Fiddlers ReStrung Perform to Support Sutherland-Wilson Farm at Pittsfield Harvest Festival

Pittsfield Township’s annual fund-raiser to support the restoration of the historic Sutherland-Wilson Farm, co-sponsored by Pittsfield Township Historical Society, Historical Commission, and Parks and Recreation Department, was held Sunday, Sept. 25 at the farm on Textile Road west of State Road. The festival drew more than 400 people, who enjoyed activities and tours of the Greek Revival farmhouse and woodshed, carriage house, hog house, barn, and icehouse.

Sutherland-Wilson Farm was founded in 1832. The soil was first turned (plowed) in 1834; the same year Pittsfield became a township within the Michigan Territory.  The Sutherland-Wilson family lived on their farm at 797 Textile Road for six generations — from the time Langford Sutherland purchased the property in 1832 until 2000. Although records are incomplete, the family may have been the longest continuous township residents.

Pittsfield Charter Township acquired the property in 2000 to preserve it as a historic farm museum and a community activity center. The farm, placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2006, has been named a Centennial Farm, Sesquicentennial Farm in 1987, and Michigan Barn of the Year in 2007.

Fiddlers ReStrung performed to kick off the festival as part of the many activities included in the afternoon’s events. The set list for the festival included traditional favorites “Old Joe Clark,” “Big John McNeil,” and “Big Brown Trout” in keeping with the historic theme of the event. The group also entertained festival attendees with more contemporary pieces from their musical stock, such as “Deadwood,” Appalachian Joy” and “Nicaragua.”

And to top it off, the group performed selections from their most recent material, including “Sweetwater Sea,” the “Dyslexic/Tennessee” set and “Salt Spring.”  The set concluded as always with a rousing version of “Orange Blossom Special.”

It was a beautiful afternoon to celebrate the area’s historic farm heritage. As a proud Fiddler ReStrung parent reminisced in notes to his online photo album of the event, “My 86-year-old dad went to school with the last owner of this farm. The schoolhouse was right across the road. Dad lived in the brick house on the corner of State and Textile, which was recently torn down. He farmed hundreds of acres. My sister was born in that brick house! [The afternoon] brought back lots of memories for my dad, and he enjoyed seeing Fiddlers ReStrung perform. His granddaughter is a member of the group.”

Fiddlers ReStrung is a 21-piece string ensemble featured at over 80 performances annually consisting of students at Saline High School, all of whom share in producing a unique ensemble truly their own. The organization is officially sponsored and supported by Saline Area Schools and Saline Community Education. Students are chosen based not only on musical talent, but personal maturity as well balancing a demanding performance schedule while maintaining high standards in other school activities, sports, and academics.

For additional information on this event or Fiddlers ReStrung, please contact Rebecca Groeb-Driskill, Cultural Arts Specialist, Saline Area Schools at (734) 429-8000 ext. 2338 or at groebr@saline.k12.mi.us.  You can also visit the group’s website at www.fiddlersrestrung.com.