“God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, let nothing you dismay. Remember Christ our Savior was born on Christmas day.” The traditional holiday carol lofted across the three acres of the Realy farm, northeast of Jackson, Michigan. This small group of carolers had created a portal, welcoming us to the 1880’s Waterloo Historical Society’s living museum, “Christmas on the Farm.” With several buildings surrounding us, I spun around excitedly. Where should we start our tour? Join us as Chuck and I as we step into pioneer life.

We decided to begin inside the Realy’s Victorian era farm house. On our way we spotted the Perkins Windmill and had to check it out!

Perkins Windmill

In the mid 1800’s a windmill had been a status symbol, as not everyone could afford this luxury. Most had to use a hand pump or haul water from a nearby stream. This nearly silent, wooden windmill would work tirelessly pumping cool water into the milk cellar, keeping the dairy products fresh, as well as provide water for the family and livestock.

The milk cellar was right next to the windmill. I couldn’t help but notice the curious building halfway under ground.

The Milk Cellar

This original milk cellar had been built into the ground. This way the milk and butter could be kept cool in the hot summer and not freeze in the winter months. Dairy products were the only things stored in this structure. If onions or other vegetables, for instance, had been shelfed alongside the dairy, their strong scents would penetrate the milk, butter and cheese giving it a soured taste.

Mrs. Realy had been wise to the ways of market prices and would hold onto her butter until the price had risen. Then, and only then, did she bring her butter to market. At that time, many farms would have their own wooden butter press with a distinct carved design. Customers would seek their favorite farm’s butter, identifying pats by the signature logo.

The Realy Farmhouse

A stringed instrument peacefully strummed from the next room as we entered. The rustle of long dresses echoed the greetings as we stepped over the hand braided rugs into the parlour.

Leafy patterned wall paper and even a sun room for plants complimented the Victorian decor. This era’s theme had been ‘bringing the outside in’ adorning homes with nature. Next, we climbed the painted stairway worn from centuries of shoes scuffing each step. If these risers could talk, imagine the stories they could share!

In the bedrooms, a docent explained “sleep tight” came from tightening the bed’s ropes, which held the mattress of straw. “Don’t let the bed bugs bite,” also came from this era when one would “Hit the hay,” scattering the insects, before climbing into the covers.

Just passed the closet of shoes were three docents in the attic. The amount of volunteers warmed my heart!

The “Waterloo Band” drum sat behind a grandmother and grandson. She explained that many towns had a band during the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. Suddenly, Harold Hill from “The Music Man” bounded into my mind with the song, “Seventy-six trombones led the big parade . . . ” These bands had provided entertainment leading celebrations and ceremonies.

We were invited to attempt writing with fountain pens. It was scratchy and the ink didn’t flow smoothly. “If you’d used a fountain pen for month, it would be difficult to another to write with it. The nib would be formed to the way you write.” The grandmother explained.

Bill, another docent, spoke to us about Charles Dickens and how he often read his stories aloud, as performances, so he could pocket some money more quickly than waiting for publications to pay. He had written weekly and monthly chapters of books for magazines and newspapers, too.

A scent of bacon drifted up the back stairwell along with fiddle music. We descended into the dining room where a pair were playing a toe-tapping, folky piece.

Alongside the dinning room wafted the crisp scent of pork. After adding a donation to the musician’s bucket, we followed our noses through the pantry into the back room, the kitchen. Women in pioneer dresses bustled around a cast iron stove which radiated the expectation of bacon. The fire’s crackle inside answered the bacon’s sizzle in the skillet. My senses transported me to another time, over a century ago. I’d never seen a cast iron stove being used! Mary Spaan added nonchalantly, “In the summer they’d cook outside in the Bake House.”

The thick bacon crunched between my teeth. The warm crispiness danced on my togue. As I write this my mouth is watering! Cast iron cooking is the best!

Being a guest at the Realy farm house has painted a picture of the 1880’s through one’s senses. A period actress spoke up as we purchased some food offerings for sale. “The family first settled in a two story log house. There’s a replica over there.” Her gown swooshed as she gestured to the log house.

