MICHARLE-L Archives

Archiver > MICHARLE > 2002-05 > 1020824485


From: Pat McGarry <>
Subject: Artticle on update on Castle Farms in Charlevoix,
Date: Tue, 7 May 2002 19:21:36 -0700 (PDT)


Here is article on Castle Farms in Michigan (owned by
family that was involved in 1920s in Chicago in a
famous Clarence Darrow case- the Leopold-Loeb case).
Have a picture and they have a website. Email me if
you are interested in either:


Charlevoix Castle restoration is a labor of love
Linda Mueller of Castle Farms pauses recently to sit
at the artisan well in the courtyard of the 1918 farm.


By B. J. HETLER
News-Review staff writer

CHARLEVOIX - In the early years, cows and sheep grazed
among the Medieval field stone buildings, later, when
a depression hit agriculture the farming ceased and
the site eventually hosted art fairs, antique shows
and rowdy rock concerts.
But for the last eight years Castle Farms sat forlorn,
its roofs leaking and breaking down, debris blowing
across worn grass, the stone-built barns home to birds
and squirrels.
Then in January 2001 Castle Farms found its knight in
shinning armor - a castle-lover from youth.
"It was so sad, leaves were blowing at the windows, it
was saying 'save me,'" new owner Linda Mueller said
wistfully.
So, she did. A Charlevoix summer resident, Mueller and
her husband, Richard, had visited Castle Farms several
times. They also live in Long Beach, Miss. The two
have explored approximately 75 castles in England and
France and plan a trip to Scotland.
An art historian, castles and Medieval times fascinate
Mueller. She has studied castles for eight years. When
Castle Farms was auctioned off following the death of
then-owner Art Reibel, she bought the 38 acres of land
and the buildings consisting of horse stables, a
blacksmith's shop, milking barns, workers'
dormitories, a carriage house, a small round stone
building that served as the farm office - her personal
favorite - and an ice house. She is the fifth owner of
Castle Farms.
Mueller plans to hold community events following the
restoration construction begun in November 2001.
Weddings will be held in one of the buildings, the
first one already scheduled for October. Other events
will be antique shows and outdoor art fairs.
"I'm hoping to make this an asset to the community,"
Mueller said.
Castle Farms, located on Highway M-66 near Charlevoix,
was built in 1918 by Sears, Roebuck & Co. president
Albert Loeb and owned by him and his wife, Anna, for
about six years. His dream was to build a model farm
on which he could raise prize-winning livestock using
the newest farm equipment sold through the Sears and
Roebuck catalog.
Architect Arthur Heun designed the buildings based on
the stone barns in Normandy. When completed, the farm
was opened to the public who came to buy cheese and
ice cream. Approximately 90 people worked at the farm.
When Loeb died in 1924, his son Ernest Loeb ran the
farm. In the mid-1960s, the barns were sold to John
Van Haver who sold it to Arthur and Erwena Reibel in
1969.
Castle Farms couldn't have found a better owner than
Mueller, although she claims that "I think it owns
me."
"We're restoring the barns to the original structures
as much as possible and saving everything we can,"
Mueller said.
She pointed up to a construction worker balanced on a
50-foot high silo turret.
"I was asked if I wanted to use modern material for
the turrets, but we're doing it the way it was done in
1918."
Construction worker Jeremy Bogart, secured in a
harness, handled long, green slices of poplar wood,
bending it at angles around the turret, a pretty
impressive adventure at the height and angle he was
dealing with.
"It's a chance of a lifetime," Bogart said at the end
of his day. "It's exhausting work, but I'm thrilled to
be a part of the restoration."
That sentiment was echoed by others working on the
construction.
Tony Pearsall of W. Pearsall Construction, Inc., is
subcontracting for general contractor Lazer
Construction, owned by Larry Shawn.
"Larry gave me a phone call and said 'What will it
take to get you to work on the Castle?' I couldn't
believe it," Pearsall said. "I'd work for free, well
almost for free. It's an honor to be a part of it."
Pearsall regularly drives by Castle Farms and wondered
what would become of the place. He was excited to
learn of the restoration.
"It was unbelievable, I couldn't believe it was
happening. I've lived here in Charlevoix all my life
and was waiting to see when somebody would do
something with it."
Pearsall said he has learned a lot working on the
Castle and taught himself a great deal through
figuring things out.
"I've learned a lot of history as far as how they did
things back then (1918). The old craftsmanship and
precision was excellent."
General contractor Shawn has met many challenges
throughout the project.
"Water is the biggest challenge, it bubbles up from
the ground," he said. The water level was five feet
high at one time in the basement of one of the
buildings.
About 10 roofs had to be repaired, another major
construction feat. Entire roofs were propped up to
allow removal of rotted wood between the roof edge and
the stones. Other work that is ongoing is scraping
some of the stone to rid it of thick cement, and
repair and restoration of many of the windows.
Mueller describes the challenge of the artesian well.
"The cow barn had been built over an artesian well to
supply water for the cattle and dairy operation. A
fountain with an overflow to Loeb Creek had been
designed to allow the well to flow freely when water
was not needed. The overflow pipe had become clogged
and the fountain was shut off. Consequently, water was
leaking from the pipes.
"You just can't hope to succeed in shutting off an
artesian well for very long, the water will eventually
come out somewhere and not necessarily where you want
it.
"It took a 4-foot wrench with a 6-foot extension and
every man leaning on the lever to get the rusted pipe
to budge," she said, adding the well is functioning
properly now.
The Castle Farm stage, one of the largest stages in
Michigan, was torn down.
"I do not think that any of the residents of
Charlevoix were sad to see the stage come down,"
Mueller said. The stage was where rock concerts were
held, bringing complaints from nearby residents of
traffic problems, rowdy behavior and noise. Some of
the performers were the Beach Boys, Bon Jovi and
Aerosmith.
Mueller is using local companies and labor. She often
expresses her delight with the construction.
"They are so excellent. We seem to all be on the same
wave length. They seem to have the same vision I
have," Mueller said.
Some events may take place as early as fall, such as
the wedding, however, the entire restoration project
will take several years to complete.
In the meantime, Mueller will continue to oversee her
castle restoration and make multiple planning
decisions.
"It's taking a step back in time," she said. "It makes
me smile, it's so pretty. I want to leave it in good
shape for the next generation."





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