Located near the center of the 60-acre living history complex is a tree shaded pathway called Crafters Alley, along which are located interesting cottages and buildings. In each building you may find a craft person working on their specific, individual craft. Though most often present and working on weekends, there is often one or two presentations throughout the week.
During the 2024 season, additional buildings will be added to Crafters Alley. As additional buildings are added, additional crafters will be needed to fill them. Any crafter interested in securing a shop on Crafters Alley should contact the management of Wellington Farm USA. An ultimate goal of the Board of Directors is to make Wellington Farm, USA the craft center of Northern Michigan.
Basket Weaver’s Shop
As you leave the main pathway through the park and begin your trek on Crafters Alley, the first cottage you may encounter might be the basket weaver’s shop. Inside you may find a basket weaver, completely surrounded by basket making materials, weaving a basket. Completed baskets are available for purchase, either from the basket maker or from the gift shop located in the Visitor Center.
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A short distance from the basket maker’s shop is a small structure which is patiently awaiting a crafter to adopt it. At one time, it was the broom makers shop. The cottage is just the right size for perhaps a wood carver, or maybe a potter.
Loom House
Across the way from the old broom shop is a rather unique looking, two story building. It was built by the Pioneer Log Cabin Company in 1930 as the Toboggan House for the then existing Pioneer Hills Ski Resort. To save it from destruction, it was moved to Wellington Farm USA, totally restored and it is now the farm’s Loom House. Located inside are four working looms. More often than not you will find weavers and spinners at work there creating everything from fine wool yarn to rugs made from worn out clothing, a practice which was very common during the hardship of the Great Depression.
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Broom Shop
Across the old logging railroad from the Loom House you will find Wellington Farm USA’s new Broom Shop. Commonly operated on a daily basis, here you will find the broom maker creating everything from broom handles to whisk broom or sweep brooms to cake testers. All of the sweep brooms manufactured here are made in the style and tradition of the Shakers. All of the brooms are created by hand from the winding of the straw on the broom handle to the final stitching of the broom to make it hold. Brooms are available for purchase in the Broom Shop or from the Gift Shop located in the Visitors Center.
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Lapidary Shop
The next stop on Crafters Alley is the Lapidary Shop. Here you can watch stones being cut, shaped and polished into anything from bookends to fine jewelry. It is here that you can also learn about Michigan’s state stone as well as other stones and minerals that are found within the state. For a small fee, the children who are visiting can sluice for gems and minerals which they can keep.
Blacksmith Shop
Next is the Blacksmith Shop. Here you may find a blacksmith tending his forge and crafting tools and ornaments out of iron using nothing more than a hammer and an anvil. It’s hot and smoky in the blacksmith shop, but that is the nature of the craft. Blacksmithing is one of the oldest crafts known to man and during the Great Depression it was a much needed craft. Also, during the lumber days of Michigan, every logging camp had its own blacksmith and almost every community had a Blacksmith Shop.
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Carpenter Shop
Last but not least, tucked away behind the sawmill is the Wood Crafters Shop or Carpenter Shop. Here craftsmen manufacture everything from fine furniture to toys, from cabinets to bird houses. In operation in the Carpenter Shop is a lathe, a band saw and a wood powered scroll saw. On hand most of the time is one of the Wellington Farm USA crafters manufacturing articles to be sold in the Gift shop or necessary items which will be used somewhere within the park.
Call for Crafters!
Once again, crafters are needed to fill the craft shops and bring to life the Craft Center of Northern Michigan. If you are interested, or if you know of someone who is, do not hesitate to contact Wellington Farm USA and discuss your future with them.