Hale Farm and Village, A Nice Motorcycle Ride

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. 

There is a newer building that houses the welcome center, a gift shop, and a food shop. It begins with a little of the history, then you walk out back into the village. We didn't see everything; it's a self-guided walking tour, so be prepared.

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

Next we stopped to see the blacksmith working on decorative leaf posts. There is a video of him working on our YouTube channel.

 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. 

Then we just hung out, by the fences, took breaks on the benches, and all around had a nice time. The weather was perfect! It was 160 miles round trip for us. We had lunch at Fisher's in the town of Peninsula (great chocolate milkshakes).

~ Switchblade