July 17, 2002
City market down on the farm
Farmer's Market held at historical Grand Traverse Commons barns
By Lisa Perkins
Herald staff writer
Last week, visitors to the farmer's markets, usually held in downtown Traverse City, had the chance to visit the Rolling Centuries Historical Farm, as well as stock up on local produce. The market was relocated to the barns area of the Grand Traverse Commons during Cherry Festival week.
The purpose of the move was two-fold. First, to give the farmer's market a home during Cherry Festival, and second, to allow visitors to discover the barns and the effort that is going on to preserve them.
"People that have never been here are awestruck when they see the barns, they sign our petition to save them enthusiastically once they come in and see them," said Emmy Lou Cholak, event coordinator and chairperson of the Rolling Centuries Historic Farm Committee.
Cholak, who organized the farm markets on Wednesday and Saturday, hoped the event would raise awareness about the historical area in the community. By selling T-shirts with an image of the "cathedral barn" on them and taking donations, the committee took in $1,335 in support of their cause. They also collected 1,129 adult signatures and 81 children's signatures on petitions to show support for the effort.
"Our goal is to preserve this area, we have until September to assess the level of community support for the project as well as it's financial feasibility," Cholak noted.
"We would like to see Rolling Centuries Historical Farm become a historical living farm, demonstrating old and new methods of farming, as well as farm animals. This would be a great place for kids of all ages to learn."
The barns of the former State Hospital have been unused for nearly 50 years, but were once part of the farm used by the residents of the hospital to grow their own food.
"These barns are awesome, when you go by the outside, you can't imagine what's on the inside," said first-time barn visitor Bill Burmeister of Northport.
"If more people had the opportunity to come here and see them, there would be a lot more support. Barns like this just aren't around any more," Burmeister added.
In an effort to give the public that opportunity, the Rolling Centuries Historical Farm committee is planning events like the Perseids Meteor Shower Festival at 3 p.m., August 11 as well as a community picnic in August and an Autumn Harvest festival.
For more information, call the Grand Traverse Commons Redevelopment Board at 941-0509 or visit www.gtrcf.org