RHS in Action

Boiling Sap, Steaming Pancakes, Sparks Flying

On Saturday, March 23, hundreds of visitors converged on the Richfield Historical/Nature Park to enjoy the annual Maple Syrup Family Day. They saw the sap boiling in the Sugar Shack, enjoyed a hearty breakfast of pancakes and learned how 'smithies' did their work...plus much more.

Click Here to watch a video of all the activities of the day... and mark your calendar for March 22, 2025.

New this year was the Maple Syrup Contest. Here are the winners:

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Around the County Podcast Featuring the Richfield Historical Society

The Society's president, Pete Samson, and Vice President, Joni Crivello, participated in a podcast about the Society and the Historical Park. This podcast is part of the Around the County series sponsored by the Tower Heritage Center (Washington County Historical Society).

Click Here to listen to this interesting narrative (Episode #25).

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RHS Appreciates Its Volunteers

On Saturday, Nov. 11, the Annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner was enjoyed by many, many loyal volunteers of the Richfield Historical Society. The group relished the tasty homemade hot dishes, salads and desserts for this potluck. What fun to sit and chat with fellow volunteers.

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What a Night at the Richfield Historical Park for the Luminary Walk on Nov. 4!

With the stars twinkling and the bonfires blazing, hundreds of visitors to the Richfield Historical Park enjoyed the 2nd annual Luminary Walk. The weather was perfect to:

Wander through the quiet woods following the luminaries and being greeted by jack-o-lanterns

Visit with friends and family around the warm bonfires....Read More

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Clang, Ding, Hiss -- Sounds of the Blacksmith Day/Hammer In on Oct. 7.

The Richfield Historical/Nature Park was alive with sounds and activities for the 2nd annual Blacksmith Day/Hammer In. Lots of visitors wandered among the many blacksmiths, participated in activities and enjoyed a day outside....Read More

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Weekly Highlights

Something About Richfield

Ralph Schulteis aka “Mr. Richfield”. Ralph Schulteis was the youngest son of a Richfield Homestead family. He was the fourth generation to farm the family property. He married Leila Schellinger in 1956, and they raised a family of 6. Ralph loved Richfield and history. He was very instrumental in the then Town of Richfield in purchasing the Messer/Mayer Mill to preserve that agricultural aspect of Richfield. Ralph knew the mill very well and had fond memories as a kid tying grain bags for mill owner, George Mayer, and fishing in the millpond.

As a long-time member of the Richfield Historical Society, he helped put up one of the first timber frame buildings in the Richfield Historical Park, the granary located on the south end. Ralph was always willing to lend a helpful hand during maple syrup season and would always drive a tractor in the Thresheree parade. He served in a Richfield governmental capacity for 41 years. Ralph passed away in 2009.

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Something About the Park

The Richfield Historical Society has a horse fly net. Just what is this thing? It is a piece of gear for use on a horse to shoo away flies and keep them from annoying or biting the horse. It is also called a fly blanket, or fly coat or fly cape. The fly net is made of ropes or strips of leather tied into a net to spread across the back of a horse. It provides enough movement while a horse is working to keep horse flies from landing.

A horse fly net with a special stitch was reportedly patented by Robert Wilson. It is unknown if the fly net owned by the RHS was made by the Wilson Co. But, regardless, here is a little history of Robert Wilson. He was born October 16, 1810, at Williamsport, PA, and early in life he learned the saddler's and harness maker's trade, at which he worked in his native town and also in New York State.

In 1850 Robert settled in Milton, PA, where he worked as a journeyman at his trade, and six years later he devised what has since been known all over the United States as the Wilson Fly Net. In 1856 he started to manufacture and sell the nets on a small scale. Their value was at once recognized and the demand increased in one year from 400 to thousands.

The leather shavings from the machines were thrown through the back windows of the factory. A great pile was always there and boys frequented the place and wrapped these shavings into spool shaped ball, which, with a tack or pin to hold its shape, was a handy missile to have in the boys’ pockets. 

It is possible you can see this net on the back of a wooden horse that lives in the log barn located on the south end of the Richfield Historical Park.

Photos: RHS horse fly net; Horses with the fly net (2)

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Past Features of RHS in Action