Archbold Ohio

Currently we are in Honor Michigan.

We were not planning to spend the night in Archbold but we spent a little too much time everywhere else. I googled campgrounds near Napoleon and Sauders RV Park came as the closest so I called. I talked to the operator about Sauder Village and decided to spend a couple nights there.

Sauder Village was created by Erie J. Sauders, a local businessman. Mr. Saunders started his own business in 1934. At first Sauder made kitchen cabinets. He also manufactured other wood products based on requests. A few years after he had started his own woodworking business an established church burned down in the local area. Sauder was awarded a contract of building new pews for the church. This then introduced his business into church furniture and eventually his company became a leading manufacturer of church furniture throughout the nation.

He continued to make specialized wood cabinets, church furniture and pews, and wooden occasional tables throughout the forties and fifties. In 1954, because of his further interest in the ready-to-assemble furniture business, Sauder divided up his company and formed the Sauder Manufacturing Company. This new company took on the manufacturing of church pews, while the "snap-together" furniture continued at Sauder Woodworking Company. The Sauder furniture business remains in the same place. It is the fifth largest residential furniture manufacturer in America and the world's leading manufacturer of ready-to-assemble (RTA) furniture. Sauder remained as president of the Sauder Woodworking Company until 1975 when two of his sons, Maynard and Myrl, took over the businesses. During his retirement years, he created Sauder Village

We had a wonderful time exploring Sauder Village, a living history village. It provides a re-creation of life in the late 19th and 20th centuries in northwest Ohio. There were artists, craftsmen and craftswomen showing folks how to create baskets, brooms, barrels, pottery etc. They had a train that would take you around the village to the RV Park or hotel. For the children there were a lot of hands on things to do. There were also people at each building explaining how things were done in pioneer times. We learned a lot about the Mennonite religion, the persecution they faced and the hardships they took on settling in this area of Ohio. Archbold Ohio was once part of a large swampy area called the Black Swamp. The pioneers had to drain it in order to create their farms. Most of the buildings in Sauder Village were actually homes or churches they had moved to Sauder Village. The last building we went into was the Lutheran Church. There in the corner a lady sat at an old pump organ and after telling us the history asked if we had any requests. I requested Grandpa Peavyhouse’s favorite hymn, In the Garden. Mom and I sat in the pews and listen. It was rich and full and booming – it was an experience I wish I could describe. We requested a couple more songs.

Also at Sauder Village they having their Annual Traditional Rug Hooking Exhibition and we saw all of the beautiful hand hooked rugs. I even picked up two kits for myself and my daughter. I use to hook rugs and we will see if I can still remember how.

It was a wonderful day. 

Click here for pictures of Sauder Village.
Click here for pictures of rugs.