Making Friends with the Early Ohio Settlers at Sauder Village, Part 2

31 October 202314 May 2025

I spent the morning visiting the historical buildings located on the Village Green and those in the outer perimeter. The structures built in the early 20th century include the 1920’s Grime Homestead, Building 19 on the Complex Map. This has been such a fabulous, educational experience learning about the history of each of the buildings as well as exploring the items that are inside relating to the type of building, shop or museum. I hope you have had the opportunity to read Part 1 of my Sauder Village blog to put this amazing complex in perspective and to understand Sauder Village’s beginnings.

Celebrating forty years as Ohio’s Largest Living History Destination, the Village is an amazing replica of a small town dating between the years 1803 to the 1920s. From the Natives and Newcomers Exhibit to the Pioneer Settlement there are close to forty buildings that will give you a glimpse of a time in US history with abundant growth and change.

The 1920s Grime Homestead looks practically like any other farm house that one would see in Ohio. A beautiful representation of our country’s “Modern Era”, this home is very similar to those we would see today without many of the technological advancements.

Friendly costumed guides are staged throughout the structures, replicating the activities of daily life at this time. Inventions, such as the gas range reduced the amount of time to prepare family meals. Our guide explained the process of gathering the ingredients of the meal using items the farm such as flour and eggs. Using the appliances and kitchen gadgets from that era, she explained the steps to ready her meal and offered samples of the pie she had prepared in advance.

The dining room, located off of the kitchen also served as a casual family room. Furniture included a table and chairs, a couch, phonograph and radio as well as wall decorations. Unlike the prevous rooms, this floor was carpeted. I learned that carpeting symbolized the wealth of a family, able to afford some of the nicer things in life and were considered well-off financially.

Entering the parlor, I was immediately drawn to the upright player piano reminiscent of the one I had as a child. This space in the house was set aside for entertaining guests and housed the more delicate possessions of the family, such as expensive furniture and family heirlooms.

The master bedroom, typical of one that you would find in the 1920s, was simple yet functional. The women loved vanities and dressing tables with benches. During this era, it was not uncommon to find furniture made out of veneer to help reduce the cost.

Downstairs, the large cellar served as a pantry and cooler for storing meat and milk. Because grocery stores were not as readily accessible in the 1920s, the lady of the house would can fruits and vegetables then place them on shelves until she was ready to use them.

The cellar also housed the laundry for cleaning of the clothes, hanging them out to dry and then ironing them on a regular basis.

Exiting the cellar into the outdoors was a garden, storage shed and outhouse. A garden’s size was based on the number of family members in the home as the produce was used to feed the family.

Before reaching the festival barn, I passed the garage that held the tractor. This was the first motorized vehicle on the property. I was so excited to see all of the farm animals and spent most of my time in this part of the village.

There are horses….

Cows….

Pigs…

Turkeys…

and chickens…but my favorite of all of the animals was…..

the baby lambs!

The Festival Barn is used strictly for entertainment purposes only holding special events, picnics and group lunches for visitors.

Over the bridge I arrived at Brush Creek Pottery where I found Mark Nafziger, the resident potter creating a bowl. With so many types of pottery on display, I browsed through the flower pots, vases, plates and decorative items exploring all of their designs and shapes.

Building 22 is a storage shed for employees only, but I can’t wait to visit the next building…the Ice Cream Parlor. A perfect time for a break, I ordered a single, hand-dipped ice cream in cookie dough on a sugar cone, super creamy and delicious.

Barbara’s Weaving Shop was closed, but on days that it is open, weavers use the barn’s frame loom to create beautiful items out of both threads and rags.

The water-powered grist mill at Sauder Village is one of the few that remain in the state of Ohio today. The process for producing corn meal is actually quite interesting. As the water is released from its source, it rushes over the wheel, turning the millstones inside to produce corn meal.

What fascinates me about this exhibit is that there are so many products that can be turned into flour or meal. An in-depth information sheet outlines how the mill works and the interactive display describes what is needed to ensure the mill runs smoothly.

I purchased a bag of fresh corn meal to compare the fresh meal with a box for making homemade cornbread.

About a minute walk from the Grist Mil is the Erie Express. I decided to board the 15 minute train ride along the north end of the park where I will see glimpses of the Natives and Newcomers as well as the Pioneer Settlement. The train ride costs $2 for the multiple rides throughout the day.

Once I disembarked the train and walked the short trip to the Natives and Newcomers exhibit. Covering the period between 1803 and 1839, I learn more about the pioneers who settled this region known as the Black Swamp area.

The Native American’s housing is surprisingly different than the teepee structures that I have seen in reading materials and during some of my travels out west. It seems so large and more rectangular in shape.

The wigwam was much larger than I had anticipated, but it was used to house two families here. In the center there was a partition that separatee each family, providing a little privacy.

During the time that these structures were built, the settlers and the natives were already developing a trading relationship in places that were called trading posts.

