On April 27 at 4pm, join us as we open a new exhibit:
Travelling by Faith: Horse-Drawn Transportation as used by Brethren and Mennonites
This project began with a new building on our campus: a corn crib, one that will also serve as a wagon shed and house historic horse-drawn vehicles. The Heritage Center owns three such vehicles: a buggy, a spring wagon, and a farm wagon. Until now, these vehicles have remained in storage off site due to the lack of space for their display on the Heritage Center campus.
Historically, most farmers used their corn cribs as parking space for their wagons; this was the rationale behind building one to house our historic vehicles. The corn crib that we have constructed (pictured above) is of a syle that was common in the Shenandoah Valley and that is large enough to contain all three vehicles. Along with the vehicles, the corn crib will include an exhibit entitled “Travelling by Faith: Horse-Drawn Transportation as used by Brethren and Mennonites.” This exhibit will feature panels presenting information about corn cribs, different types of horse-drawn vehicles, local Brethren and Mennonite carriage makers, and an answer to the question, “Why do some Mennonites use horse and buggy transportation today?” written by an Old-Order Mennonite.
Our opening event on April 27 at 4pm will take place outside the corn crib on our campus, and will be moved inside the log house in the event of rain. John Dan Burkholder, a local buggy maker who served on the planning committee for the exhibit, will give an address, and light refreshments will be served.