By David Hutchinson
The Clare County Historical Society held its annual Old Fashion Day celebration at the History Park on Saturday, September 28. It was estimated that over 200 people visited the park, five miles north and one mile east of the City of Clare, throughout the day.
There was a lot for visitors to see and do. Newcomers received guided tours, learning about Clare area history from artifacts and pictures in the museum and the one-room schoolhouse. Exhibits covered topics such as land surveying, inventions & manufacturing, logging tools, Spikehorn’s Bear Den, 1950s-1960s model cars, miniature historic flags, Detroit Tigers memorabilia, the ghost town of Meredith, and rural schools in the county.
Outdoors there were many vintage vehicles and a modern firetruck on display. Old cars, tractors, and a horse buggy decorated the park grounds so visitors could see what “traveling in style” looked like in bygone eras. One vintage tractor provided hayrides for folks of all ages to tour the nearby countryside.
Over at the blacksmith shop, visitors watched live demonstrations of metalworking and primitive toolmaking methods. An ornamental chain was forged and displayed—one link at a time. The hard work and craftsmanship of the past have been kept alive for the edification of modern generations.
Visitors could see inside the home of the Ott family from over a century ago. The historic log cabin displayed living conditions before the invention of modern comforts—no electricity, hot water, or wireless communication.
Live music was provided by Stephanie Terpening. Refreshments were served at the pavilion which included bean soup, cornbread, coffee, and donuts.
The recently opened Bell-Knapp Cabin received a dedication ceremony at 2 p.m. Dennis Guerriero outlined the cabin’s history, from its construction in 1888, to its ownership by Robert and Carolyn Knapp, to its relocation this summer. The cabin was donated to the Clare County Historical Society upon Robert Knapp’s passing last year. The interior has been furnished with period items to recreate what a home looked like in the late nineteenth century. Jon Ringelberg spoke of Robert Knapp’s historical research and the people involved in moving and preparing the cabin as part of the History Park.
Carolyn Knapp, who came from California to attend the event, expressed her appreciation for the community’s hard work in preserving history. Her husband was a history professor in California, but he had grown up in Central Michigan and maintained a connection to this region. He was a prolific author, and some of his books focused on local history. His most popular book is “Gangsters Up North: Mobsters, Mafia, and Racketeers in Michigan’s Vacationlands.”
Old Fashion Day marked the end of the park’s season for the year. As visitors look forward to the opening next May, they can learn about local history online. The CCHS has resources available year-round, 24/7 on its website (clarecountyhistory.org). There are society newsletters, old photos, and a timeline of Clare County history. An “Additional Resources” page provides links for digitized newspapers, local history ebooks, local libraries, and more. Robert Knapp’s books are available from Amazon.com, and the ones covering history in Michigan are listed on the society’s website. Local history books by other authors are also listed there.
