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Every year, the Historical
Society of Grand Rapids returns
proceeds from the Applebutter Fest
to the Grand Rapids community. Funds
generated from the Fest have gone to
many local projects and nonprofit
organizations. Many of these
nonprofit groups have a food
vendor's booth during the Fest and
use the proceeds to fund their
activities in the coming year. Look
for the big red apple, indicating an
official ABF nonprofit food
vendor—your support is greatly
appreciated!
The Historical Society of Grand
Rapids Sponsors and/or
Supports the Following Activities:
- "Rhythm on the
River" live music
series during the
summer
- Improvements at
the historic Town
Hall
- Village
beautification
projects such as the
Blue Belle Island
area, Howard Park
playground
equipment, Lincoln
Street plantings,
Tow Path swings, and
signage around the
town
- Educational
programs at Otsego
schools
- Summer musical
at the Town Hall
- Downtown events
(with the G.R.
Chamber of Commerce)
such as the Easter
program, Rapids
Rally Days, Canal
Days, and the
Christmas Open House
- Grand Rapids
Arts Council
programs and
activities and the
Jazz Fest
- Helps underwrite
the Rapids Reader
- February/March
Historical Society
educational speakers
- Identification
of Howard Farm
(Pioneer Inn) named
as an Underground
Railroad site
- Erection and
maintenance of
historical markers
and the Grand Rapids
Log Cabin
information booth
- Collection and
preservation of
historical
photographs and
memorabilia
- Develops the
collection of local
oral histories
- Publishes
various history
books for the Grand
Rapids area
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Nonprofit Organizations That are
Supported by (or Have
the Opportunity to Generate Funding
During)
the Applebutter Fest:
- Grand Rapids Boy
Scout Troop #325
- Haskins Boy
Scout Troop # 350
- Grand Rapids
Youth Baseball
- Grand Rapids
Volunteer Fire
Department
- Otsego Music
Boosters
- Otsego Athletic
Boosters
- Liberty Center
Music Boosters
- Lybarger-Grimm
American Legion Post
#441 (Tontogany)
- Alva N. Sidle
American Legion Post
#232 (Grand Rapids)
- Sons of the
American Legion
- Order of the
Rainbow for Girls
- Otsego Future
Farmers of America
- Lucas & Wood
County Sheriff's
Auxiliary
- First
Presbyterian Church
of Grand Rapids
- Calvary
Methodist Church
- Hosanna Lutheran
Church
- St. Patrick's
Catholic Church
- Pride of Toledo
musical group
- Otsego Book and
Media Club
- Otsego
Cross-County Team
- Otsego
Outdoors Club
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Be Part of Keeping Your Town a Great
Place to Live!
The Applebutter Fest committee
welcomes newcomers as well as
old-timers to spend the day or even
a few hours to help at the annual
Big Stir, which will be held this
year on
Saturday, September 24 at
the Kryder Farm, west of Grand
Rapids. The farm is located at 4-862
County Road P, west of Rt. 65,
between Rt. 6 and River Road.
Click here to see a map.
The Kryder family starts the
first fire at 6 am, with the
remaining three 50-gallon kettles
going on the fires at 7, 8, and 9
am.
Volunteers begin arriving around
8 am, with a dish for the noon
potluck. Now, as in pioneer days,
the Big Stir is a neighborhood
effort and involves much
camaraderie.
"This is a great time to see
community spirit at its best and
enjoy a beautiful autumn day in the
country. We encourage everyone to
come and join in the cooking,
stirring, and canning process,"
observes Sharon Carter, retired
canning chairman.
The apple butter canned during
the Big Stir will be available for
sale at the Fest, and another
smaller batch of apple butter will
be cooked up and canned during the
Fest.
If you can't make the Big Stir,
stop by for a few hours at one of
the two apple peelings held at the
Grand Rapids firehouse. The first
peeling is on
Thursday, September 22,
and starts around 6 am and lasts to
around 4:00 pm. This
peeling prepares the apples for the
Big Stir at the Kryder Farm, while
the subsequent peeling on
Thursday, October 6
is from 12 pm to 8:30 pm gets
the apples ready for the apple
butter cooking that will take place
during the Fest.
Mechanical apple peelers are used
of course, but please bring along a
paring knife for trimming and a
dishpan. Call
Deb Archambo at 419-832-0213
to volunteer for either
the Big Stir or one of the peelings.
Your help keeps the Fest going,
and contributes to keeping Grand
Rapids one of Ohio's most beautiful
canal towns!
Thank You For
All Your Help |
