Kirby Day 2024 at Kirby's Mill September 7th
Entrance: 3771 Oviatt Rd. Richfield, OH 44286
Noon til 4 pm
Free admission
There have been some changes in our 9/7 Kirby Day event. Over concern about Saturday’s weather, Larchmere Fire Works had to cancel. Kirby’s Mill and Kirby House will not be open (so the machine shop diorama cannot be displayed at this time).
The marble treasure hunt, marble game, DIY marble run, crokinole, kids’ games and crafts, ice block sledding, light-up bicycle activity, Friends’ merchandise, food and beverages will still be available and set up under tents.
Free admission
There have been some changes in our 9/7 Kirby Day event. Over concern about Saturday’s weather, Larchmere Fire Works had to cancel. Kirby’s Mill and Kirby House will not be open (so the machine shop diorama cannot be displayed at this time).
The marble treasure hunt, marble game, DIY marble run, crokinole, kids’ games and crafts, ice block sledding, light-up bicycle activity, Friends’ merchandise, food and beverages will still be available and set up under tents.
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Thanks so much to everyone who helped at yesterday's Kirby Day -- which was a great success inspite of the iffy (and very chilly) weather! We truly have a great team -- where everyone pitches in and makes sure the job gets done. That's why the Friends' efforts are always so successful!
Special thanks to the Kirby Day planning committee -- Clive Fetzer, Joanie Gottschling, April Hawkins, and Lynn Richardson -- for all the hours you put in helping to plan and implement this big event. We definitely couldn't have done it without each of you!
Thanks again -- and hope everyone has warmed up by now!
Karen/Corey, Co-Chairs
2024 Kirby Day
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Special thanks to the Kirby Day planning committee -- Clive Fetzer, Joanie Gottschling, April Hawkins, and Lynn Richardson -- for all the hours you put in helping to plan and implement this big event. We definitely couldn't have done it without each of you!
Thanks again -- and hope everyone has warmed up by now!
Karen/Corey, Co-Chairs
2024 Kirby Day
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Days gone by. The Kirby Day archives..........................
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Kirby Day 2023
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Saturday, August 26th. Noon - 4 pm. Parking near Oviatt House, 3771 Oviatt Rd.
The adventure starts near Kirby's Mill at the south parking lot kiosk.
The adventure starts near Kirby's Mill at the south parking lot kiosk.
marbles gaming
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Fairy Garden
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Millwheel in Motion
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Root beer Floats
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Dance the Charleston
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Make your own Electricity
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Have Lunch
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Ice Block Sedding
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Sunny, the Pioneer Horse
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This was the first year Kirby Day featured a working water wheel! The upstairs level of the mill was open for families to make their own electricity. Ice block sledding made its first appearance. Charleston lessons at Garfield Hall Porch. Fairy Grden at the Oxbow. The weather turned out to be beautiful after a week of rain. Facebook reel
Summer sledding on ice blocks- one way to keep cool!
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Happy picnickers
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Mill docents Peggy & Teri
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Ice block sledding video 1 - kids Ice block sledding video 2 - a typical grown up
Watching the water wheel
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Root beer floats bring smiles
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The crowd awaits home-made electricity in Kirby's old Mill workshop
Calista, ready for some marble shooting action
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Do the Charleston!
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Finders, Keepers - on the marbles treasure hunt.
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Winter Barn area featuring the antique buckboard, Sunny the "Pioneer Horse", crafts table, field games, and the RJRD tent.
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Late Summer cardinal flowers
Ice block sledding was an activity from "back in the day" when kids would get the leftover ice from non-refrigerated milk trucks; or even farther back: the week-old blocks from ice boxes, and go summertime sledding. Photos from 2010 Sunday Funday on the hill by Amity House.
Features:
Marble Hunt
Construct outsized marble runs
Marbles Game
Games and Science exploration
Ice Block Sledding
Fairy Garden
Dance the Charleston!
Kirby House Tours
"Slipped Through The Cracks" : an exhibit of camp artifacts
Make and Take crafts
Take your picture with Sunny, the Pioneer Horse
Kirby’s Mill souvenirs for sale
Grilled hot dog lunches and root beer floats available for suggested donations to support Kirby's Mill
Construct outsized marble runs
Marbles Game
Games and Science exploration
Ice Block Sledding
Fairy Garden
Dance the Charleston!
Kirby House Tours
"Slipped Through The Cracks" : an exhibit of camp artifacts
Make and Take crafts
Take your picture with Sunny, the Pioneer Horse
Kirby’s Mill souvenirs for sale
Grilled hot dog lunches and root beer floats available for suggested donations to support Kirby's Mill
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About the fox icon
Mr. Kirby; inventor, marbles player, tree climber, angler, played "hide-n-seek" with foxes by holding "bloodless fox hunts" on his estate which became Camp Crowell Hilaka, and then Richfield Heritage Preserve. |
Kirby Day 2022 was the first time we were able to hold the event at the Kirby estate!
