Riverfolk and MAHS plan joint summer events with "Passport to Manchester"

The Blacksmith Shop will be the site of some of the Passport to Manchester events this summer, as will the K-J House, pictured below. Events will be co-sponsored by Riverfolk Music & Arts, Manchester Area Historical Society, and Acorn Farmers' Market & Café.

On April 19, Ray Berg of the Manchester Area Historical Society and Carol Palms of Riverfolk Music & Arts, presented a unique and ambitious project of eight live events in Manchester and the surrounding area, on alternating Saturdays throughout the summer.

The project, titled, "Passport to Manchester," will feature a combination of historical and cultural themes in keeping with the missions of each of the sponsoring organizations. All events are planned in four-hour blocks, from 10 am to 2 pm on Saturdays.

All events are subject to Covid restrictions and guidance as they exist at the time. "Passports" may be obtained via Eventbrite and links will be provided for each event to help limit crowd size at events. At this time, the groups are planning for pre-packaged snacks that can be eaten off-site.

The proposed schedule of events will begin on Saturday, June 12, featuring "19th Century Industries and living in East Main Street Homes." The four-hour open house style event will include a walking tour of some of the 19th century homes along East Main Street, a demonstration of blacksmithing and weaving at the Blacksmith Shop, along with historical talks at the Kingsley-Jenter House and the Blacksmith Shop. Outdoor musical entertainment will be provided by CAS students courtesy of Riverfolk.

The second event, set for June 26, will feature the Role of Water Power Industries and the Underground Railroad. Located at Sharon Mills County Park, this open house will feature tours of the Sharon Mills building, walking tours of the park grounds, and a feature of Amasa Gillet, a major supporter of the Underground Railroad in the Manchester area. Riverfolk will feature music by Robert Jones, Matt Watroba, and La'Ron Williams, focusing on the history of Black music through the civil rights movement.

On Saturday, July 10, the scene of 19th Century homes on West Main will be centered upon Wurster Park with a presentation on founder John Gilbert’s vision of a “village green” or public space which would be the center of activities in the town, based on his youth in Lenox, Massachusetts; and how our Village Green has been preserved in Manchester with historic homes and churches surrounding it. A walking tour and 19th Century historic music provided by the Dodworth-Saxhorn Band are planned.

An agri-tour featuring the development of rural agriculture around Manchester, will feature the Gary Bross Farm in Sharon Township and Earl Horning Farm in Freedom Township. Ice cream treats will be featured at the dairy farm, plus the day's events will include promotion of the local "Tour de Barn Quilts" and unusual barns in the Manchester area for people to discover on their own. Period music will be played at each location.

Native American Settlements in Manchester will be hosted by Wayne and Julie Oliver at River Bend Gardens at the north edge of the village on Saturday, August 14. The River Bend Gardens area includes sections along the River Raisin which contain Native American trail routes and other possible relevant sites. The event is structured around four hours, which includes a talk on the Native American presence in the Manchester area, utilizing the research work undertaken by local resident Silas Bialecki. Participants will examine the locations of trails, settlements, trail markers, cemeteries, and other evidence of Native American tribes in the area, and their influence on settlement by the original pioneers from New York and New England. Joe Reilly will be the featured musician for the day.

On Saturday, August 28, the Ford Village Industries will be featured. Henry Ford’s Conversion of Historic Water-Powered Mills to Industrial Production at both the Manchester Village Hall and Sharon Mills. Again, a four-hour open house at the sites will be planned. Music of the1 9th century, enjoyed and promoted by Ford, will be featured and performed by Mike Hammer and Joybox Duo.

Saturday, September 11, is reserved for an Acorn Farm Tour, that will be developed by Acorn Farmers' Market & Café.

Alber Orchard and Cider Mill will wind up the activities on Saturday, September 25, and will include a tour of historic cider production mill, barns and orchards, along with a historical talk on Bethel Church Road area settlement, Native American Trail along Textile, Weber, and Bethel Church Roads. A Farm-to-Table style meal may be planned in the Bossory family's restored historic barn, if allowed at the time. Musical offerings will include Westbound Situation playing modern jazz and bluegrass music.

It is hoped that each of these events will help bring people to Manchester to not only enjoy the historic and cultural themes, but also to enjoy browsing through the downtown businesses and eateries. It's just one more way to "Make it Manchester," this summer!

Kingsley-Jenter (K-J) House

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by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.