OLD WORLD WISCONSIN

We  met Waukesha friends Dale and Mary Graves on July 30 for a fine afternoon at Old World Wisconsin, a project of the Wisconsin Historical Society. Original buildings from areas of Wisconsin have been relocated to replicate various ethnic settlements as they existed in the1800s. Many of the areas had costumed docents to talk about the specifics of the area.

 

This lady told us that this building was made of cross sections of branches of trees left after the timber cutters had cut the best trees. the slabs were set in mortar. This particular building was constructed as a small home for parents who could no longer work. It was located near their childrens’ farmstead so the children could look after them.

The docent demonstrated hand threshing of wheat – beaten with a stick to separate the wheat from the straw. Then the straw is raked to one side and the wheat swept up.

 

Here the blacksmith lets the girl turn the handle powering  the fan to bring the fire temperature to 3000 degrees.

This docent explains the products carried in the general store.

These buildings represent the farmstead of the German farm.