Gilfillan volunteers preparing for Farmfest
Date Modified: 08/09/2010 3:27 PM
E-mail article | Print version
GILFILLAN — A dedicated group of volunteers work throughout the year to maintain the historic Gilfillan Estate in Redwood County.
Friends of Gilfillan, which has close to 100 members, is preparing now for their biggest event of the year: Farmfest.
During the massive agricultural event on the grounds Aug. 3-5, Gilfillan Estate offers music, food and tours.
Since last year, their picnic shelter pavilion has doubled in size. It can now seat approximately 400 people. They've also added handicap-accessible restrooms.
Funding for the expansion came primarily from Gilfillan Estate's owner, Redwood County Historical Society, as well as Friends of Gilfillan and Mel Tauer, a Friends of Gilfillan member.
In the pavilion at Farmfest, volunteers serve their popular ice cream and 1919 root beer floats.They will also serve hamburgers, bratwursts, potato salad, sauerkraut and beans.
"This is a major fundraiser for us," said Jan Basballe, event coordinator for Friends of Gilfillan. "...We get a lot of people that help at Farmfest that are not members, that volunteer their time, we really appreciate it."
The Friends of Gilfillan aren't making their ice cream with ice cut from a nearby lake this year, as they have in the past, but they are still making 500 gallons of it for events throughout the year.
Old-time music will be played near the pavilion.
"Many people come out and bring their lawn chairs and sit and enjoy the music during the day," said Basballe.
Others like to walk around to see displays of the antique gas engines, buildings with antiques, the gardens and the estate.
Volunteers planted new flowers in the garden this spring and like to stick with flowers that were growing while the Gilfillan family lived there, such as coneflower, phlox and day lilies.
Tours of the estate and farm machinery exhibit cost $5, or pay $3 to see just the main house. Volunteers will be stationed around the home to speak with visitors.
"Rather than a personal, guided tour, you go through at your own pace," said Basballe.
The estate has two floors. Tours generally take 45 minutes to an hour.
"The things in the house are the actual, personal belongings of the Gilfillan family. These are all the personal furnishings and there's clothing and mementos and photographs and souvenirs," said Basballe.
The home was built in the early 1880s by Charles Duncan Gilfillan. He made his fortune in investments and developing St. Paul's water supply system. It was passed to his son, Charles O., who lived there with his wife, and then, eventually, the Redwood County Historical Society.
"I think we just want to preserve the heritage of the site. You know, if you've been in small towns there's a lot of tourism developing...It's an attraction to draw people to (our) area. We take pride in this site," said Basballe.
Other times of the year, the estate is the site of weddings, reunions, the local Relay for Life and a fall festival. From Thanksgiving to the New Year, it is decorated with Christmas lights. The grounds has a camp site. The estate is open for tours by appointment from May through September.
"We have people working there all the time," Basballe said. "There's a lot of mowing that goes on and the maintenance and keeping the exhibits up and current."
Most of the volunteers are local people who live in the area.
"Some are involved because of a personal association with the Gilfillan family, others are interested in the historic site and want to continue to have it available."