Richfield Historical Society

Richfield, WI

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Memories

Upcoming Events

Maple Syrup Family Day
Saturday, March 23, 2024

Tapping a Maple TreeVisit the Richfield Historical Park to enjoy a day outside learning how maple syrup is made, participating in some pioneer activities, seeing a blacksmith at work and much more....Read More

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Maple Syrup Contest

Maple Syrup ContestThe Richfield Historical Society will be holding the first of what we hope to be an annual Maple Syrup Contest in conjunction with our Maple Syrup Family Day on March 23, 2024. For Contest Rules and Entry Form, click on the link below.

2024 Maple Syrup Contest Rules and Entry Form

Questions concerning the contest can be sent to:
rhsmaplesyrupcontest@gmail.com

Click Here for More

Contest Information

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Thursday, March 28, 2024 ~ 7 pm
"How to Attact Pollinators to Your Garden"

Butterfly PollinatingPollinators like honeybees, butterflies, birds, bats and other animals are hard at work providing a vital but often unnoticed service--pollination. Why are these pollinators important? Somewhere between 75% and 95% of all flowering plants on the earth need help with pollination – they need pollinators. Pollinators provide pollination services to over 180,000 different plant species and more than 1,200 crops. That means that 1 out of every three bites of food you eat is there because of pollinators....Read More

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Annual Plant Sale

More information coming on April 1, 2024.

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Call for Exhibitors

Art at the Mill
June 15, 2024

Guidelines & Application for Artists

Guidelines & Application for Vendors

Questions: E-Mail artfairrhs@gmail.com

Note: Applications for Jewelry & Woodworking (bowls, vases, cutting boards, etc.--not carvers/sculptors) artisans are no longer being accepted as the quotas have been filled.

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2024 Events

Upcoming 2024 Monthly Programs

Learn about the Richfield Historical Park & Events Held

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Keep Up to Date - Join the Richfield Historical Society's Programs & Events Mailing List

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RHS in Action

Thursday Volunteer Crew Gets It Done

Thursday CrewClick Here to take a peek at what keeps the Thursday Volunteer Crew busy during the maple syrup season.

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See How Maple Syrup is Made

Maple Syrup VideoClick Here to watch the process of gathering sap, boiling and bottling the maple syrup by the Richfield Historical Society's Maple Syrup Team. It takes a great group of volunteers to get this done every year.

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Around the County Podcast Featuring the Richfield Historical Society

The Society's president, Pete Samson, and Vice President, Joni Crivello, participated in a podcast about the Society and the Historical Park. This podcast is part of the Around the County series sponsored by the Tower Heritage Center (Washington County Historical Society).

Click Here to listen to this interesting narrative (Episode #25).

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RHS Appreciates Its Volunteers

2023 Volunteer Appreciation DinnerOn Saturday, Nov. 11, the Annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner was enjoyed by many, many loyal volunteers of the Richfield Historical Society. 2023 Volunteer Appreciation DinnerThe group relished the tasty homemade hot dishes, salads and desserts for this potluck. What fun to sit and chat with fellow volunteers.

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What a Night at the Richfield Historical Park for the Luminary Walk on Nov. 4!

Luminary WalkWith the stars twinkling and the bonfires blazing, hundreds of visitors to the Richfield Historical Park enjoyed the 2nd annual Luminary Walk. The weather was perfect to:

  • Wander through the quiet woods following the luminaries and being greeted by jack-o-lanterns
  • Visit with friends and family around the warm bonfires....Read More
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    Clang, Ding, Hiss -- Sounds of the Blacksmith Day/Hammer In on Oct. 7.

    Blacksmith at Blacksmith DayThe Richfield Historical/Nature Park was alive with sounds and activities for the 2nd annual Blacksmith Day/Hammer In. Lots of visitors wandered among the many blacksmiths, participated in activities and enjoyed a day outside....Read More

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    Weekly Highlights

    Something About Richfield

    Ralph and Leila SchulteisRalph Schulteis aka “Mr. Richfield”. Ralph Schulteis was the youngest son of a Richfield Homestead family. He was the fourth generation to farm the family property. He married Leila Schellinger in 1956, and they raised a family of 6. Ralph loved Ralph Schulteis - Maple SyrupRichfield and history. He was very instrumental in the then Town of Richfield in purchasing the Messer/Mayer Mill to preserve that agricultural aspect of Richfield. Ralph knew the mill very well and had fond memories as a kid tying grain bags for mill owner, George Mayer, and fishing in the millpond.

    Ralph Schulties - GranaryAs a long-time member of the Richfield Historical Society, he helped put up one of the first timber frame buildings in the Richfield Historical Park, the granary located on the south end. Ralph Schulteis - TractorRalph was always willing to lend a helpful hand during maple syrup season and would always drive a tractor in the Thresheree parade. He served in a Richfield governmental capacity for 41 years. Ralph passed away in 2009.

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    Something About the Park

    RHS Horse Fly NetThe Richfield Historical Society has a horse fly net. Just what is this thing? It is a piece of gear for use on a horse to shoo away flies and keep them from annoying or biting the horse. It is also called a fly blanket, or fly coat or fly cape. The fly net is made of ropes or strips of leather tied into a net to spread across the back of a horse. It provides enough movement while a horse is working to keep horse flies from landing.

    Horse Fly NetA horse fly net with a special stitch was reportedly patented by Robert Wilson. It is unknown if the fly net owned by the RHS was made by the Wilson Co. But, regardless, here is a little history of Robert Wilson. He was born October 16, 1810, at Williamsport, PA, and early in life he learned the saddler's and harness maker's trade, at which he worked in his native town and also in New York State.

    Horse Fly NetIn 1850 Robert settled in Milton, PA, where he worked as a journeyman at his trade, and six years later he devised what has since been known all over the United States as the Wilson Fly Net. In 1856 he started to manufacture and sell the nets on a small scale. Their value was at once recognized and the demand increased in one year from 400 to thousands.

    The leather shavings from the machines were thrown through the back windows of the factory. A great pile was always there and boys frequented the place and wrapped these shavings into spool shaped ball, which, with a tack or pin to hold its shape, was a handy missile to have in the boys’ pockets. 

    It is possible you can see this net on the back of a wooden horse that lives in the log barn located on the south end of the Richfield Historical Park.

    Photos: RHS horse fly net; Horses with the fly net (2)

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    Past Features of RHS in Action

     

     

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