Sponsored by:
Inventor Level ( $250 & Up)
Heather and Dennis Liccardi
Ann Marie Niziolek
Karen Smik
Engineer Level $100-$249)
Alex & Kate Hagreen
Michael Tefs
Donations in kind from
Terry Duncan
Brain Freeze -- Tim & Tabitha Luther
Clive Fetzer
Nancy Kanik
Amy Murphy
Sandy Norris
Chuck Rankin
Fran Ratka
Rob & Lynn Richardson
Sarah Schroeter
Karen Smik
Sponsored by:
Inventor Level ( $250 & Up)
Heather and Dennis Liccardi
Ann Marie Niziolek
Karen Smik
Engineer Level $100-$249)
Alex & Kate Hagreen
Michael Tefs
Donations in kind from
Terry Duncan
Brain Freeze -- Tim & Tabitha Luther
Clive Fetzer
Nancy Kanik
Amy Murphy
Sandy Norris
Chuck Rankin
Fran Ratka
Rob & Lynn Richardson
Sarah Schroeter
Karen Smik
The day features a Hidden Marbles Hunt, outsized marble runs, marble games, tours of Kirby House, "Slipped Through The Cracks" : an exhibit of camp artifacts at Hilltop House, Make and Take crafts, Games and science exploration, Interactive history at "Wash Day Blues" , Kirby’s Mill souvenirs, Grilled hot dog lunches and root beer floats available for suggested donations
Wash Day Blues - an opportunity to get wet in the spin cycle
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Part of the "Slipped Through the Cracks" history display
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Corey & Rob try out the bouncy horses
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Kirby Day 2021 : "Kirby's Marble-ous Mill" returned with a No-touch marble hunt
Kirby Day 2020 went virtual! A facebook post every day during the month of September. Starting with this one: https://www.facebook.com/crowellhilaka/photos/pcb.3406207912791265/3406192666126123/
Kirby Day 2019 introduced "Kirby's Marble-ous Mill"
Kirby Day 2018
This clever group seems to have re-located Kirby's Mill to the Great Meadow on the shore of Lake Linnea. Or so they would have us believe! The real story is that whn FoCH was planning hte program, it was still a possibility that construction of the dam might be in progress- rathere than send visitors down to see the milll, we brought a giant picture of the mill up to the visitors! ....... Photo by Clive Fetzer
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This unlikely pair oversaw the Marbles game along a forest trail. Kirby was an expert Marbles player....................photo by Beth Sanderson
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Ann Iglais, activity coordinator for the event.
Art is part of STEAM. Visitors created images through the use of giant spirograph gears.
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Hidden Objects along the trail evoke time travel ..............photo by Beth Sanderson
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electron toss
"Professor" Barb Starr prepping to launch miniature steam-powered boats while Marilyn Alkire looks on. Photo by Clive Fetzer
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Kirby Day 2017 . Saturday September 23 2-5 pm. Gund Hall and yard
Celebrating Jim Kirby's Birthday
featuring:
The inflatable obstacle course*
giant foot darts*
bouncing inflatable ponies*
hats & prizes
painted rock hunt
history hike
craft by Timbernook
the amazing music machine
cupcakes decorating station
Join FoCH and receive 3 months free membership!
"Old School" Campfire Sing Along
at Waterfront Shelter at 1 pm
Everyone Welcome!
* Participation in inflatable activities requires signed waiver. Cupcakes and beverages free while supplies last
Calvin Marshall experiments with Corey's Amazing Music Machine
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Tegan, Josie, Lillian, & Isabelle pause briefly between experiments in spatial gravity-defiance.
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2015: The first annual celebration of Kirby's Birthday
Celebrating Science and Nature in Richfield, Ohio
The Friends of Crowell/Hilaka (FoCH) hosts MR. KIRBY’S BIRTHDAY PARTY on Sunday, September 27 from 1-5PM at Crowell Hilaka, 4374 Broadview Road in Richfield, Ohio. This outdoor fun day, free to the public, honors a former owner of the Crowell Hilaka property, inventor Jim Kirby. The day includes hiking and science activities at one of Northeast Ohio’s newest and prettiest parks.
Family-friendly activities include the Bicycle of Power, Electron Toss, Crazy Construction and Letterboxing. There are also guided history hikes through the Kirby Estate at 1:30pm, 2:30pm and 3:30pm. Guests should dress for the weather and bring a water bottle. There are free cupcakes and lemonade while supply lasts.
While known for Kirby vacuum cleaners, Jim Kirby (1884-1971) also invented improvements to electric dishwashers, irons and the first practical spin cycle for washing machines. He eventually amassed over 150 patents, most involving laundry or vacuum cleaners. Jim left numerous engineering wonders at his home (now Crowell Hilaka) including his workshop and hydroelectric mill, patented self-clarifying lake, and bridges. Kirby bought the former Oviatt farm in 1919 and sold the property to the local Girl Scout council in 1937.
The 336-acre Crowell Hilaka is now owned and managed by Richfield Joint Recreation District as a community park. It is currently open from dawn to dusk on Saturdays and Sundays for hikes and picnicking. For more information on the Richfield Joint Recreation District, visit www.rjrd.org
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