One of the more important items that settlers needed during the cold weather were animal pelts. Other items important for trade included pottery, guns, tobacco, whiskey and other items that were of interest to the trading parties.

From here, the walking path leads to the Pioneer Settlement that covers the years 1834 – 1890 when the Lauber family first arrived to this area. I am looking forward to reading more about the early settlers of the Black Swamp and to explore more of the personal lives of the residents of Fulton County. This part of my tour will be covered in Part 3 of my blog.

Have you had the opportunity to visit Sauder Village? What was your favorite sight or activity while you were here? I would love to hear about your experience if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below! Many Thanks for reading about my visit to Sauder Village and wishing you many Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

Sauder Village Living History and Farm
221611 OH-2
Archbold, OH 43502
Telephone: 419 446 2541

Admission Fee: Adults: $24; Students, Ages 4 – 16: $18; Children, Ages 3 and under: Free; Seniors 60 and over: $22. person is permitted. 2-day Admission: Adults, $38; Students, Ages 4 – 16: $26; Valid for 2 consecutive days, non-transferable. AAA Discount: $2
Hours: Spring (May 3 – 27): Open Wednesday to Saturday from 10AM to 3:30PM; Saturday 10AM to 4PM; Summer (May 31 – September 2): Open Wednesday to Saturday from 10AM to 5PM and Closed Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. Fall Hours (September 6 – October 8); Open Wednesday to Friday from 10AM to 3:30PM and Closed Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.
Length of the Tour: From 2 hours to 2 days.
Tips for Your Visit: Wear comfortable shoes as you walk through time visiting historical buildings. Download the map ahead of time and plan your day. There are several classes and demonstrations that you won’t want to miss. While there are several small shops to visit, make plans to eat at the Barn Restaurant for down-home cooking.

Where to Stay:

Sauder Heritage Inn
22611 State Route 2
PO Box 235
Archbold, OH 43502
Telephone: 800 590 9755

If you are traveling by RV, make reservations at the Sauder Village Campground.

Where to Eat:

The Barn Restaurant
22611 State Route 2
PO Box 235
Archbold, OH 43502
Telephone: 800 590 9755

Select the buffet or order from the menu loaded with down-home recipes.

What to Eat:

Meatloaf with Mashed Potatoes
Soups and Salads
Fried Chicken
Roat Beef Dinners

What to Read:

Heritage of the Black Swamp, by Cynthia Covert Harger

Photo Guide to Sauder Village

Visit Sauder Village in the spring for newborn baby animals

Exploring a Whole New World at The Newport Aquarium!

22 July 20223 May 2025

Greeting me at the entrance to the Newport Aquarium is the Wishing Whale, a humpback whale that seems to appear out of the frozen ice beneath him! It is a spectacular life-like replica where visitors can contribute their change to expand the educational programs of the aquarium.

A beautifully painted mural of more whales and extraordinary polar bears augment the feeling of visiting the arctic.

It is here where I present my ticket to enter the Newport Aquarium as I begin my fantastic exploration of this award-winning attraction!

Having opened in May of 1999, the Newport Aquarium showcases fourteen permanent exhibits where visitors can learn about life in both saltwater and freshwater habitats from around the world. From freshwater to saltwater, there are over 90 species that have found a home here at the aquarium.

I am fascinated by those species that are somewhat unusual. For example, animals such as the electric white lobster live deep below the ocean. They are creatures that live in caves and require minimal light for survival, resulting in their albino-type features.

Some of my favorite exhibits at the aquarium are the tunnels made of seamless acrylic, of which there are five. The aquarium displays placards of the animals that are present in the tunnels and finding each of them is a fun way to learn about these creatures of the deep.

The Tide Pool is one of the aquarium’s interactive exhibits that allow visitors to touch some of the sea creatures such as starfish, mollusks and horseshoe crabs.

The theater is another educational feature of the aquarium where staff divers explain the habitat of the sharks and their habits.

The seahorse exhibit was one of my favorite displays where informative placards explain the behavior of these fragile creatures.

There are several tanks that contain these delicate sea animals, some so small they seem invisible.

Have you ever seen anything like the Weedy Seadragon? They are a marine fish, related to the seahorse, that camouflages itself against the sea kelp, and are indigenous to the waters of Australia.

Mighty Mike is the largest American alligator outside of Florida who resides at Gator Alley.

There is also a pair of American white alligators which were brought to the aquarium from Louisiana. Their names are Snowball and Snowflake. Albino American white alligators are very rare. It is believed that there are only 12 of these alligators in the world and each of them reside in captivity.

The Frog Bog is just around the corner and I cannot believe what I am seeing! There are so many different colors of frogs that I have to readjust my eyes to make sure they are not playing tricks on me!

Green and black…

Red…

And blue!

Canyon Falls is a habitat for otters and I have such a fun time watching them swim around in the water.

This is also the place where I find the Green Tree Python, wrapping himself around a tree branch with his green beady eyes staring me down as if I am his next meal.

