Richart Wagon Shop (formerly known as Richart Carriage Shop and Macon Wagon Shop)

Originally known in its original Macon, Michigan location as the Richart Wagon, Farm Implement, and Repair Shop, this structure was built in 1847. Henry Ford brought this necessity of the 19th century to his Village in 1941.
Although handcrafted wagons and buggies were the chief product of their carriage shop, William and Robert Richart also produced, as stated in its original title, farm implements, and even furniture. Bobsleds were a major product made and sold here as well during the winter months.
This two story building was built with an outdoor ramp to the second floor, where painting of the product took place. This ramp allowed the carriages easy access to (and from) the ground level.

From the research I have found comes a very interesting "flesh-on-the-bones" description of 19th century life with the Richart's:

The seasonal nature of life in Macon is one of the most interesting finds in the ledgers. Summer typically busied the Richarts with tool and wagon repairs, their own small farming interests, and improvements to their homes. But as the leaves changed, so did the daily routine in the wagon shop; Summer wagon building and repair yielded to fall duties; William and Robert, during the time of autumn, spent many a day with a file in their hands sharpening saws for neighbors and other members of their community, for it would be difficult to store wood for the winter with a dull blade! Frequently, during the months of October and November, barrels of apple cider appeared not only as purchases, but as payments as well.

And winter presented its own occupations that included construction and repair of sleds and cutters.
Once spring finally came along, farmers preparing for the summer once again brought the Richarts their broken wagons, hoes, cradles and other farm tools.

Their carpentry skills made the Richarts sort of community handymen. They built picture frames, a dough trough, a dresser, breakfast table and bee hives. They repaired chairs, sawmills and even a dog house. Robert hung the blackboard in the schoolhouse and worked at butchering. William worked on a stone boat clearing the fields and made furniture. . . .

Mass production helped the business along during the last quarter of the century. Rather than hand forming wheel spokes, shafts, rims and hubs, William increasingly ordered them from supply houses. Purchases of '500 spokes' are numerous for example. Interestingly, there are only one or two references to carriages in the five decades covered by the account books, presenting a conflict with the name currently given the structure. William and Robert both considered themselves 'wagon makers' and wagon construction and repair formed the backbone of their business.

And to think all of this took place while working out of this building 150 years ago!
Indeed, this wonderful addition to Greenfield Village has always been one of my favorites.
Now, if they'd only put a costumes presenter inside...

.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Sarah Jordan Boarding House

Image
This house, built in 1870, originally stood near the laboratory where Thomas Edison and his men toiled in Menlo Park, New Jersey. Widowed in 1877, "Aunt Sally," as Sarah was known, lived in Newark, and was sent for in 1878 by her distant relative, Thomas Edison, to run a place for his workers to eat and sleep. With little employment opportunities for women, Mrs. Jordan accepted the offer and opened the home as a boarding house that same year. Several of Edison's single employees lived here and would sleep two to three to a bed in the six rooms on the second floor. In fact, at the height of the laboratory's activities in 1880, sixteen boarders called this structure 'home.' Edison's house, a good-sized residence, was down the road a short ways. Daily, the 'Wizard of Menlo Park' passed the Jordan Boarding House to and from his laboratory, walking atop the wood-plank walk, wearing a skull cap or a farmer's wide-brimmed straw hat, both hands
Read more

Grimm Jewelry Store

Image
When Englebert Grimm died in 1931, he bequeathed the contents of his store to his good friend Henry Ford, and Grimm's surviving daughter honored that request in 1932. Originally built in 1878 (or possibly 1885 - I have two different sources from the Village) at 2033 Michigan Avenue, Ford obtained the building from the City of Detroit for a $195 salvage fee and, in 1940, had it re-erected inside Greenfield Village. This was the shop where young Henry would stop to visit the owner and sometimes purchase tools or parts to repair watches. Grimm was a German immigrant who, with his family, lived on in the second floor of this building, creating a modest modern home for its time. He offered mass-produced inexpensive clocks, watches, and jewelry to the local Detroit area residents. It was specialty stores such as this that caused the demise of the general store. It is set now as it was in the late 1880's. I have been told that many of the watches inside are those that Henry Ford actu
Read more

Maps Through Time: The Ever-changing Lay Out of Greenfield Village

Image
From its inception over 80 years ago through today, Greenfield Village has gone through numerous layouts, which is no easy task considering that it is actual buildings - historic buildings - that are being moved. I'm sure with each change there were complaints. Well, of course, unless it was Mr. Ford's idea. No one disagreed with the Big Guy. But, even with the last major restructuring in 2003 their were disgruntled customers. My opinion is as long as it's kept historically accurate, I don't mind. What I thought I'd do here was to show, through original six maps from six different decades, the ever-growing and ever-changing history of Greenfield Village. To see the graphics larger, please click onto the photo. Our first map takes us back to October 29, 1929 - that very first rainy day that Henry Ford opened up his Greenfield Village to special guests. Here was Mr. Ford's original vision: Twelve years later, in 1941, one can see just how much the Village grew:
Read more