It is Summit County Fair time, the time of the year we clean and open out SCFB Antiques Museum to visitors. The museum is located at the south east area of the fairgrounds, just across from the poultry barn on the south and across from the Youth Park on the east. Unfortunately, things are a little different this year. The Summit County Farm Bureau Board of Trustees has made the difficult decision to keep our Antiques Museum closed during the fair, this year, out of concern for the health and welfare of our volunteers.
Although the museum is closed for “in person” visiting, you are still able to visit via our You-tube channel. But first, a little history …
In July 1991, the Summit County Farm Bureau Board of Trustees completed construction on a 48′ x 80′ building on the Summit County Fair Grounds. This building was then officially dedicated to the Summit County Fair Board as a farm museum. By 2002, the 8,500 square foot Farm Antiques Museum and its contents were valued at approximately $100,000. (The land on which the museum sits was donated to the non-profit Summit County Farm Bureau by the county Fair Board).
The Farm Antiques Museum, displays a wide variety of farming-related tools and implements, well-worn from use over the years. In addition, generous donations have enabled the museum committee to a build a number of notable additions over the years. Jean and Charlie Call share their knowledge of each area as they guide us through the museum on videos that can be viewed on our You-tube channel:
Lean To, where the bigger items like buggies and wagons can be found. Jean also talks about the cobbler shop, drug store, sap collecting & maple syrup making, bee keeping, and so much more.
One-Room School has a corner stool topped with a dunce cap. Ink wells sit on the desks and kerosene lanterns hang on the walls, alongside a blackboard and shelves of books.
Country General Store, complete with baskets of corn, barrels, jars of penny candy, Ritz crackers, tobacco and a 1910 cash register. Shelves are filled with material, yarn, seeds, kitchen gadgets, pans, hats, and high button shoes. Adjacent to the store is a 1930s soda foundation from a local drugstore.
Farm Kitchen and Dining Room. Here, you’ll be tempted to pull up a chair and have some pie – or at least lend a hand in baking – in this antique kitchen which includes a dry sink, a stove, a bread box and cupboards.
Replica of a Coal Mine Shaft. This display features a coal mine entrance with rails and a car loaded with real coal that came from the old Tallmadge Coal Company. (Did you know that Henry Newberry opened the mine in 1825 and in 1855 the Tallmadge Coal Co. shipped 300,000 tons of coal to Cleveland via the Ohio Canal?)
Blacksmith Shop. Charlie Call explains the need for each farm to have a blacksmith shop, not only to keep the workhorses shod but to repair any equipment, keeping the farm running!
Milking Parlor. How many of you have hand milked a cow? Well, Charlie explains what came after the days of hand milking – the milking parlor.
Hat Room. Jean reminisces of her millenary days and shares the items needed for the task.
We hope you enjoy your virtual tour of the Summit County Farm Bureau Antiques Museum!