OWASCO #- Since it was founded in 1975, the Ward W. O'Hara Agricultural Museum has been dedicated to preserving the history of rural life in and around Cayuga County.
But displays can only say so much, so Old Ways Day has been an important part of the museum's summer programming.
“I've been here for eight years,” museum director George Komer said. “And this has been going on since long before then. Since the very beginning this is something the museum has done to let people know a little bit more of how life was in the 1800s and early 1900s and try to bring it a little more to life.”
During Old Ways Day, the past comes to life with interactive displays depicting life during the time period.
From one-room schoolhouse displays, with a school marm giving lessons, to weaving demonstrations, to a working blacksmith shop, the museum was transformed from the usual displays to a living museum.
“We want people to be able to learn about the rural past,” Komer said. “Agriculture was a big business in and around Auburn at the time, and I think doing things like this helps to draw that to people's attention and gives them a better idea of what it was like during their grandparents or great grand parents times.”
According to Komer, farming was and still is an important industry in the Finger Lakes area, but during the 1800s it was also big industry.
During this period, the Osborne Company, which was located where Wegmans currently stands, employed more than 3,000 in the assembly of farm machinery.
“I think these are things that not too many people are aware of,” Komer said. “So, really, a big part of what we are trying to do here is just to draw that history to people's attention and give people the opportunity to learn more about what used to be here and how important this history is to Auburn.”
Among those presenting some of this history were Bunny and Paul Baker, who were giving a demonstration on cast iron cooking techniques.
The Bakers prepared items like waffles as well as beef stew in all cast iron cookware, which differs from today's pots and pans.
“A lot of people don't know what to do with it,” Bunny said. “They don't know how to keep it clean, so we help them with that kind of information, but you also cook a lot different, it takes more time to heat these pans and more time to cook with them, things like that just make you cook differently.”
Outside the museum, the field was speckled with antique tractors and farm equipment, with some items dating as far back as the beginning of the 1800s on display courtesy of the Finger Lakes Antique Power Club and the Finger Lakes Old Time Farmers.
“That is a big draw,” Komer said. “There are 20 or 30 different tractors on display, and I think people are interested to see how these things have changed over time and to see the way these have been maintained and restored.”
Komer said that while there is an effort made to educate, the day is also a time to have some fun.
Model Ts and horse-drawn wagons chauffeured visitors around the museum grounds and music of the period was playing throughout the afternoon.
“It is really interesting to see all of this,” Betty-Anne Gleason said. “You don't really stop to think about what it was like then, but this really brings it to life for you, which I think makes it a lot of fun.”
“I've been here for eight years,” museum director George Komer said. “And this has been going on since long before then. Since the very beginning this is something the museum has done to let people know a little bit more of how life was in the 1800s and early 1900s and try to bring it a little more to life.”
During Old Ways Day, the past comes to life with interactive displays depicting life during the time period.
From one-room schoolhouse displays, with a school marm giving lessons, to weaving demonstrations, to a working blacksmith shop, the museum was transformed from the usual displays to a living museum.
“We want people to be able to learn about the rural past,” Komer said. “Agriculture was a big business in and around Auburn at the time, and I think doing things like this helps to draw that to people's attention and gives them a better idea of what it was like during their grandparents or great grand parents times.”
According to Komer, farming was and still is an important industry in the Finger Lakes area, but during the 1800s it was also big industry.
During this period, the Osborne Company, which was located where Wegmans currently stands, employed more than 3,000 in the assembly of farm machinery.
“I think these are things that not too many people are aware of,” Komer said. “So, really, a big part of what we are trying to do here is just to draw that history to people's attention and give people the opportunity to learn more about what used to be here and how important this history is to Auburn.”
Among those presenting some of this history were Bunny and Paul Baker, who were giving a demonstration on cast iron cooking techniques.
The Bakers prepared items like waffles as well as beef stew in all cast iron cookware, which differs from today's pots and pans.
“A lot of people don't know what to do with it,” Bunny said. “They don't know how to keep it clean, so we help them with that kind of information, but you also cook a lot different, it takes more time to heat these pans and more time to cook with them, things like that just make you cook differently.”
Outside the museum, the field was speckled with antique tractors and farm equipment, with some items dating as far back as the beginning of the 1800s on display courtesy of the Finger Lakes Antique Power Club and the Finger Lakes Old Time Farmers.
“That is a big draw,” Komer said. “There are 20 or 30 different tractors on display, and I think people are interested to see how these things have changed over time and to see the way these have been maintained and restored.”
Komer said that while there is an effort made to educate, the day is also a time to have some fun.
Model Ts and horse-drawn wagons chauffeured visitors around the museum grounds and music of the period was playing throughout the afternoon.
“It is really interesting to see all of this,” Betty-Anne Gleason said. “You don't really stop to think about what it was like then, but this really brings it to life for you, which I think makes it a lot of fun.”
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