Stirring Up the Past
I directed, co-produced, and co-wrote Stirring Up the Past: The Grand Rapids Applebutter Fest with Dr. Lucy Long.
Every October on the banks of the Maumee River in Northwest Ohio, the villagers of Grand Rapids celebrate something important -- themselves and their heritage. They've been doing it since 1976 with a festival featuring huge kettles of apple butter - the thick, sweet spread that comes from boiled-down apples and cider.
The Applebutter Fest brings thousands of people to this small, Midwestern town. Community activities such as the Little League, the Girl Scouts, the Boy Scouts and the Rainbow Girls in the village all receive money earned from the volunteer-run festival. Historical renovations around town also receive support from the festival profits.
Along with demonstrations of applebutter stirring, the festival
includes local, Midwestern food, historical reenactments and demonstrations,
performances by Northwest Ohio musicians, children's' entertainment,
crafts and other celebratory activities.
But this festival is more than an entertaining way to spend an
autumn afternoon, and it is more than just a village fundraiser.
The event grew out of a sense of community and a proud, historical
identity, tapping into local, regional, and family traditions.
Today the Applebutter Fest bolsters a strong sense of past and
place, strengthening and creating the ties of cooperation and
responsibility that make up community. By stirring up applebutter,
the festival also stirs up history - raising questions of which
aspects of the past to celebrate and how best to display them.
Won a Telly Award for 2002 and and Friends of the University Libraries Award for 2002.
The Ohio Historical Council and WBGU-PBS provided funding for
this project.
Check out the WBGU-PBS Stirring Up the Past page.
WBGU Local Documentary- Stirring Up The Past