Original Log Home

The reconstructed log cabin had been reminiscent of the people who have lived on this property in the 1840’s. Walking into the tiny log home with a loft for sleeping, I felt like I was entering an episode of “Little House on the Prairie.” The Waterloo Historical Society’s website says, “The log home is a tangible link to the past, illustrating the architectural and cultural heritage of the time.” Who had lived here?” I wondered. “Why is this property called, “The Realy Farm?”

The Realy Farm – A Quick History

This property had been purchased by James and Sarah Goodwin from the United States government just after Michigan had gained it’s statehood. Sadly, both Sarah and their youngest, four year old daughter, Emma, had passed away in 1842. The two were buried at this site. James Goodwin, who had been left to care for their four other children on his own, sought out a buyer for the land.

In 1844 Johannes and Fredrika Siebold along with her two children from a previous marriage, Johannes Jacob and Katrinka Ruehle, immigrated from Germany. After spending two years in Ann Arbor, the family bought this property in 1846. They had lived in a two story log home.

The Siebold family farm had been successful. Johannes began constructing a new house. The process took several years to complete.

When Johannes Siebold passed away, the farm had been willed to his step-son, Johannes Jacob Ruehle. Soon, Ruehle had been wed to Catherine Archenbronn. When Johannes Jacob Ruehle enlisted in the Civil War, his name had been “Americanized” to “Realy.”

Following the Civil War, Johannes and Catherine Realy had seven children: four boys and three girls. Only two of their offspring had married and moved away. The other five siblings had lived their lives together on this farm.

When the last Realy sibling passed away in 1960, the property had been sold to the Michigan Conservation Department, which is now the Department of Natural Resources. The state had the barns and cider mill demolished, which had been the catalyst for the formation of the Waterloo Historical Society.

Waterloo Historical Society

Arlene Kaiser, the President of the Waterloo Historical Society, had explained, “It all started in 1962 by twelve skeptical people who weren’t sure what to do with this place.” She shrugged and then nodded, “These same twelve people knew the importance and significance of keeping the heritage.” This small band of community members bravely took out loans and purchased the land and structures. As a team they began to clean up the property, restoring it, as stewards of history.

“The Waterloo Historical Society’s mission is to foster an understanding and appreciation in children and adults of the pioneer farmers of Michigan, their family life and children’s schooling.”

Arlene Kaiser had answered an interviewer’s question about why the Realy Farm and Dewey School are important. “You can read it in a book, but it’s not the same thing.” Arlene continued, “It’s an experience. It’s not just looking through glass.”

There are now nine buildings on the three acre site. The farm house, windmill, milk house and ice house are all original. Other structures have been brought onto the property: barn, log house, granary, bake house and work shop.

This group of historical stewards arrange four main events during each year. With thirty local sponsors supporting their efforts, along with nearly 200 volunteers, this organization has my complete respect! The first annual event is “Blacksmiths, Soldiers and Log Cabin Week.” The next is “Antique Tractors” in August. During October they host “Pioneer Days.” “Christmas on the Farm” takes place in December.

In addition, during the school year, student groups spend their day at the living museum and at the nearby one-room school house.

One blacksmith, M.K., had said, “They can breathe it. They can touch it. They can smell it. It brings it to life.”

The clang of metal being pounded gave me the feeling of walking through Walnut Grove, the town in “Little House on the Prairie.” We entered the Realy Workshop where two blacksmiths were forming metal into tools.

Realy Workshop and The Granary

“Make do or do without” is a well-known German motto. The Realy Workshop has provided a place to ‘make do’ in reference to barrel making, known as cooper work, shoeing horses, making tools, hinges and latches.

The Granary is currently used as a gift shop, but had once been used for storage of animal feed. It is positioned on stilts in order to discourage rodents from entering.