But it is the chameleon that capture my attention with his crazy eyes and sweet disposition.

I exit the habitat and I pass through a tunnel, the Amazon River and meet up with the Jellyfish Gallery which is said to be the largest collection of jellyfish in the Midwest. There are several species including “the moon jelly, upside-down jellyfish, sea nettle and spotted jelly”.

I am so excited to pass through the shark tunnel! There are close to 10 different species of shark swimming alongside me as well as above me as well as grouper, stingrays and the loggerhead turtle. The experience is exhilarating!

Shark Central is an additional exhibit that allows visitors to actually pet some of the least dangerous of shark species such as the crested bull shark, the leopard shark and the sharptooth houndshark to name a few.

At last I have arrived at the Kroger Penguin Palooza where there are a number of penguin species on display including the king penguin, the chinstraps, gentoos, macaronis and rockhoppers. I love watching them in the habitat, especially when they decide to go for a swim. It is an entertaining display of nature that seems to be a favorite among the children and adults I would presume as well.

So as I stand to the side and take in the show, I am in awe of the underwater creatures of the seas and fresh waters. Whether they live in the depths of the cold or near the islands of the tropics, these animals are an essential part to the ecological system of the earth. I am happy that places like the Newport Aquarium exist to bring each of us the opportunity to experience a whole new world.

Have you visited the Newport Aquarium? What was your favorite exhibit? I would love to hear from you if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below. Many thanks for reading my post and Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

The Newport Aquarium

1 Aquarium Way

Newport, KY 41071

Telephone: 859 261 5888

Website: www.newportaquarium.com .

Making Wine at Grape & Granary for Ohio Wine Month

4 June 201615 September 2024

Located in a small shopping plaza in one of Akron’s industrial districts is the hidden gem, Grape & Granary. Drawn to the opportunity of making my own wine, I had no idea what to expect. The thought seemed interesting and I was looked forward to learning more about the process. With a long list of wines available for purchase and production, I was a little overwhelmed, but decided to sample a few wines while reading over the instructions and information for making my own.

Selecting a table, I quickly learned that I was seated near a wedding party, They were deciding which wine to make for their reception and choosing their labels for the wine.

In front of me was a selection of several wine glasses as well as spices for dipping oils and a basket of bread. With a small fee of 50 cents per wine sample, I wanted to try a few flavors before making my purchase. I was offered a long list of wines as well as specialty blends that I had never tried before. Here is the list of wines that I sampled:

Strawberry White Merlot – delicious, great strawberry taste
Kiwi Pear – LOVE this one…it was like eating fresh pears
Sangria Zinfindel Blush – has a wonderful, fruity aftertaste
Raspberry Dragon Fruit – sweet and tastes like kool aid
Cranberry Chianti – not too tart
Strawberry Riesling – a sweet, full strawberry taste
Summer Surprise is a watermelon Jalapeno wine; the watermelon flavor breaks the heat, but I thought it was too sweet
Jalapeno Ice Wine – AMAZING! WOW! I had to buy a couple of bottles of this one! So unique!

I learned that the Peach Apricot Wine is their best seller, but they were sold out during the time of my visit.

Grape & Granary is also a distillery, so I had a list of options such as Grappa, Whisky, Brandy, Gin, Caffe Liquor or Limoncello. Since the limoncello was a dollar per sample, I simply couldn’t resist.

One of the advantages of visiting Grape & Granary is that they also provide bread and dipping oils to sample. The Herbes de Garlic Sea Salt was one of my favorite blends so I purchased a small jar for home.

During my visit, I was able to witness an engaged couple bottling wine for their upcoming wedding. They had already selected their wine from a list of prepared wine juices. Choosing the Luna Rossa, they met with the winemaker to incorporate the yeast into the juice and waited 7 weeks until it was ready to bottle. The cork is then added and later a label would be placed on the bottle after printing.

The couple selected their label which would be ready in a couple of weeks and then the process would be completed. For the particular wine they chose, the cost would be $165 which would include 28 – 30 750 ml bottles. The cost for labels was 30 cents and the bottles an additional charge.

I was so thankful for the opportunity to watch the wine making process and found it to be a fun, educational experience. The Grape & Granary sells a wide variety of wine making kits and offers orders from their online store and catalog. I decided to purchase a wine kit in hopes that I would have some success and then start a winery in Napa.

Have you had the opportunity to make your own wine at Grape & Granary or at another wine making venue? I would love to hear about your experience if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below! Many thanks for reading my post and I wish you many Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

The Grape & Granary
915 Home Avenue
Akron, OH 44310
Telephone: 330 633 7223

Where to Stay:

Country Inn & Suites
1420 Main Street
Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44221
Telephone: 330 926 1233

Where to Eat:

Beau’s on the River
1989 Front Street
Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44221
Telephone: 330 920 7530

I was so excited to find this amazing restaurant with a fabulous view along the Cuyahoga River. I ordered a Wedge Salad and the Caprese Flatbread for my main entrée.