Historic Bowen's Mills, "It's Cider Time Festivals Mountain Men and Colonial Fiber Weekend" the second of 3 great festival weekends. There will be cider making & water powered cornmeal grinding demonstrations, "Fork River Free Trappers" living history encampment, barnyard horse pulls, sheep shearing and fiber related activities, along with horse-drawn wagon rides and good food. The fun begins at 12 noon and lasts until 5pm both Saturday and Sunday.
The old 1800's cider press will be making cider as folks watch, in awe, and learn how cider was pressed in the old days. The water powered Grist Mill will also be grinding fresh corn meal through out the weekend. It operates by a water turbine. The turbine is like a large fan lying on its side, located in the water directly beneath the old "French Burr" mill stones on the first level of the mill.
The water turbine migrated from the water wheel about one hundred years ago. The development occurred during the Industrial revolution, using scientific principles and methods. At that time they also made use of new materials and manufacturing methods that were also developed then.
The word turbine was coined by the French engineer Claude Bourdin in the early 19th century and is derived from the Latin word for "whirling" or a "vortex". The main difference between early water turbines and water wheels is a swirl component of the water which passes energy to a spinning rotor. This additional component of motion allowed the turbine to be smaller than a water wheel of the same power. They could process more water by spinning faster and could harness much greater heads.
A special feature of the cider festival will be "The Fork River Free Trappers" mountain men encampment. "The Fork River Free Trappers" take their name from the Thornapple River, called the Fork River by early settlers, after the indian expression meaning "river of the two tongues."
"The Fork River Free Trappers" have been very instrumental in numerous restorations at Historic Bowens Mills. In 1989 they cleared the overgrown area along the old mill stream where they now hold their camp. In 1990 they replaced the roof on the Moe School. After working for several summers they completed the mill's water wheel in 1999. Their latest venture was the building of the log "Fork River Trading Post" in 2002. The "Fork River Trading Post" is a grand addition to the park, displaying the way trappers would have sold or traded their wares during the fur trading era.
Saturday at 1:30pm there will be a "Bowens Mills Volunteers Hall of Fame" ceremony. Clarence Rahn of Alto, MI will be inducted as first honorary member. Bowens Mills established the hall of fame this year, 2008 to honor individuals of noteworthy achievement through the years at the historical park. Each year during "It's Cider Time Festivals" they will be adding many names to the list of names, that have helped the park to succeed for over 30 years.
There will be Barn Yard (fun) Horse Pull on Saturday and Sunday. Both Pulls will be at 2:00pm. Horse pulling started around the 1860s when farming machines were pulled by horse, farmers would boast about the strength of their horses. They would claim that their horse could tow large loads, such as a fully loaded hay cart or wagon. Farmers would challenge one another to contests to prove who had the strongest horse. A barn door was removed and laid flat on the ground, the horse was then hitched to it and the farmer urged the horse to drag the barn door along the ground. One by one, people jumped on the door until the horse could no longer drag it; the horse pulling the most people the greatest distance was judged the strongest. This event, called horse pulling, is still carried out today. Instead of people, fixed weights on sleds are dragged 27 feet 6 inches. While it is said that the term horsepower is derived from this event, in reality the term was coined by James Watt.
In and around the 1840's Plank House, the oldest house in Bowens Mills, that was moved to the property in 1985, will be a nucleus of fiber activities. There will be spinning, weaving and fiber related crafts both days. There will also be sheep shearing demonstrations outside the post and beam barn near by.
“Granny’s Kitchen” will be serving their scrumptious, fresh baked hot apple dumplings with ice cream along with cider, homemade donuts, caramel apples. Delicious old fashion chili and hot dogs are also on the fall menu. All this good food and more are available in the large shaded picnic area down by the old mill stream, near the mill and water wheel.
When you enter “The Bowens Mills Gathering Place” it is like walking into a museum. The huge room holds a little of everything for visitors to take pleasure including “The Miller’s Wife Store.” The store has a large selection of collectables, antiques, books, jewelry and gift items along with fresh ground corn meal, Amish prepared, apple butter and peach butter. Cider by the glass or by the gallon are also obtainable.
Performing in the gathering place both days will be Terry Pennepacker of Hastings and various other area musicians. There will be a Bowens Mills photo display, by photographer Roger Thoreson of Hopkins, MI.
Many items will be on display for the silent auction that is located in the gathering place. The items for the silent auction will be displayed near the photo exhibit. The money being raised by the auction will be used for theatrical curtains for the stage. Donations are also being accepted.
The Mill was built in 1864 and is a Michigan State Historic Site. The antiquated four-story building’s main floor houses a working water-powered cider and grist mill that is a working museum. There is a blacksmith shop and a water-powered machine shop on the lower level. The third floor has been transformed into a quaint and cozy living quarters. The top floor stores some old machinery, gears, and pulleys that is part of the mills history.
The 19 acre pioneer park consists of an 1840’s two-story plank-style house, an 1850’s one-room school house, and an eleven-room Victorian house built by the Bowen family in the 1860’s. A post and beam barn is home to a team of Belgian draft horses and many other farm animals for visitors to enjoy, including sheep, miniature horses, goats, chickens and a Llama. The "Ye Ole Craft Shoppe" is an artisan’s woodworking and cooper shop. A quaint covered bridge crosses the old mill stream to where the seventeen-foot water wheel runs, "The Bowens Mills Gathering Place", an Arts and Entertainment Center and a log cabin called "The Fork River Trading Post", The "Saw Millers Cabin" by the old mill stream & a "Line Camp Cabin" where costumed craftsmen will be demonstrating and selling their wares both days. All of these areas are included in the festivals gate fee, along with a free relaxing wagon ride which tours the Mill property.
Historic Bowens Mills is second generation family-owned and operated State Historic Site that receives no state funding. Its mission is to preserve the history of Yankee Springs Township and Barry County for future generations to learn from and enjoy. All restorations and upkeep depend heavily upon volunteers, donations and gate fees. The festival gate fee for adults is $5.00, children 12years & under $3.00. Hours are from noon to 5pm each day.
Next weekend, October 11 & 12 "It's Cider Time Festivals" presents; Historic Bowens Mills, Civil War Days. Featuring a large Living History Encampment. There will be a battle at 3:00 pm with a full schedule of special events, including artillery demonstrations both days. Special Displays will include a variety of Civil War Exhibits. A special evening performance of "A Civil War Candlelight Tour of Bowens Mills" will be performed at Dusk. Separate tickets are required for the evening performance. They will be available at "The Miller's Wife Store" Folks are invited to bring their cameras and enjoy a day of family fun where “Where The Past Lives Again."
The Old Mill is located in the heart of beautiful Yankee Springs Township mid-way between Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo, just 2 miles north of the Yankee Springs (Gun Lake) State Park. One could take the 131 expressway to the Bradley exit traveling east on M-179 to Briggs Road, then turn north 1-1/2 mile to the Mill's entrance. Watch for the huge millstone marker on Briggs Road. Call 269-795-7530 or visit www.BowensMills.com
Map ● Re-enactor Registration Form ● Calendar
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