The Henry Breeding Farm might as well be a time machine.
It has ushered local residents into the past frequently over the years. And, the Bartholomew County Historical Society property at 13730 N. County Road 100W near Edinburgh will host the 13th Annual Reeves Festival: Powering the Past, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 7.
The gathering will feature barbecue pork and chicken with traditional side dishes, wine and beer, home tours and many activities for adults and children — including corn shelling and grinding, steam engine rides, rope making, spinning and weaving. New to this year’s event will be a display of vehicles.
Music will be provided by the Banister Family Bluegrass Band.
[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]
“An understanding of the past is essential,” said historical society board president Jason Hatton. “Without that, it is impossible to make sense of the present or prepare for the future.”
Designed to inspire, excite and inform, Powering the Past highlights the accomplishments of the Reeves family. With more than 100 patents, the family’s inventions changed the way people lived.
It began in the mid-1800s, when a young Milton Reeves noticed his co-workers could not control the speed of the pulleys used to power saws in the sawmill where he worked. This caused the wood to split and created waste.
After some months of study and experimentation, he invented a variable-speed transmission to control the saws’ speed. Over the years, Milton and his brothers built an early American automobile (called a motocycle at the time); created a double muffler; produced an air-cooled, valve-in-head motor and much more. The variable speed transmission continued to be made by the Reeves Pulley Company until 1955, when the company was acquired by the Reliance Electric Company.
The vast Reeves collection comprises the largest collection owned by the Historical Society. Several of these items will be on view at the event.
The Bartholomew County Historical Society collects and preserves Bartholomew County artifacts, photographs and documents. Through interpretive programs and displays, the Historical Society teaches the heritage of the local region to enrich present and future generations.
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”About the Reeves Festival” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
What: The 13th Annual Reeves Festival: Powering the Past, which features food and old-fashioned activities such as corn shelling and grinding, and steam engine rides.
When: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 7.
Where: The Henry Breeding Farm at 13730 N. County Road 100W near Edinburgh.
Tickets: $5 for historical society members, $12 for adults and $5 for children ages 3 to 12, available at the event. Children younger than 3 will be admitted free. Advance tickets are available at the historical society at 524 Third St. in downtown Columbus.
Information: 812-372-3541 or bartholomewhistory.org. The historical society is open to the public 10 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays.
[sc:pullout-text-end]
