I take a lot of pictures, but so far I haven't experimented with videotaping anything in and around Fowlerville. That might be my next venture.
But in the meantime, I'm reposting this video, My Town, for your enjoyment.
Showing posts with label farm life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label farm life. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Why Red?
Have you ever wondered why red is the popular color for barns? Well, from one of my favorite trivia sites . . .
In the 1800s, the most popular color for barns in the United States was red. The tradition began in Europe and migrated with European farmers to America. Farmers painted their barns red because red paint was easy and inexpensive to make, dried quickly, and protected the wood. By combining milk, linseed, oil, lime, and ferrous oxide or rust, farmers were able to create a paint that hid dirt well and protected the wood by killing fungus, mold, and moss. The tradition continued after commercial paints became readily available because red paint was inexpensive to manufacture. White paint, also inexpensive to make, is another popular color for barns.
In the 1800s, the most popular color for barns in the United States was red. The tradition began in Europe and migrated with European farmers to America. Farmers painted their barns red because red paint was easy and inexpensive to make, dried quickly, and protected the wood. By combining milk, linseed, oil, lime, and ferrous oxide or rust, farmers were able to create a paint that hid dirt well and protected the wood by killing fungus, mold, and moss. The tradition continued after commercial paints became readily available because red paint was inexpensive to manufacture. White paint, also inexpensive to make, is another popular color for barns.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Pumpkin Pull
The first thing you might notice when you pull into the parking lot is this, giving you pause that you may have turned into the wrong driveway, until . . . 
. . . you see the sign for Munsell's Farm, established in 1905. 
But then the sign will remind you that you're here for gourds like these . . .
. . . and maybe to check out Halloween decorations.
Or maybe you're looking for something a bit different, such as white pumpkins, which you will find aplenty in the old-fashioned room where plenty of baskets containing Indian corn might give you ideas of how to decorate your front door. 
Whatever the reason for going to Munsell's on Howell-Mason Road, a couple miles east of South Fowlerville Road, you've got another reason. And that would be the 3rd Annual Pumpkin Pull to be held Sunday, October 3. From the (now defunct) Livingston Community News comes this report of the first year, October, 2007:
The first Pumpkin Pull at the Munsell Farms in Handy Township pulled a crowd from around the community and beyond. The event followed the pulling rules of the Hudson Mills Old Power Club. Tractors used were circa 1957 and older and had to pull crates weighted with pumpkins grown on the farm. Families took in the fun as they enjoyed cider and doughnuts.
If the weather holds out like the last few weeks, this sounds like a great time down on the farm. If it rains, look for a mudfest! But, either way, it sounds like a good time for the family.
. . . you see the sign for Munsell's Farm, established in 1905. But then the sign will remind you that you're here for gourds like these . . .. . . and maybe to check out Halloween decorations.Or maybe you're looking for something a bit different, such as white pumpkins, which you will find aplenty in the old-fashioned room where plenty of baskets containing Indian corn might give you ideas of how to decorate your front door. Whatever the reason for going to Munsell's on Howell-Mason Road, a couple miles east of South Fowlerville Road, you've got another reason. And that would be the 3rd Annual Pumpkin Pull to be held Sunday, October 3. From the (now defunct) Livingston Community News comes this report of the first year, October, 2007:The first Pumpkin Pull at the Munsell Farms in Handy Township pulled a crowd from around the community and beyond. The event followed the pulling rules of the Hudson Mills Old Power Club. Tractors used were circa 1957 and older and had to pull crates weighted with pumpkins grown on the farm. Families took in the fun as they enjoyed cider and doughnuts.
If the weather holds out like the last few weeks, this sounds like a great time down on the farm. If it rains, look for a mudfest! But, either way, it sounds like a good time for the family.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Barn Preserving
Thanks to a family in Fowlerville area, an old building with a colorful history has been put to good use.
