Sauder Village recreates old farm life

In the middle of miles and miles of farm fields in northwestern Ohio lies a collection of authenticated wigwams and tepees, farm buildings and old towns, snack shops and craft stores. This compilation of culture is a close approximation of what it was like to live a pioneer life. Although this kind of themed educational park is not my usual cup of tea, my jaded self was fascinated. The creator of and collector for this place has done such a great job.

Sauder Village is this reproduction of historic culture in Northwestern Ohio. When the United States was first a nation, this area of the country was part of the Great Black Swamp. Not until much of the rest of the United States was settled, was the swamp drained and the white settlers could attempt to move in and farm. Until that time, Native Americans lived in the swamp, building structures above the water line on stilts, fishing, and reaping the abundant ecosystem. Horses would sink into the wetlands and swamp grounds, which kept the white man out.

But in about the 1830's, the game changed, and oxen were finally able to traverse the submerged wetlands where horses could not. That meant eventually farmers could drain and plant the fertile fields. So what has happened here in Archbold, Ohio, is that a local farm boy and entrepreneur created a replica of early ways of life. He had actual structures moved from different parts of Ohio to this place, so that visitors could come and see the history of this part of the world.

Erie Sauder made a beautiful place here. He was a local farm boy, and in 1934 he founded the Sauder Woodworking Company. By the 1970's, he had an idea to preserve and display some of the local heritage that was rapidly disappearing.  He found structures built a century earlier, had them preserved and transported to his historic village. Here you will see old school houses, farm buildings, churches and blacksmith shops. There are also precise replicas of many types of Native American dwellings, such as bark structures, dugouts, tepees and wigwams.

Lots of docents are there to help you on your journey as you visit the tableaus and buildings. The kids saw what it was like to trade furs for blankets and pots in an old general store. They pumped water from a well, sawed logs, and got a lesson in a one-room school house. We went for a ride on a small-gauge train and later in a horse-drawn carriage.

There is lots to see and do, learn, buy, and eat. I toured the whole of the main village, but there is more to this place I didn't see. The website says they have a 350-seat restaurant, a bakery, campground, and even a country inn and an exhibit hall. So it's set up for big groups of visitors and the RV crowd. If you were traveling across county on I 80-90, you could make a minor detour and check this place out. I know I will be going back here again sometime; I think it's only about an hour or so from Fort Wayne.

Another thing I really liked about it: Sauder Village is also an actual working farm. You'll see ordinary activities such as sheep shearing, harvesting, cooking and canning. Blacksmithing, handmade arts and crafts; I didn't even see all the artisans here. There are lots of farm animals for the kids to see as well.  I didn't spend much time in the museum halls, but that leaves something to explore next time.  See you later.