Historic Port Oneida Fair, August 12 & 13, 2011

Oxen Demonstration

This August marks the 10th anniversary of the historic Port Oneida Fair that takes place annually in the Port Oneida Rural Historic District in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. The two-day event showcases the crafts, skills and activities of rural life in the late 1800′s and early 1900′s. The fair is packed with exhibits, live demonstrations and hands-on activities for children as well as adults.

The fair is designed to educate the public about the need to preserve the rich cultureal buildings and landscape of the area. The fair also raises much needed funds that go toward restoration and preservation of buildings, fields, orchards, and a cemetery.

Port Oneida Fair Re-enactment

Organizers of this year’s fair are looking for donations and volunteers to help with many facets of the fair. Contact the leaders of Friends of Sleeping Bear and PRESERVE Historic Sleeping Bear on how you can help with this year’s fair. The fair is held on the second weekend in August each year.

Blog by Ileana Habsburg-Snyder

Listening to the Ranger (Photo by Mark Lindsay)

Although everyone is ready for spring, Mother Nature brought Northern Michigan a big surprise with a late-season snowstorm by dumping 13 and 16 inches of beautiful fresh snow on the area. Cold temperatures and beautiful sunny weather followed.  The national park rangers quickly organized one more snowshoe hike to take advantage of the glorious sunny weather. Mark Lindsay attended the event and captured the gorgeous scenery in beautiful color photography.

Approaching Werner Barns (Photo by Mark Lindsay)

The snowshoe hike was lead by a National Park ranger and an intern. The rangers lead the group to Werner Farm in Port Oneida Historic District. Frederick and Margareta Werner came from Germany and settled on the land on September 18, 1855. They were only the second family to settle in the Pyramid Point area; their farm is the oldest mainland farm surviving the early settlement period.

Ranger Giving a History Lesson (Photo by Mark Lindsay)

The farm was originally 204 acres and was used to grow potatoes, corn and grains. They also raised cows and produced cream for making butter. Although they only had four cows the Werner’s were the largest dairy operation in the area. They were also the third most valuable farm in Port Oneida. The Werners sold wood from their forest, slaughtered animals and maintained an apple and peach orchard.

Werner Stone Barn (Photo by Mark Lindsay)

The farm was handed down through several generations. Eventually Fredrick and Margaretta’s great grandson, Franklin, purchased the farm in 1943. According to Franklin, the farm ceased operations in the 1930s because they could not produce enough crops to be profitable.

Wooden Werner Barn (Photo by Mark Lindsay)

The existing structures are being preserved by PRESERVE Historic Sleeping Bear, a non-profit organization with a mission to preserve the natural landscape and cultural structures. The barn is one of the largest in the area and is in excellent condition given its age. It is only one of two stone buildings of its kind in Port Oneida.

Gorgeous Day! (Photo by Mark Lindsay)

Blog by Ileana Habsburg-Snyder and Mark Lindsay

By guest blogger and photographer, Cindy Ratowski.

Whenever the light is right, it is a tug on my soul. Get out there. Whatever you have on the schedule for the day can wait. It is almost…almost…who am I kidding? It is an addiction.

Photography…I love to live it.

Being able to do what I love where I live is something I do not take for granted. I am blessed to live in Northern Michigan, to photograph and to share what is here with anyone that cares to look. Nature, quaint towns, unique architecture, wildlife and interesting people make it a wonderful back drop for any photographer or artist.

Thoreson Farm

On December 14^th I knew I needed to get paperwork and other tedious details taken care of.  But the pull to get out there is so very difficult for me…it’s in my soul and brain. My excuse for avoiding the mundane duties came in the form of a phone call.

A student, Brook Shank, from the TBA Tech Center was to arrive around lunch time to be my shadow for the day. As we talked and shared, we came to the conclusion that Port Oneida would be the place to go. Although Brook was a native to the area she had never been to the historic town. We just had to go.

Sleeping Bear Dunes, the lake shore and the surrounding area are the back drop for many of my portraits and nature shots…I dare to say, I call it “my office.” So for technical purposes we were going to be in the “office” all day.

The first stop was one of my favorites, Thoreson Farm. I just love this farm. The setting of the barns, the house, and the very picturesque outhouse surrounded by hollyhocks in the summer and snow drifts in the winter was the place to start. The sky was an amazing mottled gray and blue with the sun peeking out periodically. It was another perfect day in Northern Michigan.

We wandered the grounds and handed my camera back and forth. Brook was amazed that she had never been there before. We talked about the history of the farms in this area. We both agreed that it is fascinating to imagine what life was like during the time when all of the farms were occupied in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. I think about how difficult life must have been, but also how wonderful to be surrounded by all the beauty when the work was finished.

