent State University. When I was there as a kid, it was a man doing the work. There is a video of the glassblowing on our YouTube channel too, here.
In one large house were three women demonstrating fiber arts - weaving, spinning, and dying - of wool. Since I've done those things, it was interesting to me. There is also a house where they demonstrate beeswax candlemaking.
~ Switchblade