But let me backtrack a bit. A couple of years ago, a grand plan was devised to level an area of the northwest quadrant where the now-defunct Fowlerville Lumber showroom and storage building stood along with an out-of-service water tower at the back of the property where years earlier an apple orchard had grown. A multi-business building and at least a hundred parking spots would be created in this void. But, alas, the national economy and in particular Michigan's situation took a very bad turn for the worse, and the project was put on hold.
This was after the water tower had been dismantled, the old buildings removed, and the initial ground work and first layer of paving had been completed. What stands there now is a very nice looking parking lot and an area of land for sale.
I pretty much thought that was the end of the story until the other day. That was when I found out the lumberyard's storage building, as shown in this picture, had been dismantled (not destroyed) and moved parts and parcels to a local farm to begin its third career. This time it would provide cover from the weather while equipment was being serviced.
Now you may ask . . . third career? Yes. Its second career found lumber stored, stacked, and ready for the customer, but according to local lore and verified in the book Fowlerville Goes to War 1861-1865 compiled by Richard G. Hutchins, its first career was as a roller rink. But now onto today in Fowlerville. This 60' x 100' building was sectioned, loaded onto large flatbeds and trucks, and moved to the Krebsview Farm on Fowlerville Road. 
This picture shows the new bay doorways which have been created and how the outside has been finished . . . . 
. . . while this picture shows the original rafters and wallframes. 
As you can see in this wider shot, the building has been placed on a sturdy foundation. 
The only deviation from the original size and shape of the building is one corner where the walls had to be reconfigured due to land constraints. 
This building is still in the midst of some major work, including covering up the old siding and installing new, more efficient windows, but the vision at the end of the tunnel is already in sight.
In a society where we don't always value the older buildings, sometimes cost and efficiency winning out, it is gratifying to see this little bit of Fowlerville history still standing. So now from the laughter and fun of roller skating to the smell of fresh, new wood stacked from dirt floor to ceiling to a shelter for those working on equipment . . . this building has been given a third career.
But let me backtrack a bit. A couple of years ago, a grand plan was devised to level an area of the northwest quadrant where the now-defunct Fowlerville Lumber showroom and storage building stood along with an out-of-service water tower at the back of the property where years earlier an apple orchard had grown. A multi-business building and at least a hundred parking spots would be created in this void. But, alas, the national economy and in particular Michigan's situation took a very bad turn for the worse, and the project was put on hold.
This was after the water tower had been dismantled, the old buildings removed, and the initial ground work and first layer of paving had been completed. What stands there now is a very nice looking parking lot and an area of land for sale.
I pretty much thought that was the end of the story until the other day. That was when I found out the lumberyard's storage building, as shown in this picture, had been dismantled (not destroyed) and moved parts and parcels to a local farm to begin its third career. This time it would provide cover from the weather while equipment was being serviced.
Now you may ask . . . third career? Yes. Its second career found lumber stored, stacked, and ready for the customer, but according to local lore and verified in the book Fowlerville Goes to War 1861-1865 compiled by Richard G. Hutchins, its first career was as a roller rink. But now onto today in Fowlerville. This 60' x 100' building was sectioned, loaded onto large flatbeds and trucks, and moved to the Krebsview Farm on Fowlerville Road. This picture shows the new bay doorways which have been created and how the outside has been finished . . . . . . . while this picture shows the original rafters and wallframes. As you can see in this wider shot, the building has been placed on a sturdy foundation. The only deviation from the original size and shape of the building is one corner where the walls had to be reconfigured due to land constraints. This building is still in the midst of some major work, including covering up the old siding and installing new, more efficient windows, but the vision at the end of the tunnel is already in sight.In a society where we don't always value the older buildings, sometimes cost and efficiency winning out, it is gratifying to see this little bit of Fowlerville history still standing. So now from the laughter and fun of roller skating to the smell of fresh, new wood stacked from dirt floor to ceiling to a shelter for those working on equipment . . . this building has been given a third career.
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