Olsen Barn

We moved from the Thoreson Farm to the Olsen Farm in a natural progression. The Olsen Farm barn is amazing…such character and in such a wonderful setting. I think most photographs of the barn are taken from the road in the fall. I like to be different, so we pulled into the plowed driveway to have a closer look at some different angles. I brought four lenses with me that we changed periodically to get a new perspective on each subject.

We continued on to the farm across from the Kelderhouse Cemetery to take a few carefully-selected shots. The Kelderhouse Cemetery was next. There is something about a historical cemetery that intrigues me. These were those people that lived here. What were they like?

Both Brook and I were getting a bit cold, so we took a ride up by the Leelanau-Kohana Camp at the tip of Pyramid Point. I told her about the farm homestead that sits on the ridge overlooking Lake Michigan. It is a place I take my kids to swim. It has a fabulous view from the beach of North and South Manitou Islands.

Thoreson Barn

The day sadly came to an end; it was time to head back to reality. Brook had to go to her job and I had to meet my kids at the bus stop. What a wonderful day of travelling back in time with a student who was headed for a promising future. Life is excellent in Northern Michigan and so was being shadowed for a day.

Cindy A. Ratowski lives in Leelanau County. She is the owner of  Unique Eye Artworks Photography and frequently posts her photographs on the Sleeping Bear Dunes Visitors Bureau Facebook page as well as her own Facebook page.

Port Oneida Barn on M22

Preservation is a hot topic for Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and those who love the area. Public, private and non-profit organizations have been working together for many years to preserve the natural landscape and rural historical buildings in the Port Oneida Historic District. Even with the many preservation efforts historic buildings have deteriorated and invasive plant species have invaded the natural landscape. The National Park Service is taking preservation to the next level by developing a Cultural Management Plan along with an Environmental Assessment of the area.

This is good news for everyone. As part of the planning process a team will investigate ways to preserve and protect the cultural landscapes as well as provide recreational opportunities for visitors. The public is invited to participate by providing input directly to the National Park Service. Comments can be submitted online or through the mail to: Superintendent, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, 9922 Front Street, Empire, MI 49630.

Thoreson Farm Outhouse

In 2008 the public provided input to the 2009 National Lakeshore General Management Plan. In that plan, the 3,400 acres that make up the Port Oneida Rural Historic District are part of the “Experience History” zone. Eighteen historic farmsteads including 113 structures are included in the district. The new 2011 plan will be more comprehensive, but will incorporate the ideas that were generated in the 2009 plan.

The new plan will also include an Environmental Assessment which is critical since invasive plant species have overtaken fields and farmsteads. Black locust and spotted knapweed are quickly spreading and are threatening native plants and animal habitats. A lot has been accomplished by the National Park Service and by non-profit groups to stop the deterioration, but a more comprehensive plan is needed to tackle this difficult challenge.

Black Locusts Tree Leaves and Flower

Knapweed

The Port Oneida Rural Historic District is an outdoor museum of what life was like in the late 19^th and early 20^th century in Midwest farm communities. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places at the state level and has been suggested to be put on the national register by the Michigan State Historic Preservation Office.

To learn more about the plan and how you can provide input, visit the National Park Service Port Oneida Rural Historic District Landscape Management Plan/Environmental Assessment webpage. The park service is taking input through December 17, 2010 for the first “scoping” phase of their research, but will solicit additional public input later in the process. The plan will be available for public review and comment early next summer.

Blog by Ileana Habsburg-Snyder

The weather may not be perfect for the beach or boating this Labor Day weekend but there are many events going on in Leelanau County and Traverse City that will keep the family entertained. Here is a sampling:           

Empire

• Farmers Market in downtown Empire
• Bridge Walk       

Glen Arbor

• Lake Michigan Close-up: Paintings by Connie Cronenwett at Lake Street Studios
• Labor Day Bridge Walk & Party at the narrows

Lake Leelanau

• Barbeque & Blues Festival in front of NeLaro Pub

Leland

• Leland Labor Day Bridge Walk at the bridge in downtown

Northport

• Music in the Park with the Northport Community Band Sousa Concert at the Marina Park

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

• Port Onieda Barn-to-Barn 5K Run/Walk at the Olsen Homestead Barn
• Daily Ranger Programs featuring guided hikes, guided bike tours, demonstrations, reenactments, and lectures

Suttons Bay

• Farmers Market
• Labor Day Fireworks at dusk in the Suttons Bay Marina

Traverse City

• Swingshift and the Stars Dance Off for Charity at the City Opera House
• Farmers Market
• Michigan Water Color Society Annual Exhibition at the Dennos Museum, NMC
• Wesley Merritt Folk Art Sculpture at the Dennos Museum Center, NMC
• Star Gazing at NMC’s Rogers Observatory

Also consider doing something nonevent-related activities such as going to the beach, hiking a trail, tubing down the river, kayaking, boating, visiting a small town, bird watching, wine tasting, having a campfire on the beach or watching the sun set.

Blog by Ileana Habsburg-Snyder