Most people don't it, but Henry Ford loved history, and the preservation and empowerment of history. He took buildings that he thought would later have a historical significance and placed them in Greenfield Village, a mix of homes and buildings from different time periods all blended together. No one really lives in these houses, nor stays in them. They learn things in them.
Thomas Edison's lab, Georgia slave quarters, the home of Noah Webster, and the fifth bicycle Wright shop (see other blog about Dayton for more info). There is a working farm, a machine shop, Ford Motor Company, a church, a town hall, a tavern, etc. These homes and buildings did and do have historical significance. The next few paragraphs (actually more than a few) tells the events that took place on September 18, 2011, to a quad of individuals who traveled around in Greenfield Village, MI.
Arriving into the Ford complex (research, testing, middle and high schools, museum, factory) we parked in the big parking lot and got tickets for G.V., The Henry Ford (the museum there) and the factory. With these tickets, any time in 2011 we can use them.
We went into the museum, saw a few things (which I shall put in tomorrow's blog, which is about the museum) and were going to continue, when a man said that we should take advantage of today's pretty weather. He said tomorrow there was a chance of rain, so we should try going to Greenfield Village today, and come back to this one tomorrow. We took his advice, and I'm glad we did (foreshadow !!!!).
We went through some gates behind the museum, which was followed by a beautiful fountain, furnished with flowers of all different sorts. Behind was another gate and a train track. As I was about to step in, there was a CHOO CHOO! and a CHUGGA CHUGGA CHUGGA CHUGGA and I saw, in the light, a black train! Woe unto thee train!
But seriously, I was very scared and soon jumped back. I saw after the front, a lot of people in what looked like trolley car parts. This locomotive quickly went off.
"Scared you didn't it, buddy?" Dad asks as he laughs. I laugh too.
We saw some corn, and some other things, as we entered Greenfield Village.
The first two buildings were not very interesting, only a soybean lab with no soybeans and a little farm house. As I walked on though, I saw a sign that said: Main Street, and Liberty Craftworks. The family and I took to Main Street, and kept on.
"Isn't it a beautiful day today?" Mom asked.
"Yeah, it's nice," I replied.
Dad said stuff like that too, and we kept walking on the now cobblestone pavement. Before, when we were in the museum, it had been polyester and a great, brown and yellow, and smooth rock. Now, cobblestone.
Anyway, we kept walking, and out of nowhere I saw "Wright Cycle Shop" a brick little building with that sign in all caps, tinted with brown letters and a white background. I looked at mom, saying "Can we go over" with my facial expressions. She said I could (with her face) but said (with her mouth) "Let's go to the Ford Motor Company first, 'cause it's right here. "
Before I go further, let me readdress our little adventure in Dayton. Remember when the ranger said that the fifth bicycle shop, the one they made the plane in, was in Greenfield, bought by Henry Ford? Well, if you do remember, you know that all of which I said. So, this is the one the lady was talking about.
The final room was where they worked on the first flight ever, the Wright Flyer '03, the one that carried Orville into the sky on December 17, 1903, in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina (been there).
I hadn't even noticed the blue and white building to my direct right, very close. It had the farm look, with wood furnishings. I went in, with a large sigh of 'come on!" (like I am pouting).
There was a large screen, a few displays, put no cars. There was also a small running time movie, that we watched a little of. When we left, I felt even more giddy to be seeing the Wright Cycle Shop.
I ran across the street, but before I did a fancy black Model T whizzed by. I didn't know 1920's cars could go that fast!
Throughout the whole visit, I would see many Model T's going by...all different.
Inside, I saw the main selling place where the Wright's would meet and greet the customers, with it's many shelves of tiny parts and a few large wheels. A counter with many papers scattering about was also there, and a small post explained what I've already told you about the meet and greet thing. To the right of this area, was a little office on a platform that had a blocking octagonal wall, all the way around. Although of this exclusion, it was see-through. I could see a small desk, a few (more like many) papers, and few diagrams along the room.
Something that gave me my eyes was a picture of a beautiful girl, right above the desk and to the right, clearly visible for the person at the desk to look up and stare. A girlfriend? Mother? Family friend? Wif... well, that's impossible, because neither of the Wright's married. But the other three, surely possible. That question would leave me wondering for awhile.
I went up stairs (only a few) and saw a little work area of the Wright's, where they made bicycles, and on the other side of the room, there was an exhibit. The cool part was seeing the table, all the parts, and the bike balancing on the stand on the table. The exhibit had good info, most of which I knew. I have been to Kitty Hawk, NC; Dayton, OH; and I've read many books on flight, so I wouldn't be surprised if I knew a little. I moved on, and went into the final room, a little smaller, the big area on the left of me. Not much on my right.
The final room was where they worked on the first flight ever, the Wright Flyer '03, the one that carried Orville into the sky on December 17, 1903, in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina (been there). In that area, was a reproduction of the Wright Flyer. The real one is in the Smithsonian, Air and Space Museum. We've been there on this trip too.
It was so cool to see where two people who changed the world (making the plane), worked, talked, and just chilled. It was even more cool to see where they made that plane... it was just so cool. I have no other word for it. Just one of those moments. One of those moments. Of those moments. Those moments. Moments. (see what I did?)
But seriously...it was cool.
We then saw their house, where they lived for thirty years with their parents, Milton Wright and Sara Wright. We saw a sitting room, a little coming in room, and a dining room. That was it. They didn't show us upstairs or anything. Just that. All in the same general area.
Well, after seeing that, we saw the Miller School, and a few other things like that. We saw a hat shop, where Mr. Heinz (ketchup man) lived, and another shop. We saw Henry Ford's house, that as originally on a farm, before it was moved here (like every other thing here) It was nice, having many bedrooms for his grandparents and his two brothers and one sister and his parents. It also had some other rooms that you see in any house like that.
We saw Noah Webster's house, which was kind of cool. We saw a few more homes and buildings, but I have named the highlights.
The cool thing about Greenfield was it was real. No reproductions, no fake versions of houses. These are real. It was so fun to look at how people lived and see places where history was made. It was also amazing how one man, although an entrepreneur and businessman, wanted people to know history. Henry Ford was a pretty cool guy.
Although Greenfield is finished, there is still a little more we did in the Henry Ford. In the next four posts, we will see the famous third world city, examine the museum, and experience the Ford Factory. We will also be going back to Greenfield Village, and see a wizard of Menlo Park, and see crafts made in help of our liberty.(foreshadowing!!!!!!!!!!)
For now, goodbye!
This is my signature. Is my signature. My signature. Signature,
Andrew.
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