Visitors Shrug Off Gloomy Weather, Visit Harvest on the Farm

Cold and wet weather wouldn’t have given Warren Rentschler an excuse to take the day off when he was growing up on the farm now known as the Rentschler Farm Museum.

Likewise, Sunday’s weather did little to dampen enthusiasm at Saline Area Historical Society’s annual Harvest on the Farm event at museum.

“Would we get the day off work for a little bit of cold and rain?” Rentschler asked in disbelief. “No. We would have worked long and hard hours on a day like today.”

About 250 people attended Sunday’s Harvest on the Farm, according to Dean Greb, president of the Saline Area Historical Society. The event capped off another successful season at the museum, which is owned by the city and operated by the historical society.

Rentschler’s grandfather, Emanuel, purchased the 216-acre farm early in the 20th century. The Rentschler family lived on the farm until 1998, when Warren Rentschler sold the remainder of the farm to the city. Today, the property is preserved to provide the community with the chance to experience what farm life was like in Saline in the early 20th century.

On Sunday, people toured the old farmhouse, visited the barns, pet the animals, watched farm equipment demonstrations, walked through the garden, browed antique collections and took in a Saline Area Players variety show in the big barn.

“We had another great day on the farm,” Greb said. “People love coming here with their family on Saturdays throughout the spring and summer. Today, we capped our season with the annual harvest celebration.”

The event drew visitors from all over the county. Jennifer Davis and her two sons visited from Dexter.

“We usually make it out here every summer but we couldn’t make it out this year. When I heard this was the last weekend to visit this fall, I decided to come out,” Davis said. “My father grew up on a farm and talked a lot about it all the time. My kids have fun at the farm, but I also get to talk to them about hard work and show them how their grandfather lived when he was their age.”

Rentschler said he’s glad the city and historical society have partnered to open his old farm to visitors and students.

“I think it’s nice they do this. Everyone seems to have a good time,” Rentschler said.

The farmhouse will be closed until Dec. 8-9, when the historical society holds the 1930s Christmas on the Farm event. Residents who want a local taste of history can tour the Depot Museum, 402 N. Ann Arbor St., from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays, year-around.

The next Saline Area Historical Society educational program takes place from 2-3 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 12 in the Liberty School Media Center. Vern Campbell will present "Jonathan Dixon Maxwell and His Automobile" when he returns to Saline this fall. He restored a Model T Ford and annually goes on tour. Campbell also restored a vintage Buick and three Maxwells.

For more information, visit www.salinehistory.org.

 

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