The Ice House

Markle Lake and Waterloo Mill Pond had provided the vital, natural resource, ice. During the bitter cold months 18 x 20 inch blocks of ice would be cut with a saw. Large metal ice tongs would be used to lift and haul these nearly cube-shaped blocks onto wagons. The horse drawn wagons would deliver the ice. These blocks would be stacked with layers of sawdust between them, so they didn’t freeze together. Straw had also been used to insulate the ice.

Bake House

This summertime bake house had to be reconstructed, modeled after the traditional German “Garden” ovens. However, the traditional tiny door and dirt floor had been restyled with a larger door and more permanent flooring.

Each time we’d stopped at the bake house for a look-see, it had been full of visitors, so we hadn’t gotten a chance to peek inside or hear the tales of the docent.

Realy Barn

This 1840’s era barn is similar to the original Realy barn. At one time this sign, “1855 J. Realy to 1894” had adorned a Realy Barn across the road.

The Dewey One Room School House

Three miles from the Waterloo Farm is the Dewey One Room School House. I felt ‘bubbles’ in my stomach as memories flooded my mind when we walked into the school.

I used to bring my first graders to Fallasburg’s one room school house north of our hometown for a day each year. With our lunch pails swinging we would enter the school ready for pioneer learning: writing on slates and studying our McGuffy readers.

Kim and Barry, the docents, and I shared recollections of youngsters reciting lessons, which echoed decades of learning that has taken place within this classroom. “The kids faces light up when using the real slate pencils and reading from the McGuffy.” Kim smiled and explained the paper decorations on the Christmas tree. “We work with the same third grade teacher each year to have her students make the ornaments. After this event, I will pack them up and bring them back to the class. They have their names on their ornaments.” She gently held out paper decoration from a branch. Chills darted over me several times as we chatted. I miss the magic children bring to anything they do!

Kim hosts many groups of students from the area. As we were speaking, Chuck found a slate with “I will not sass, I will not sass, I will not sass . . .” Had he just written that or was it there? I wondered.

This school, built in 1884, had replaced another on this site. When this one room school house closed in 1956, several former students came together to make their school into a museum, preserving pioneer history. Since 1966, this structure had become part of the Waterloo Historical Society and offers “experiences” for the young and old alike.

A certificate on the wall states, “The Dewey School Museum is a wonderful example of people in the community working together to preserve, rather than ignore, a treasure of many years ago.” Helen Hannewald had led this group of restoration advocates who had wanted “a living tribute to pioneer schooling.”

Christmas Traditions

Would you believe that Christmas hadn’t always been a children’s celebration like it is today? When did that change? Christmas traditions had become more prevalent with the Victorian Era (1837-1901) in England. Queen Victoria, the reigning monarch, had married, German-born, Prince Albert. He had introduced many German holiday traditions which had expanded across homes in United Kingdom: Christmas fur trees, caroling and feasting. At that time, Christmas had been an adult celebration.

Now move across the Atlantic in the late 1860’s, just after the Civil War. These German holiday traditions began appearing journals and diaries. You see, during the Civil War, German-born soldiers had shared their customs of Christmas trees, caroling, stockings and wooden toys with their comrades. Once these soldiers returned home, they introduced these Christmas customs to their families.

Experiencing Christmas at the Waterloo Farm enveloped us in Victorian songs, decor and cast iron cooked bacon. This event brought the hard work of pioneer life into focus. I have never witnessed so many dedicated docents bringing history to life. I encourage you to experience this Michigan treasure, the Waterloo Farm Museum! Their events include “Blacksmiths, Soldiers and Log Cabin Week,” “Antique Tractors,” “Pioneer Days” and “Christmas on the Farm.” The charm of the event still chimes and brings me smiles!

Related Links:

Become a Waterloo Historical Society member! We did!

Resources:

Waterloo Farm Museum 13493 Waterloo Munith Road, Grass Lake, MI 49240
Waterloo Farm Museum website
Passion for the Past 2014 article
Pure Michigan article
MLive 2024 article
Donnelly Family Farm butter press photo
Victorian Era Christmas Traditions video