Imagine Seeing Rentschler Farm Museum Through The Eyes Of A Child During Your Next Visit, Part 3

Two months ago, Saline Journal suggested that visitors approach the 2018 season opening of Rentschler Farm Museum with a different perspective. Follow in the footsteps of local grade school students on a field trip, with open minds, a sense of wonder, and permission to get up close and personal with the detailed history here. [1,2]

Part 1 began where visitors often come upon the property, in the chore yard. There, Saline Area Historical Society enactor Cheryl Valentine presented as Aunt Elowene, demonstrating work such as the way clothes were washed a hundred years back. Part 2 followed Jim Roth as Emanual Rentschler on an abbreviated circuit of his day in some of the outbuildings. [3,4]

Today we return to those tours for their look inside main house, built in 1906.

Here, the “Living History Program” brought students in through the woodshed, quickly passed the kitchen, and into the dining room. This time it was Judy Slater who brought Mrs Rentschler to life as she introduced the process by which meals were served and what was eaten. There’s even a china bureau with doors on both the kitchen and table area sides intended to ease the burden on moving items between the two rooms. [5]

But the star of the show that day was the period telephone mounted to the wall. In perfect character, Ms Slater explained the concept of a “party line.” How do you know when the call is for your home? How do you place an outgoing call? As the children then responded with explanations of their own viz modern smartphones, “Mrs Rentschler” respectfully engaged — while limiting her “understanding” of what they said to circa 1930. [6,7,8]

From there the tour moved to the main parlor room, between the front door and the dining room. This was where each day typically ended and included entertainment options such as board games and a console radio with the commanding presence of a fine piece of furniture in and of itself. A recorded clip from The Lone Ranger was played as the school children from today listened attentively from relaxed positions about the floor, just as their peer-occupants of the house would have done. [9,10,11]

Although the formal parlor that followed would not have been typically accessed, its own unique contribution to life on Rentschler farm were allowed for this special tour. (It is, of course, its own special showpiece for return visits during the Christmas season.) With that the tour circled back to the kitchen where volunteer Greta Niethammer talked briefly about food preparation, with samples on hand. [12,13,14,15]

It’s truly amazing to see how different a museum such as this can be when viewed through another set of eyes. See for yourself, every Saturday from 11:00am to 3:00pm, starting each May and running through the Christmas season.

References

1. “Imagine Seeing Rentschler Farm Museum through the Eyes of a Child During Your Next Visit, Part 1” Dell Deaton (May 25, 2018) Saline Journal.
2. Rentschler Farm Museum (home page).
3. Saline Area Historical Society (home page).
4. Imagine Seeing Rentschler Farm Museum through the Eyes of a Child During Your Next Visit, Part 2” Dell Deaton (June 8, 2018) Saline Journal.
5. “Saline Area Historical Society: Farmhouse – Dining Room” Saline History (July 7, 2017) YouTube.
6. “The history of the telephone” CNET (February 15, 2016) YouTube.
7. “10 Aspects of Old Telephones That Might Confuse Younger Readers” Kara Kovalchik (April 9, 2015) Mental Floss.
8. “Along Party Lines” Bell System.
9. “Saline Area Historical Society: Farmhouse – Everyday Parlor” Saline History (July 7, 2017) YouTube.
10. “Radio Activity: The 100th Anniversary of Public Broadcasting” Marina Koestler Ruben (January 26, 2010) Smithsonian.
11. “The Lone Ranger debuts on Detroit radio” (January 30, 1933) History.
12. “Saline Area Historical Society: Farmhouse – Parlor” Saline History (July 7, 2017) YouTube.
13. “How Did Christmas Feel in a Rural Saline Home During the 1930s?” Janet Deaton (December 7, 2015) Saline Journal.
14. “Celebrate ‘Pretend to be a Time Traveler Day’ Here in Saline” Janet Deaton (December 8, 2017) Saline Journal.
15. “Saline Area Historical Society: Farmhouse – Kitchen” Saline History (July 7, 2017) YouTube.

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