Living History Farm Grand Opening Aug. 14-15 Poplar Heights Farm announces its Grand Opening Celebration will be August 14-15. The Bates County, Missouri farm has been undergoing restoration to its 1880's roots and will celebrate the completion of the original buildings with a weekend full of activities. The farm was purchased in 1884 by Adam Seelinger and has remained in the family until being placed in a charitable foundation to maintain it as a Living History museum and Nature Conservancy.
The Osage Spinners and Weavers Guild will give demonstrations of heritage crafts including felting, material dying, looms, weaving, and spinning. The Seelinger Broom Shop will open its doors with broom maker Bill Soetaert showing old style broom making. Nearly 10,000 square feet of heirloom vegetables have been planted and visitors will be encouraged to sample vegetables and fruits from the turn of the century such as Aunt Ruby's tomatoes, Lemon cucumbers, summer and winter squash. Food booths will offer everything from deep fried pork rinds to Quark. There will be sheep herding demonstrations, a master stone cutter, blacksmiths, quilters and more. The Missouri Basketweavers guild will be weaving baskets and chair seats.
The Main House has been completely restored and will be open for tours. Built about 1870 by John Walker, a federal prosecutor for President Grover Cleveland, the Victorian home will showcase Seelinger family heirlooms and period furnishings. Also available for touring will be the 1870's threshing barn and Summer Kitchen/Root Cellar and the 1895 Broom Corn Barn. The 1949 Artist's Cottage has been completed as a Learning Center and will feature an exhibit on One Room School Houses in Bates County.
A special Children's section will feature a Hay Jump, games, Nadine the cow, corn shelling and other activities. Visitors can meet the Percheron and Belgium horses, the pigs, chickens and goats. Horse drawn wagons will give rides around the farm fields. An authentic Chuck wagon will set up camp, cooking grub for cattle hands who would have traveled the nearby Texas Trail. Antique to modern John Deere farm equipment, the only brand used at the Farm, will be on exhibit. Musical entertainment will be the South Fork String Band.
Poplar Heights Farm will be open Free to the public for this Grand Opening Celebration. There will be plenty of free parking and most of the facilities are handicapped accessible. The Celebration will be from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Saturday, August 14 and Sunday August 15. The Farm is located 8 miles northeast of Butler. From Butler go east on Highway H to Highway UU and follow the signs. For more information call 660-679-0764 or visit the website: www.poplarheightsfarm.org.
